MARIGOLD. )1 



" What flower is that which bears the Virgin's mum , 



The richest metal joined with the same?" 



The flowers of the common marigold are 

 thought to be aperient and attenuating, as 

 well as cardiac, alexipharmac, and sudorific ; 

 they are greatly esteemed in uterine obstruc- 

 tions, and the jaundice, as also for throwing 

 out the small pox and measles. The leaves of 

 the plant are said to be antiscorbutic, and are 

 of a stimulating and aperient nature. The 

 young leaves were formerly eaten as a salad, 

 and they are said to be a proper food for 

 those that have any scorbutic taint in their 

 constitution, 



The leaves of the plant appear to be 

 of greater virtue than the flowers : their ex- 

 pressed juice has been given, in doses of two 

 or three ounces or more, as an aperient; and 

 is said to loosen the stomach, and promote 

 the natural secretions in general.* 



The petals are of an aromatic smell, and 

 when chewed, exert a penetrating and almost 

 burning acrimony : hence they derive their 

 sudorific virtues; in which, says Dr. James, 

 they are scarce inferior to saffron itself. For 

 this reason, the flowers of the marigold have 

 merited a place among the catalogue of alexi- 



* Lewis. 



