35 ALTHAEA OFFICINALIS 



small root branches; and are finally dried, in which condition 

 they are commonly found in commerce. Sometimes the roots 

 are simply washed, after which their branches are removed, and 

 they are then dried without being scraped ; but the former mode 

 of preparation is generally preferred. 



General Characters and Composition. Marsh mallow root as pre- 

 pared by scraping, is in straight, somewhat cylindrical or tapering, 

 unbranched pieces, from about 6 to 8 inches long, and varying in 

 thickness from that of a quill to the middle finger. It has a whitish 

 colour externally, is deeply furrowed longitudinally, and its surface 

 is covered by short soft projecting fibres. When cut transversely 

 it is seen to consist of a central white woody column, which is 

 separated by a dark wavy ring from a thick bark. The central 

 portion breaks short, but the bark has a tough fibrous fracture. 

 It has a feeble peculiar odour, and a mild, mucilaginous, somewhat 

 sweetish taste. 



The unscraped root has a yellowish-brown colour externally, 

 and its surface is not covered with fibres ; but in other respects its 

 characters are essentially the same as those of the scraped root. 



The principal constituents of marsh mallow root are mucilage, 

 starch^ sugar, and a neutral inert crystalline substance, called 

 asparagin, which is found in various other plants besides the 

 marsh mallow, as the asparagus, liquorice, &c. Its medical pro- 

 perties are essentially due to the mucilage. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Marsh mallow root is demulcent 

 and emollient. It is but little used in this country, but on the 

 continent it is a very favourite remedy. It is employed inter- 

 nally as a demulcent in inflammatory affections of the alimen- 

 tary canal, and of the pulmonary and urinary organs ; and 

 externally as an emollient poultice and fomentation to inflamma- 

 tory and abraded surfaces, &c. A favourite preparation in 

 France is the pate de guimauve. In France the powdered root 

 is also much used in the preparation of pills, &c. 



Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii, pt. 2, p. 555; Pharmacographia, p. 85; 

 U. S. Disp., by W. & B., p. 97; Journ. de Pbarm., vol. xix, 

 p. 208. 



