OF NEW-YORK. 41 



esteemed for ornament than use. The wood has a fine texture, and 

 takes a good polish. Supposed to possess medicinal properties. The 

 seeds have been employed with success in asthma — 5 iv. of seeds to 

 be boiled in 5 xij. of water down to 3 vi., the whole to be given night 

 and morning, (Jour. Phil. Col. Phar. 6. 352.) 



Scrophulariace^:, R. Br. — (The Figwort Tribe.) 



Verbascum* Thapsus, Linn., .(Common Mullein). The leaves and 

 flowers have a slight narcotic smell, mucilaginous and bitter taste, im- 

 part their virtues to water by infusion ; demulcent and emollient, and 

 possess mild anodyne properties ; hence used in catarrh and other pec- 

 toral complaints. The decoction of leaves is a good remedy in diar- 

 rhoea and dysentery, and a good anodyne external emollient. The 

 flowers, when dried in the sun, yield a fatty oil, which is useful in 

 piles. A good emollient ointment may also be prepared by boiling the 

 leaves in lard. 



The V. Blattaria, Linn., (Moth Mullein), and B. Lychnitis, 

 Linn., (White Mullein), probably possess similar virtues. 



Scrophularia Marilandica, Linn., (Figwort). This plant, 

 which is nearly allied to the S. Nudosa of Europe, probably possesses 

 similar virtues, i.e., is anodyne, diuretic, diaphoretic, tonic, anthel- 

 mintic, and alterative ; hence employed in scrofula, from which cir- 

 cumstance its name is derived. The bruised root has considerable 

 reputation in domestic practice, as a poultice for reducing inflammation 

 in tumors. 



LiNARiAf Vulgaris, Maench, (Common Toad Flax, Great Dragon). 

 The herb, collected when in flower, tastes bitter, slightly acrid, and 

 weakly saline, diuretic and cathartic. The infusion has been em- 

 ployed with success in dropsy, jaundice, and cutaneous affections, also 

 in the latter as external fomentations, or an ointment, by bc-iling the 

 flowers in lard. The flowers may be used for dying yellow. 



Collinsia:}: Verna, Nuft., (Early parti-colored Collinsia). Che- 

 lone§ Glabra, Linn., (Snake Head). Several varieties. The leaves 

 inodorous, but very bitter, contain gallic acid and bitter extractive ; 

 tonic and cathartic ; in small doses laxative and deobstruent. Rafi- 

 nesque says it acts powerfully on the liver. It is much employed as 



* Altered from barbascum, the leaves being covered with a barba or beard. 

 t From the Latin linum, flax, which the leaves resemble. 

 t In honor of Z. Collins, an eminent botanist of Philadelphia. 

 § From the Greek chelone, a tortoise, the flower resembling the head of that 

 animal. 



