NAT. ORDER. — COMPOSIT.^. 143 



uncultivated state ; but the endive so inucli used as a sallad, is an 

 annual, or at most a bionnial plant, and its parent is now known to 

 be the Cichorium Endivia. It is a native of Europe, but has been 

 introduced, and has now become naturalized to this country, where 

 it is found growing on the borders of cornfields, and flowers in July 

 and August. 



It appears from history that the cichorium was highly esteemed 

 by the Romans as a sallad ; and according to Pliny this name sig- 

 nified the wild species of the plant. The Intyhus and Scris are 

 also mentioned as its congeners, the latter implying the cultivated 

 species. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The roots and leaves of this plant 

 have formerly been considered as useful aperients, acting mildly 

 and without irritation, tending rather to abate than to increase heat, 

 and may therefore be given with safety in hectic and inflamma- 

 tory cases. Taken freely, they act as a gentle purgative, and when 

 continued for some time, they have often proved salutary in obstruc- 

 tions of the viscera, in jaundices, hypochondriacal and other chro- 

 nic disorders. The virtues of succory, like those of the dandelion, 

 reside in its milky juice ; and in most of the plants of the order 

 Semifioculosce, a. juice of a similar nature is to be found ; therefore 

 what has been observed of the effects of taraxacum^ will, in a grea» 

 measure, apply to the cichorium, and we are warranted in saying, 

 that the expressed juice of both these plants taken in large doses 

 frequently repeated, has been found an efficacious remedy in phth 

 isis pulmonalis, as well as in various other affections of a similar 

 nature. The seeds of the cichorium, which are small, angular, and 

 jf a brown color, taken in the form of a powder, or in decoction, 

 are considered cooling, and are very much used for that purpose. 



