SCABIOUS. 299 



three species in his excellent edition of Miller. 

 Tlireeof these varieties are indigenous to our fields, 

 one of which, Scabiosa Arvensis, chooses to mix its 

 lilac flowers amongst the corn, but in this situation 

 its beauty cannot defend it from the umbrageous 

 name of a weed, whilst the Columbaria and Succisa 

 plant themselves in pasture-grounds, where theiu 

 foliage becomes food for cattle. 



All these native species were formerly held in 

 estimation on account of their medical properties ; 

 and we find some of the most learned and respecta- 

 ble of the iEsculapian writers have highly extolled 

 the virtues of these plants for all diseases of the 

 lungs, and strongly recommend it as a soporific that 

 may be usefully employed in fevers. Ettmuller 

 commends its use, especially in all catarrhal fevers. 

 He very highly extols a decoction of this plant in 

 cutaneous eruptions and tinea, or scald-head, &c. 



