Similar Plants.—­Verbascum nigrum; V. Thapsus; Cynoglossum officinale, or, after the above mistake, any other plant with a lanceolate leaf, we fear, may be confounded with it.

205.  Eryngium maritimum.  Sea-holly.  Roots.  D.—­The roots are slender, and very long; of a pleasant sweetish taste, which on chewing for some time is followed by a light degree of aromatic warmth and acrimony.  They are accounted aperient and diuretic, and have also been celebrated as aphrodisiac:  their virtues, however, are too weak to admit them under the head of medicines.  The candied root is ordered to be kept in the shops.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

206.  Ferula assafoetida.  Assafoetida.  Gum.  L. E. D.—­This drug has a strong fetid smell, somewhat like that of garlick; and a bitter, acrid, biting taste.  It looses with age of its smell and strength, a circumstance to be particularly regarded in its exhibition.  It consists of about one-third part pure resin, and two-thirds of gummy matter; the former soluble in rectified spirit, the other in water.  Proof-spirit dissolves almost the whole into a turbid liquor; the tincture in rectified spirit is transparent.

Assafoetida is the strongest of the fetid gums, and of frequent use in hysteric and different kinds of nervous complaints.  It is likewise of considerable efficacy in flatulent colics; and for promoting all the fluid secretions in either sex.  The ancients attributed to this medicine many other virtues which are at present not expected from it.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

207.  Ficus Carica.  Common Fig.  Fruit.  L. D.—­The recent fruit completely ripe is soft, succulent, and easily digested, unless eaten in immoderate quantities, when it is apt to occasion flatulency, pain of the bowels, and diarrhoea.  The dried fruit is pleasanter to the taste, and is more wholesome and nutritive.  Figs are supposed to be more nutritious by having their sugar united with a large portion of mucilaginous matter, which, from being thought to be of an oily nature, has been long esteemed an useful demulcent and pectoral; and it is chiefly with a view of these effects that they have been medicinally employed.

208.  Fraxinus Ornus.  Manna.  L. E. D.—­There are several sorts of Manna in the shops.  The larger pieces, called Flake Manna, are usually preferred; though the smaller grains are equally as good, provided they are white, or of a pale yellow colour, very light, of a sweet not unpleasant taste, and free from any visible impurities.

Manna is a mild agreeable laxative, and may be given with saftey to children and pregnant women:  nevertheless, in some particular constitutions it acts very unkindly, producing flatulencies and distension of the viscera.—­Lewis’s Mat.  Med.

209.  Gentiana lutea.  Yellow gentian.  Root.  L. D.—­This root is a strong bitter, and, as such, very frequently made use of in practice:  in taste it is less exceptionable than most of the other substances of this class:  infusions of it, flavoured with orange peel, are sufficiently grateful.  It is the capital ingredient in the bitter wine; and a tincture and infusion of it are kept in the shops.