484  A  rtemisia  Frigida.  { Am-  Sj^Sf rm • 
On  examining  the  false  or  white  senega,  the  root  of  Poly  gala  alba, 
Reuter  obtained  evidence  of  only  traces  of  the  oil,  while  a 
Japanese  senega,  Obtained  of  Professor  Shimoyama  and  probably 
the  root  of  P.  tenuifolia,  did  not  contain  a  trace. 
Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Theodor  E.  Melter,  of  Jacksonville, 
Florida,  Prof.  J.  M.  Maisch  obtained  some  specimens  of  the  herb 
Poly  gala  Baldwinii,  which  was  placed  at  my  disposal.  Mr. 
Melter  stated  it  to  be  a  powerful  diuretic,  and  to  have  a  strong  odor 
of  oil  of  wintergreen.  A  subsequent  quantity  consisting  of  fresh 
root  and  herb  had  spoiled  on  the  road ;  so  I  had  to  content  myself 
with  the  examination  of  the  air-dry  herb  alone. 
The  herb,  which  had  been  in  Prof.  Maisch's  possession  a  short 
time,  showed  evidence  of  0*08  per  cent,  of  ethereal  oil  estimated  by 
Reuter's  first  method,  and  the  colorimetric  comparison  of  the  ferric 
chloride  reaction.  Although  the  second  quantity  spoken  of  before 
had  become  mouldy,  it  was  nevertheless  examined  when  I  could  not 
get  evidence  of  even  a  trace  of  the  oil. 
During  the  next  season  I  will  endeavor  to  obtain  some  more  of 
this  plant,  both  root  and  herb,  and  besides  intend  to  examine,  in 
the  same  manner,  as  many  of  our  indigenous  Polygalas  as  I  can 
procure,  hoping  to  be  able  to  report  on  the  subject  at  the  next 
annual  meeting. 
ARTEMISIA  FRIGIDA,  W1LLDEN0W. 
By  Frederick  A.  Weiss,  Ph.G. 
From  an  Inaugural  Essay. 
The  plant  named  above  is  known  in  Colorado  as  sierra  salvia, 
or  Colorado  mountain  sage,  and  as  a  medicinally  valuable  herb  has 
obtained  considerable  repute  throughout  the  Western  States. 
Originally  employed  by  the  "  medicine  men "  of  the  Western 
Indian  tribes,  it  was  through  them  made  known  to  the  early  white 
settlers  of  that  region.  Its  constant  use  in  that  section,  with  excel- 
lent results,  has  established  its  value  as  a  remedy,  although  it  has 
been  but  little  employed  elsewhere.  Its  medicinal  properties  are 
there  regarded  as  being  of  a  very  high  order,  both  by  the  laity  and 
the  profession,  as  a  cure  for  the  well-known  "  Western  Mountain 
Fever."  It  is  given  in  the  form  of  hot  infusion,  sweetened  to  the 
taste,  with  the  addition  of  a  small  quantity  ol  capsicum ;  which 
latter,  by  stimulating  absorption,  apparently  increases  its  effective- 
ness.   The  hot  infusion  has  a  diuretic,  an  antiperiodic  and  some- 
