COMMENTARY. For this article, Dr. Royle informs us that he obtained, in India, the hairy spike-like roots of _Nardostachys Jatamansi_. (Antiq. Hindoo Med. 33.) Dr. Lindley says the Nardostachys Jatamansi, or true spikenard of the ancients, is valued in India, not only for a scent, but also as a remedy in hysteria and epilepsy. (Veg. Kingd. 698.) See further, Ainslie (Mat. Ind. ii, 1, 318.) The Syrian kind was unquestionably some species of valerian, probably the _V. Hardwickii_. Our author, in the present instance, borrows from Galen, who in the main draws all his information from Dioscorides. The latter holds the spikenard to be diuretic, stomachic, hepatic, and carminative. (i, 6.) The Arabians treat fully of it, copying freely from Dioscorides. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 640); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 669); Serapion (c. 52.) Avicenna recommends it strongly in affections of the liver, and in jaundice; and calls it stomachic and deobstruent. Averrhoes joins him in giving it these characters. (Collig. v, 42.) Νάρδος Κελτικὴ, Nardus Celtica, _Celtic Nard_, is possessed of similar powers to the above-mentioned, but weaker, except with regard to its action on the urine; for it is hotter than the former and less astringent. * * * * * COMMENTARY. It is the _Valeriana Celtica_, or French Spikenard. Dioscorides gives an interesting description of it; and, with regard to its medicinal powers, states of it, that it is more diuretic and stomachic than the Syrian, and cures inflammations about the liver, and jaundice and flatulence of the stomach when drunk with the decoction of wormwood; in like manner, that it relieves the spleen, the bladder, and kidneys, and is alexipharmic with wine; and finally, that it is mixed with heating draughts and liniments. (i, 7.) It is the _Nardum Gallicum_ of Celsus, who assigns it a place with other aromatics in one of his antidotes. (v, 23.) Galen and the other authorities treat of it in the same general terms as our author. This species of spikenard long held a place in our Dispensatory. See Quincy (161) and Lewis (Dispensatory, ii, 125.) In the modern Greek Pharmacopœia the _Nardus_ and the _Phu_ are identified with the _Valeriana_. Νάρδος ὀρεῖα, Nardus Montana, _Mountain Nard_ (called also Thylacitis and Pyrites), is weaker than the aforementioned. * * * * * COMMENTARY. It would seem to be the _Valeriana tuberosa_. Galen and the other authorities state briefly of it, like our author, that it is weaker than the other species already described. Νάρθηξ, Ferula, _Fennel-giant_; the seed is attenuant and calefacient. The inner part, while still green, is astringent; and, therefore, agrees with hæmoptysis and cæliac affections. * * * * *