526 



HISTORY OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



with meal, although it makes a very unpalatable 

 food. The juice contains a large proportion of 

 astringent matter, producing a deep black preci- 

 pitate with the salts of iron. A dram of the 

 powdered leaves will also act on the bowels as a 

 purgative, and produce vomiting, so that, besides 

 its tonic properties, it seems to possess other 

 medicinal powers. It has accordingly been 

 employed for the cure of a variety of diseases, as 

 scurvy, dropsy, jaundice, &c. Dr 13oerhaave 

 and others experienced its effects in removing a 

 fit of gout ; it is said to have cured sheep ill of 

 the dropsy ; and Dr CuUen mentions, that it 

 has proved efficacious in some kinds of cutane- 

 ous diseases. It has, however, in modern prac- 

 tice, fallen into disuse. The leaves may be used 

 in powder, or infused in water or spirits. 



Common Camomile. Natural family, compo- 

 sitoe ; class syngenesia, polygamia superflua, of 

 Linnaeus. This well known plant is a perennial, 

 with slender, trailing, hairy, and branched stems. 

 The leaves are doubly pinnated, with linear 

 pointed pinnse. The flower is white, with a 

 yellow centre. This plant was known to the 

 Greeks, and obtained the name it now bears, 

 which is expressive of its peculiar smell. It is 

 the anthemis of Dioscorides and Theophrastus. 

 The com feverew is similar to the camomile in 

 appearance, and is used on the continent in 

 medicine ; but it is less fragrant, and contains 

 less oil than the latter. There is a double variety 

 sometimes kept in the shops, but the single is 

 preferable, as the essential oil on which its aro- 

 matic qualities depend, is contained in the exter- 

 nal disk, or tubular part of the male florets. 

 Both leaves and flowers of this plant have a 

 strong, though not ungrateful smell, and a very 

 bitter nauseous taste ; but the flowers are more 

 bitter and aromatic than the leaves. The flowers 

 give out their virtues both to water and rectified 

 spirits. When the flowers are dried and pow- 

 dered, the infusions are more grateful than from 

 the fresh, or but moderately dried. Distilled 

 with water, an essential oil in small quantities 

 is obtained, of a greenish colour, and strong pun- 

 gent taste. Rectified spirit also extracts, and 

 in some degree conceals, the odour of this oil ; 

 and the bitter taste of the tincture is stronger 

 than that of the watery infusion. 



These flowers possess the tonic and stomachic 

 qualities usually ascribed to simple bitters, hav- 

 ing very little astringency, but a strong odour 

 of the aromatic and penetrating kind ; hence 

 they are also of a stimulating nature, and in 

 some degree allay nervous irritability. They 

 were formerly much used in the cure of inter- 

 mittent and other similar fevers, and have in 

 some instances been substituted for the Peruvian 

 bark. Dr Cullen has administered from half a 

 dram to a dram of the powder, during the inter- 

 missions of ague, and with success, only that on 



account of the laxative quality he had to give 

 with them an opiate. Tiiey have fdso been 

 found useful in hysterical affections, flatulent 

 colic, and dysentery. At present they are per- 

 haps less used than they deserve to be. A simple 

 infusion of them is frequently taken to induce 

 vomiting, or assist the operation of an emetic ; 

 and in fomentations to external parts, and for the 

 formation of poultices, they are still in request. 



Spanish Camomile or Pellitory. This plant 

 resembles the other, only the flowers are consi- 

 derably larger, and less numerous. It is a native 

 of the Levant, and the southern parts of Europe, 

 and was introduced into England by Lobel, in 

 1760, but it does not ripen its seeds unless in 

 favourable seasons. The root has a very hot 

 pungent taste, without any sensible smell. This 

 pungency resides in a fixed resinous matter, only 

 partly soluble in water. 



It is said that the ancient Romans employed 

 this root as a pickle, and indeed it seems less 

 acrid than most substances now used for this 

 purpose. In its recent state it is not so pungent 

 as when dried, yet, if applied to the skin, it pro- 

 duces great irritation, and even inflammation. 



The aromatic and stimulating properties of 

 this root point it out as an appropriate medi- 

 cine, when such stimulants are necessary. Its 

 use, however, has hitherto been chiefly confined 

 to that of a masticatory, and it has been em- 

 ployed for this purpose from a very early date. 

 On being chewed or retained for some time in 

 the mouth, it excites a glowing heat, stimulates 

 the salivary ducts, and causes a discharge which 

 has been found to relieve toothache and rheuma- 

 tic affections of the gums and fauces, and has 

 been recommended in paralysis of the tongue. 



Southern Wood (artimisia abrotanum.) This 

 is another plant possessing bitter qualities, and 

 belonging to the same natural family as the fore- 

 going. The root is perennial, woody, and fibrous. 

 The stalk is shrubby, covered with brown bark, 

 and rises to the height of two or three feet. Thf 

 leaves are numerous, doubly pinnated, hoary, and 

 stand on long foot-stalks. The flowers are com- 

 pound, composed of numerous small florets of a 

 yellow colour. The seeds are naked and soli- 

 tary. It is a native of France, Spain, and Italy, 

 and was introduced into this country by Gerard, 

 where it grows luxuriantly, but rarely flowers. 

 It is to be found in almost every cottage garden. 

 The leaves and tops have a strong, and to most 

 people an agreeable smell. The taste is pungent, 

 bitter, and somewhat nauseous. These qualities 

 it yields to spirits readily, and tinges the liquid 

 of a green colour. Water extracts them less 

 perfectly, and the infusion is of a light brown 

 tint. It yields a very small portion of essential 

 oil by distillation. 



This plant was much employed by the ancient 

 physicians, and was esteemed as stomachic and 



