182 



COMPOSITES. 



Constituents. A volatile oil, a bitter principle termed achillein, and 

 common vegetable constituents. 



Preparations. Infusion, expresssd juice, and volatile oil 



Medical Properties and Uses. Yarrow is said to be stimulant, tonic, and 

 astringent, and to exert a special influence upon the pelvic organs. It 



IxTen employed in digestive disorders, in menstrual irregularities, in 

 hemorrhages due to relaxed conditions of mucous membranes, in catarrhal 



affections, etc. 



> 

 TANACETUM. TANSY. 



Tanacetum vulgare Linnc. Tansy. 



Description. Heads many-flowered, nearly discoid, all fertile ; the mar- 

 ginal flowers in a single series, 3- to 4-toothed. Scales of the involucre 

 imbricated, dry. Keceptacle convex, naked. Achenia angled or ribbed 



with a large epigynous disk. 

 Pappus minute or none. 



An herbaceous perennial, 2 

 to 3 feet high. Leaves nearly 

 glabrous, bipinnately parted, 

 the segments cut - toothed. 

 Heads yellow, in a dense cor- 

 ymb, appearing in summer. 



Habitat. Indigenous to 

 Europe, but freely naturalized 

 about dwellings and in waste 

 places. 



farts Used. The leaves 

 and tops United States Phar- 

 macopoeia. 



Constituents. A volatile oil, 

 a bitter principle termed tan- 

 acetin, and common vegetable 

 constituents. 



Preparations. The infusion 



FIG. 136. Tanacetum Vulgare. and Volatile Oil. 



Medical Properties. Tansy has a peculiar strong fragrant 1 odor and a 

 warm, bitter, somewhat acrid and aromatic taste. It is commonly employed 

 in domestic practice to stimulate menstruation. The oil appears to be 

 largely used as an abortifacient, and there are upon record numerous cases 

 in which it has been used for this purpose with fatal effect. The bruised 

 leaves are often applied locally for the relief of colic pains, bruises, sprains, 

 etc. A spirituous infusion is sometimes employed in domestic practice in 

 intermittent fever. 



