236 : Erigeron heterophyllum. - 
reason to believe, that both plants are deserving the attention of 
physicians, for the medicinal powers which have given them a place 
in this work; and there is great probability, from the similarity of 
the two plants, that the Erigeron heterophyllum has a just right to 
participation, in the reputation bestowed on the other species. They 
have certainly been confounded with each other by all but bo- 
tanists ; and used indiscriminately under one common name, and of 
course with the same object in view, 
These plants should be gathered for medical use, while in 
flower, and carefully dried in wrapping paper. They should be 
used in decoction to the extent of a pint or two, in the course of 
twenty-four hours. Mr. Hazard’s case, and the encouraging relief 
met with by Dr. Physick in the case above mentioned, as well as_ 
the one alluded to by Dr. Wistar, justify me in strenuously recom- 
mending the plants to the notice of physicians. My own expe- 
rience with both species enables me to bear testimony to their di- 
uretic virtues. If they be not among the most powerful medi- 
cines of this class, they have the estimable property of being inno- 
cent to the stomach. This organ will not reject the decoction of 
these herbs when it is so disordered and irritable as to render the 
squill, digitalis, &c. intolerable. Ihave used a strong decoction of 
the two plants, in a case of nephritis, at the Naval Hospital ; and 
with great relief of the difficult and painful micturition so con- 
stantly attendant on this disease. My success, in the instance alluded 
