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Show €OMMON ROSEMARY, COMMON HISTORY. PREPARATIONS, Rosemary is a perennial shrub, which grows wild in the south of Europe, and is cultivated in our gardens. It has a a smell, and a warm pungent bitterish taste, approaching to lavender: the leaves and tender tops are strongest; next to these the éap of the flower; the flowers themselves are considerably Take of the flowers of rosemary, two pounds rectified wine, four pounds: Distil in a water-bath. This is common London College it is called the weakest, but most pleasant. Take of the fresh tops of rosemary oll, wh i rtues dependentirely 1 irely on its; essential essential oil, which seems seems tete nbined with camphor, not only from its peculiar taste, but its possessing chemical properties which depend on the enceof camphor; and from its depositing crystals of camphor whenlong kept. This plant, like many others, has obtained a celebrity which ttle merits. Like lavender, it may gently stimulate the system, and is a mild cordial: but it has no claim to any of those high encomiums bestowed upon this simple herb. Boerhaave says, “ in affectibus capitis et nervorum, apoplexia, epilepsia, paraly si, vertigine, caro, &c. visum acuunt; foetorem anhelitus emendant; hepatis, lienis, et uteri obstructiones resolvunt. Ictero et fluori albo mulierum medentur, corque confortant,” After this encomium from so distinguished a physician, we cannot wonderat seeing in poets, “ There’s rosemary ; that’s for remembrance.” SHAKSPEARE, . Perdita thus alludes to it: teverendsirs, = For youthere’s rosemary and rue; these keep Seeming and savour all the winter long: temembrance and grace be to you both.” SHAKSPEA This quality rendered it a fit present of the lover. a sonnet in 1584: “ Thus in Rosemaryis for remembrance Betweeneus daie and night ; Wishing that I might alwaies haye Youpresent in my sight.” Its smell is certainly reviving, and this is found particularly in what is denominated the queen of Hungary's water, which smelt to on the handkerchief greatly relieves a headache, oF if sprinkled on the forehead, ACenSSTRe S It is made thus: order aspirit, w Srrrit o rIT oF OF Rosr IVOSE? MEDICAL USE. So speaks Ophelia. ROSEMARY. ~ proof spirit, a gallon : Distil off in a water-bath, five pints. This is useful as an outward application in strains andbruises, and, given internally, is said to have cured a queen of Hungar y of aparalytic affection. The College mention also in their Pharmacopoeia an Essrnrian Ort or Rosemary (Oleum Esse tiale Rorismarini), Asa cephalic, four orfive drops ofthe oil are given in a dessert-spoonful of the spirit ; also in hysteric s. The spirit properly enters into the composition of the Com. rounp Tincture or Lavenprr (Tinctura Lavendule composita, P. L.); also of the Soap Lintment (LinimentumSaponis). The topsare used as a kind of tea, but are not so goodas the sage tea for domestic use. |