Cook's Physiomedical Dispensatory
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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.






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