58 ORD. III. Composite. ARTEMISIA VULGARIS. 
and whité Varieties; the former is distinguished by a reddish tinge 
of the stalk and flowers; in those of the latter they are of a pale 
green. “The leaves have a light agreeable smell, especially when 
rubbed a little ; but scarcely any tothien: than an herbaceous taste. 
An extract’ ‘made from them’ by water is likewise’ almost insipid ; 
and an extra¢t made by spirit has only a weak aromatic: bitterness. 
Baicrasinforms us, in a dissertation on this plant, that by fermenting 
a large quantity of it, and afterwards distilling, and cohchating the 
distilled ‘v water, a fragrant sapid liquor was sinined; with a thin 
fragrant ‘oil on the ‘buethoe: The flowery tops are considerably 
stronger than the leaves, and hence should seem to be preferable 
for medicinal use.” . 
This plant, though rarely used at present, was by the ancients held 
in great estimation. Hippocrates’ very frequently mentions Arte- 
misia: he thought it of great use in promoting uterine evacuations: 
with this intention it was also employed by Dioscorides;* and Galen 
for-this purpose used it in the way of fomentation; a practice which 
seems in some measure conformable to that of the Chinese women, 
who, as we are told,* make a. poultice of the leaves of this plant, 
mixed with rice and sugar, which in cases of amenorrheea, and 
hysteria, instar bellarii ingerunt. If this herb however possesses 
any powers as an antihysteric or uterine, they are very weak; the 
London College has therefore properly expunged it from the ma- 
teria medica. 
Moxa is a substance prepared in Japan from the dryed tops and 
leaves of Mugwort,° by beating and rubbing them between the 
hands till only the fine internal lanuginous fibres remain, which are 
* Lewis, M, M. p. 117. > De Morb. Mul. lib. 1. 
- Mat. Med. lib. 3. cap. 10. 4 Ten. Rhyne de Arthr. p. 133. 
* This however is not the species of Artemisia from which the eastern Moxa is 
made, but that prepared from this plant in Germany was found to answer very 
well.. See: igh Nat. Cur. Dec. 3. 4.7.8. App. 141. 
It has also been made from the down of Verbascum. 
* 
