GRATIOLA OPFIGrNALIS. 
175 
the leaves are numerous, sessile, lance-shaped, from one to two 
inches long, about half an inch broad, pointed, serrated towards 
the extremities, and stand opposite in pairs ; the flowers are axillary, 
solitary, and stand on slender peduncles, nearly an inch in lengtfe, 
and of a red colour; the caiyx consists of five or six elliptical pointed 
segments ; the corolla is tubular, and divided at the limb into four 
obtuse irregular segments of a pale purplish colour; the tube is 
yellow streaked with red ; the filaments are four, two only of which 
are furnished with anthers, the two supporting the anthers are 
shorter than the others, and are inserted about the middle of the 
tube of the corolla ; the germen is ovate ; style slender, tapering, 
ui«J erect ;r stigma divided ; the germen becomes an ovate pointed, 
bilocular capsule, which contains many small seeds. 
Sensible and Chemical Properties. Hedge hyssop is 
nearly inodorous, its taste is very bitter and nauseous ; boiling water 
extracts these qualities more perfectly than spirit ; the watery in- 
fusion is of a yellowish colour which changes to an olive brown by 
the addition of sulphate of iron, without occasioning any precipitate. 
" When sulphuric acid is added to the unstrained infusion, it emits, 
the odour of tamarinds ; and when the infusion is filtered and 
slowly evaporated, spicular crystals are formed, which appear to be 
tartaric acid." From the analysis of Vanquelin, the expressed juice 
contains in a state of solution, 1. a peculiar bitter resinous matter;* 
2. a small quantity of animal matter ; 3. a brown gummy matter; 
4. muriate of soda. 
Poisonous IEffects. Gratiola when taken in an over-dose 
produces very energetic effects on the animal economy, exciting 
violent vomiting and hypercatharsis. From the experiments of 
Orfila we learn that a few drachms of the watery extract introduced 
into the stomach of a strong dog occasioned its death within twenty- 
four hours, and that twenty-eight grains of the same extract injected 
into the jugular vein of a middle sized robust dog, occasioned some 
giddiness, the animal became insensible, and expired two hours after 
the injection; and M. Bouvin asserts that an injection of the 
decoction being administered to a female produced great irritation 
of the sexual organs. 
Medical Properties and Uses. Gratiola in moderate 
doses acts as a powerful cathartic and emetic.t but as it is very un- 
* This matter is named by Vanquelin resinoid; it is soluble in alcohol, and coafains 
the active and purgative properties of the plant. 
+ We are told by Boerhaave that it in general produces vomiting. Vide Hist. PI. 
Hort. L. B. — Bergins Mat. Med. p. 26. ' ' 
