518 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



on the neck, hence its common name of Neck-weed ; it is given internally, 

 and used as a wash. 



Scrophularia. — Linn. 



Calyx 5-parted or 5-cleft, nearly equal. Corolla globose, with a short 5-lobed limb, the 

 segments of which are rounded, and the uppermost united into an upper lip. Stamens 

 didynamous, inclined, with transverse, 1-celled anthers ; a fifth rudimentary stamen, 

 with a lamelliform anther sometimes present. Stigma emarginate. Capsule roundish, 

 often acuminate, with the valves entire, or merely bifid. 



The species of this genus are principally indigenous to the south of Eu- 

 rope, the Levant, and Barbary, but some are found in almost every part of 

 the world. As the name indicates, they were at one time considered as pos- 

 sessing a curative power in scrofula, but are now but seldom employed ; 

 though several species are officinal. 



S. nodosa, Linn. — Leaves cordate, acute, deeply serrated, glabrous, three-ribbed at base. 

 Stem rather obtusely 4-angled. Root tuberous. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 863; English Bot. 1544; Woodville, v. 42; Lindley, 

 Med. Flor. 503. 



It is perennial, and a native of several parts of Europe, flowering in July. 

 The leaves have a rank, fetid smell, and a disagreeable, bitter taste. The 

 root has also a nauseous odour, and a sweetish, subacrid taste. They 

 yield their properties to water and alcohol, and have been analyzed by Gran- 

 doni (Pereira, ii. 306), and found to contain : a brown, bitter Resin, an Ex- 

 tractive having the odour of benzoic acid, Extractive, with gum, Starch, Inu- 

 line, &c. 



Medical Properties. — The Figwort is considered diuretic and sedative, but is 

 seldom employed in regular practice, though it is much used as a popular topi- 

 cal application to piles, ulcers, and various cutaneous eruptions. An ointment, 

 made with the leaves, is officinal in the Dublin Pharmacopoeia, and has been 

 found useful by Drs. Stokes and Montgomery in some skin diseases. It was 

 formerly much employed in itch, and formed an ingredient of the celebrated 

 ointment of Tragus, so much esteemed in the cure of that complaint. It is 

 evident that this plant is possessed of active properties, and although it is not 

 true, as observed by Gerarde, " that if it be hanged about the neck, or else 

 carried about by one, it keepeth a man in health," still it is worthy of further 

 trials, in the cases in which it formerly attained so much reputation. 



Almost all the species are possessed of the same sensible qualities, and 

 those peculiar to this country, the S. marilandica and S. lanceolata, are 

 much esteemed in some parts for their vulnerary and soothing powers, when 

 used in fomentations or poultices to ulcers, tumours, &c. 



Gratiola. — Linn. 



Calyx 5-parted, often with two bracts at base. Corolla irregular, resupinate, 2-lipped ; 

 the upper one 2-lobed ; the lower equally 3-cleft. Stigma 2-lobed. Capsule 2-celled, 

 2-valved. 



A genus of about thirty species, a large proportion of which are East In- 

 dian and American, principally in the warmer portions. The name is a di- 

 minutive of gratia, and the epithet gratia Dei, by which the officinal species 

 was formerly distinguished, is an evidence of the high estimation in which it 

 was held. 



