226 
Digitalis.  Foxglove. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\       May,  1913. 
ointment  form  and  in  decoction,  while  both  Fuchs  (Fuchsium)  23 
and  Tragus,24  1552,  figured  the  plant  beautifully  and  gave  it  much  at- 
tention, the  former  introducing  the  name  Digitalis.  (See  page  216.) 
Boerhaave  (Historical  Plants)  considered  Digitalis  too  acrid  or 
poisonous  for  internal  use,  whilst  Alston,  of  Edinburgh,  says, 
"  Though  this  herb  is  not  now  in  use,  it  is  almost  of  as  great  efficacy 
as  any  drug  the  Indies  produce."  The  Catalogue  of  Plants,  by 
Caspar  Schvvenckfelt,  1600,  describes  Digitalis  as  a  drug  in  which 
the  flowers,  used  in  decoction  as  a  gargle,  subdue  fever  and  inflam- 
mation, while  the  leaves  relieve  bowel  troubles. 
Between  this  period  and  1785  the  works  on  domestic  medicine, 
as  well  as  the  English  dispensatories,  gave  passing  attention  to 
Digitalis,  the  comments,  however,  being  largely  repetitions  of  each 
other,  and  all  being  copied  from  earlier  publications.  The  follow- 
ing, from  Salmon's  New  London  Dispensatory,  1632,  may  be  cited 
as-  typical  of  the  then  prevailing  opinion  concerning  the  ascribed 
qualities  of  the  remedy: 
Fox-Glove,  Hot  and  Dry.  It  is  bitter,  cleansing,  opening,  cutting  and 
attenuating:  It  expectorates  thick  flegm,  if  drunk  with  Mead,  takes  away 
obstructions  of  the  Liver  and  Spleen,  is  an  extraordinary  good  wound-herb, 
prevalent  against  the  King's  evil,  and  may  be  used  instead  of  Gentian. 
Two  handfuls  of  the  herb  taken  with  Polypody  3iiij.  helps  the  Epilepsy.^ 
Salmon's  New  Dispensatory,  London,  1600. 
In  1783  Digitalis  was  made  official  in  the  Edinburgh  Pharma- 
copoeia, "  in  consequence  of  the  recommendation  of  Dr.  Hope," 
although  Rayser  (Chemist  and  Druggist,  1910),  states  that  it  had 
23  Leonhard  Fuchs  was  a  Bavarian,  born  in  Membdingen,  1501.  In  1524 
he  graduated  in  medicine,  became  involved  in  religious  controversies  by 
reason  of  becoming  a  Protestant,  was  made  Professor  of  Medicine  in 
Tubingen,  1535,  and  died  in  1566.  The  Lloyd  Library  contains  his  publica- 
tions, as  follows :  De  Stirpium,  in  the  following  editions : 
1545,  Latin  edition. 
1549,  French  edition. 
1551,  Latin  edition. 
1558,  French  edition. 
1673,  French  edition. 
24  Hieronymus  Bock,  known  in  literature  as  Tragus,  was  born  at  Heider- 
bach,  in  the  Zweibrucken,  1498.  Instead  of  becoming  a  monk,  as  was  in- 
tended, he  became  a  Protestant,  then  a  schoolmaster,  and  finally  a  preacher. 
He  practiced  medicine  and  wrote  on  Botany.  The  Lloyd  Library  has  his 
De  Historia  Stirpium,  1552. 
