Originally the oily distillates from the several species of lavender were all designated spike oil. It was not until the close separieren und absundern mit einem fader/in und dasselbe fleiyssig behal im einer glasinen gutteren (Flasche) wohl vermachet und verstopfet." Thesaurus Euonymi Philiatri Ein kostlicher theurer Schatz. Zurich 1555. p. 222.

1) F. de Gingins-Lassaraz, Histoire des Lavandes. Geneva and Paris 1826.

2) Because of the supposed similarity in odor, Lavandula Stcechas, which was used during antiquity, was confounded with Nardostachys jatamansi, D. C, the rhizome of which was likewise prized as a spice and as an incense. The latter was named Nardus indica, the former Spica Nardi. During the middle ages, the former was also designated Nardus italica and Nardus celtica. In the pharmacopoeias the flowers of this plant were known as Flores stcechados arabicae. (Camerarius, Hortus medicus et philosophicus. Francofurti 1588. p. 164.) See also Nardostachys.

3) Dioscoridis, De materia medica libri quinque. Editio Kuhn-Sprengel. 1829. Vol. 1, pp. 15, 17, 35, 40, 62, 508, 542.

4) Plinii Naturalis historiae libri XXXVII.

5) Scribonii Largi Compositiones medicamentorum. Editio Helmreich. Leipzig 1887. p. 72. - Meyer, Geschichte der Botanik. 1855. Vol.1, p. 33.

6) See p. 37, 137 and 195.

7) M. Platearius, Liber de sitnplici medicina. (Circa instans.) In Choulant, Handbuch der Bucherkunde fur die altere Medizin. 2. ed. Leipzig 1841. p. 299.

Abbess Hildegard1) for the preparation of an eye remedy. As early as the 14. century, spike as well as narde flowers were used for filling pillows for healthy persons as well as the sick.'2) Brun-schwig refers to spike as to a universally known plant.3)

The distilled spike or spikenard oil was probably known in the 15. century. As Oleum de Spica from the Provence,4) it is the only distilled oil, besides cedar (turpentine) oil, mentioned by Hieronymus Brunschwig in his Destillirbuch of 1500. Saladin also mentioned spikenard oil at the end of the 15. century.5)

In his Dispensatorium Nor/cum of 1543 Valerius Cordus mentioned only three distilled oils: turpentine oil, juniper oil and spike oil.6) Ryff described in his treatise on distillation, published somewhat earlier, the distillation of "Spik und anderen furnemen Olen", and added the statement that, "dasSpiken- oder Lavendelol gemeygklich aus der Provinz Frankreich gebracht wird in kleinen glasslin eingefasst und theuer verkaufft"7) In the 16. century the several species of lavender were cultivated in Germany8) and in England.9)

Conrad Gesner used the name spike oil only and described the distillation of the spike blossoms,10) whereas Giovanni Baptista Porta,1) at the end of the 16. century, described also the distillation of lavender blossoms and especially emphasized the superiority of the oil from the French lavender.

1) Hildegardis Abbatissae Subtilitatum diversarum naturarum, creatur-arum libri novem. Editio Migne. 1855. pp. 1140 and 1143.

2) Douet d'Arcq, Comptes de l'Argenterie des wis de France. 1874. Vol.2, p. 148.

3) Hieronymus Brunschwig, Liber de arte destiilandi. De simplicibus. 1500. fol. 72.

4) Ibidem .fol. 72. - See p. 39.

5) Saladini Compendium aromatariorum. Venet. 1488. Index.

°) Dispensatorium Noricum. Autore Valerio Cordo. Editio Paris 1548. p. 439. Ex majori lavendula quae spica vocatur, apud nos majoribus sumpti-bus fit quam in Gallia Narbonensi, ideo potius emendum est a mercatoribus qui illud e Gallia afferunt

7) Gualtherus Ryff, New gross Destillirbuch. fol. 186. - Compare also p. 46.

8) Conrad Gesner, De hortis Germanise liber recens. Argentorati 1561. fol. 264.

9) Meddygon Myddfai. Edit. John Pughe. Llandovery 1861. p. 287.

10) „Die Blumlein der Spiken oder des Lavanders solt du eine kurze zeyt lang sonnen in einer grossen glasinen retorte und darnach ein wasser in einem Alembik darvonnen destilliren und abziehen. Dieses Wasser durch den ganzen Sommer gesetzt an eine warme statt an die Sonnen so treybt fur und fur ol uber sich, welches 61 du allwagen solt von dem wasser

An interesting description of the preparation of the French spike or lavender oil is contained in a treatise published in 1773 by joh. Frances Demachy,2) who was director of the laboratories of the Paris municipal hospitals. In its essential features this description corresponds with that quoted an p. 48.

In all probability, Lavandula Stcechas, L., which is indigenus to the Mediterranean coast lands, and which is characterized by its aromatic violet-red inflorescence, was first used in the distillation of spike oil.

The spike or stcechas oil2) mentioned in the writings of Dioscoridis,3) Pliny,4) Scribonius Largus,6) and their contemporaries was, in all probability, only an aromatized fatty oil, like rose, spikenard and other aromatic oils used during antiquity.6)

It is not at all improbable that the Phoceans, Greek colonists from Asia Minor, who about 600 B. C. colonized the coast of the Bay of Lyons and founded Marseille, brought with them Lavandula Stcechas as well as other native plants and introduced them into southern France, whence they soon spread over Spain. Apparently the L. Stcechas was used together with the spike (L. Spica) during the middle ages, whereas Lavendula vera and Lavendula latifolia1) were used later. Indeed, the name Lavandula had its origin in Italy during the later middle ages.

Spike, occasionally designated narde, was used during the early middle ages by the physicians of the Alexandrian School. In European medical treatises we find it recommended by the

1) F. de Gingins-Lassaraz, Histoire des Lavandes. Geneva and Paris 1826.

2) Because of the supposed similarity in odor, Lavandula Stcechas, which was used during antiquity, was confounded with Nardostachys jatamansi, D. C, the rhizome of which was likewise prized as a spice and as an incense. The latter was named Nardus indica, the former Spica Nardi. During the middle ages, the former was also designated Nardus italica and Nardus celtica. In the pharmacopoeias the flowers of this plant were known as Flores stcechados arabicae. (Camerarius, Hortus medicus et philosophicus. Francofurti 1588. p. 164.) See also Nardostachys.