316  The  Ochro  and  the  Mush  Mallow.  {^''ji^i-Jsn!'"' 
to  the  country  where  they  are  produced.  Those  we  have  seen  from 
the  East  Indies  are  usually  from  four  to  six  inches  in  length  and  about 
one  inch  in  diameter  at  the  base,  tapering  upwards  to  the  apex,  w^hile 
those  grown  in  Venezuela  and  some  other  parts  of  South  America,  as 
well  as  those  from  South  Africa,  are  not  more  than  two  or  two  and  a 
half  inches  long  and  one  and  a  half  inches  diameter  across  the  centre. 
They  are  marked  with  from  five  to  eight  ridges,  running  longitudinal- 
ly from  the  base  upwards  and  corresponding  with  the  number  of  cells, 
each  ridge  forming  a  valve  and  partially  dehiscing  when  the  fruit  is 
ripe  and  dry  ;  the  small  round  seeds  also  becoming  loose  and  shaking 
in  the  capsule  like  a  rattle.  The  plant  is  a  native  of  the  West  Indies, 
but  is  cultivated  extensively  in  all  tropical  countries,  as  well  as  in  the 
south  of  France,  principally  for  the  sake  of  its  fruit.  This  is  gathered 
before  it  is  fully  ripe  and  is  used  as  a  vegetable,  but  chiefly  for  im- 
parting a  mucilaginous  thickening  to  soups;  it  is  also  used  when  very 
young  for  pickling,  like  capers.  The  plant  is  officinal  in  India,  being 
€onsidered  a  valuable  emollient  and  demulcent  ;  the  capsules  are  em- 
ployed in  a  decoction,  and  the  Indian  Pharmacopoeia  gives  the  follow- 
ing instructions  for  its  preparation  : — 
Take  of  the  fresh  immature  capsules,  sliced  transverely,  three 
•ounces  ;  water,  a  pint  and  a  half.  Boil  to  a  pint  and  strain;  sweeten 
to  taste. 
"Dose. — From  three  to  six  ounces,  or  ad  libitum^  as  an  ordinary 
drink." 
The  inhalation  of  the  vapor  of  the  hot  decoction  has  been  found 
very  serviceable  in  allaying  cough,  hoarseness,  irritation  of  the  glottis 
and  other  aifections  of  the  throat  and  fauces.  The  dried  capsules 
may  be  employed  when  they  are  not  procurable  in  a  fresh  state. 
According  to  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Gibson  and  others,  the  fresh 
capsules  bruised  form  an  efficient  emollient  poultice. 
The  seeds  are  used  in  native  practice  in  the  preparation  of  a  demul- 
cent drink,  corresponding  to  our  use  of  barley,  and  the  leaves  are 
used  for  poultices. 
The  musk  mallow  (II.  Abelmoschus,  L  =  Abelmoschus  moschatus, 
Moench)  is  also  an  annual  herbaceous  plant  with  irregularly-toothed 
hastate  leaves.  The  flowers,  like  those  of  the  former  species,  are 
yellow  with  a  crimson  base,  and  are  succeeded  by  an  oblong-lanceo- 
late hairy  capsule.    The  plant  is  a  native  of  the  East  Indies,  but  has 
