OF NEW-YORK. 31 



• 



Piiiladelphicum, Linn., (Philadelphia Fleabane). E. Annuum, Pers., 

 (Sweet Scabious Daisy). E. Strigosum, Muhl., (Fleabane Daisy). 

 All the above species are diuretic, tonic, astringent, and antilithic. 

 They have been employed successfully in nephritic and dropsical com- 

 plaints, as hydrothorax. The Canadense is astringent in perhaps a 

 greater degree than the others, and was employed by the late Dr. Du- 

 puy, of this city, in diarrhoea, dysentery, and other profluviae, in form 

 of infusion and decoction, extract and tincture. We prefer the Cana- 

 dense, although the other species are highly medicinal. Dr. Williams 

 speaks highly of this plant, in the New- York Journal of Medicine, vol. 

 7, p. 36-7. It deserves more frequent use. The Annuum, (Sweet 

 Scabious Daisy, etc.,} is one of the Shaker remedies, and is a very 

 valuable diuretic and astringent. It has a considerable reputation as 

 an alterative ; a syrup of it promotes expectoration in dry coughs, and 

 it is a decided emmenagogue. 



Solidago,* Linn., (Golden Rod). Out of sixty species of this 

 plant, growing in the United States, New-York furnishes at least 

 twenty-five, some of which are valuable medicines. 



S. Odora, Ait., (The Sweet-scented Golden Rod), which has 

 flowers of a deep, golden yellow color, is aromatic, carminative, and 

 stimulant ; diaphoretic when given in warm infusion, and successfully 

 to allay pain from flatulence ; to allay nausea, and cover the taste ol 

 unpleasant medicines usually given for these purposes in infusion, 

 the vol. oil is also used. The dried flowers form a good substitute for 

 tea. It is also astringent, and has lithontriptic properties. The bruised 

 leaves exhale the odor of anise-seed, and yield by distillation a fragrant 

 volatile oil, which is used as a remedy for flatulence and to allay 

 nausea. 



Solidago Virga-Aurea, Linn., (Common Golden Rod). The 

 flowers are aperient, diuretic and tonic ; the leaves gently astringent ; 

 a useful remedy in nephritic complaints and suppression of urine, in 

 form of infusion made of the flowers. An infusion of the leaves is 

 useful in general debility and chronic fluxes, as diarrhoea and dysen- 

 tery, leucorrhea, etc. 



• Inula Hklexium, Linn., (Common Elecampane). A naturalized 

 plant, contains a peculiar principle, analogous to starch, called inulin ; 

 a white concrete substance called heleine, intermediate in its properties 

 between the essential oils and camphor, also bitter extractive, a bitter 

 resin, gum, albumen, lignin, wax, vol. oil, saline matters, etc. Ele- 

 campane is tonic and gently stimulant; has diaphoretic, diuretic, em- 



* From the Latin solido, to make firm , in allusion to its supposed vulnerary 

 qualities. 



