363. MALVA alcea. VERVAIN-MALLOW. The Leaves.—Alcea agrees in quality with the Althaea and Malva vulgaris; but appears to be less mucilaginous than either.
364. MATRICARIA Parthenium. COMMON WILD FEVERFEW. The Leaves and Flowers.—Simon Pauli relates, that he has experienced most happy effects from it in obstructions of the uterine evacuations. I have often seen, says he, from the use of a decoction of Matricaria and chamomile flowers with a little mugwort, hysteric complaints instantly relieved, and the patient from a lethargic state, returned as it were into life again. Matricaria is likewise recommended in sundry other disorders, as a warm stimulating bitter: all that bitters and carminatives can do, says Geoffroy, may be expected from this. It is undoubtedly a medicine of some use in these cases, though not perhaps equal to chamomile flowers alone, with which the Matricaria agrees in sensible qualities, except in being weaker.
365. NEPETA Calamintha. FIELD CALAMINT. The Leaves.—This is a low plant, growing wild about hedges and highways, and in dry sandy soils. The leaves have a quick warm taste, and smell strongly of pennyroyal: as medicines, they differ little otherwise from spearmint, than in being somewhat hotter, and of a less pleasant odour; which last circumstance has procured calamint the preference in hysteric cases.
366. NEPETA cataria. NEP, OR CATMINT. The Leaves.—This is a moderately aromatic plant, of a strong smell, not ill resembling a mixture of mint and pennyroyal; it is also recommended in hysteric cases.
367. NIGELLA romana. FENNEL-FLOWER. The Seeds.—They have a strong, not unpleasant smell; and a subacrid, somewhat unctuous disagreeable taste. They stand recommended as aperient, diuretic, &c. but being suspected to have noxious qualities should be used with caution.
368. NYMPHAEA alba. WHITE WATER-LILY. The Root and Flowers.—These have a rough, bitterish, glutinous taste, (the flowers are the least rough,) and when fresh a disagreeable smell, which is in great measure lost by drying: they are recommended in alvine fluxes, gleets, and the like. The roots are supposed by some to be in an eminent degree narcotic.
369. OCYMUM Basilicum. BASIL. The Leaves.—These have a soft, somewhat warm taste; and when rubbed, a strong unpleasant smell, which by moderate drying becomes more agreeable. They are said to attenuate viscid phlegm, promote expectoration, and the uterine secretions.
370. OPHIOGLOSSUM vulgatum. ADDERS-TONGUE. The Leaf.—An ointment is made of the fresh leaves, and it is a good application to green wounds. It is a very antient application, although now discarded from the apothecary's shop.
371. PAEONIA corolloides. MALE PEONY. The Seeds.—These are strong, and worn round the neck to assist detention, and are probably as good as other celebrated anodyne beads which have been so long recommended for the same purpose.
372. PHELLANDRIUM aquaticum. WATER HEMLOCK.—The seeds of this plant, according to Dr. Lange, when taken in large doses, produce a remarkable sensation of weight in the head, accompanied with giddiness, intoxication, &c. It may probably prove, however, an active medicine, especially in wounds and inveterate ulcers of different kinds, and even in cancers; also in phthisis pulmonalis, asthma, dyspepsia, intermittent fevers, &c. About two scruples of the seed, two or three times a-day, was the ordinary dose given. Medicines of this kind should be used with great caution.—Woodville's Med. Bot. p. 91, 92.