248 COMPOSIT 2. 
and Goldruthe of the Germans. The generic name is a deriva- _ 
tive of solidare, to unite, because of the vulnerary qualities of 
the plant, which were first brought to notice by Arnoldus de 
Villa Nova, who also highly extolled it as a remedy for stone in g 
the bladder. Gerarde had a high opinion of it as an application 
to bleeding wounds and ulcers, and says: ‘“‘I have known the 
dry herbe, which came from beyond the sea, sold in Bucklers- 
bury for halfe a crowne an ounce. But since it was found in 
Hampstead wood, even as it were at our townes end, no man 
will give halfe a crowne for an hundredweight of it; which 
plainely setteth forth our inconstancie and sudden mutabilitie, 
esteeming no longer of anything how pretious soeuer it be, than 
whilest it is strange and rare.” He further says, that “ Sara- 
cens Consound is not inferiour to any of the wound herbes what- 
soeuer, being inwardly ministred or outwardly applied in oint- 
ments or oyles.’’ 
The flowering herb has an aromatic odour and a bitterish 
and astringent taste ; it contains a volatile oil. 
In America S. odora, Ait., is much used as a domestic 
remedy to produce diaphoresis, to allay colic, promote menstrua- 
tion, and to cover the taste of nauseous medicines. An infusion 
may be prescribed, or a few drops of the essential oil. 
Grangea maderaspatana, Poir. Wight. Ic., t., 1097; 
is a common field weed throughout India, growing flat on the 
ground in the cold weather after the monsoon crops have been — a 
harvésted. It has sinuately pinnatifid leaves, and solitary, sub- 
globose, leaf-opposed heads of yellow flowers. The odour re- 
sembles that of worm-wood. Ainslie (Mat. Ind. 7., 481,) calls 
it Madras Wormwood, and says that the Tamil doctors consider 
it to be a valuable stomachic medicine, and also suppose it to- . 
have deobstruent and antispasmodic properties ; they pre- 
scribe it in infusion and electuary in cases of obstructed menses 
-and hysteria, and sometimes use it in preparing antiseptic and 
anodyne fomentations. When given internally, Grangea is 
usually combined with ginger, pepper, and sugar; as an anti- 
_ septic application to ulcers, the powdered leaves are used. 
