Erigeron heterophyllum, 235 
more harm than good. This gentleman was greatly relieved by the 
infusion of Scabious, which he took very freely.°* Dr. Eberle ac- 
cordingly administered the decoction in this instance, and he in- 
forms me with great relief to the Judge. He was, from this circum- 
stance, subsequently induced to prescribe it to a patient} affected 
with anasarca, who found the most essential relief from the medi- 
cine. 
On learning from Dr. Physick that he procured the plant at 
the Friends’ alms-house of this city, I found, by examining the herbs 
vended by the inhabitants of that place, under the name of Scabious, 
that they were the two species just described ; and that they were 
sold indiscriminately for one article. At the same time I was in- 
formed that one (the E. heterophyllum) was commonly known, and 
brought to them by their herb-collectors, under the name of Sweet- 
Scabious. In consequénce of this information I made many trials of 
the last mentioned species, and found it possessed of active diuretic 
and sudorific virtues, like the E. Philadelphicum. I have every 
 * Dr. Wistar sent’a box full of this Scabious to Dr. Eberle, for the use of the 
judge ;-and as Dr. Wistar had informed me that he procured the plant whenever he 
thought proper to prescribe it, at the Friends’ alms-house, it is probable that the 
quantity sent to Lancaster was procured there. Consequently it was composed of two 
species, as may be seen in a subsequent part of the text. 
+ The late Paul Zantzinger, Esq. of Lancaster. 
