^"Ittay;  i882!""'}         ^^^^        Allied  Species  of  Salvia.  229 
Wheu  a  mild  injection  is  required,  and  in  the  earlier  stages  of 
venerial  diseases,  it  is  often  advantageous,  and  proves  of  invaluable 
:service  in  forming  a  vehicle.  The  mucilage  will  also  be  found  of 
great  benefit  in  throat  affections  as  a  gargle  or  wash,  as  it  will  tend  to 
protect  the  inflamed  parts  from  the  miasmatic  influence  of  the  air 
when  respiring,  and  it  has  been  and  is  now  used  in  ophthalmia.  The 
properties  and  virtues  of  this  seed,  I  believe,  are  worthy  of  investiga- 
tion. 
The  mucilage  should  not  be  allowed  to  stand  in  open  vessels  longer 
than  five  or  six  days,  as  a  thick  whitish  mould-like  collection  forms 
on  top,  and  in  preparing  the  drinks  it  will  be  found  much  preferable 
to  renew  each  day. 
The  present  cost  of  Chia  seed  to  the  consumer  is  about  60  cents  per 
l^ound,  but  this  can,  I  think,  be  lessened  by  cultivating  the  plant. 
At  present  I  have  some  growing,  and  find  it  readily  germinates  in 
this  climate ;  whether  it  will  bear  the  northern  climate  remains  for 
<^xperiment. 
New  Orleans,  La. 
ON  CHIA  AND  ALLIED  SPECIES  OF  SALVIA. 
By  John  M.  Maisch. 
Head  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meetiiig,  April  18th. 
About  seven  or  eight  years  ago  the  writer  received  a  sample  of 
so-called  Chia  seed,  but  was  unable  to  learn  that  it  was  employed  in 
the  United  States;  recently,  however,  information  has  been  received 
that  it  is  used  to  a  certain  extent  in  the  south-western  States,  and  near 
the  Pacific  coast,  and  that  it  bids  fair  to  attract  attention  in  other  parts. 
In  addition  to  the  information  contained  in  the  preceding  paper  by  Mr. 
H.  Flowers,  the  following  referring  to  the  history  of  this  drug  will 
prove  of  interest : 
Guibourt,  in  "  Histoire  naturelle  des  drogues  simples (4  edit.  11. 
432),  speaks  of  it  as  follows : 
"  The  homoeopathic  physicians,  doubtless  with  the  view  of  having 
particular  medication,  the  elements  of  which  are  unknown  or  rarely 
met  with,  have  often  procured  from  distant  countries  substances,  like 
whi(!h  similar  ones  could  have  easily  been  found  under  their  hands. 
^u(;h  is  chia  s(!e(l  which  is  brought  from  Mexico,  where  it  is  ])roduced 
by  a  species  of  sage  (Salvia  hispanica?).    These  seeds  are  smaller  than 
