Abelmoschus moschatus. Grani moschi.

Description: The natural order and generic characters the same as those in the preceding species. Mr. Lindley says: "Stem herbaceous, hispid with spreading hairs, not prickly. Leaves (and long petioles) hispid with rigid hairs, unequally and coarsely toothed, deeply five to seven-lobed; lobes all spreading, oblong lanceolate, acuminate. Pedicels harshly pubescent, axillary. Involucral leaves six to ten, linear, hairy. Capsules oblong, acuminate, hairy." A native of Egypt and the East Indies.

Properties and Uses: The seeds have a strong aroma of musk, and have been known as grani moschi. Relaxing and stimulating powers are attributed to them; and some cases, apparently authentic, have been recorded, in which they seemed to have a decided influence in casting out the poison of snakes. Possibly a further and more careful investigation of their properties, would show them to be an agreeable and useful article in cases where mild nervous prostration required a diffusible stimulant and relaxant. At present, they seem to be used for nothing beyond giving flavor to the coffee of the Arabs.

The Physiomedical Dispensatory, 1869, was written by William Cook, M.D.
It was scanned by Paul Bergner at http://medherb.com