344 THISTLE. 



of nurses. A still more potent quality, ascribed to them by Lin- 

 danus*, is that of curing hydrophobia by virtue of their sudorific 

 effects ; for this purpose, he recommends one or two drachms of 

 the powdered seeds in wine. Matthiolus asserts that a decoction 

 of the leaves and root is useful in dropsy, jaundice, and ne- 

 phritis, and, according to Tournefort f , the expressed juice of 

 the leaves is febrifuge in the dose of four ounces, given at the 

 commencement of the paroxysm of intermittents. 



Externally, the decoction of the plant and the bruised leaves 

 are esteemed useful applications to ulcers, &c, and are said to 

 have proved serviceable in cancer. 



We consider the true character of this Thistle to be that of a 

 slight tonic, stomachic, and diaphoretic, by virtue of the bitter 

 principle which it possesses in common with other plants of the 

 natural tribe Cynaracece, particularly the Carduus benedictus, or 

 Blessed Thistle, so highly extolled by the ancients as a tonic, 

 sudorific, and deobstruent. It may be substituted for the latter, 

 and be suitably combined with the Burdock (Arctium Lappa), 

 and other allied plants. The seeds form by trituration with 

 water an elegant emulsion, which may be useful in catarrhal 

 affections. Decoctions or infusions of the leaves, reputed 

 to be useful in visceral obstructions, must be made of consi- 

 derable strength, and given in large doses, to be of any 

 service. The extract made by inspissating the expressed juice 

 promises to be beneficial as a deobstruent ; the tincture and 

 wine may be considered stomachic. 



• In Geoffroy, Mat. Med. torn. iii. p. 262. 

 f PI. de Paris, ii. p. 143. 



