mon garden plant cultivated both in America and England, and is often found growing by the side of old ditches. It flowers from June till September.

Propagation and Culture. All the species of Comfrey are extremely hardy, and will grow in any soil and situation; some are very handsome border flowers, and are well fitted for woods or shrubberies, as they will grow under the shade of trees and shrubs; they are easily increased by dividing the roots in the spring, or by seeds, but the former mode is preferable.

Medical Properties and Uses. The root of Comfrey, though rarely used, promises all the advantages to be derived from that of marshmallow according to recent investigations we find, that the dried root, boiled in water, renders a large proportion of the fluid slimy; and the decoctions inspissated, yield a strong flavorless mucilage, similar to that obtained from althæa, but somewhat stronger-bodied, or more tenacious, and in considerable larger quantities, amounting to about three-fourths the weight of the Comfrey. Hence it is inferred that the consolida is rather superior to the althæa in many cases where that root is employed; the mucilaginous matter being in both roots the only medicinal principle. Therefore, as the root of this plant is easily obtained, it may be conveniently substituted for that of althæa in all the compositions in which the latter is officinally directed or extemporaneously, for the general purposes of an emollient and demulcent. This opinion seems also to have the authority of Dr. Cullen, who says,— "While mucilaginous matters are retained in our list of medicines, I do not perceive why the colleges have entirely omitted the Symphytum, for it may be of great service in diarrhoeas and dysenteries."

Lobeliacea.

LOBELIA PUBERULA.

Order I.

BLUE DOWNY LOBELIA.

MONOGYNIA.

Co

Class V. PENTANDRIA. Gen. Char. Calyx, adnate to the ovarium. Limb, five-parted. rolla, irregular, tubular, tube cleft. The two Segments on the upper lip, linear-lanceolate. Filaments, combined above. Anthers, cohering, bearded. Capsule, oval, two-celled, two-valved. Spe. Char. Leaves, oblong, obtuse, repandly serrulated. Flowers, almost sessile, forming a spike. Calyx, downy. Calycine Segments, erect, lanceolate-subulate, entire. Stamens, inclosed.

THE root is perennial; the stem erect, simple, two to three feet high, angled, very slightly downy; leaves, alternate, remote, three to four inches long, oblong or elliptical-lanceolate, sessile, dentato-serrate, in our specimens nearly glabrous, gradually smaller upwards; the radicle ones subspathulate; the spike is from eight to ten inches and sometimes even a foot long, slender; the flowers are placed upon short pedicels, spreading, bracteated; bracteas lanceolate, wavy, with glandular serratures; the calyx-segments are almost as long as the tube of the corolla, erect, lanceolate-subulate, entire, edged with red, and the sinuses reflexed; the corolla is of a bright purplish-blue, divided almost to the base into two portions; the upper one linear, bifid, the segments acute reflexed, the lower broad and reflexed at the extremity, three-lobed, with two oval, white, protuberant spots, the lobes ovate; stamens included in the corolla.

This is a highly interesting and valuable addition to the Materia

VOL. III.-161.

Medica, and was first described and introduced by Mr. Drummond, of Jacksonville, in Louisiana, of which place it is a native. The species appears, indeed, to be but little known, except to our American botanists, and is probably confined to the southern states. Its nearest affinity is with Lobelia siphilitica, but its spike is less dense and vastly more elongated, its flowers smaller, of a brighter color, deeply barpitite, the upper lip bifid, the segments much reflexed, not split down so far that the stamens are excluded as in the last-named species.

Medical Properties and Uses. This species of Lobelia possesses properties very similar to the L. siphilitica, and may be used for the same purposes. Its active principle is highly volatile, thence by decoction the medicinal qualities pass off. The best method for preparing it for use is by tincture, one ounce of the dried leaves and flowerbuds to one quart of diluted alcohol. This may be given in doses of one to three drachms, three times a day. It is very diffusive, acting upon the whole system at once, causing great perspiration, and lassitude of feeling, with some very unpleasant feelings. It is but very little used in practice, except by a few empirics, who fancy it a certain remedy for cancer, for the cure of which it has become very celebrated. For this purpose it is taken internally as directed above, and applied externally as a wash, repeated several times a day.