Chenopodium anthelminticum. 187 
preparations are—the expressed juice; the bruised seeds, in an elec- 
tuary ; a decoction of the leaves in milk; and an essential oil, extract- 
ed from the seeds. The latter is the most common form of admin- 
istering the article; and, as it conveys the essential properties of the 
plant in the smallest bulk, seems to be entitled to a preference to 
the other methods. In whatever manner it be given, the effect looked 
for, is an expulsion of worms from the alimentary canal. The an- 
thelmintic virtues of this species of goose-foot, were early noticed by 
Kalm, Clayton, Schoepf, and others, and are now very generally ac- 
knowledged, so that the article constitutes one of the legitimate 
catalogue of medicines. It is conspicuously noticed in all our dis- 
pensatories and works on Materia Mediea; and is undoubtedly very 
estimable. 
The essential oil, under the name of worm seed oil, enjoys a great 
share of popular favour, and hence has unfortunately been an object 
of a very reprehensible cupidity in the adulteration of it. A spurious 
kind of oil is sold under the above name, which appears to be 
made from the Chenopodium ambrosioides, with the addition of a 
considerable proportion of turpentine spirit. This preparation is in- 
efficacious as an anthelmintic, and is easily known by the absence of 
the very remarkable odour of the true plant, and the oil prepared 
from its seeds. 
Of the expressed juice of the recent leaves, a table spoonful is re- 
