404 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



sessed of more active qualities than the European. It is bitter and tonic, with 

 a strong aromatic, but unpleasant smell ; the root is somewhat astringent. 

 On distillation, it affords an essential oil, somewhat similar to that of chamo- 

 mile. 



Medical Uses, fyc, — This plant had at one time much reputation, from the 

 supposed efficacy of its leaves in the cure of recent wounds ; but they are now 

 seldom used for this purpose. Ferrein speaks of them as beneficial in inter- 

 mittent fevers, haemorrhages, and abortion. Hoffmann considered the flowers 

 as antispasmodic ; and Maumery (Journ. de, Med. xxxiv. 402), speaks of 

 them highly in retention of the menses and flatulent colic. They have also 

 been recommended in leucorrhoea and nervous atony. Linnseus (Flor, Lapp.) 

 states that in Dalecarlia they are added to beer to increase its strength. The 

 root, when fresh, has a slight camphoraceous smell, and has been proposed 

 as a substitute for Serpentaria ; but trials made with it have proved that it 

 is very inefficient. 



Several other species are also employed, as the A. nobilis in the South of 

 Europe ; and A.falcata in Asia Minor and Egypt, where it is highly esteemed 

 in hypochondriasis. The A. ageratum has some reputation in the South of 

 Europe as a vermifuge. 



Ptarmica. — Tournefort. 



Involucre campanulate, scales brown and scarious at their edges. Receptacle flat, 

 chaffy. Rays flat, longer than the involucre. Achenia ob-compressed, often with a wing- 

 like margin. 



This genus was originally instituted by Tournefort, but the species were 

 all included in Achillea by Linnaeus. De Candolle has followed the first of 

 these writers, and observes that it is intermediate between Anacyclus and 

 Achillea, and is different in habit from either. Torrey and Gray have con- 

 sidered it as a section of the latter genus. It is almost wholly European, a 

 few species only being found in North America and Siberia. 



P. vulgaris, De Candolle, — Leaves glabrous, lanceolate-linear, sharply and equally 

 serrate, with appressed teeth. Heads loosely corymbose. Rays 8 — 12, much longer than 

 disk. 



De Candolle, Prod. vi. 23 ; Torrey and Gray, Fl. ii. 40$ ; Achillea ptar- 

 mica, Sp. Fl. 1266 ; Eng. Bot. 757. 



Common Names. — Sneeze-wort ; Goose-tongue. 



Foreign Names. — Herbe a eternuer, Fr. ; Herba starnuta, It. ; Niese- 

 kraut, Ger. 



A native of many parts of Europe; and, according to Pursh, also found in 

 this country, but has not been met with by any other botanist. It flowers in 

 the autumn. It is slightly odorous, and its leaves have a taste resembling 

 that of Tarragon ; when chewed, they occasion a flow of saliva, and the dried 

 herb in the form of powder produces sneezing. 



Medical Uses, fyc. — The root is employed for a masticatory as a substitute 

 for Pellitory, and is applicable to the same description of cases. The pow- 

 dered herb is used as a sternutatory, which property it enjoys, according to Sir 

 J. E. Smith, {Eng. Bot.,) on account of the minute prickles that border the 

 leaves. A decoction of the whole plant has some reputation in Russia in 

 hematuria and hsemorrhagia. . 



Many of the other species have been employed in medicine ,* thus, the P. 

 nana, moschata, and atrata, which are remarkable for their strong musky 

 odour, constitute a portion of the plants known in Switzerland under the name 



