18G 



COMPOSITiE. 



Comttituents. — Inulin, a bitter principle, and common vegetable con- 

 stituents. 



Prepa7'ation.% — Commonly employed in decoction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Burdock, though chiefly used by the 

 laity, is highly esteemed by some of the profession as a diuretic and altera- 

 tive. It is, perhaps, more frequent! v used in rheumatism than in any 

 other disease, but is also recommended in chronic cutaneous diseases, ca- 

 tarrhal affections, syphiUs, and scrofula. In the form of an ointment or 

 liniment it is used as an application to burns, ulcers, etc. 



CICHORIUM.— CmcouY. 



Cichorium Intybus Linn6.— C7aVor?/, Succory. 



Dcxi ripf ion. —Heads several-flowered ; the flowers all ligulate, perfect. 

 Involucre double, the inner of 8 to 10 scales, the outer of 5, half as long, 



spreading. Achenia oblong, smooth 

 or slightly ribbed. Paj^pus of numer- 

 ous short chaffy scales forming a 

 crown. 



A branching perennial herb, 2 

 to 3 feet high, with a large deep root. 

 Leaves alternate, oblong or lanceolate, 

 partly clasping, the lo\ver lyrately run- 

 cinate ; those of the rigid flowering 

 branches minute. Heads sessile, 2 

 or 3 together, axillary and terminal. 

 Flowers bright blue or puri)le, ajipear- 

 ing from July to October. 



Habitat. — Indigenous to the East- 

 ern Continent, but naturalized here, 

 growing along roadsides and m waste 

 places. 



Part Used. — The root— not official. 

 Constituents. — Inulin, a bitter prin- 

 ciple, and ordinary vegetable constit- 

 uents. 



Preparations. — Commonly used in 

 infusion. 

 3Iedical PropQrties and Uses. — Chicoi-y is said to increase the appetite 

 and aid digestion. Though formerly used medicinalh', it is of importaiace 

 now merely as an adulterant of coffee. For this purpose the root is roastec; 

 and g )und in the same manner as coffee, with which it is afterward mixed 

 in large proportion. When thus treated chicory in infusion has a bitter- 

 ness, possibly somewhat resembling that of coffee, but it is wholly desti- 



Fio. 138.— Cichorinm Intybns. 



