44 RUTA GRAVEOLENS 



when the fruits are fully formed, but only about 0'50 per cent, 

 can even then be obtained. Oil of Rue has a pale yellow colour 

 when fresh, but it becomes brown by keeping. Its odour is 

 strong and disagreeable, like that of the herb ; and it has an 

 acrid and nauseous taste. Its specific gravity is stated by Kane 

 to be 0-837 at 18, but Pereira gives it as 0'9]1. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The herb and the oil act as 

 stimulants, their influence being chiefly directed to the uterine 

 and nervous systems. Rue has also been regarded as anthel- 

 mintic ; and in excessive doses it is an aero-narcotic poison. 

 When fresh its topical action is that of an acrid ; so greatly so, 

 indeed, that if much handled it causes redness, swelling, and even 

 vesication. Rue was formerly much employed, but it is rarely 

 prescribed at the present day, although rue tea is still a popular 

 remedy. It may be given in hysteria, amenorrhoea, epilepsy, 

 flatulent colic, infantile convulsions, &c., and appears to have 

 fallen too much into disuse. The oil is the best form of adminis- 

 tration it may also be used externally as a rubefacient. 



The ancients employed rue as a condiment, and for ages it was 

 regarded as most beneficial in warding off contagion, and even 

 now is sometimes used to keep off noxious insects. 



Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii, part ii, p. 396; U. S. Disp., by W. & B., 

 pp. 748 and 1312; Garr. Mat. Med., p. 225. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE. 



Drawn from a specimen grown in the Royal Botanic Society's Garden. 



1. A flowering stem. 



2. A flower. 



3. Vertical section of the pistil. 



4. Transverse section of the ovary. 

 5 and 6. Ripe capsule. 



7 and 8. A seed. 



9. Vertical section of the same. 



(24, and 69 enlarged.) 



