U. 0. SCROPHULARINEj®. 
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sometimes used to adulterate rhubarb (Dr. Stewart). Digitalis 
leaves are occasionally found mixed with those of Verbascum 
Thapsus and of other plants (Garrod.) 
The seeds are supposed to be narcotic and are used for 
poisoning fish (O’Shaughnessy). Mr. Duthie’s Trans-Indus 
collector states that the herb is much employed by the natives 
of that region for the treatment of asthma and other pulmonary 
complaints, that it possesses narcotic properties similar to those 
of tobacco, and that the seeds are considered aphrodisiac. The 
leaves warmed, and rubbed with oil, are employed as an appli- 
cation to inflamed parts, in Europe and the United States 
of America, the thick woolly leaves were at. one time much 
valued as demulcents and emollients, not only in domestic 
medicine, but by practitioners. They were used in the treat- 
ment of catarrh and diarrhoea, and as an external application 
for haemorrhoids (Watt). 
It was formerly used in medicine 011 account of its emol- 
lient properties. A decoction of the leaves was recommended 
by the physicians of the last century for diarrhoeas. Sir James 
Smith says : — 
‘ That a pint of cow’s milk, with a handful of the leaves of 
this Mullein boiled in it to half a pint, sweetened, strained, and 
taken at bed time, is a pleasant, emollient, and nutritious 
medicine for allaying a cough, or removing pain and irritation.’ 
It is one of the many herbs said to poison, or rather to 
stupefy fish. According to Alexander Trallianus, its ashes made 
into a soap will restore hair which has become grey, to its ori- 
ginal color. — (.Sowerby’s Eng. Bot., Vol. vi, pp. 111-112). 
The British Medical Journal of 27th January 1883, published an interesting 
paper from the pen of Dr. F. J. B. Quinlan of Dublin on the use of this plant 
in the treatment of pulmonary consumption. According to him, this plant 
which is a wild one in Ireland is a trusted popular remedy for that malady. 
After describing several cases in which this plant proved useful, he says : — 
“ That it eases phthisical cough there can be no doubt.** Its power of 
checking phthisical looseness of the bowels was very marked.** It also 
gave great relief to the dyspnoea. For phthisical night sweats it is utterly 
useless." 
In another note (B. M. J. Feb. 9, 1884 p. 294), he writes “ The quantity 
of mullein is three ounces of the green leaves, which should be boiled for 
