No. 6. 



47 



weed or Vernonict. It is deemed a troublesome 

 weed, although being annual it is easily destroyed by 

 early ploughings. 



Qualities — Graveolent, bitter, and nauseous ; 

 the smell of the plant resides in a Volatile Oil, pos- 

 sessed of a strong or graveolent aroma, and diffused 

 through out the plant, although more concentrated in 



V 



the flowers- It is similar to the smell of Camomile, but 

 more pungent, and less balsamic. This oil is bitter and 

 communicates a bitterish acrid taste to the whole plant. 

 PROPERTIES— The same as those of Camomile, 

 but weaker and less pleasant to the taste ; it may be 

 substituted thereto with safety. It is an active tonic, 

 sodorific, stimulant, anodyne, emetic, and repellent; 

 extensively used throughout the country for rheuma- 

 tism, hj^sterics, epilepsy, dropsy, asthma, scrofula, &c. 

 both internally and externally. The external use in 

 warm baths or fomentations is pr6per in rheumatism, 

 hysteric fits, suffocations, hemorrhoidal swellings, 

 pains and contusions, Thedecoctfon and infusion are 

 given for colds, fevers, rheumatism, asthma, &c. but 

 a single cupful, if too strong, may produce vomiting, 

 and even a weak infusion nauseates the stomach. It 

 acts always as a sudorific, promoting copious sweating, 

 and is often beneficial as an auxiliary to an emetic. 

 In lar<^e doses it becomes emetic : in small ones it is 



a gentle tonic and diaphoretic, useful whenever it is 

 needful to promote perspiration in fevers. Its advan* 

 tages in epilepsy, dropsy and scrofula, are doubtful. 

 The European plant is said to blister the hands, which 

 u not llie case with oure. 



