249 HOREHOUND.-MARRUBIUM. Natural order, Verticillata. A genus of the Didynamia Gymnospermia class. 66 "If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" Naaman felt the justice of his servant's rebuke, bathed, and recovered his flesh. Horehound has been recommended to us by medical writers of all ages and countries, as a safe and simple remedy for complaints as dangerous to our existence as the leprosy was to the Syrian captain's. Like him we answer, that we have skilful physicians, and drugs collected from the most distant quarters of the globe; shall we not apply to them for cure, rather than to an herb that bears affinity to the nettle ? This medicinal plant is indigenous to most parts of Europe, as well as to Britain; and, like many other herbs, the nearer it grows towards the south, the more powerful is its scent. The English name having no resemblance to that of any other language, induces us to conclude that it was called hore, or hoar, from the white frosty-like appearance of the leaves, and hound, from its likeness to the herb now called hound's-tongue, the smell of which approaches so near to that of a kennel of hounds. Miller mentions fifteen species of the white horehound. Aiton notices eleven in the Hortus Kewensis, that are cultivated in this country, all of which are European plants. The leaves of the common white horehound are considered to be attenuant and resolvent, and are celebrated for the relief they give in moist asthmas, and in most disorders of the breast and lungs, of which a thick and viscous matter is the cause. They are also of great service in cachexies, and chronical disorders, proceeding from a viscidity of the fluids, and obstructions of the viscera. When taken in infusion, a handful of fresh leaves, or half a handful of dried ones, is considered a dose. A dram of the dried leaves powdered, and two or three ounces of the expressed juice, have each the like effect. Lozenges made of the juice of this herb and sugar, are esteemed good for colds that affect the chest. Among the ancient physicians who recommended this herb, Castor directs an equal portion of the juice of the white horehound and honey, to be warmed in an egg-shell, and used as an injection, not only to break imposthumes, but to cleanse and heal them. The same author prescribed a liniment made of lard and horehound stamped, as a cure for the bite of a mad dog, and for scrophulous swellings. Pliny informs us, in the twenty-second chapter of his twentieth book, that the Roman physicians thought horehound one of the most valuable herbs used in medicine. The leaves and seeds were pounded together as a cure for the sting of serpents, pains of the breast or sides, for old coughs, and complaints of the lungs. No medicine was considered more efficacious in these complaints, than the juice of horehound and fennel boiled into a syrup with honey, to be taken fasting. Stamped with vinegar, it was esteemed a cure for the ring-worm. The juice was thought to clear the eyesight, and mitigate the jaundice; and for all kinds of poison, says this Roman author, few herbs are so effectual as horehound; for without any addition, it cleanses the stomach and breast, and brings off all impurities. Dodoens recommends it for most of these complaints, and says, that the juice mixed with honey and wine is good to clear the sight, if the eyes be washed with it; and that the juice drawn up the nostrils clears the eyes of the yellow hue occasioned by the jaundice. This physician particularly commends it for ulcerated lungs, and spitting of blood; but cautions those not to use it whose bladder or kidneys are affected. In addition to these remarks, Gerard adds, that the made of the green leaves and leaves and sugar is an excellent remedy against the wheezings of the lungs, and for old coughs; and that it was particularly recommended by the London College of Physicians in his time. syrup Dr. James observes, that this plant is hot and dry, pectoral, and good to free the lungs from hot viscid phlegm, and thereby to help old coughs, especially in cold moist constitutions; the juice being made into a syrup, with sugar or honey, it opens obstructions of the liver and spleen, and is very serviceable against the dropsy, jaundice, &c.; and few herbs go beyond it in relieving the diseases incidental to the female sex. The leaves of the white horehound give no tincture of red to blue paper: they are very bitter, and have a penetrating smell. The bitter natural salt of the earth, composed of marine salt, sal-ammoniac, and nitre, seems to be united in this plant, with a considerable quantity of sulphur, phlegm, and terrestrial parts. This plant, by the chemical analysis, yields a great deal of acid phlegm, oil, and earth; a little urinous spirit; some concreted, volatile, and fixed salt, and a little lixivium. Thus it is no wonder that the white horehound is a great dissolvent, and a good aperitive; and excellent for those who have the asthma or jaundice. |