NERVINES. 101 
every night toinduce sleep. The eclectics make a concentrated 
powder by first making a saturated solution, eight ounces of 
the coarsely ground root to one pound of spirit infused one 
week. Itisthen subjected to strong pressure, and the liquor 1s 
shaken up with water when it becomes opague. It is then 
allowed to settle, the clear is poured off, the remainder filtered 
and dried. Itis called cypripedium, The dose is from one 
to five grains. As a sedative and nervine, a good substitute 
for opium, it is perfectly safe and can be taken in double 
doses. 
SCULLCAP (Sourg:.carisa LATERIFLORA),. 
This plant is a uative of America. It is thus described: 
A small, fibrous, perennial root, an srect and very branching 
stem, one to three feet in height. The leaves are about an 
inch long, thin, sharp-pointed, and coarsely indented or toothed. 
The flowers are small and of a pale blue colour. It grows in 
damp places, by the side of ditches. The whole plant is 
medicinal. It ought to be gathered just as it begins to flower, 
dried in the shade, and kept in air-tight tins or thick brown 
paper. It is a valuable uervine, tonic, and anti-spasmodiec, 
used in chorea (St. Vitus’ dance), convulsive fits, delirium 
tremens, and all nervous affections. The infusion is one ounce 
to the pint, half of which is a dose. The fluid extract (which 
represents weight for weight of the article), is from one 
quarter to a teaspoonful as aduse. The powdered herb is also 
a good way to take it; a teaspoonful in a cup of boiling 
water, sweetened or otherwise. It is an ingredient in our 
Nerve Powder. 
WOOD BETONY (Beronica OFfrtcrnatis). 
This is an old herb. Dr Robinson says it ought to be kept 
im every house. Itis described thus: It has many leaves 
rising from the root, which are rather broad, with rounded 
ends and indented at the edge; standing upon long footstalks, 
from which rise small horny ones with some leaves on them, and 
small spikes of flowers of purple colour, like lavender. The 
