S34 ' ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MERICA.
powder is sometimes used, either alone or mixed with some other P 0 ^ u ] a ras an errhine. Marjoram tea is occasionally employed as a P°iremedy for nervous complaints.
Melis'sa officina'lis, Linn. E. D .—Common Balm■
Sex. Syst. Didynamia, Gymnospermia.
(Herba, D.— Herb, E.)
Jan 1
History.— Sprengel {Hist. Rei Herb. t. i. p. 100) considers tin-'’to be the fieXaraoipvXXov or yeXirraiva of Dioscorides (lib. iii. cap. .'jgd,Botany. Gen. Char. — Calyx tubular, 13-nerved, generally stn ^ e dbilabiate: upper lip spreading, tliree-toothed: lower bifid ; fauces 11 ,jyor villous. Tube of corolla straight or bent, naked within, g enprotruding; fauces inflated; limb bilabiate; the upper lip erect,the lower spreading. Stamina four, didynamous, generally approx 111 ^in pairs; upper ones sometimes sterile : filaments toothless: anthers jtwo-celled: connective often thickened. Achenia dry, smooth (Con<Jfrom Bentham). cr e-
Sp. Char. —Herbaceous , erect, branching. Leaves broad-ovate,nate, truncate or cordate at the base. Whorls axillary, loose, one- slBracts few, ovate. Corolla longer by half than the calyx (BenthaflP -Har. —South of France. ^jj^r
Properties. —The fresh herb {herba melissce ) has a strong, P e f- s is,odour, which is somewhat similar to that of lemons. By drying,j,»tfor the most part, lost. The taste is aromatic, bitter, and sma f- r0 n)austere. Sesquichloride of iron gives a greenish colour {tannate ofto the cold infusion. , g il,
Composition. —The principal constituents of balm are voW %resin, bitter matter , gum , tannic acid , and woody fibre (Pfaff,
Bd. iv. S. 270).
of b a 81
Oil of Balm, (Oleum Melissce) is pale yellow, and has the peculiar odourIts sp. gr. is 0-975. Oil of lemon is said to be frequently substituted for it. ,
Physiological Effects.—T he effects of balm are similar to, 1 gSmilder than, those of the labiate plants already described. The m 1of its operation arises from the small portion of volatile oil vV ‘ 11plant contains. f ^ e js,
Uses.— Balm tea is sometimes employed as a diaphoretic in jjias an exhilarating drink in hypochondriasis, and as an emmenag°gamenorrhcea and chlorosis.
Marru'bium vulga're, Linn. L. D .—White Horehound■
Sex. Syst. Didynamia, Gymnospermia.
(Herba) . ra teS
History.—T his is the plant which is called ITpa^iov by HipPyT iii-(pp. 686, 874, & 878, ed. Faes.), Theophrastus, and Dioscorides (h ' g( j,cap. 119); and Marrubium by Pliny {Hist. Nat. lib. xx. cap-Valp.) .
Botany. Gen. Char. — Calyx tubular, five- to ten-nerved, equa- 1 ,five to ten acute, spiny teeth. Corolla with the upper lip eieC ’ T jliylower spreading and trifid, with the middle lobe broader and g e ° .jpg,emarginate. Stamens didynamous, inclosed ; anthers with divaric