CHAMOMILE. 141 



flowers, as well as the leaves, both for medi- 

 cine and for winter garlands. 



The common single chamomiles are es- 

 teemed in medicine as being more effective 

 than the double flowers, having a greater 

 quantity of the yellow thrum, in which lies 

 the strength of the flower, although the lat- 

 ter blossoms are generally brought to market 

 in preference. The leaves of the plant are 

 commended before the blossoms, as a diges- 

 tive, laxative, emollient, and diuretic medi- 

 cine. The flowers are given in infusion as a 

 gentle emetic; they are also used in emol- 

 lient decoctions, to assuage pain. 



Dr. R. James says, " Chamomile is a plant 

 of many virtues, being stomachic, hepa- 

 tic, nervine, emollient, and carminative; it 

 strengthens the stomach and bowels, helps 

 the cholic, jaundice, and stone, &c. It is 

 good against quartan and other agues. Out- 

 wardly, it is used in fomentations for inflam- 

 mations and tumours ; applied hot to the 

 sides, it helps the pains thereof." 



The powder of dried chamomile-flowers 

 was used in the time of Dioscorides to cure 

 intermitting fevers : Riverius prescribed it 

 on the same occasion. Morton, and Dr. Eli- 

 sha Coysh, both affirm, that they have cured 



