18G 



COMPOSITE, 



Constituents. — Inulin, a bitter principle, and common vegetable con- 

 stituents. 



Preparations. — Commonly employed in decoction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Burdock, though chiefly used by the 

 laity, is highly esteemed by some of the profession as a diuretic and altera- 

 iive. It is, joerhaps, more frequently used in rheumatism than in any 

 ■other disease, but is also recommended in chronic cutaneous diseases, ca- 

 tarrhal affections, syphilis, and scrofula. In the form of an ointment or 

 liniment it is used as an application to burns, ulcers, etc. 



CICHORIUM. —Chicory. 



Cichorium I nty bus Linn e.—C/wcor^/, Succory. 



Description. — Heads several-flowered ; the flowers all ligulate, perfect. 

 Involucre double, the inner of 8 to 10 scales, the outer of 5, half as long, 



spreading. Achenia oblong, smooth 

 or sHghtly ribbed. PajDpus of numer- 

 ous short chaify scales forming a 

 crown. 



A branching perennial herb, 2 

 to 3 feet high, with a large deej) root. 

 Leaves alternate, oblong or lanceolate, 

 partly clasping, the lower lyrately run- 

 ciuate ; those of the rigid flowering 

 branches minute. Heads sessile, 2 

 or 3 together, axillary and terminal. 

 Flowers bright blue or purple, aj^pear- 

 ing from July to October. 



Habitat. — Indigenous to the East- 

 ern Continent, but naturalized here, 

 growing along roadsides and in waste 

 places. 



Part Used. — The root— not official. 

 Constituents. — Inulin, a bitter jDrin- 

 ciple, and ordinary vegetable constit- 

 uents. 



Preparations. — Commonly used in 

 infusion. 

 Medical Properties and Uses. — Chicory is said to increase the appetite 

 and aid digestion. Though formerly used medicinally, it is of importance 

 now merely as an adulterant of coffee. For this purpose the root is roasted 

 and gi'ound in the same manner as coffee, with which it is afterward mixed 

 in lai-ge proportion. When thus treated chicory in infusion has a bitter- 

 ness, possibly somewhat resembling that of coffee, but it is wholly desti- 



FiG. 138.— Cichorium Intybus. 



