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Show aU 36 OFFICINAL VALERIAN. s 7s i e plates ; and he mentions that by the same smean with admirab le 3 disease. he am he had curedseveral others labouring under the He advises to gather the root before the time 0 oa Bs wine, : to reduce the same into powder, and take it in water, h e ; whenc stomac empty ings i ce ie milk, on six successive mornings, On an empty 5 relaxed e becom will sweats will break out, and often the bowels ssntiisdin which are excellent signs. Dominicus Panarolus, fifty years afterwards, reports that * cured three cases of epilepsy. To these may be atkded many other instances of good effects in this disease, published by Cruger, Schuckman, Riverius, Sylvius, Marchant *, Chomel, Sauvage, Tissot, and Haller. : = Se das Whytt, who joined its exhibition with manna, experience Ee ied its goodeffect in epilepsy. affecting pain a ania, Fordyce recommendsit highly in hemicr ig one side of the head only. Camerarius asserts that he foundit very serviceable in janndice, also in asthma, in which latter disease he accompaniedit with a grain of opium. Cullen mentions that it is serviceable in hysteric and other spasmodic affections ; and where it failed of producing any good, it arose from these disorders not being primary nervous alfections, or from the badness of the drug +. Haller mentions also his success in hysteria. Boerhaave pronounces that it is good against all diseases of the thorax, stomach, and uterus, wonderfully increasing the discharge from the latter, when too sparing, using an ounce or two of the bruised root as tea, sweetened with honey: he likewise mentions that it is an excellent vermifuge. He adds, that if the fresh leaves be bruised with wine and applied to the parts, it is excellent in contusions; that thus it dissipates scirrhous tumours without suppuration, and, when suppuration has taken place, soon makes them heal: hencethe common people always apply them in sordid ulcers. Morgan relates, that mixed with guaiacum, even only outwardly applied, it has a singular efficacy in glandular obstructions. Applied outwardly, the leaves are said to strengthen thesightt, * He used to give a drachmandahalf of the powderfor a dose. + Being gatheredafter the spring season was past. $ Haller relates that his sight was considerably amended, which. was weak, and accompanied with motes flying before the sight in the left eye, by takingthree times a day, during fifteen days, two drachms ofthe powder of Valerian. OFFICINAL VALERIAN. of and remove specks on the éyes (maculas oculorum abstergit) s and as an amulet there are people whothink it successful against the ague (adsunt auctores qui radicem pro amuleto febris quotidiane habent, eamque collo in hunc finem suspendunt). Boer. haave. According to Boding, it is useful in tenesmus. If wetake the opposite side, Woodville says that it has been given in the extent of two ounces a day without effect, and *¢ from our ownexperience we are warranted in sayingit will be seldom found to answer the expectation of the prescriber.” As far as my practice has gone, I have foundit successful in several cases of epilepsy, and a good nervous medicine; and in phthisis pulmonalis (consumption) a tea made of it for break. fast has done considerable service. It merits yet a place in the Materia Medica, but what-rank remains to be explore d. The oil of Valerian deserves a trial in epilepsy, being said to have produced several extraordinary cures. PREPARATIONS. The Royal London College directs only the following tures : tinc- Tincrure oF VALERIAN, (Tinctura Valeriana.) Take of wild Valerian root, grossly powdered, four ounces ; proof spirit, two pints : Digest with a gentle heat for eight days, and strain the tincture. Vorarize Tincrure or VALERIAN. (Tinctura Valer ian volatilis. ) Take of wild Valerian root, four ounces ; the compoundspirit of ammonia, two pints : Digest for eight days, andstrain the tinctu re. The d ose is half a drachm to half an ounce three times a day in any convenient vehicle. In my formule I am in the habit of ordering the pow~ der, tincture, and compound tincture, in the same mixture, with the addition of the camphorated mixtur e. Valerianis usefu lly directed as an electuary thus: ; 25 farsi Take of wild Valerian, in powder, one ounce; syrup of orange peel, as muchasis sufficient to make an electuary, of which give one or two small tea-spoonfuls three times a day in a glass of simple peppe rmint water. |