COMPOSITE. 285 
Vernacular.—Nigdoun, Mastara (Hind.), Nagdoni (Beng.), 
arband, wulg. Surpan (Mar.), Machipatri (Tel.), Machipattiri 
'am.), Tiru-nitripachcha (Mal.), Uruvalu, Urigattige (Can.), 
agadavano (Guz.). ’ 
ig 8, 
g the poison of spiders and snakes. In the Deccan and 
estern India the Sanskrit name is said to be Indhana, 
ough the local version of the Réja-nighanta gives Nagda- 
as the Marathi equivalent of Nagadamani, a name gene- 
applied in that language to Crinum astaticum. Accord- 
to Moodin Sheriff, the Sanskrit name in Southern India is 
nthiparni. These names are not synonymous, and as the 
it is common inall parts of the country, this discrepancy 
d soom to indicate that its mention by the older Sanskrit 
ters is very doubtful. The modern Hindus consider worm- 
d to be a valuable stomachic, deobstruent and antispas- 
¢, and prescribe it in infusion and electuary in cases of 
acted menses and hysteria. A. vulgaris is generally con- 
ived from the lunar goddess Artemis, who is supposed to 
been tho- discoverer of its virtues, but Pliny says :— 
qui Artemisiam ab -Artemide Ilithya cognominatam 
, quoniam privatim medeatur foominarum ma gs 
Floridus in his treatise, De viribus herbarum, calls 
rood herbarum matrem, and attributes to it emmenagogue, 
ic and alexipharmie properties ; ho also says that it 
g parturition and prevents abortion. Apuleius De virtu- 
i d will 
served from fatigue, hidden demons and the evil eye, 
artemisias,” says he again, “ Diana dicitur invenisse et 
earum et medicinam Chironi centauro tradidisse, q 
‘s kerbis medicinam instituit.” There is a popula 
Bologna that wormwood will indicate 
