538 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Common Names. — Wormseed ; Stinkweed ; Jerusalem oak, &c. 



Description. — Root perennial and 

 Fig. 231. branched. Stem upright, herbaceous, 



much branched, deeply grooved. Branch^ 

 es fastigiate. Leaves nearly sessile, alter- 

 nate, and scattered, oblong-lanceolate, 

 deeply sinuate or dentate, studded beneath 

 with small, globular, oily dots. Flowers 

 of a yellowish-green colour, in long, slen- 

 der, axillary, or terminal racemes. Calyx 

 with five oval, concave segments. Sta- 

 mens opposite the lobes of the calyx, and 

 about as long. Styles three, sometimes 

 two, longer than the stamens. Seed 

 small, lenticular, covered by the persis- 

 tent calyx. 



It is found in most parts of the 

 United States, most abundantly, 

 and of a larger size to the south. 

 It has become naturalized in some 

 parts of Europe. Rafinesque is of 

 opinion that two distinct species 

 have been confounded under the 

 name of anthelminticum, and has 

 given the name of rugosum to the 

 southern plant, which, however, 

 does not appear to differ, except in 

 having a more vigorous growth. 



The whole plant has a strong, 

 heavy, disagreeable odour, depend- 

 ing on the presence of a volatile 

 oil, which is most abundant in the 

 seeds. This oil is of a light yel- 

 low colour, when first extracted, 

 but becomes darker by age and ex- 

 posure to light. It is usually ob- 

 tained from the seeds, but sometimes the whole plant is. used. The vermi- 

 fuge properties of this species of Chenopodium and its oil, were discovered soon 

 after the settlement of this country ; the first trials of it were made in Vir- 

 ginia, and it is spoken of by Schcepf, Kalm, and others with various degrees 

 of commendation. Its anthelmintic qualities are generally admitted, and it 

 is recognised in all the standard works on Materia Medica. 



Medical Uses. — It is usually classed among the vermifuge remedies, and 

 is employed for this purpose alone, in this country ; but from the success 

 obtained by Plenck with the C. ambrosoides in chorea, it is more than pro- 

 bable that the anthelminticum would be found of still more benefit, from its 

 superior powers. As an anthelmintic, it is administered in a variety of forms : 

 as the expressed juice of the whole plant, an electuary of the seeds, a decoc- 

 tion of the leaves in milk, and the essential oil. The disadvantages attendant 

 on the whole of them are their nauseous taste and smell, which renders it very 

 difficult to induce children to swallow them. 



When the expressed juice is given, it should be prepared as near the time 

 at which it is to be administered as possible, as it loses much of its efficacy by 

 keeping. The dose is a tablespoonful evening and morning. The decoction 



C. anthelminticum. 



