THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
MAT,  1876. 
ON  SOME  MEDICINAL  PLANTS  OF  GREECE, 
BY  PROF.  X.  LANDERER,  ATHENS. 
Allium. — Garlic  was  used  in  ancient  times  for  culinary  and  medicinal 
purposes,  and  has  preserved  its  reputation  to  the  present  day.  The 
bulb,  ^tifMBed  was  originally  used  as  a  prophylactic  against  witchcraft 
and  enchantments,  and  god-fathers  attached  it  to  the  bodies  of  babes 
named  after  them.  The  species  of  allium  cultivated  in  oriental  coun- 
tries are  Allium  sativum,  A.  subbirsutum,  A.  descendens,  A.  Porrum,  A. 
Schoenoprasum,  A.  Cepa  and  A.  Moly,  the  latter  having  been  extensively 
used  as  a  protection  against  the  evil  influences  of  the  renowned  enchan- 
tress, Circe.  The  onion  is  largely  consumed  in  the  Orient ;  together 
with  bread,  it  forms  the  principal  nourishment  of  the  poorer  classes, 
and,  with  grapes,  tomatoes,  olives  and  wine,  it  constitutes  the  suste- 
nance of  thousands  of  travelers  in  the  summer  time  from  morning  till 
night. 
Asphodelus  racemosus  and  bulbosus  are  interesting  plants,  known  from 
the  remotest  time.  Being  found  in  cemeteries,  it  was  consecrated  to 
Persephone  and  the  divinities  of  Hades.  Its  principal  use  was  against 
the  bites  of  venomous  insects,  snakes  and  scorpions,  and  in  inflamma- 
tion of  the  testicles.  A  very  strongly  adhesive  substance  is  prepared 
from  these  bulbs,  in  Turkey,  by  exsiccating  them  thoroughly,  in  suit- 
able ovens,  when  they  acquire  the  glutinous  properties  of  dextrin,  and 
are  employed  as  paste  by  bookbinders  and  shoemakers.  Pythagoras 
called  the  plant  Ilavy.p6.Ttov,  pancration,  a  plant  governing  all,  or  pos- 
sessing all  properties.  This  name  was  adopted  by  Linnaeus  for  Pan- 
cratium maritimum,  which  grows  near  the  sea  coast,  and  the  bulb  of 
which  is  not  unfrequently  exported  as  an  admixture  of  squill ;  its  flow- 
ers are  very  beautiful  and  have  a  delicious  odor.  The  bulb  of  it  and 
of  Scilla  maritima,  boiled  with  honey,  are  esteemed  as  excellent  reme- 
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