AsTERALEs.] ASTERACE/E. 707 



hands of those who gatlicv it a sensation of extreme cold, followed by a burning heat ; 

 its taste is hot, acrid, and permanent, and it is used as a powerful rubefacient and sti- 

 mulant, especially as a masticatoi'y in rheumatic affections of the mouth ; in amitii,'at«'d 

 form, this same action is found to exist in various species of Spilanthes, and in liidt-ns 

 Pyrethrum, Tanacetum, and others, which thus excite salivation powerfully. 



In some instances the oily secretion of Composites assumes a dangerous form. The 

 most remarkable instance of this occurs in Arnica montana, a Swiss herb, called in our 

 gardens Mountain Tobacco ; it is a virulent plant, acting as a powerful narcotico-acrid 

 agent ; it is said, however, that this activity has been exaggerated. It has been recom- 

 mended in the cure of putrid fever, ague, palsy, amaurosis, &c. &c. ; and on the Conti- 

 nent has obtained the name of Panacea lapsoiiim. It has been stated by Dr. Thomson 

 that its flowers contain an igasurate of strychnine ; but this is positively denied by 

 Versmann, who asserts that the acti\'ity of the plant does not depend upon any alkaloid, 

 but upon an extremely acrid, resinous matter. — Pharm. Journ. iv. 239. It seems that 

 properties analogous to those of Arnica occiu' in Doronicum Pardalianches, and various 

 species of the genus Inula or those allied to it. Of these the most remarkable is Ele- 

 campane (Inula Helenium), an aromatic plant whose root contains a white starchy 

 powder called Inuline, a volatile oil, a soft acrid resin, and a bitter extractive ; it is 

 regarded as a tonic, diuretic, and diaphoretic, and has been used in dyspepsia, pulmonary 

 affections, and other diseases. It fmniishes the Vin d'Aulnee of the" French. 



Eupatorium and its allies, in addition to the qualities just mentioned, or as a substi- 

 tute for them, are astringent in some cases, emetic and purgative in others. The latter 

 is the action of Eupatorium cannabmum, a common European marsh plant ; E. Aya- 

 pana is a powerful sudorific, and is said to be foimd a valuable repellent of the poison of 

 venomous snakes. For this purpose it is used in Brazil. A quantity of the bruised 

 leaves, which are to be frequently changed, is laid on the scarified wound, and some 

 spoonfuls of the expressed juice are from time to time administered to the patient, till 

 he is found to be free from the symptoms, particularly the dreadful anxiety which fol- 

 lows the wounds of venomous reptiles. E. perfohatum has a very similar action. 

 Mikania opifera is employed in the same way as the Ayapana ; M. officinalis acts like 

 Cascarilla. The famous -siilnerary called Matico, and said to be derived fx'om Artanthe 

 elongata (see p. 518), is really, according to Mr. Hartweg, the Eupatorium glutino- 

 sum.* Mikania Guaco has been stated by Humboldt to be called Vijuco del Guaco,and 

 to be much esteemed in Spanish America as a valuable antidote against the bite of ser- 

 pents. But the power of this Mikania is denied in the most positive terms by Hancock, 

 who suspects that the real Guaco antidote is some kind of Aristolocliia. 



To these might be added a long list of plants belonging to the genera Baccharis, 

 Acanthospermum, Ageratum, Pluchea, Conoclinium, Tagetes, Conyza, Elephantopus, 

 Blumea, &c., the uses of which may be found in special works on the virtues of plants. 



A few of these plants are employed as dyes. A beautiful carmine is obtained from the 

 corolla of the Dahlia ; EcUpta erecta stains black the hair of women in Brazil. 



Ceradia fui'cata, a half-succulent plant, inhabiting the most sterile regions of S. W. 

 Africa, j-ields in some abundance a brittle resiuoid substance, Avhich is rather fragrant 

 when burnt, and has been called African Bdelhum. 



A bland oil abounds m the seeds of many species. Of these the most remarkable 

 are Guizotia oleifera (formerly Verbesina sativa), extensively cultivated in India under 

 the name of Ram-til ; Helianthus annuus (the Sunflower), whose large, sweet, nut- 

 like seeds are very palatable and wholesome ; and Madia sativa, a Chilian plant lately 

 introduced with success into the agriculture of the drier parts of Europe. Madia oil, 

 expressed without heat, is described as transparent, yellow, scentless, &c., and fit for 

 salads ; its cake is said to be good for cattle; it produces, in dry climates, as much oil 

 per acre as Poppy ; in comparison mth Colza as 32 to 28, Linseed as 32 to 21, and 

 Olives as 32 to 16. — Pasquier. 



In general the Cynareous genera are characterised by intense bitterness ; some are 

 stimulating, diaphoretic, and diuretic ; others have flowers and leaves used for dyeing ; 



* I have the following memorandum on this suhject, from Mr. Hartweg : " Matico is tlie vernacular 

 name applied by the inhabitants of Quito to Eupatorium glutinosum, or the Chussalonga, in tlie Quichua 

 language. It forms a shrub 3- 5-feet high, and is common in tlie higher parts of the Quitiiiian Amk's, 

 where its properties have been discovered some years back by a soldier called Mateo, better knois-n unUer 

 his nick-name Matico (little Matthew), who, when wounded in action, applied nccideuta ly tlie leaves ot 

 some shrub to his wound, which had the immediate effect of stopping the bleeding. Hiis shrub hap- 

 pened to be the Chussalonga, which has since been called, in honour of its discoverer M.-ilico Ihatit is 

 the true Matico of the inhabitants of Quito and Riobamba, I have not the slightest doubt ; ^oth ^a^>es 

 and specimens have been gathered by myself, and upon comparing the latter with Kuntli s description, I 

 found them to agree exactly with his Eupatorium glutinosum. , tit„4;„« 



' ' I have also a small quantity of powdered leaves of some shrub possessing the same ^nrtue as "le Matico 

 collected in Bolivia, where it is known under the name of Moxo-moxo. 1- rem bits of sciuare stems which 

 I find in the parcel, I suspect this to belong to some Labiate." 



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