409.) We never could altogether satisfy ourselves whether or not this be the same as the sal ammoniac of the Greeks. Rhases (Cont. l. ult. 600) and Avicenna (ii, 2, 608) are brief and indistinct in describing the sal ammoniac, but probably refer to the true sal ammoniac. Ebn Baithar minutely describes several kinds of it. Pliny also has a description of a factitious salt, which it would appear could be nothing else than our sal ammoniac. (N. H. xxxvi, 45.) Still, however, we need have no hesitation in setting down the ammoniac salt of the Greek medical authors as being a variety of the sal gem. This is the conclusion which Beckmann arrives at regarding it: he holds, however, that Geber and Avicenna were certainly acquainted with our ammoniac salt. (History of Inventions.) Ἀλθάια ἢ Ἐβίσκος, Althæa or Ebiscus, _Marsh-mallows_, is a species of wild mallows. It is discutient, relaxant, anti-inflammatory, soothing, and ripens tumours (phymata). But the root and seed have all the other properties in a more intense degree, and are also detergent of alphos. The seed is lithontriptic. * * * * * COMMENTARY. This must either be the _Lavatera arborea_ or _Althæa officinalis_. Dioscorides is much fuller than our author in enumerating its properties, but upon the whole they agree very well as to its general character. Besides the cases in which our author recommends it, Dioscorides speaks highly of the decoction of it when drunk with wine in dysuria, the grievous pains of calculus, dysentery, and other acute affections. He also advises the mouth to be rinsed with it in cases of toothache (iii, 153.) It would be useless to go over the other authorities, who supply no new views. Even our modern herbalists all agree in repeating the praises of the marsh-mallow as delivered by Dioscorides. For the Arabians, see Avicenna (ii, 2, 72); Serapion (c. 76); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 26); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42.) This genus of the _Malvaceæ_ does not seem to be noticed either by Hippocrates or Celsus. The _Althæa officinalis_ occurs in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia, published at Athens in 1837. Ἅλιμον, Halimon consists of heterogeneous particles, being saltish and sub-astringent. But the greater part of it is of a hot temperament, with an undigested sap. It therefore promotes the formation of milk and semen. * * * * * COMMENTARY. Our author abridges the characters of this substance, which probably is the _Atriplex Halimus_, from Galen or Dioscorides (i, 126.) It is the sea-purslane of our English herbalists. For the Arabians, see particularly Avicenna (ii, 2, 470.) Ἁλκάια, Alcæa, _Vervain-mallow_, is a species of wild mallows. When drunk with wine it removes dysenteries and gnawing pains of the belly, more particularly its root. * * * * *