N. 0. LABIATE. 1039 



of a handful of the leaves is a good remedy for coughs. Lin- 

 nseus records an instance in which salivation, caused by the use of 

 mercurial medicines, was removed by the administration of this 

 infusion after every other remedy had failed. The plant should 

 be gathered when in flower (Sowerby's English Botany). 



hi America, it is generally used in catarrhal states of the 

 air passages, over which it seems to have a soothing effect and 

 is much employed in confectionery as an ingredient in " cough 



drops " (Potter's Materia Medica, p. 277). 



In Mexico, a preparation made from the leaves of this is used 

 for rheumatism. It is also added to mescal and applied as lini- 

 ment for rheumatism. 



A proximate analysis gave the following result : — 



Per cent. 



Fat, wax and traces of volatile oil ... 2 05 



Crystalline compound, soluble in ether ... *48 



Chlorophyl and fat ... ... ... 2*29 



Resin and bitter compounds, soluble in absolute alcohol 1*94 



Mucilage ... ... ... ... 4'94 



Glucose ... ... ... ... 67 



Extractive, soluble in water ... ... 5*93 



Albuminoids ... ... ... ... 4"48 



Pectin and undetermined ... ... ... 5*93 



Pararabin ... ... ... ... 2-30 



Cellulose and lignin ... ... ... 37*48 



Moisture ... ... ... ... 672 



Ash ... ... ... ... 24-30 



Loss ... ... ... ... '49 



The fat was soluble in hot 95 per cent, alcohol, and melted at 46° C. The 

 wax was insoluble in this solvent, but dissolved in carbon bisulphide. The 

 crystalline principle was extracted from the drug with stronger ether, and 

 purified by repeated crystallization from hot 95 per cent, alcohol, with one or 

 more treatments with animal charcoal. The crystals were insoluble in water 

 and in solution of potassium hydrate, very sparingly soluble in boiling water 

 and in cold alcohol. Soluble in hot 95 per cent, alcohol, also in ether and 

 chloroform. They melted at 152° to 153° C. They were at first tasteless, but 

 developed, when held on the tongue, a decided bitterness. The alcoholic 

 solution was very bitter. 



Sulphuric or nitric acid gave a dark-brown colour, hydrochloric acid 

 produced no change and ferric chloride produced no ohange. 



This principle reduced Fehling's solution slightly by boiliug, without first 

 being treated with an acid. 



