L A M I A C E M. 



505 



Fig. 219. 



of New York (N. York Med. and 

 Phys. Jour. i. 179), and is highly- 

 spoken of by many practitioners as 

 beneficial in pulmonary a.flecti$ns, from 

 its diminishing the frequency/of the 

 pulse, allaying irritation and preventing 

 cough. It acts like a mild narcotic, 

 and at the same time displays tonic 

 powers. Those practitioners who have 

 employed it are unanimous in declar- 

 ing that it is an exceedingly valuable 

 addition to the Materia Medica. It ap- 

 pears to act like Digitalis in abating 

 the frequency of the pulse, but its use 

 is not attended with the appearance of 

 those unpleasant symptoms so often 

 attendant on the administration of that 

 article. Should what is said of its se- 

 dative powers prove correct, on further 

 trials of it, it is certainly a most impor- 

 tant remedy, and one that should be 

 more extensively employed. It requires 

 a thorough and fair trial. 



It is usually given in infusion, but 

 has also been administered in powder, 

 or even in syrup. 



A European species, the L. Eu- 

 ropceus, but naturalized in the United 

 States, has long been employed in Eu- 

 rope as a febrifuge, and in Piedmont is 

 known under the name of Erba china. 

 Professor Re of Turin, in a memoir on 



the subject, declares that in doses of L. virgin icus. 



two drachms ofthe dried plant, the most 



obstinate intermittents were removed. It has also some astringent 

 according to Dr. BrofFerio. {Kepert. Med. Chir. Turin.) 



Salvia. — Linn. 



Calyx sub-cam pan ulate, striate, bilabiate, upper lobe 3-toothed, lower bifid. Corolla, 

 margin bilabiate, upper lip arched and emarginate, lower 3-lobed, the intermediate one 

 largest and rounded. Stamens two, fertile, transversely pedicellate. Anthers 1-celled, 

 one of which is sterile. 



A numerous genus, the species of which are found in all parts ofthe world, 

 but most common in warm climates ; they are herbaceous or suffruticose, 

 with opposite, usually dentate, or deeply-divided leaves, and often large and 

 brilliantly-coloured flowers, having one to three bracts or axillary leaves. 



S. officinalis, Linn. — Leaves ovate-lanceolate, entire, tomentose beneath. Flowers in 

 spines. Calyx-teeth subulate, acuminate. 



Linn., Sp. PL, 34; Woodville, ii. t. 127 ; Flore Med. vi. t. 313; Ben- 

 tham, Labial. 209 ; Lindley, Flor. Med. 489. 

 Comynon Names. — Sage ; Garden Sage. 

 Foreign Names. — Sauge, Fr. ; Salvia, It. ; Salvey, Ger. 



Description. — Perennial, shrubby, about two feet high, with a quadrangular, pubescent 

 stem, having ovate-lanceolate, crenulate, wrinkled, petiolate leaves, of a grayish-green 



powers, 



