NETTLE.

No plant is more commonplace and plentiful in our fields and

hedges throughout an English summer than the familiar stinging

Nettle. And yet most persons unknowingly include under this single

appellation several distinct herbs. Actually as Nettles are to be

found: the annual _Urtica dioica_, or true Stinging Nettle; the

perennial _Urtica urens_ (burning); the White Dead Nettle; the

Archangel, or Yellow Weasel Snout, and the Purple Hedge Nettle.

This title "Urtica" comes _ab urendo_, "from burning."

The plant which stings has a round hairy stalk, and carries only a

dull colourless bloom, whereas the others are labiate herbs with

square stems, and conspicuous lipped flowers. As Simples only the

great Stinging Nettle, the lesser Stinging Nettle, and the white Dead

Nettle call for observation. Also another variety of our Stinging

Nettle is the _Urtica pilulifera_, called by [383] corruption the

Roman Nettle, really because found abundantly at Romney in Kent.

But a legend obtains belief with some that Roman soldiers first

brought with them to England the seeds of this plant, and sowed it

about for their personal uses. They heard before coming that the

climate here was so cold that it might not be endured without some

friction to warm the blood, and to stir up the natural heat; and they

therefore bethought them to provide Nettles wherewith to chafe

their limbs when "stiffe and much benummed." Or, again, Lyte says,

"They do call al such strange herbes as be unknown of the common

people Romish, or Romayne herbes, although the same be brought

direct from Sweden or Norweigh." The cure for Nettle stings has

been from early times to rub the part with a dock leaf. The dead

Nettles are so named as having no sting, but possessing nettle-like

leaves. The stinging effect of the true Nettle is caused by an acrid

secretion contained in minute vesicles at the base of each of the stiff

hairs; and _urtication_, or flogging, with Nettles, is an old external

remedy, which was long practised for chronic rheumatism, and loss

of muscular power. _Tacta quod exurat digitos urtica tenentis_.

--Macer. Tea made from the young tops is a Devonshire cure for

Nettle-rash. Gerard says, "the Nettle is a good medicine for them

that cannot breathe unless they hold their necks upright: and being

eaten boiled with periwinkles it makes the body soluble."

The word Nettle is derived from _net_, meaning something spun, or

sewn; and it indicates the thread made from the hairs of the plant,

and formerly used among Scandinavian nations. This was likewise

employed by Scotch weavers in the seventeenth century. Westmacott,

the historian, says, "Scotch cloth is only the [384] housewifery

of the Nettle." And the poet Campbell writes in one of his

letters, "I have slept in Nettle sheets, and dined off a Nettle table

cloth: and I have heard my mother say she thought Nettle cloth

more durable than any other linen." Goldsmith has recorded the

"rubbing of a cock's heart with stinging Nettles to make it hatch

hen's eggs." Some think the word "Nettle" an alteration of the

Anglo-Saxon "Needl," with reference to the needle-like stings. Spun

silk is now made in England from "Ramie" the decorticated fibre of

Nettles after washing away the glutinous juice from under their

bark.

The seeds (_dioica_) contain a fine oil, and powerfully stimulate the

sexual functions.

In Russia, as a recent mode of treatment, _urtication_ is now

enthusiastically commended, that is, slapping, or pricking with a

bundle of fresh Nettle twigs for one or more minutes, once, or

several times in the day. It is a superlative method of cure because

harmless (neither irritating the kidneys nor disfiguring the skin),

cleanly, simple in application, rapid in its effects, and cheap, though

perhaps somewhat rude. For sciatica, for incipient wasting, for the

difficult breathing of some heart troubles (where such stimulation

along the backbone affords more prompt and complete relief than

any other treatment), for some coughs palsy, suppression of the

monthly flow in women, rheumatism, and for lack of muscular

energy, this urtication is said to be an invaluable resuscitating

measure which has been successfully resorted to by the peasantry of

Russia from time immemorial. It will sometimes produce a crop of

small harmless blisters.

The analysis of the fresh Nettle shows a presence of formic acid (the

irritating principle of the stinging hairs), with mucilage, salts,

ammonia, carbonic acid, and [385] water. A strong decoction of

Nettles drunk too freely by mistake has produced severe burning

over the whole body, with general redness, and a sense of being

stung. The features became swollen, and minute vesicles appeared

on the skin, which burst, and discharged a limpid fluid. No fever

accompanied the attack, and after five or six days the eruption dried

up. A medicinal tincture (H.) is made from the entire plant with

spirit of wine: and this, as taught by the principle of similars, may

be confidently given in small diluted doses to mitigate such a

totality of symptoms as now described, whether coming on as an

attack of severe Nettle rash, or assuming some more pronounced

eruptive aspect, such as chicken pox. The same tincture also acts

admirably in cases of burns, when the deep skin is not destructively

involved. And again for relieving the itching of the fundament

caused by the presence of threadworms.

"Burns," says Lucomsky, "may be rapidly cured by applying over

them linen cloths well wetted with an alcoholic tincture of the

Stinging Nettle prepared from the fresh plant, this being diluted with

an equal, or a double quantity of cold water. The cloths should be

frequently re-wetted, but without removing them, so as to prevent

pain from exposure." Dr. Burnett has shown conclusively that Nettle

tea, and Nettle tincture (ten drops for a dose in water), are curative

of feverish gout, as well as of intermittent fever and ague. Either

remedy will promote a speedy extrication of gravel through the

kidneys. Again the Nettle was a favourite old English remedy for

consumption, as already mentioned (see _Mugwort_), with reference

to the mermaid of the Clyde, when she beheld with regret the

untimely funeral of a young Glasgow maiden.

[386] Fresh Nettle juice given in doses of from one to two

tablespoonfuls is a most serviceable remedy for all sorts of bleeding,

whether from the nose, the lungs, or some internal organ. Also the

decoction of the leaves and stalks taken in moderate quantities is

capital for many of the minor skin maladies.

An alcoholic extract is made officinally from the entire young plant

gathered in the spring, and some of this if applied on cotton wool

will arrest bleeding from the nose, or after the extraction of a tooth,

when persistent. If a leaf of the plant be put upon the tongue and

pressed against the roof of the mouth, it will stop a bleeding from

the nose. Taken as a fresh young vegetable in the spring, or early

summer, Nettle tops make a very wholesome and succulent dish of

greens, which is slightly laxative; but during Autumn they are

hurtful. In Italy where herb soups are in high favour, "herb knodel"

(or round balls made like a dumpling in size and consistency) of

Nettles are esteemed as nourishing and medicinal. The greater

Nettle (_Urtica dioica_), and the lesser Nettle (_Urtica urens_)

possess stinging properties in common.

A crystalline alkaloid which is fatal to frogs in a dose of one

centigramme, has been isolated from the common Stinging Nettle.

The watery extract has but little effect on mammals: but in the frog

it causes paralysis, beginning in the great nervous centres and

finally stopping the action of the heart. If planted in the

neighbourhood of beehives, the Nettle will serve to drive away

frogs.

The expressed seeds yield an oil which may be used for burning in

lamps. Nettle leaves, rubbed into wooden vessels, such as tubs, &c.,

will prevent their leaking. The juice of the leaves coagulates, and

fills up the [387] interstices of the wood. When dried the leaves will

often relieve asthma and similar bronchial troubles by inhalation,

although other means have failed. Eight or ten grains should be

burnt, and the fumes inspired at bedtime.

The _Lamium album_ (white dead Nettle), a labiate plant, though

not of the stinging Nettle order, is likewise of special use for

arresting haemorrhage, as in spitting of blood, dysentery, and female

fluxes. Its name _Lamium_ is got from the Greek _laimos_, the

throat, because of the shape of its corollae. If the plant be macerated

in alcohol for a week, then cotton wool dipped in the liquid is as

efficacious for staying bleeding, when applied to the spot, as the

strongly astringent muriate of iron. Also, a tincture of the flowers is

made (H.) for internal use in similar cases. From five to ten drops of

this tincture should be given for a dose with a tablespoonful of cold

water. The Red Nettle, another _Lamium_, is also called Archangel,

because it blossoms on St. Michael's day, May 8th. If made into a

tea and sweetened with honey, it promotes perspiration, and acts on

the kidneys. The white dead Nettle is a degenerate form of this

purple herb as shown by still possessing on its petals the same

brown markings. Nevertheless, having disobeyed the laws of its growth,

it has lost its original colour, and, like the Lady of Shalott, it

is fain to complain "the curse has come upon me." Count Mattaei's

nostrum _Pettorale_ is thought to be got from the _Galeopsis_

(hemp Nettle), another of the labiate herbs, with Nettle-like leaves,

but no stinging hairs, named from _galee_, a cat, or weazel, and

_opsis_, a countenance, because supposed to have a blossom

resembling the face of the animal specified.

[388] NIGHT SHADE, DEADLY (_Belladonna_).

This is a Solanaceous plant found native in Great Britain, and

growing generally on chalky soil under hedges, or about waste

grounds. It bears the botanical name of _Atropa_, being so called

from one of the classic Fates,--she who held the shears to cut the

thread of human life:--

"Clotho velum retinet, Lachesis net, et atropos occit."

Its second title, _Belladonna_, was bestowed because the Spanish

ladies made use of the plant to dilate the pupils of their brilliant

black eyes. In this way their orbs appeared more attractively

lustrous: and the _donna_ became _bella_ (beautiful). The plant is

distinguished by a large leaf growing beside a small one about its

stems, whilst the solitary flowers, which droop, have a dark full

purple border, being paler downwards, and without scent. The

berries (in size like small cherries) are of a rich purplish black hue,

and possess most dangerously narcotic properties. They are

medicinally useful, but so deadly that only the skilled hands of the

apothecary should attempt to manipulate them; and they should not

be prescribed for a patient except by the competent physician. When

taken by accident their mischievous effects may be prevented by

swallowing as soon as possible a large glass of warm vinegar.

A tincture of allied berries was used of old by ladies of fashion in

the land of the Pharaohs, as discovered among the mummy graves

by Professor Baeyer, of Munich. This had the property of imparting

a verdant sheen to the human iris; and, perhaps by the quaint

colour-effect it produced on the transparent cornea of some wily

Egyptian belle, it gave rise to the saying, "Do you see any

green in the white of my eye?"

[389] At one time _Belladonna_ leaves were held to be curative of

cancer when applied externally as a poultice, either fresh, or dried,

and powdered. It is remarkable that sheep, rabbits, goats, and swine

can eat these leaves with impunity, though (as Boerhaave tells) a

single berry has been known to prove fatal to the human subject;

and a gardener was once hanged for neglecting to remove plants of

the deadly Night Shade from certain grounds which he knew. A

peculiar symptom in those poisoned by _Belladonna_ berries is the

complete loss of voice, together with frequent bending forward of

the trunk, and continual movements of the hands and fingers.

The Scotch under Macbeth sent bread and wine treacherously

impregnated with this poison to the troops of Sweno.

The plant bears other titles, as "Dwale" (death's herb), "Great

Morel," and "Naughty Man's Cherry." The term "Morel" is applied

to the plant as a diminutive of _mora_, a Moor, on account of the

black-skinned berries. The _Belladonna_ grows especially near the

ruins of monasteries, and is so abundant around Furness Abbey that

this locality has been styled the "Vale of Night Shade."

Hahnemann taught that, acting on the law of similars, Belladonna

given in very small doses of its tincture will protect from the

infection of scarlet fever. He confirmed this fact by experiments on

one hundred and sixty children. When taken by provers in actual

toxic doses the tincture, or the fresh juice, has induced sore throat,

feverishness, and a dry, red, hot skin, just as if symptomatic of

scarlet fever. The plant yields atropine and hyoscyamine from all its

parts. As a drug it specially affects the brain and the bladder. The

berries are known in Buckinghamshire as "Devil's cherries."

[390] NUTMEG, CINNAMON, GINGER, and CLOVES.

The spice box is such a constant source of ready domestic comforts

of a medicinal sort in every household that the more important, and

best known of its contents may well receive some consideration

when treating of Herbal Simples; though it will, of course, be

understood these spices are of foreign growth, and not indigenous

products.

Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, and Cloves, claim particular notice in

this respect.

"Sinament, Ginger, Nutmeg, and Cloves,

And that gave me my jolly red nose."

_Beaumont and Fletcher_.

Cinnamon possesses positive medicinal as well as aromatic virtues.

What we employ as this spice consists of the inner bark of shoots

from the stocks of a Ceylon tree, first cultivated here in 1768.

Such bark chemically contains cinnamic acid, tannin, a resin, and

sugar, so that its continued use will induce constipation. The

aromatic and stimulating effects of Cinnamon have been long

known. It was freely given in England during the epidemic scourges

of the early and middle centuries, nearly every monastery keeping a

store of the cordial for ready use. The monks administered it in

fever, dysentery, and contagious diseases. And recent discovery in

the laboratory of M. Pasteur, the noted French bacteriologist, has

shown that Cinnamon possesses the power of absolutely destroying

all disease germs. Our ancestors, it would appear, had hit upon a

valuable preservative against microbes, when they infused

Cinnamon with other spices in their mulled drinks. Mr. Chamberland

says, "no disease germ can long resist the antiseptic powder

of essence of Cinnamon, [391] which is as effective to destroy

microbes as corrosive sublimate."

By its warming astringency, it exercises cordial properties which are

most useful in arresting passive diarrhoea, and in relieving flatulent

indigestion.

Its volatile oil is procured from the bark, and likewise a tincture,

as well as an aromatic water of Cinnamon. For a sick qualmish

stomach either preparation is an excellent remedy, as the virtue of

the bark rests in this essential volatile oil. When obtained from the

_fruit_ it is extremely fragrant, of thick consistence, and sometimes

made into candles at Ceylon, for the sole use of the king. The doses

are of the powdered bark from ten to twenty grains; of the oil from

one to five drops; of the tincture from half to one teaspoonful, and

of the distilled water from one to two tablespoonfuls. Our Queen is

known to be partial to the use of Cinnamon. Keats, the poet, wrote

of "lucent syrups tinct. with Cinnamon." And Saint Francis of Sales

says in his _Devout Life_: "With respect to the labour of teaching, it

refreshes and revives the heart by the sweetness it brings to those

who are engaged in it, as the Cinnamon does in _Arabia Felix_ to

them who are laden with it." In toxic quantities of an injurious

amount, Cinnamon bark has produced haemorrhage from the bowels,

and nose bleeding. Therefore small doses of the diluted tincture

are well calculated to obviate these symptoms when presenting

themselves through illness.

The bark was formerly thought to stimulate the functions of the

womb, and of late it has come again into medical use for this

purpose. To check fluxes from that organ a teaspoonful of the

bruised bark should be infused in half a pint of boiling water, and a

tablespoonful given frequently when cool. Lozenges made [392]

with the essential oil are also medicinally available for the speedy

relief of sickness, and as highly useful against influenza. It is well

known that persons who live in Cinnamon districts have an

immunity from malaria.

Ginger (_Zingiberis radix_) is the root-stock of a plant grown in the

East and West Indies, and is scraped before importation. Its odour is

due to an essential oil, and its pungent hot taste to a resin. It was

known in Queen Elizabeth's reign, having been introduced by the

Dutch about 1566. "Grene Gynger of almondes" is mentioned in the

Paston Letters, 1444. "When condited," says Gerard, "it provoketh

venerie."

This Green Ginger, which consists of the young shoots of the

rhizome, when boiled in syrup makes an excellent preserve.

Officinally from the dried and scraped _rhizome_ are prepared a

tincture, and a syrup. If a piece of the root is chewed it causes a

considerable flow of saliva, and an application of powdered Ginger,

made with water into paste, against the skin will produce intense

tingling and heat. To which end it may be spread on paper and

applied to the forehead as a means for relieving a headache from

passive fulness. In India, Europeans who suffer from languid

indigestion drink an infusion of Ginger as a substitute for tea. For

gouty dyspepsia the root may be powdered in a mortar: and a

heaped teaspoonful of it should be then infused in boiling milk; to

be taken when sufficiently cool, for supper or at breakfast.

The dose of the powder is from ten to twenty grains; of the tincture

from a third of a teaspoonful to a teaspoonful, in water hot or cold;

of the syrup from one to two teaspoonfuls in water. Either

preparation is of service to correct diarrhoea, and to relieve weakly

chronic bronchitis. Also as admirably corrective of [393] chronic

constipation through general intestinal sluggishness, a vespertine

slice of good, old-fashioned Gingerbread made with brown treacle

and grated ginger may be eaten with zest, and reliance. There is a

street in Hull called "The land of Ginger."

The habitat of the tree from which our Nutmeg comes is the

Molucca Islands, and the part of the nut which constitutes the Spice

is the kernel. This is called generically _Nux moschata_, or Mugget

(French _Musque_) a diminutive of musk, from its aromatic odour,

and properties. The Nutmeg is oval, or nearly round, of a brown

wrinkled aspect, with an aromatic smell, and a bitter fragrant taste.

Officinally the tree is named _Myristica officinalis_, and the oil

distilled from the Nutmeg in Britain is much superior to foreign oil.

Ordinarily as a condiment of a warming character the Nutmeg is

employed to correct cold indigestible food, or as a cordial addition

to negus: and medicinally for languid digestion, with giddiness and

flatulence, causing oppressed breathing. Its activity depends on the

volatile oil, contained in the proportion of six per cent. in the nut.

This when given at all largely is essentially narcotic. Four Nutmegs

have been known to completely paralyse all nervous sensibility, and

have produced a sort of wakeful unconsciousness for three entire

days, with loss of memory afterwards, and with more or less

paralysis until after eight days.

The Banda, or Nutmeg Islands in the Indian Ocean, are twelve in

number, and the strength of the Nutmeg in its season is said to

overcome birds of Paradise so that they fall helplessly intoxicated.

When taken to any excess, whether as a spice, or as a medicine, the

Nutmeg and its preparations are apt to cause giddiness, oppression

of the chest, stupor, and [394] delirium. A moderate dose of the

powdered Nutmeg is from five to twenty grains, but persons with a

tendency to apoplexy should abstain from any free use of this spice.

From two to six drops of the essential oil may be taken on sugar to

relieve flatulent oppression and dyspepsia, or from half to one

teaspoonful of the spirit of Nutmeg made by mixing one part of the

oil with forty parts of spirit of wine; this dose being had with one

or two tablespoonfuls of hot water, sweetened if desired.

A medicinal tincture is prepared (H.) from the kernel with spirit of

wine (not using the oil, nor the essence). This in small diluted doses

is highly useful for drowsiness connected with flatulent indigestion,

and a disposition to faintness: also for gout retrocedent to the

stomach. The dose is from five to ten drops with a spoonful of water

every half hour, or every hour until the symptoms are adequately

relieved. Against diarrhoea Nutmeg grated into warm water is very

helpful, and will prove an efficient substitute for opium in mild

cases. Externally the spirit of Nutmeg is a capital application to be

rubbed in for chronic rheumatism, and for paralysed limbs. The

"butter of Nutmegs," or their concrete oil, is used in making plasters

of a warming, and stimulating kind. A drink that was concocted by

our grandmothers was Nutmeg tea. One Nutmeg would make a pint

of this tea, two or three cupfuls of which would produce a sleep of

many hours' duration. The worthy old ladies were wont to carry a

silver grater and Nutmeg case suspended from the waist on their

chatelaines. But in any large quantity the Nutmeg may produce

sleep of such a profundity as to prove really dangerous. Two

drachms of the powder have brought on a comatose sleep with some

delirium.

[395] The Nutmeg contains starch, protein, and other simple

constituents, in addition to its stimulating principles. Mace is the

aromatic envelope of the Nutmeg, and possesses the same qualities

in a minor degree. Its infusion is a good warming medicine against

chronic cough, and moist bronchial asthma in an old person. Mace

is a membranaceous structure enveloping the Nutmeg, having a

fleshy texture, and being of a light yellowish-brown colour. It

supplies an allied essential volatile principle, which is fragrant and

cordial. If given three or four times during the twenty-four hours, in

a dose of from eight to twelve grains, crushed, or powdered Mace

will prove serviceable against long-continued looseness of the

bowels; but this dose should not be exceeded for fear of inducing

narcotism.

Cloves (from _clavus_, a nail), also found in the kitchen spice box,

and owning certain medicinal resources of a cordial sort, which are

quickly available, belong to the Myrtle family of plants, and are the

unexpanded flower buds of an aromatic tree (_Caryophyllus_),

cultivated at Penang and elsewhere. They contain a volatile oil

which, like that of Chamomile, although cordial, lowers nervous

sensibility, or irritability: also tannin, a gum resin, and woody

fibre. This volatile oil consists principally of "eugenin" with a

camphor, "caryophyllin." The "eugenic acid," with a strong odour of

cloves, is powerfully antiseptic and anti-putrescent. It reduces the

sensibility of the skin: and therefore the oil with lanolin is a

useful application for eczema.

Dr Burnett has lately taught (1895) that a too free use of Cloves will

bring on albuminuria; and that when this disease has supervened

from other causes, the dilute tincture of Cloves, third decimal

strength, will frequently do much to lessen the quantity of albumen

[396] excreted by the kidneys. From five to ten drops of this tincture

should be given with water three times a day.

Used in small quantities as a spice the Clove stimulates digestion,

but when taken more freely it deadens the susceptibility of the

stomach, lessens the appetite, and induces constipation. An infusion

of Cloves, made with half an ounce to a pint of water, and drank in

doses of a small wineglassful, will relieve the nausea and coldness

of flatulent indigestion. The oil put on cotton wool into the hollow

of a decayed tooth is a useful means for giving ease to toothache.

The dose of the oil is from one to five drops, on sugar, or in a

spoonful of milk. The odour of Cloves is aromatic, and the taste

pleasantly hot, but acrid. Half a tumbler of quite hot water poured

over half a dozen Cloves (which are to brew for a few minutes on

the hob, and then to be taken out), will often secure a good night to

a restless dyspeptic patient, if taken just before getting into bed. Or

if given cold before breakfast this dose will obviate constipation. In

Holland the oil of Cloves is prescribed with cinchona bark for ague.

Arthur Cecil's German medico in the Play advises his patient to "rub

your pelly mit a Clove."

All-Spice (_Pimento_) is another common occupant of the domestic

spice box. It is popular as a warming cordial, of a sweet odour, and

a grateful aromatic taste; but being a native of South America,

grows with us only as a stove plant. The leaves and bark are full of

inflammable particles, whilst walks between Pimento trees are

odorous with a delicious scent. The name All-Spice is given because

the berries afford in smell and taste a combination of Cloves,

Juniper berries, Cinnamon and Pepper. The special qualities of the

Pimento reside in the rind of these berries; and this tree is the

_Bromelia ananas_, [397] named in Brazil Nana. An extract made

from the crushed berries by boiling them down to a thick liquor, is,

when spread on linen, a capital stimulating plaster for neuralgic or

rheumatic parts. About the physician in "les Francais" it was said

admiringly "c'est lui qui a invente la salade d'Ananas." The essential

oil, as well as the spirit and the distilled water of Pimento, are

useful against flatulent indigestion and for hysterical paroxysms. This

Spice was formerly added to our syrup of buckthorn to prevent it

from griping. The berries are put into curry powder, and added to

mulled wines.