305.  Aristolochia longa.  Long birthwort.  The Roots.—­This is a tuberous root, sometimes about the size of the finger, sometimes as thick as a man’s arm:  great virtues used to be ascribed to this plant as a specific in most uterine obstructions and gout:  the outside is of a brownish colour; the inside yellowish.

306.  Artemisia vulgaris.  Mugwort.  The leaves.—­These have a light aromatic smell, and an herbaceous bitterish taste.  They are principally celebrated as uterine and anti-hysteric:  an infusion of them is sometimes drunk, either alone or in conjunction with other substances, in suppressions of immoderate fluxes.  This medicine is certainly a very mild one, and considerably less hot than most others to which these virtues are attributed.

307.  Asclepias Vincetoxium.  Swallow wort.  The Root.—­This root is esteemed sudorific, diuretic, and emmenagogue, and frequently employed by the French and German physicians as an alexipharmic, sometimes as a succedaneum to contrayerva; whence it has received the name of Contrayerva Germanorum.  Among us it is rarely made use of.

308.  Asperula odorata.  Sweet Woodroof.  The Flowers.—­It has an exceedingly pleasant smell, which is improved by moderate exsiccation; the taste is sub-saline, and somewhat austere.  It imparts its flavour to vinous liquors.  Asperula is supposed to attenuate viscid humours, and strengthen the tone of the bowels:  it was recommended in obstructions of the liver and biliary ducts, and by some in epilepsies and palsies:  modern practice has nevertheless rejected it.

309.  Asplenium Ceterach.  Spleenwort.—­It is recommended as a pectoral, and for promoting urine in nephritic cases.  The virtue which it has been most celebrated for, is that which it has the least title to, i. e. diminish the spleen.

310.  Asplenium Scolophendrium.  Harts-tongue.  The Leaves.—­These have a roughish, somewhat mucilaginous taste.  They are recommended in obstructions of the viscera, and for strengthening their tone; and have sometimes been made use of for these intentions, either alone, or in conjunction with maiden-hair, or the other plants of similar properties.

311.  Atropa Mandragora.  Mandrake.  The Leaves.—­The qualities of this plant are very doubtful:  it has a strong disagreeable smell resembling that of the narcotic herbs, to which class it is usually referred.  It has rarely been any otherwise made use of in medicine, than as an ingredient in one of the old officinal unguents.  Both that composition and the plant itself are rejected from our Pharmacopoeias.

312.  Ballota nigra.  Base horehound.  The Leaves.—­These are doubtless an useful aperient and deobstruent; promote the fluid secretions in general, and liberally taken loosen the belly.  They are an ingredient only in the theriaca.