2 Dr. Blane’s Account, &c. 
It had a high character among the ancients as a remedy both 
external and internal. It is one m the lift of ingredients in all 
the antidotes, from thofe of Hippocrates, as given on the 
authority of Myrepsus and Nicolaus Alexandrinus, to 
the officinals which have kept their ground till modern times 
under the names of Mithridate and Venice Treacle. It is recom- 
mended by Galen and Alexander Trallian in the droply 
and gravel. Celsus and Galen recommend it both exter- 
nally and internally in pains of theftomach and bowels. 1 he 
firft occafion on which the latter was called to attend Marcus 
Aurelius was when that Emperor was feverely affixed with 
an acute complaint in the bowels, anfwering by the dekription 
to what we now call cholera morbus ; and the firft remedy he 
applied was warm Oleum nardinum on wool to the ftomach. 
He was fo fuccefsful in the treatment of this lllnels, that he 
ever afterwards enjoyed the higheft favour and confidence 
of the Emperor. 
It would appear, that the natives of India confider it as an 
efficacious remedy in fevers, and its fenfible qualities promife 
virtues fimilar to thofe of other fimples now in ufe among us 
in fuch cafes. Befides a ftrong aromatic flavour, it poflefles a 
pungency to the tafte little inferior to th zferpentaria, and much 
more confiderable than the contrayerva. It is mentioned in a 
work attributed to Galen, that a medicine, compofed of this 
and fome other aromatics, was found ufeful m long protra&e 
fevers, which are the cafes in which medicines of this clals 
are employed in modern practice. 
Tab. XVI. is a reprefentation of the Plant. 
t 
