42 NAT. ORDER. — COMPOSIT.E. 



may have places in the same way. The fom-th and fifth kinds afTorc 

 variety among other potted and green-house plants, and the last 

 among stove-plants. 



Midkal Properties and Uses. Elecampane is a tonic, gently 

 stimulant, aromatic, and possesses more or less diaphoretic, diuretic, 

 expectorant, and eramenagogue properties. The high opinion enter- 

 tained by the ancients of the virtues of this plant, would fill volumes 

 in support of its efficacy in the cure of diseases so peculiar to females; 

 indeed such was their estimation of the medicinal qualifications of El- 

 ecampane, that at one time it was considered almost an universal rem- 

 edy for not only such cases in which it has proved itself so highly use- 

 ful, but was also prescribed in connection with other medicines for 

 nearly all the diseases prevalent to their countrj-, and is still occa- 

 sionally resorted to by our more modern practitioners, in cases of re- 

 tained or suppressed menstruation. In this country it is chiefly used 

 in chronic diseases of the lungs and liver, and is sometimes highly ben- 

 eficial when the affection of the chest is attended with weakness of 

 the digestive organs, or with general debility. From its peculiar diu- 

 retic properties it is considered useful in chronic engorgements of the 

 abdominal viscera, and the dropsy, to which they so often give rise. 

 It has also been highly recommended both as an internal and external 

 remedy in tetter, psora, and other diseases of the skin. The usual 

 modes of administration are in powder and decoction. The dose of 

 the former is from a scruple to a drachm. The decoction may be pre- 

 pared by boiling one ounce of the root in a pint of water, and given 

 at a dose from one to two fluid ounces. 



The following is a translation from a very extensive botanical 

 work, published in London in the year IGIO, which ivill give the 

 reader some idea of the extent, the various preparations, and the dis- 

 eases in which Elecampane was employed : 



The liquid juice is procured from the stalk and leaves, while 

 green, which are expressed, after which one ounce of alcohol is added 

 to five ounces of the juice, to prepare it for keeping. It is used to 



