246

Materia Mebica.

part II.

H

composed by the alkalies, and their carbonates, lime-water, themuriates of barytes and lime, nitrate of silver, and acetate andsuperacetate of lead, which are therefore incompatible with itin prescriptions.

Medical properties and uses. —This salt is purgative and diu-retic. It operates readily without griping; and notwithstand-ing its nauseous taste, is generally retained by the stomachwhen it rejects almost all other things, especially when admini-stered in small repeated doses largely diluted, or united withacidulated infusion of roses. In these forms it is a useful pur-gative in hypochondriasis, colica pictonum, ileus, puerperalfever, and in all acute diseases. It is also used as an adjunctto stimulating clysters. By moderate exercise in the open air,while taking this salt, the purgative effect is diminished, and itsdiuretic property increased. The dose is from 3fs to 3ij dis-solved in water, gruel, or any other vehicle; and taken eitherat once, or in divided doses frequently repeated.

Off. preparations. Enema Catharticum. D. Enema Jcetidum. D.

MALVA. Spec. Plant. Willd. iii. 77*.CI. 16. Ord. 6. Monadelphia Polyandria. Nat. ord. Columniferae

Linn. Malvaceae Juss.G. 1290. Calyx double, the exterior three-leaved. Capsules nu-merous, one-seeded.* * with angular leaves.Species 43. Malva syhestris.* Common Mallow. Med. Bot. 2d edit.

.554. t. 199. Smith Flora Brit. 740. Engl. Bot. 671.Officinal. Malva. Loud. Malv-e SyI/Vestris herba, flores.

Edi-.i. Mallow.

Syn. Mauve (F.) Kasepappel (G.) Ma\va (7.) Malvas {S.)

This is a perennial, indigenous plant, common over all Eu-rope, flowering from May till August. The root is fusiform,branching, and of a whitish colour. The stem frequendy erect,branched, round, hairy, and many-flowered. The leaves arealternate, petiolate, cordate, divided into seven lobes, plaited,somewhat rough, and crenate; the upper ones are almost pal-mate. At the base of each footstalk are two stipules. Theflowers, which stand on slender hairy peduncles, are large;composed of five inversely cordate purple petals, three timeslonger than the calyx, which is hispid. The capsules are fromten to fifteen in number, of a rounded kidney form, crustaceous,brittle, close all round, of a dark straw colour, excavated, andwrinkled on the back. The seeds are kidney-shaped, ash-coloured, and furnished with an arillus which opens inwardly.

Qualities. — Common mallow is inodorous, and has a weak,herbaceous, mucilaginous taste. The decoction is pr«?cipitated

1 M«X«^»» Gracoruin.