47 



deprived of its seed, in olive oil, it forms a liniment which is ap- 

 plied to chapped bands, burns, old sores, and the mashed fruit is 

 employed as a poultice. 



The fruit of the Pumpkin viue (Cucurbita pepo) is well known to 

 farmers as excellent food for cattle. Its seed has of late acquired 

 considerable reputation for the expulsion of the tapeworm, f >r which 

 it is administered in the form of a paste in the quantity of an ounce 

 and a half of the seed, mixed with an equal weight of ■agar. 



The Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia corollata) is very common 

 in the sandy pine lands of Louisiana. The root alone possesses 

 some medicinal value. Its active principle is taken up by water and 

 alcohol, and remains in the extract obtained by the evaporation of 

 the decoction or tincture. In a full dose it is a certain emetic. In 

 smaller doses it is diaphoretic and expectorant. 



The American Centaury (Sabbatia angularis) grows most abund- 

 antly in the pine woods and in sandy soil. Its numerous rose 

 colored tlowers, which expand late in June, render it a beautiful 

 ornamental plant, and it deserves a place in the gardens. All 

 parts of the plant have a strong bitter taste. Alcohol and water 

 extract its bitterness. It has tonic properties similar to gentian, and 

 has been popularly employed as a preventive remedy in our autum- 

 nal remittent and intermittent fevers. 



The Sweet flag or Florentine orris (Iris Florentina ) which is culti- 

 vated and constitutes quite an ornament in our gardens, is a native 

 of Italy. The root, which is known in commerce by the name of 

 orris root, has not only medicinal properties as an emetic, but is 

 valued on account of its agreeable odor. It is occasionally used to 

 conceal an offensive breath, and it enters into the composition of 

 t >oth powders. 



The Common White Lily ( L ilium candidum ) is a beautiful orna- 

 mental garden flower, and is indigenous in Syria and Asia Minor. 

 The bulb, which consists of imbricated fleshy sca^s, has a peculiar, 

 disagreeable, somewhat mucilaginous taste. In a recent state it is 

 said to have been successfully employed in dropsy. Boiled with 

 er or milk, it forms a good emollient cataplasm, much used in 

 populnr practice. The flowers impart their odor to oil or lard, and 

 an ointment or liniment prepared from them is used as a soothing 

 application in external inflammation. 



