34 ORD. III. Composites ARCTIUM LAPPAy 
diuretic, and, in this way we have known it succeed in two dropsical 
cases, where other powerful medicines had been ineffectually used: 
2nd as it neither excites nausea nor increases irritation, it may occa- 
sionally deserve a trial where more active remedies are improper. The 
seeds also p ; a diuretic quality, and have been given with advan- 
tage in the dose of a.dram in calculous and nephritic complaints, and 
in the form of emulsion as a pectoral. The root is generally used. in 
decoction, which may be made by boiling two ounces of the fresh 
root in three pints of water to two, which, when intended as a 
- diuretic; should be taken in the course of two days, or if possible in 
twenty-four hours. 
——— ee 
CENTAUREA BENEDICTA. BLESSED, or HOLY THISTLE. 
g ‘ 
SYNONYMA. Carduus benediétus. Pharm. Lond. & Edinb. 
Gerard Emac. p. 1171. J. Bauh. iii.77. Park. Parad. p. 530. 
Raii Hist. 1303... Dodon Pempt.725. Camer. Epit. 562. Cnicus 
sylvestris hirsutior sive Carduus benedictus. Bauh. Pin, 378, 
Class ele sie Ord. Polygamia frustranea. Lin. Gen. Plant. 984. 
Ess. Gen: Ch. Recept. setosum. Pappus simplex. Cor. radii infun- 
dibuliformes, longiores, irregulares. 
Sp. Ch. C. calycibus duplicato-spinosis lanatis involucratis, fog 
semidecurrentibus denticulato-spinosis. 
THE root is annual, cylindrical, whitish, branched, and furnished 
with several slender fibres: the stalk is erect, roundish, channelled, 
rough, from one to, two feet high, and often branched towards the 
top: the leaves are long, elliptical, rough, runcinated, or variously . 
serrated, and barbed with sharp points; above of a bright green 
colour, underneath whitish, and reticulated: the upper leaves are 
