WORMWOOD. 429 



than the other parts of the plant. These properties are imparted both to 

 water and to alcohol ; and by distillation with water, a dark green volatile 

 oil is obtained, on which its odour depends. The aqueous infusion has 

 the odour and taste of the leaves ; and a pale olive colour, which reddens 

 turnsol, and becomes of a greenish black on the addition of sulphate of iron 

 and zinc, and slowly precipitates. The chief constituents appear to be bitter 

 extractive, resin, mucilage, volatile oil, and salts of potash. The volatile oil 

 is dissipated by long-continued decoction, but the bitter principle is not af- 

 fected. 



"With regard to the physiological effects of Wormwood, it has been as- 

 serted that the milk of a puerperal woman, from the continued use of the 

 extract, became as bitter as gall, and proved injurious to the infant *. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — Wormwood is esteemed 

 as a tonic, febrifuge, and anthelmintic, and externally discutient 

 and antiseptic. It has been used in intermittents •{• combined 

 with some aromatic, the primae viae being first cleared by pur- 

 gatives. In hypochondriasis, jaundice, dropsy, gout, calculus, 

 scurvy, and worm cases J it is frequently efficacious. It has in 

 general a very beneficial effect on the digestive organs, 

 strengthening the stomach, promoting appetite, and cleansing the 

 intestinal canal from that slimy mucus which obstructs its 

 functions and forms a nidus for worms. It is also an approved 

 remedy in hysteria, and has been esteemed by some emmena- 

 gogue. It should not be employed when there is fever, inflam- 

 mation, or great determination of blood to the head; neverthe- 

 less there is no evidence of its proving hurtful in epilepsy and 

 apoplexy, or of its injuring the eyes, as asserted by some of 

 the ancients. Dioscorides §, who commends it in several of 

 the above mentioned diseases, also affirms that it is a preventive 

 of intoxication and an antidote against its ill effects ; indeed the 

 " poculum absinthiatum" has long been a favourite beverage. 



Externally, infusion of Wormwood is a useful fomentation for 

 inflammatory pains, tumours, and gangrene ; and combined with 

 chamomile flowers and bay leaves it forms the anodyne fotus 

 communis of the old pharmacopoeia. The recent herb is said 

 to have been applied with good effect to cedematous swellings ||. 



* Borrich. in Act. Hafn. vol. ii. p. 165. 



f Comm. Nor. 1734. p. 225. 



X See the authorities quoted by Murray (App. Med. torn. i. p. 182). 



§ Mat. Med. lib. iii. c. 26. 



|| Loseke, M. M. p. 151. 



