ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS. 
57 
a pale purple or lilac, and stand upon short peduncles; the calyx is 
tubular, compressed at the top and divided into two lips, the upper 
lip entire, the under one bifid ; the corolla is monopetalous, ringent, 
the lower jtart tubular, the upper lip erect and bifid, the lower one 
reflected and cut in three parts, the middle division larger and 
concave ; there are two awl shaped stamina, inclining to the upper 
lip ; the germen is four pointed ; the style, the same shape and 
length as the stamina; stigma acute; the germen becomes four oval 
naked seeds, situated at the base of the calyx. 
Sensible Qualities and Properties. Rosemary has an 
agreeable odour, and a warm pungent taste, nearly resembhng laven- 
der ; the flavour of the flowers is less pungent than that of the leaves 
and young shoots, Rosemary gives out its virtues completely to 
rectified spirit, but only partially to water; the leaves and tops 
distilled with water, yield a thin, light, pale-coloured oil of great 
fragrancy ; 50lbs. of the fresh herb, when in flower, yield nearly 4oz. 
This essential oil contains a considerable proportion of camphor, 
which it deposits in chrystals on long standing. M. Proust has ex- 
tracted a sixteenth part of camphor from a given quantity of the oil.* 
Medical Properties and Uses. The medicinal properties 
of rosemary (like many other odoriferous plants) depend entirely 
upon the essential oil it contains. Rosemary acts as a gentle 
stimulant, sudorificf and cordial; it is useful in nervous head- 
ache, lowness of spirits and hysteria ; and is supposed to possess 
emmenagogue properties ; hence an infusion of the leaves and young 
shoots is drank as tea in chlorosis. Rosemary is not often pre- 
scribed but in conjunction with other medicines possessing more 
active properties ; externally, the Spt. Rorism. is used as an em- 
brocation in rheumatic and other pains ; it is also used as a cos- 
metic, and sold in the shops under the name of Hungary water. 
Ofi". The Herb and Tops. 
Ofl^. Pp. 01. Rorismarini Officinalis, E.L.D. 
Spt. Rorismarini Off". E.L.D. 
* Ann. de Chimie. torn. iv. p. 179. 
f Oil of Rosemary, in doses of from twenty to sixty drops taken on a lamp of loaf 
sugar when going to bed, excites a copious perspiration for many Lours. We have 
witnessed many cases of both acute and chronic rheumatism greatly relieved by the 
use of this medicine. 
VOL .1. i 
