COMMENTARY. It has been generally acknowledged as the _peach tree_, but, as Alston and Woodville state, this supposition is attended with many difficulties. Sprengel is by no means decided; but, upon the whole, inclines to the _Cordia Myxa_. With this opinion we are not disposed to agree, as we have stated in another place. See under _Myxa_. We would hesitatingly, then, admit it as the _Persica vulgaris_, Miller. Dioscorides merely recommends the dried powder of the leaves as a good styptic in cases of hemorrhage. Galen and the other Greek authorities give the same character of it. The Arabians, in like manner, follow Dioscorides. See Avicenna (ii, 2, 22.) Πετασίτης, Petasites, _Butter-burr_, is of the third order of desiccants; hence it is used for ill-conditioned and phagedænic ulcers. * * * * * COMMENTARY. Dioscorides’s description of this plant with its petasiform leaf, leaves no doubt of its being the _Tussilago petasites_. He recommends it only for malignant and phagedænic ulcers (iv, 106.) Galen and the other Greek authorities say the same of it. We have not been able to find it in the works of any of the Arabians except Ebn Baithar, who, under this head, merely gives extracts from Dioscorides and Galen. It is still used by the country people as an application to foul ulcers. It was retained in the Dispensatory as late as the time of Quincy. Πετροσέλινον, Petroselinum, _Stone Parsley_; the seed is hot and desiccative in the third degree, being incisive; and hence it occasions copious urinary and menstrual discharges. It is also carminative. * * * * *