TA.NACETUM VULGARE. 
133 
Horets are of two kinds, those of the radius are few, sometimes 
altogether wanting, and female ; those of the disc numerous, 
hermaphrodite, tubular, and five-cleft. The female florets are also 
tubular at the base, and divided at the brim into three-pointed 
segments or teeth ; the filaments are five, very short, slender, and 
furnished with anthers which unite and form a cylinder; the germens 
in both florets are obovate, small, and support a thread -shaped style 
crowned with a reflexed bifid stigma ; the seeds, which are enclosed 
in the calyx, are naked, oblong, angular, and crowned with a narrow, 
marginate, membranous pappus ; the receptacle is convex and 
naked. 
" There are three varieties of this species of tansy, one with a 
curled leaf, which is called double tansy by gardeners ; another with 
▼ariegated leaves ; and a third with leaves which have little scent ; 
but as these accidentally hare been produced from the seeds of the 
common tansy, they are not considered as distinct species."* 
Sensible Qualities, &c. The leaves and flowers have a 
strong, but not a disagreeable odour, and a bitter, somewhat aro- 
matic taste ; the flowers are more powerful but less unpleasant than 
the leaves, they give out these qualities both to water and spirit, 
most perfectly to the latter ; the tincture made from the leaves is of 
a fine green ; from the flowers, of a bright pale yellow. By 
distillation with water an essential oil of a greenish yellow colour, 
and smelling strongly of the herb, is obtained ; the remaining 
decoction inspissated, afibrds a strong bitter sub-saline extract. 
Medical Properties AND Uses. Tansy is stomachic, tonic, 
and anthelmintic; it has also been considered emmenagogue.f 
Hofl^mann speaks highly of its efiicacy as a vermifuge, particularly 
for expelling the lumbricus teres, or round worm, for which purpose 
the seeds have been substituted for those of the Santonicum, and 
with equally good eflfect. 
We are told by Dr. Clarke, (vide Essays Physical and Literary, 
vol. iii. p. 438) that it has been found to be of great service in 
various cases of gout. Dr. Cullen however does not speak so 
highly of it, and later experience does not confirm the encomiums 
formerly bestowed upon it in this disorder. It has also been 
recommended in hysteria, particularly when arising from obstructed 
menstruation, and for this latter disorder it continues a popular 
* Vide Miller's Card. Diet. 
+ Bergius Mat. Med. p. 664. 
VOL, II. 
U 
