Flora Medica

EUPHRASIA.their brilliant variegated aspect, on which account it seems, the plantbecame celebrated as good for weak eyes. The corolla varies much insize as well as colour, being commonly white, with deep purple streaks,and a yellowish palate ;the anthers violet. On the mountains of Scotlandthere is a more slender variety, with smaller but more richly tintedblossoms ;on the Alps a dwarf, large flowered, more purple variety iscommon. The seeds are few, somewhat angular, thin at the edges,strongly striated, or furrowed, at the sides. Smith. Slightly bitterand aromatic. It has had much reputation in diseases of the eye, buthas generally fallen into disrepute. It has, however, lately been assertedby Professor Kranichfeld, that it is particularly useful in catarrhal inflammationsof the eye. He has also found it beneficial in cough,hoarseness, earache and headache, which have supervened in catarrhalaffections. Med. Gaz. xx. 528.GRATIOLA.Calyx 5-parted as far as the base. Corolla resupinate, unequally4-lobed. Stamens 2 fertile, 2 sterile. Capsule 2-celled,with a septicidal dehiscence.1060. G. officinalis Zmw. sp.pl. 24. Fl. dan. t. 363. R. and S.129. Schkuhr. handb. t. 2. a. Marshes of Europe. (Hedgei.hyssop.)Root creeping, jointed. Stem 1-2 feet high, erect, simple or a littlebranched, smooth, 4-sided at the upper end. Leaves half amplexicaul,1-2 inches long, smooth, obtuse, lanceolate, serrated, with about 3 veins,entire near the base. Flowers solitary, on long stalks ; with 2 linearbracts below the calyx. Corolla whitish striped with red, sometimeswhite ;tube longer than the calyx, covered inside with yellow hairs ;upper lip reflexed, emarginate, Capsule ovate, acuminate. A veryactive plant, formerly called Gratia, Dei, on account of its efficiency as amedicine. It is extremely bitter, acts violently both as a purgativeand emetic, and has been said to be the basis of the famous gout medicine,called Eau Medicinale, which, as its active principle appears tobe of the nature of Veratria, is not improbable. Gratiola is said tohave been found serviceable in cases of hypochondriasis. In overdosesit is a violent poison, and according to Haller, it renders by itsabundance some of the Swiss meadows useless as pastures. G. peruvianaLinn, has purgative and emetic leaves and roots.1061. Scoparia dulcis Linn. An infusion is used by the Indiansof Spanish America to cure agues, according to Humboldt.Martius however states that in Brazil, where it is called Basourinhaor Vacourinha the expressed juice is merely mucilaginousand employed as a cooling laxative.1062. Verbascum nigrum Linn, is accounted slightly narcotic.The seeds of it and of 1063. V. Thapsus Linn, are said to beused by poachers to poison fish. The flowers of 1064. V. LychnitisLinn, are used inmany places as a poison for mice.507