186 Chenopodium anthelminticum. 
quent and abundant, and to acquire a greater size than here. Pursh 
says this species “ grows plentifully in the streets of Philadelphia,”°»— 
He must certainly, in this instance, have observed carelessly, else he 
would have ascertained that it is the Chenopodium ambrosioides 
which is so common in our streets, by the gutter ways, and in the 
suburbs on vacant lots among rubbish. The late Professor Barton 
always considered that plant the C. anthelminticum, as did Pursh.— 
The least attention, however, to the characters of the two species, 
will prove that they have both erred in this instance. The odour 
of the C. ambrosioides, is different from that of the plant under 
notice. It is much less subtle, pungent and disagreeable, and 
does not continue so powerful on the dried plant as in the other 
species, 
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES, 
The very peculiar odour emanating from every part of this plant, 
I have already noticed, with a view to point out the distinction be- 
tween it and the ambrosioides. This odour is so disgusting, that it 
seems in some measure to detract from the value of the article as a 
medicine, because of the difficulty of inducing children to swallow 
any preparation from it. It has been compared to the odour of vale- 
rian; which, however, is much more tolerable. The whole plant and 
the seeds, are alike imbued with the peculiar scent. The medicinal 
2 
