THE CENTAURY. 287 



Woodville all entertain the highest opinion of its 

 remedial powers; and the latter, observes that it is 

 the most efficacious medicinal bitter indigenous to 

 our islands. Its anteseptic properties are almost 

 equal to those of gentian, and its tonic principle 

 quite so ; while it is not unfrequently used with 

 success in cases where quinine creates so much fever 

 as to be injurious. Nor are these qualities of recent 

 discovery, or partial application the plant has been 

 long and familiarly used in rustic medicine, whence 

 its French name of quinquine des pauvres; and it is 

 perhaps the plant which in a long course of ages has 

 done more good and less harm than any other popu- 

 lar "simple/" Speaking of the blossoms of the cen- 

 taury, Gerarde tells us " of some that gathered them 

 superstitiouslie, they are gathered bet ween e the two 

 ladie-daies/' * but informs us that even without 

 this observance they are good against dropsy and 

 weakness, and a variety of other complaints, with 

 " a peculiar vertue against infirmities of the sinews ;" 

 being also considered especially beneficial to patients 

 of an irritable disposition,, and by analogy to 

 those whose constitutions are peculiarly sensitive and 

 susceptible ; arid for whom, therefore, all kindly 

 feeling will make us the more desirous to find some 

 "balm medicinal/' The older herbalists designate 

 the plant febrifuga, from its efficacy in low fevers, 

 and it is still largely employed in cases of incipient 

 consumption. 



* The Assumption, August 15 (Maria Himmelfaart), 

 and the Nativity, September 8th (Maria Geburt), of old 

 authors. 



