COMPOSITE. 



101 



Highlands for the purpose of healing wounds. The 

 root has been proposed as a substitute for snake-root. 



AckillaEa ptarmica, sneezewort yarrow, when dried 

 and powdered, is employed as an errhine. The root, 

 when chewed, produces salivation. 



Achillfsa nana, and several other species, are used 

 by the inhabitants of the Alps to give an aromatic 

 flavour to vinegar. 



Helianthus annuus, common sunflower, is a well 

 known border annual, which receives its name from 

 the popular supposition that its large heads of flowers 

 follow the sun in its course. The plant is common in 

 gardens, and was originally brought from Peru. The 

 whole plant, but especially the flower, gives out a 

 thin resin resembling Venice turpentine. The seeds, 

 when roasted, are used as a substitute for coffee, and 

 an edible oil is procured from them. 



Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem artichoke, is a native 

 of Brazil, but has been naturalised in most countries 

 of Europe, and is cultivated on account of its use in 

 rural and domestic economy. The root of the plant 

 consists of oblong tubers, which are used as a substi- 

 tute for potatoes, and form a wholesome and agreeable 

 article of diet. The roots are very productive. Be- 

 tween seventy and eighty tons of tubers are said to 

 have been obtained in one season from a single acre 

 of ground. When boiled, the roots have a sweet 

 taste similar to the artichoke. The plant may be 

 reared on very poor soil with advantage, but its roots 

 are not so much employed as the potato, on account 

 of the latter containing more nutritive matter in its 

 composition. Chemical analysis has shown that a 

 peculiar principle, similar to that which is found in 

 the dahlia, exists in the root of the Jerusalem arti- 

 choke. The roots when subjected to fermentation 

 yield a spirituous liquor. 



Absinthium officinale or Artemisia absinthium, com- 

 mon wormwood, is an aromatic bitter plant, common 

 in Great Britain. It contains a large quantity of a 

 green volatile oil. The plant possesses tonic and 

 stimulating qualities, and is used to increase the 

 action of the stomach, as well as for the cure of inter- 

 mittent fever. It is frequently given to expel worms. 

 It is administered in the form of powder, in doses of 

 one or two scruples, also in infusion, and as a wine 

 and a tincture. The green liquor called, in France, 

 ran <f absinthe, and employed by gourmands to increase 

 their appetite, is prepared from the plant by the 

 addition of alcohol and subsequent distillation. 



Artemisia is another genus of this order. It differ 

 from Absinthium in the want of hairs on the receptacle. 

 It includes several species, four of which are native 

 of Britain. 



Artemisia vulgaris, mugwort, is not so bitter and 

 aromatic as Absinthium, and has a less powerful action 

 on the human frame. It is a stimulating tonic, and 

 exerts a peculiar action on the uterine system. Its 

 root has been recommended iu epilepsy. In some 

 parts of Sweden the plant is used in place of hops to 

 increase the inebriating quality of malt liquors. 



Artemisia dracunculus is a native of Siberia, but is 

 commonly cultivated iu gardens. The leaves have 

 an aromatic fragrant taste, and are used as an ingre- 

 dient in pickles and salads. An infusion of the plant 

 in vinegar forms a good fish-sauce. 



Artemisia Santonica or Judaica, wormseed, is founc 

 in Arabia, Judea, and the countries in the north o 

 Africa. The heads, seeds, and upper twigs of thi 

 plant, mixed with those of another species found ii 



'ersia, and called Artemisia contra, are known in 

 commerce by the name of Semen contra or Sementina. 

 There are two varieties of Semen contra, one coming 

 rom the Levant, and the other from Barbary. The 

 irst is the best, and held in greatest repute. It is 

 chiefly administered as a vermifuge in doses of twenty 

 or thirty grains mixed with calomel or rhubarb. 



Artemisia abrotanum, southernwood, is a perennial 

 shrub, a native of the south of Europe, but common 

 n gardens. It has a strong smell, and yields a fine 

 jreen tincture. It is administered as an anthelmintic 

 and sudorific, and is also employed externally as a 

 fomentation. In the form of lotion or ointment it is 

 applied to cutaneous eruptions, and is said to prevent 

 the hair from falling off. 



Artemisia Chincnsis, mugwort of China, furnishes the 

 moxa used by the Chinese as a cautery. This is a soft 

 woolly substance, prepared from the young leaves of 

 the plant by beating them, when thoroughly dried, 

 and rubbing them in the hands till the fine fibres only 

 are left. A little cone of this substance is laid on a 

 diseased part, previously moistened, and is then set 

 on fire at the top. It thus burns slowly down, pro- 

 ducing a dark spot on the skin, which ultimately 

 sloughs and produces an eschar. This mode of treat- 

 ment is much used in eastern countries. The moxa 

 used in this country and in France is generally made 

 of cotton or linen rag, dipped in saltpetre, and rolled- 

 up tightly in a circular form. It is frequently em- 

 ployed as a powerful means of counter-irritation in 

 diseased joints, &c. 



Tanacetum vulgaris, common tansey, is a well- 

 known native plant. It has a strong, disagreeable, 

 aromatic odour, and a bitter pungent taste. Its stimu- 

 lating qualities are owing to the presence of a great- 

 quantity of essential oil. It is administered in the 

 form of powder and infusion, as a remedy for worms 

 and gout ; and it is praised as an anti-spasmodic by 

 some authors. The young leaves are sometimes em- 

 ployed to colour and flavour puddings. 



Balsamita snaveolens is often cultivated in gardens. 

 It has a strong odour, and possesses stimulating anti- 

 spasmodic qualities. When steeped in oil, it is looked 

 upon as a good application to wounds and bruises. 



Balsamita vulgaris, costmary, from being put into 

 ale, sometimes receives the name of Cost-ale. 



Matricania chamomilla, wild chamomile, has proper- 

 ties similar to those of the true chamomile. It is, how- 

 ever, much less powerful, and is now seldom used. 



Pyrethrum Parthenium, common feverfew, lias stimu- 

 lating aromatic properties, and is employed in various 

 fluxes. 



Calendula qfficinalis, common marigold, is a well- 

 known showy ornament of gardens, even that of the' 

 humblest cottager. It was introduced into this coun- 

 try, from the south of Europe, in the year 1573. Lin- 

 naeus says, that its flowers expand from nine in the 

 morning till three in the afternoon 



' The Marigold that goes to bed with the sun, 

 And with him rises weeping." 



Its flowers are used in some parts of England to 

 give colour and flavour to soups, and a distilled water 

 and a kind of vinegar have been prepared from them. 



Arnica montana, German leopard's bane, is found 

 on the Alps and Pyrenees, as well as in various parts 

 of Germany, Sweden, and Lapland, and was first cul- 

 tivated in Britain in 1759. The flowers are of a 



