DAUCUS OAROTA. 
105 
blunt stigmata ; the seeds are in pairs, ovate, convex, rough on one 
side and covered with strong bristles and flat on the other. 
Various species of the Daucus have been held in great esteem 
as an article of food and medicine, by ancient and modern writers; 
both Pliny and Celsus speak of the carrot, and the (XTctQiv'KmQ uyi^iog 
of Dioscorides is supposed to be the Daucus Carota of the moderns. 
Although most botanists consider the cultivated carrot to be a variety 
only of our wild native species, and have endeavoured to improve 
the latter by various modes of cultivation, yet they do not appear to 
have succeeded in producing equally edible roots from the seeds of 
the wild species, as from the cultivated variety : it is therefore, not 
improbable, but that we are indebted to some exotic species for our 
edible carrot. * We are told by Pliny, (book xxv. c. 9), that in 
his days the finest roots were those of Candia and Achaia. 
Sensible and Chemical Properties. The seeds of the 
wild carrot have a slight aromatic smell, and a warm aromatic, and 
somewhat bitter and acYid taste. Water digested on the seeds, 
becomes impregnated with their odour, but takes up little of 
their taste ; on distillation with water, the whole of the odour and 
aromatic warmth of the seed becomes elevated, and when large 
quantities are submitted to the process, a small portion of essential 
oil of a yellowish colour is obtained, of a moderately pungent 
taste, and smelling strongly of the carrot. Alcohol extracts the 
whole of their virtues by digestion. 
Medical Properties and Uses. The seeds of the wild 
carrot possess the aromatic and carminative qualities, common to 
most of the umbelliferous plants ; hence they have been long esteemed 
and recommended in flatulent colic, abstructed menstruation, cal- 
culous complaints, &c. but they have been chiefly celebrated for 
their diuretic powers, although Dr. Cullen says, " We have seen the 
Sem. Dauci employed in calculous cases, in considerable quantities 
and for a length of time, but never found its diuretic powers anywise 
remarkable." t The seeds however are now but little used; as a 
topical remedy, the roots of the garden carrot beaten into a pulp, 
form an excellent application to cancerous and other ill-conditioned 
* It was the opinion of Miller, (hat they were different species. Vide Gardener's 
Diet, Art. Dauctts. The Cultiyation of carrots is so simple, and so well known to 
erery person possessing a spot of garden ground, that we presume it quite Qane" 
cessary to swell our pages with a particular description of it. Ed. 
f Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 652, 
VOL. I. P 
