COMPOSITAE — THISTLE FAMILY 755 



found in the volatile oil, an anthelmintic. Artemisia iiiaritiiua, A. politico, A. 

 Abstnthiutn, A. biennis and A. Abrotanum arc also used for the dislodgemetit of 

 worras. The latter contains the alkaloid abrotaiiin C„J-T„,H,0. Sage brush 

 (Artemisia tridcniata) and other species produce sneezing. 



Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthiinn) 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 ahsinthin C^^'irl„^0^. Arnica root 

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

 remedy for chilblains and bruises and contains the bitter principle aniicin C 

 ^3o*-*4- '^^'^ 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 tara.vacin, and taraxaccrin CgHj^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, HO. 

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

 is used for asthma. The costus (Saussurca 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 

 (Otearia 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 (Senccio 

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

 B. cordifolia contains haccharin, 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 

 (EnpatoriuHi 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 (Bri- 

 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 Guicotia 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, lap pin. 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 (Prcnanthes alba) is used as a remedy for toothache. The ragweeds 

 (Ambrosia artemisiifolia 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- 



