MUGWORT. 149 



There are several species of Artemisia, five of which are 

 indigenous to Britain ; the Sea Wormwood, {A. maritima,) 

 flowering on our sea-shores and in salt marshes in September ; 

 and the Common Wormwood, (A. Absinthium,) have medicinal 

 properties, especially the latter. Of the foreign species the 

 principal are : the Tartarian Wormwood, (A. Santonica,) an 

 anthelmintic ; the Tarragon Wormwood, (A. Dracunculus,) well 

 known for its use in fish-sauce, &c. ; and the Moxa Wormwood, 

 (A. ChinenstSf) much used by the Chinese as a cautery. Various 

 species, called by the Swiss Genepi, are highly valued as medi- 

 cines. In some countries Mugwort is used for culinary pur- 

 poses. According to the Swedish experiments, it is disliked 

 by animals in general, but Dr. Anderson remarks that sheep de- 

 vour it with great avidity, especially the roots. The flesh of 

 poultry, particularly of geese, is said to be rendered more tender 

 and savoury by being stuffed with this herb. 



Qualities. — The odour of the recent plant, especially of the 

 flowering tops, when rubbed, is fragrant and aromatic ; and the 

 taste herbaceous, slightly bitter, sweetish, and tenacious. The 

 juice gives a red tinge to litmus paper, and the aqueous infusion 

 of the plant, which is of an obscure orange-red colour, is ren- 

 dered dark brown by sulphate of iron. The flowering tops 

 are the most vigorous, and should be selected for medicinal 

 purposes ; they yield a thin, fragrant, essential oil by distil- 

 lation. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — This plant, though almost 

 disused in the present day, was very frequently employed by 

 the ancients, particularly in affections of the uterus. By Hip- 

 pocrates * it is recommended for expelling the secundines, &c. ; 

 and by Dioscorides for accelerating parturition. Galen com- 

 mends fomentations, and Pliny f the vapour of the plant in 



the credulous as very efficacious against epilepsy. Geoffroy thinks that 

 these coals, as they are called, are portions of old and dead roots. 



* De Morb. Mul. lib. i. 



f Hist. lib. xxvi. cap. 10. Who also speaks of its utility against lassi- 

 tude, M Artemisiam et elisiphacum (salviam ?) alligatas qui habeat viator 

 negatur lassitudinem sentire" /. c. Upon this Gerard observes, "Pliny 

 saith, that the traveller or wayfaring man that hath the herbe tied about 

 him, feeleth no wearisomnesse at all ; and that he who hath it about him 

 can be hurt by no poysonsome medicines, nor by any wilde beast, neither 



