OCR Text |
Show WORMWOOD. extractive and essential oil. It is used in stomach complaints, gaa 5 iLfa was It is also employed in intermittent fevers, in cachectic and hyafiections, in jaundice, and against worms. Che extract is a pure and simple bitter. Theessential oil is of a dark green colour, and coniains the whole flayour of the plant. It is sti mulating, and is supposed to be a powerful antispasmodic and anthelmintic. Wormwood was formerly much used for the pre= paration of medicated wine and ales, and forms purl whenit fused with thelast, which hard drinkers are in the habit of taking in the morning to go through their hard day’s labours. Withering says, the leaves and flowers are very bitter; the Tools are warm and aromatic. A considerable quantityof essential oil rises from it in distillation. This oil is used b nallyandinteraally to destroy worms. beer, soon destroy the acescency. ‘They resist putrefaction, <Raas CLK andis of great service to persons labouring under hypochondria. and are therefore a principal ingredient in antiseptic fomenta- An infusion of them is a good stomachi ion of fixed alkalinesalt, a powerful dit sical cases. WORMWOOD. ARTEMISIA ABSINTHIUM. ‘The ashes i y ome drope at than most he larger mentions two cases, wherein an essence prepared from this plant, and Class XIX. Syngenesia. taken for a considerable time, Order 11. Poiygamia superfiua. Essent. Gen. CoHar. Same as thefirst. Spec. Cuar. Leaves compound, multifid: Flowers stones in the kidneys or ib-globular, pendent Recepiucle villous, a DESCRIPTION. Tus plant rises three feet, and sends off several branches. The leaves are divided into many bluntish segments in a pinnate order, underside downy, of a pale green, and silky softness. om Flowers of a brownish yellow, placed in numerous spikes, fr the ale of the leaves, placed alternate. in manyparts of Britain; and about London it is cultivated for medical use. MEDICAL USE. : Its smell is strong and disagreeable; its taste intensely bitter, : atenante are a bittel so as to become a proverb. Its active constituents are 4 the formation of the patients forbearing the use of wine and acids. It might be suspected that, like other bitters, its long continued use must weaken the action of the but in these instances no such effect took place. nervous system, An infusion ofit given to a woman that suckles, makes her milk of sheep that eat it.— flesh the better, It gives a bitterness to Horses and goats are not fond of it; cows and swine refuse it. Linn, Turkeys are fond of it.—Mr. Hollefear. A horse ate it. i he plant steeped in boiling water, and repeatedly applied to a ‘tuise, will remove the pain in a short time, and prevent the ‘welling and discoloration of the part,—St. HISTORY. This perennial herb grows by the road sides, and on rubbish, prevented bladder; the great Haller says, that Charles V. usedthis plant for the ( ea i Sout; and for the same purpose | have employed a decoctio n of * Wormwood, and finally by a long use conquered this disease in 'yself, so that I have had no return. ‘This testimony merits he sin teat oN . oo. the attention of > English physicians. 2Y pws tions. adk |