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CHAMOMILE.-ANTHEMIS.

Natural order, Composite discoides. A genus of the Syngenesia Polygamia superflua class.

THIS herb is the Arbus of Dioscorides, and the Arbeμor of Theophrastus. It was called Leucanthemis, and Leucanthemus, from the whiteness of the double blossom: others named it Eranthemon, because it flourished so early in the spring; and on account of its savour resembling an apple, it was called Chamamelon, from which the English name is derived.

Ancient story informs us, that this plant took its generic name from Athemis, a virgin shepherdess, who kept her flock near Cuma, and not far from the cave where one of the Sibyls delivered her oracles. Athemis frequently assisted at these ceremonies, and being present when the fate of lovers was to be decided, was so frightened by Arphorles bursting abruptly into the cave to know his doom, that she died on the spot, and was

instantly changed into a plant bearing flowers, which received her name.*

It is a curious circumstance, that the first person who appears to have praised and recommended this herb in medicine, lived to a very advanced age without ever knowing a day's illness. Asclepiades pledged himself to cease to act as a physician if he should ever be known to be sick. Mithridates, king of Pontus, entertained so high an opinion of his skill, that he sent ambassadors to him with great offers of reward to tempt him to reside at his court, but which proposal was rejected by the Bithynian, who gave the preference to Rome; where he became the founder of a sect in physic which bore his name.†

The ancient physicians considered the flowers and leaves of the chamomile as a diuretic which was salutary in cases of stone and gravel. They made them into trochischs or lozenges, which were for spasmodic disorders, as well as for the jaundice and complaints of the liver, and they pounded the leaves with the roots and flowers as a remedy against the sting of serpents and other reptiles. The Romans preserved the dried

* Liger.

Plin. b. vii. c. 37, and b. xxii. c. 21.

flowers, as well as the leaves, both for medicine and for winter garlands.

The common single chamomiles are esteemed in medicine as being more effective than the double flowers, having a greater quantity of the yellow thrum, in which lies the strength of the flower, although the latter blossoms are generally brought to market in preference. The leaves of the plant are commended before the blossoms, as a digestive, laxative, emollient, and diuretic medicine. The flowers are given in infusion as a gentle emetic; they are also used in emollient decoctions, to assuage pain.

Dr. R. James says, "Chamomile is a plant of many virtues, being stomachic, hepatic, nervine, emollient, and carminative; it strengthens the stomach and bowels, helps the cholic, jaundice, and stone, &c. It is good against quartan and other agues. Outwardly, it is used in fomentations for inflammations and tumours; applied hot to the sides, it helps the pains thereof."

The powder of dried chamomile-flowers was used in the time of Dioscorides to cure intermitting fevers: Riverius prescribed it on the same occasion. Morton, and Dr. Elisha Coysh, both affirm, that they have cured

fevers with chamomile flowers reduced to fine powder; and it is still a common febrifuge with the Scotch and Irish.

It is said that no simple in the Materia Medica is possessed of a quality more friendly and beneficial to the intestines than chamomile flowers.

Boerhaave says, "The essential oil of chamomile, made into pills with a bit of bread, and given two hours before meals, after fasting a considerable time, is a certain cure for worms."

Gerard informs us that chamomile flowers were formerly used in the bath to rarify the

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skin, open the pores, and produce perspiration; " and were," says he, " planted in gardens both for pleasure and profit." The double-blossomed variety makes a pretty edging for the borders of cottage gardens.

The Hortus Kewensis notices twenty varieties as known to the English gardeners, one-fourth of which are native plants; and the kind most esteemed for medical purposes is found abundantly on many of our com

mons.

It is said, that a stone taken out of the human body, on being wrapped in chamomile, will in a short time dissolve. Hence, says

Coles, it is evidently an excellent remedy for that complaint, if the syrup or decoction of the flowers be taken in a morning, fasting.

This plant is remarkable for beginning to flower at the top of the branches, whereas others that do not open all at one time, begin at the bottom; and the flowers, which are composed of white petals set in a yellow disk, yield by distillation a fine sky-blue oil.