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sometimes used to adulterate rhubarb (Dr. Stewart). Digitalis leaves are occasionally found mixed with those of Verbascum Thapsus and of other plants (Garrod. )
The seeds are supposed to be narcotic and are used for poisoning fish (O'Shaughnessy). Mr. Duthie's Trans-Indus collector states that the herb is much employed by the natives of that region for the treatment of asthma and other pulmonary complaints, that it possesses narcotic properties similar to those of tobacco, and that the seeds are considered aphrodisiac. The leaves warmed, and rubbed with oil, are employed as an appli- cation to inflamed parts. In Europe and the United States of America, the thick woolly leaves were at one time much valued as demulcents and emollients, not only in domestic medicine, but by practitioners. They were used in the treat- ment of catarrh and diarrhoea, and as an external application for haemorrhoids (Watt).
It was formerly used in medicine on account of its emol- lient properties. A decoction of the leaves was recommended by the physicians of the last century for diarrhoeas. Sir James Smith says : —
1 That a pint of cow's milk, with a handful of the leaves of this Mullein boiled in it to half a pint, sweetened, strained, and taken at bed time, is a pleasant, emollient, and nutritious medicine for allaying a cough, or removing pain and irritation.'
It is one of the many herbs said to poison, or rather to stupefy fish. According to Alexander Trallianus, its ashes made into a soap will restore hair which has become grey, to its ori- ginal color. — (JSowerby's Eng. Bot., Vol. vi, pp. 111-112).
The British Medical Journal of 27th January 1883, published an interesting paper from the pen of Dr. F. J. B. Quinlan of Dublin on the use of this plant in the treatment of pulmonary consumption. According to him, this plant which is a wild one in Ireland is a trusted popular remedy for that malady. After describing several cases in which this plant proved useful, he says : — " That it eases phthisical cough there can be no doubt.** Its power of checking phthisical looseness of the bowels was very marked.** It also gave great relief to the dyspnoea. For phthisical night sweats it is utterly useless."
In another note (B. M. J. Feb. 9, 1884 p. 294), he writes " The quantity of mullein is three ounces of the green leaves, which should be boiled for
