90 TRIANDKIA. MONOGYN1A. Valeriana. 
(A much larger plant than the preceding. Stem three to four feet high, 
striated. Upper floral-leaves spear-shaped. Blossom pink, sometimes 
white, in large corymbose panicles. E.) 
Great Wild Valerian. (Irish: Keerin Leana. Welsh: Llys Cadwgan ; 
Gwellnar dur ; cynjfon y capwllt. E.) Banks of streams, hedges, woods, 
and marshes, common. P. June. 
Var. 2. Leaves narrower. 
Kniph . 5, the first figure — Riv. 2. 1— Garidel 96. at p. 520. 
V. officinalis /3. FI. Brit. t)ry heaths and high pastures.* 
(V. pyrena'ica. Stamens three: stem-leaves heart-shaped, serrated, 
on foot-stalks; the uppermost pinnated. 
Kniph. 7 — E. Bot. 1591. 
Stems two to three feet high, leafy, downy at the summit only. Leaves 
acute, sharply and unequally serrated; the radical and often the lower 
stem-leaves simple; the uppermost having one or two pairs of small, 
lanceolate leafits. Flowers red or flesh-coloured, in a large, terminal 
corymbus. Spur obsolete. Seed furrowed, crowned with feathered rays. 
E. Bot. 
* It is this latter variety which is in repute as a medicine. The root has a strong, 
and not an agreeable smell; its taste is warm, bitterish, and subacrid ; it communi¬ 
cates its properties to wine, water, or spirit; but it is best in substance, and may be 
taken from half a dram to two drams for a dose. There is no doubt of its possessing 
antispasmodic virtues in an eminent degree. It is often prescribed with advantage in 
hysterical cases ; and instances are not wanting where it appears to have removed some 
obstinate epilepsies. (In addition to these observations, we transcribe the testimony 
of Dr. Rutherford, late Professor of Botany at Edinburgh, from a letter addressed to 
the Editor in 1800. “ Never have I seen such beneficial effects follow from the use of 
any other remedy, in cases of Hysteria Epileptica as from it: indeed I have proved 
successful at last with it, when many other of the most celebrated and powerful anti¬ 
spasmodic medicines had failed. The root should be gathered on dry, hilly grounds; 
what grows on wet or marshy is far inferior in virtue to the former. The best time for 
collecting it is early in the season, either before, or just when the flower stem begins to 
push out. It should be thoroughly dried by hanging it up in a well ventilated situation, 
as soon as may be after collection. When in perfection, each root consists of a bundle 
of thick, plump fibres, of a bright brownish yellow colour, and very penetrating 
smell, nearly approaching to that of newly tanned leather. I prefer the medicine in 
powder to any other preparation, and give it in doses from a scruple to a dram three 
times in the daj^. No very conspicuous changes are induced, except mitigation of the 
original evil.” Dr. Swediaur advises a little mace to be mixed with the powder. The 
recorded case of Fabius Columna, who was cured of an inveterate epilepsy by this 
plant, after various other means had entirely failed, seems first to have excited the atten¬ 
tion of medical practitioners to its valuable qualities in this disease, and the experience 
of Dominicus Panavolus, half a century later, added to its reputation. It is supposed 
to be the <p« of Dioscorides and Galen, by w'hom it was esteemed as a diuretic. 
Dr. Pulteney states that the druggists in London are provided with large quantities of 
this herb from Cranbourne Chase. E.) It is much to be regretted that ignorance of, 
or inattention to, these important particulars, should so frequently occasion this very 
valuable medicine to be used unsuccessfully, and laid aside with disgust. In habitual 
costiveness it is an excellent medicine, and frequently loosens the bowels when other 
stronger purgatives have been tried in vain. Cows eat the leaves : shefep are not fond 
of them. Cats are delighted with the roots, (and will even scratch up the soil to obtain 
access to them. E.) Rats are said to be equally fond of them, and the rat-catchers em¬ 
ploy them to draw the rats together. 
