398 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



used is the root, which as found in the shops is in longitudinal or transverse 

 slices, of a yellowish-gray colour, with an aromatic and peculiar odour, and 

 disagreeable bitter taste, with an after-sensation of heat. Both alcohol and 

 water extract its virtues, but the former most so. 



The root has been analyzed by several chemists, and found to contain a 

 Volatile oil, a peculiar Camphor, Wax, acrid Resin, Gum, Bitter extractive, 

 Inulin, &c. Inulin was first detected by Rose, but named by Dr. Thomson; 

 Rose called it Alantine. It has also been detected in several other plants, 

 and has been called Menyanthin, Dahlin, and Datiscin. It is an amyla- 

 ceous substance, closely allied to starch. 



Medical Properties. — Elecampane is an aromatic tonic and expectorant, 

 and also acts as a diuretic and diaphoretic. It was at one time in high re- 

 pute in a variety of disorders, but more especially in those of the pulmonary 

 organs, but is seldom employed by the medical practitioner at the present 

 day, though it still retains much reputation in domestic practice. 



The following account of it by Dr. Short {Med. Brit.), will give an idea 

 of the virtues attributed to it about a hundred years since. " The root is good 

 for shortness of breath, cough, or asthma. It is a fine stomachic and pro- 

 motes digestion. Its decoction or powder taken with sugar expels urine and 

 the menses. Its infusion in white wine is good for green sickness, and its 

 decoction cures bloody urine, and is proper in cramp, convulsions, and scia- 

 tica pains, &c." 



It has proved beneficial in chronic catarrh, where there is much secretion 

 of mucus, but no febrile symptoms, and also in dyspepsia, where there is de- 

 bility and relaxation. It is sometimes allied in its action on the system to 

 Calamus, but is not so stimulating. The dose of the powder is a scruple to 

 a drachm ; of the decoction, made with half an ounce of the root to a pint of 

 water, one to two fluid ounces. In large doses it causes nausea and vomiting. 



Tribe 3. Senecionide^e. — Heads heterogamous, homogamous, or heterocephalous. 

 Style cylindraceous above, the branches linear, penicillate or hairy at the apex, either trun- 

 cate or produced into a cone, or a more or less elongated and hispid appendage. The 

 stigmatic lines terminating in the base of the cone or appendage, not confluent. Leaves 

 opposite or alternate. 



Helenium. — Linn. 



Heads many-flowered, radiate ; ray-florets in a single series, pistillate, cuneiform, ligu- 

 late, 3 — 5-cleft at summit, with scarcely any tube. Scales of involucre in a double series; 

 the outer linear or subulate, foliaceous, spreading or relaxed ; the inner few and shorter, 

 chaffy. Receptacle convex, globose or oblong, naked. Florets of the disk with a short 

 tube, and an inflated, cylindrical, 4 — 5-toothed limb. Branches of the style a little dilated 

 and obtuse at tip. Achenia obovate-turbinate, striate or ribbed, villous on the ribs. Pap- 

 pus of 5 — 8 membranous, apiculate, or awned scales. 



A small genus of North American plants, with erect, branching stems, and 

 alternate, decurrent leaves, which are minutely punctate. The flowers are 

 usually yellow. 



H. autumnale, Linn. — Leaves lanceolate, serrate, acute, very decurrent. Scales of in- 

 volucre linear-subulate. Rays flat, 3 — 5-clcft at tip, longer than the disk. 



Linn., Spec. ii. 866; Torrey and Gray, Fl. ii. 3S4 ; Barton, Fl. Am. 

 Sept. t. 26 ; Rafinesque, Fl. i. 235, f. 47. 



Common Names. — Sncezewort ; Swamp Sun-flower. 



