186 



COMPOSITE. 



Constituents. — Inulin, a bitter principle, and common vegetable con- 

 stituents. 



Preparations. — Commonly employed in decoction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Burdock, though chiefly used by the 

 laity, is highly esteemed by some of the profession as a diuretic and altera- 

 tive. It is, perhaps, more frequently used in rheumatism than in any 

 other disease, but is also recommended in chronic cutaneous diseases, ca- 

 tarrhal affections, syphilis, and scrofula. In the form of an ointment or 

 liniment it is used as an application to burns, ulcers, etc. 



CICHORIUM. —Chicory. 



Cichorium Intybus Linne. — Chicory, Succor y. 



Description. — Heads several-flowered ; the flowers all ligulate, perfect. 

 Involucre double, the inner of 8 to 10 scales, the outer of 5, half as long, 



spreading. Achenia oblong, smooth 

 or slightly ribbed. Pappus of numer- 

 ous short chaffy scales forming a 

 crown. 



A branching perennial herb, 2 

 to 3 feet high, with a large deep root. 

 Leaves alternate, oblong or lanceolate, 

 partly clasping, the lower lyrately run- 

 cm ate ; those of the rigid flowering- 

 branches minute. Heads sessile, 2 

 or 3 together, axillary and terminal. 

 Flowers bright blue or purple, appear- 

 ing from July to October. 



Habitat. — Indigenous to the East- 

 ern Continent, but naturalized here, 

 growing along roadsides and in waste 

 places. 



Part Used. — The root— not official. 

 Constituents. — Inulin, a bitter prin- 

 ciple, and ordinary vegetable constit- 

 uents. 



Preparations. — Commonly used in 

 infusion. 

 -Chicory is said to increase the appetite 

 and aid digestion. Though formerly used medicinally, it is of importance 

 now merely as an adulterant of coffee. For this purpose the root is roasted 

 and ground in the same manner as coffee, with which it is afterward mixed 

 in large proportion. When thus treated chicory in infusion has a bitter- 

 ness, possibly somewhat resembling that of coffee, but it is wholly desti- 



Fig. 138.— Cichorium Intybus. 



Medical Properties and Uses.- 



