394 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



when smoked through a reed, to relieve obstinate coughs. The leaves, 

 flowers, and root, are all used. The two former are inodorous, and have a 

 rough, sub-viscid taste. The root is mucilaginous and bitter. No analysis 

 has been made of them. 



Medical Properties. — The most prominent qualities of the Coltsfoot, are 

 those of an emollient, demulcent, and slightly tonic character. It was at one 

 time in high repute in pulmonary diseases, and is still much employed in 

 Europe as a popular remedy in these complaints. Old Gerarde says of it — 

 "The fume of the dried leaves, taken through a funnel, burned upon coles, 

 effectually helpeth those that are troubled with the shortness of breath." It 

 is still retained in the London Pharmacopoeia, but is seldom used by physi- 

 cians. Dr. Cullen used the expressed juice of the leaves in scrofula, and was 

 of opinion that it was of benefit ; but a further trial of it, in such cases, has 

 not confirmed its power. The quack medicine called " Essence of Coltsfoot," 

 is a solution of some of the balsams in alcohol, and is highly stimulating, and 

 unfit for the greater proportion of cases of pulmonary disease. 



The Coltsfoot is administered in decoction, made by boiling a handful of 

 the leaves in two pints of water down to a pint, straining and sweetening 

 with honey or sugar. The dose is ad libitum. This decoction answers 

 very well to allay tickling coughs, but is not superior to flaxseed tea or the 

 other common demulcent drinks. 



Tribe 2. Asteroide^e. — Heads heterogamous or homogamous. Style of perfect flowers 

 cylindraceous. Branches flat or flattish ; mostly linear or lanceolate above, equally-pu- 

 bescent externally ; conspicuous stigmatic lines, terminating where the exterior pube- 

 scence commences, not confluent. Leaves alternate or rarely opposite. 



Erigeron. — Linn. 



Heads many-flowered. Ray flowers numerous, in more than one series, pistillate ; 

 those of the disk tubular, perfect; some of the exterior ones filiform-tubular and truncate, 

 pistillate. Scales of involucre mostly equal, narrow, in a single or somewhat double 

 series. Receptacle flat, naked, punctate or scrobiculate. Appendages of the style short 

 and obtuse. Achenia compressed, usually pubescent, commonly with 2 lateral nerves. 

 Pappus pilose, rough, of a single series of capillary bristles, or double, the outer series 

 much the shortest. 



An extensive genus of herbaceous plants, with entire, toothed or iobed 

 leaves, and solitary, corymbose or paniculate flowers, of a white, blue, or 

 purple colour. It is closely allied to some of the divisions of Aster, and 

 there is much confusion as regards its sections, numerous genera being pro- 

 posed to be taken from it by some writers, founded principally on the diffe- 

 rences in the pappus, which, however, are not acknowledged by other autho- 

 rities. 



E. annuum, Persoon. — Sparsely hirsute. Stem branched above. Leaves coarsely and 

 sharply serrate-toothed ; the radical and lowermost ovate, obtuse, tapering into a mar- 

 gined petiole ; the others ovate-lanceolate, sessile, acute, and entire ; the uppermost lan- 

 ceolate, mostly entire. Rays very narrow, not twice the length of the sparsely setose- 

 hispid involucre. 



Persoon, Synop., ii. 431 ; Torrey and Gray, ii. 175 ; E. keterophyllum, 

 Barton, Veg. 'Mat. Med., i. 231. 



Common Names. — Flea-bane ; Scavish ; Sweet Scabious. 



Description. — Annual or biennial. Stem stout, striate, roundish, pubescent, two to 

 four feet high, much branched at top. Radical leaves ovate, acute, deeply-toothed, and 



