Flora Medica

ACANTHACE;E.*#* Several other Acanthacese are named in books, as having slight medicalproperties ; they are chiefly emollients, but appear to be of noconsequence.SCROPHULARIACEJE.Nat. syst.ed.2. p.288.DIGITALIS.rs 5, rounded or acute, permanent, much shorter than thethe uppermost narrowest. Corolla ventricose, contractedat the base, with an oblique limb ;upper lip emarginate, lower3-fid with the middle lobe the largest. Stamens didynamous,inserted into the base of the corolla ; anthers acute, naked.Stigma bilamellate. Capsule ovate, with a septicidal dehiscence.1047. D. purpurea Linn. sp. pi. 866. Eng. Bot. t. 1297.Woodv. t. 24. Smith Eng.fi.iii. 14-0 Pastures and by roadsides inmany parts of Europe. ( Foxglove.)A biennial ;root of numerous long and slender fibres. Stem straight,wand-like, leafy, mostly simple, roundish, with several slight angles,downy, 3 or i feet high, leaves alternate, ovate or elliptic-oblong,crenate, downy, rugged and veiny, of a dull green; tapering at thebase into winged footstalks ;radical ones largest. Raceme terminal,1-sided, erect, simple, of numerous, sometimes 60, large, pendulous,scentless, crimson flowers; elegantly marked with eye-like spots, aswell as hairy, within. Smith. Seeds small, oblong, pale brown, pitted.The leaves and seeds of this plant, especially the former, in the stateof powder, tincture, or infusion, afford one of the most valuable ofknown medicines, for the purpose of reducing the action of the heart,promoting the action of the absorbents, as a diuretic, and for producinga specific action over the cerebro-spinal system. It isemployed veryextensively in fevers, dropsy, inflammation, haemorrhages, diseases ofthe heart, and in mania, epilepsy, spasmodic asthma and the like. Itis very remarkable for its power on the system, sometimes accumulatingtill it suddenly shows itself with irresistible force, to the imminentrisk of the life of the patient.SCROPHULARIA.Calyx 5-parted, or more frequently 5-cleft, nearly equal. Corollaglobose, with a short 5-lobed limb, the segments of whichare rounded, and the uppermost united into an upper lip. Stamensdidynamous, decimate, with 1-celled transverse anthers ;a fifth rudimentary stamen with a lamelliform anther, often present.Stigma emarginate. Capsule roundish, often acuminate,with the valves entire or just bifid.502