NAT. ORDER. SCROPHULARINEjE. 
43 
of Malabar ; but this plant, like its congeners, is now suspected 
of possessing deleterious properties. The dose, and method of 
administration, we will not attempt to recommend, not being suf- 
ficiently acquainted with its uses, and, more especially, on account 
of not knowing for what purpose it can be administered to any 
advantage. 
An extract was formerly prepared from this plant, by obtain- 
ing the expressed j uice from the fresh green leaves, and afterwards 
subjected to the evaporation of the sun, until it was reduced to a 
consistency suitable for rolling into pills. From one to two five- 
grain pills were recommended at a dose, and repeated from once 
to three times a day. These pills became quite celebrated at one 
time, for the cure of various obstinate diseases ; but were only 
resorted to where other more harmless medicines proved ineffec- 
tual. Obstinate fevers, agues, coughs, asthma, rheumatism, gout, 
and dysenteria, were the principal disorders said to be benefited 
by it : but it soon lost its popularity, and fell into disrepute ; and 
is now entirely discarded from the practice of medicine. 
Propagation and Culture. The Spanish formerly cultivated 
several species of the Mimulus, not as an ornament, but more par- 
ticularly for its medical qualities. Their plan was — first, to plant 
the cuttings ten or twelve inches from each other, in furrows, or 
rows, laid out about three and a half feet apart : the soil should 
be of a gravelly or sandy character, and well manured ; the weeds 
&c. kept down with a hoe, and the earth loosened a few times af- 
ter they have taken root. 
