VEGETABLESa 



cts distinct species, leaving the name arvensis for 

 or calling it cserulea ; is their phoenicea. The 

 phoenicea is common, perhaps a native. 



This plant affords another instance among many 

 others, with which the records of medicine abound, 

 of remedies obtaining a high character without the 

 smallest pretension thereto. Crowned heads and re- 

 publics have passed laws to preserve it from destruc- 

 tion, and learned doctors have celebrated in classical 

 Latin its imaginary virtue in preventing the effects 

 of the bite of mad dogs. In this country it has long 

 been celebrated among the Germans, two of whom 

 kept the same remedy a great secret. One of these 

 persons, a Mr. Kettering, of Dauphin county, com- 

 municated the knowledge of the plant to the legis- 

 lature of Pennsylvania three years since. 



Chironiaangularis^ common American centaury* 

 This plant is a native of the United States and has 

 the appearance of lesser centaury, (gentiana cen-» 

 taurium). In Pennsylvania it is constantly called 

 centaury ; and is deservedly esteemed a highly me- 

 dicinal, and very agreeable simple bitter. It is used 

 with great success, in relaxation of the stomach, loss 

 of' appetite, and general debility. In sickly situa- 

 tions, an infusion of this plant, joined with calamus 

 aromaticus^ is an excellent medicine, taken early in 

 the morning. 



Ceonathus jirneincaniis^ New Jersey tea tree. ^ 

 This shrub seldom rises mcn-e than two or three feet 

 high, sending out branches on every side from the 

 ground upward. The branches are very slender, and 

 are garnished with oval-pointed leaves, having three 



B b 



