COMPOSITAE THISTLE FAMILY 755 



found in the volatile oil, an anthelmintic. Artemisia maritima, A. pontica, A. 

 Absinthium, A. biennis and A. Abrotanum are also used for the dislodgement of 

 worms. The latter contains the alkaloid abrotanin C, 1 H.^ H O. Sage brush 

 (Anemisia tndeniata) and other species produce sneezing. 



Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium} is a stimulant and tonic; the volatile 

 oil produces cerebral disturbances and enters into the familiar composition of 

 absinthe, made by the French, and contains absinthin C 15 H, O 4 . Arnica root 

 (Arnica montand) native to arctic Asia and America, is used as a popular 

 remedy for chilblains and bruises and contains the bitter principle arnicin C., 

 H OQ O 4 . The tincture is liable to produce a form of dermatitis. Dande- 

 lion root (Taraxacum officinale") is used as a mild laxative and tonic and con- 

 tains a bitter principle taraxacin, and taraxacerin C 9 H 15 O. Lactucarium, the 

 milky juice from several species of the genus Lactuca occurs in lettuce, in which 

 is also found lactucopicrin, a bitter acrid substance, and lactucol C 01 H 34 O. 

 Colt's foot (Tussilago Farfara). a bitter astringent containing much mucilage, 

 is used for asthma. The costus (Saussurea Lappa) produces flowers with 

 thistle-like heads and large roots, the latter of which are used as a perfume 

 and an incense; according to Kraemer, it contains a ketone. The musk tree 

 (Olearia argophylla} of Tasmania, whose leaves emit a musk-like odor, grows 

 to a height of 20 feet and is often 1 foot in diameter. The wood takes a nice 

 polish. Other trees of the order are found in the genus Senecio (Senecio 

 Forsteri}. The genus Baccharis, found along the sea coast, is shrubby. The 

 B. cordifolia contains baccharin, an alkaloid poisonous to sheep. It is the 

 Mio Mio of South America. 



The button snake root (Liatris spicata} has been used as a remedy for 

 snake bites, but it probably contains no antidotal properties whatever. Boneset 

 (Eupatorium perfoliatum) and other species much used in domestic medicines 

 for colds, and in large doses are emetic. They are tonics, emetics, cathartics, 

 and diaphoretics containing the bitter glucoside eupatorin. Horseweed (Eri- 

 geron canadensis) and other species are used as tonics and astringents. 



Golden-rod (Solidago odora) is used to relieve colic, and gumweed (Grin- 

 delia squarrosa} is beneficial in catarrhal affections. It is said to contain an 

 alkaloid known as grindelin. Madia oil is obtained from tarweed (Madia 

 sativa'}. The niger seed, the fruit of Guizotia abyssinica, is an important source 

 of oil in Abyssinia and India. 



The root of the burdock (Arctium Lappa}, used by the laity as a remedy 

 in skin diseases, contains a bitter glucoside, lappin. Chicory (Cichorium Intybus) 

 is used to increase the appetite and to aid digestion. Rattlesnake weed (Hiera- 

 cium venosum} is a popular antidote to the bites of poisonous snakes. Rattle- 

 snake root (Prenanthes alba) is used as a remedy for toothache. The ragweeds 

 (Ambrosia artcmisiifolia and A. trifida) are stimulants and astringents, the 

 larger weed being also supposed to cause hay fever. 



Dunbar has demonstrated that the producing cause of hay fever may be 

 pollen, and that pollen of all grasses, lillies of the valley, asters, and certain 

 other plants may produce an irritation similar to that accompanying hay fever. 

 He isolated an active principle which is believed to be a tox-albumin. A very 

 interesting account of his experiments is given by Rochussen in the twenty-sixth 

 volume of the Pharmaceutical Review. 



According to Maiden, the Helichrysum apiculatum of Australia causes 

 death from irritation and from the formation of hair balls. The African mari- 



