OCR Text |
Show HOLY THISTLE, 725 very durable, accompanied with an ungrateful flavour, from which they are in a great measure freed by keeping. Water extracts in alittle time, even withont heat, the lighter and more grateful parts of this plant: if the digestion be contin ued for some hours, the disagreeable parts are taken u p- A strong de. coction is very nauseous and offensive to the stomach. Rectifi ed spirit acquires a very pleasant bitter taste, which remains unin. jured in the extract. Neumann got from 1920parts, 270 alcoholic, and afterw ards 390 watery extract; and inversely, 600 watery, and 60 alcoholic. MEDICAL USE. The virtues of this plant seem to be little known in the pre- sent practice. ‘The nauseous decoction is sometimes used to provoke vomitin5) g and a strong infusion to promote the operation of other emetics. BO Yo RSV Lie CENTAUREA BENEDICTA. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order IIT. Polygamiafrustranea. x Essent. GEN. Cuan. Receptacle bristly: Pappussimple: Florets of te ray funnel-shaped, longer than those of thedisk, irregular. hl Spec. Cuar, Calyx doubly-spined, woolly, and involucred: Leaves sem mouldy, has been strongly’ recommended inthe catarrh of chil- glee dren, DESCRIPTION. ; Tus plant rises two feet. Leaves long, elliptical, sepa or variously serrated, and barbed with sharp points; — bright green, beneath whitish, and netted. Upper leaves seS sile, lower ones on footstalks. Flowers inclosed with an invo- Florets yellow. The extract prepared by evaporating the expressed juice, with the addition ofa little alcohol, to prevent it from becoming decurrent, with spinous teeth. lucre of ten leaves. But this elegant bitter, when freed from the offensive parts of the herb, may be advantageously applied to other purposes. Excellent effects have been frequen tly expetienced from a slight infusion of centaurea, in’loss of appetite, where the stomach was injured by irregularities. A stronger infusion, made in cold or warm water, if drunk freely, and the patient kept warm, occasions a plentiful sweat, and promotes the secretions in general, Seeds crowned. HISTORY, : in Rp is its an annual plant, indigenous gust : the Grecian This recian iislands, and cultivated in our gardens. It flowers in June and July, and perfects its seeds in the autumn. The herb should be £4 7 ; flower, quick ed ly dried, dry ; pt in in aa veryver) tap and kept thered when in 1i mouldyairy place, to counteract its tendency to rot or crow alge : : ; very §frOMs strong 9 4he leaves have a penetrating bitter taste, not very The seeds of this plant are also considerablybitter, and have been sometimes used with the same intention as the leaves. |