318 st. john's-wort. 



" Hypericon was there, the herb of war, 

 Pierced through with wounds, and seamed with many a scar." 



The elegant author of Gondibert styles it — 



" Balm of the warrior's wound, Hypericon." 



The only economical use to which this plant has been ap- 

 plied is that of a dye. The dried herb boiled in alum-water 

 communicates a yellow, or yellowish red colour, to wool, silk, 

 &c. It is eaten by kine, goats, and sheep, but refused by 

 horses and swine. 



Qualities. — The plant has a slight aromatic odour, and 

 when the leaves or flowers are rubbed between the fingers, 

 rather a powerful lemon-like scent is evolved. To the taste it 

 is bitterish, resinous, and somewhat astringent. The leaves 

 when held up to the light present a number of transparent dots 

 or vesicles*, containing an essential oil, on which the odour of 

 the plant depends. This oil may be obtained in distillation 

 with water ; it bears some resemblance to oil of turpentine. 

 The dark glands on the calyx and petals also appear to con- 

 tain a similar oil, as do the small tubercles on the fruit, but in 

 the latter it seems to partake more of the nature of a gum- 

 resin, and has been compared to gum-lac. Rectified spirit 

 takes up the virtues of the plant better than water, and the 

 tincture acquires a deep yellowish red colour. It yields a paler 

 red to the expressed oils, but its colouring matter is scarcely 

 soluble in the volatile oils or in water. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — Ancient writers on 

 the materia medica attribute to the St. John's- Wort a host 

 of virtues ; hence it has been used as a detersive, resolutive, 

 vulnerary, anthelmintic, diuretic, emmenagogue, &c. For 

 pulmonary consumption, and ulcers of the lungs, it is men- 

 tioned by several celebrated physicians, but its credit in these 

 diseases has not continued so well established as many other 



* The flowers abound most in the essential oil immediately before they 

 expand, as at that time the vesicles are full, subsequently they begin to 

 dry up. Therefore, when the flowering tops are preferred, they should be 

 gathered when the plant is beginning to blossom ; otherwise it is better 

 to gather the plant for use, after the petals have fallen and the capsules 

 are fully formed, as the latter afford more of the volatile oil than the flowers 

 or leaves. 



