62 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



middle bi- and those in the upper part simply pinnatipartite, those 

 towards the upper part of the panicle often entire. Anthodes 

 J inch across or more. Plorets yellow. Achenes small, obovate- 

 ovoid, glabrous. Whole plant silky pubescent, aromatic. 



Common Wormwood. 



French, Armoise Absinthe. German, We^'inuth. 



This herb was highly esteemed by the ancients as a tonic and diuretic, and was 

 also considered to promote digestion and to restore the appetite. The Greek and Roman 

 physicians likewise gave ib as a vermifuge. Our own forefathers held it in great 

 esteem, though some of the uses to which it was applied originated in superstition, or 

 in the accounts given of it by the old classical writers, then held as the fountains of 

 all wisdom. It was supposed to counteract witchcraft and necromancy, and was 

 called by the monkish herbalists Cingtdum Sancti Johannis, that saint being said to 

 have used it as a girdle. If a garland of it were thrown into the fire on Midsummer 

 eve, certain mystic verses being repeated at the same time, it effectually protected the 

 operator from all supernatural agencies or magical incantations for the space of a year. 

 It was often hung up in houses to protect them from evil spirits, or with a view of 

 expelling or destroying the insects and vermin with which the timber of old houses 

 was so much infested. Tusser alludes to its value in both these cases : — 



" While wormwood hath seed, get a handful or twaine, 

 To save againste March to make flea to refraine. 

 Where chamber is sweeped, and wormwood is strowne, 

 No flea for his life dare abide to be knowne. 

 Whatsoever is better, if physick be true, 

 For places infected than wormwood or rue ? 

 It is as a comfort, for hart and the braine. 

 And therefore to have it, it is not in vaine." 



Gerarde is very discursive on the virtues of wormwood. After a long list of 

 diseases for which he recommends its use, he says : " It helpeth them that are 

 strangled with eating of mushromes or toad stools, if it be drunke with vinegre. And 

 being taken with wine it is good against the poyson of Ixia (being a viscous matter 

 proceeding from the thistle chamselion) and of hemlocke, and against the biting of the 

 shrew mouse and of the sea dragon." The wormwood is really a powerful aromatic 

 herb, and, when taken in moderate doses, acts as a mild tonic, in the same way as 

 do many vegetable bitters. In Wales it is frequently put into beer instead of hops, 

 and is said to prevent it turning sour ; the Wermuth beer of Germany is made in 

 a similar manner. The drink known by the name of Purl is made by infusing 

 wormwood in beer. The liquor so highly esteemed in France under the name of 

 Absinthe, is prepared by infusing this plant in spirit, and adding spices and condiments 

 to it. It is a most seductive and dangerous compound, and often betrays those who 

 would shrink from being considered habitual spirit-drinkers. The ashes of the 

 plant afford a large quantity of carbonate of potash, which at the present day is sold 

 in the shops as Salt of Wormwood. 



