A. filifolia, Torrey (more).—Called Southern wood in its habitat, U. S. west of Rocky Mountains. Used by the Indians for tumefactions and bruises.

Artemisia Abrotanum (more).—Southernwood. Old Man.

ARTEMISIA SANTONICA

WORMSEED, SANTONICA, SEMEN SANTONICA, SEMEN SANCTUM

Description: Under this specific title and these common names, commerce has for many years kept upon the market the unexpanded flower-buds of some undetermined varieties of wormwood. They are principally imported from Russia; but are also obtained from Palestine, Arabia, Asia Minor, and Persia. For a long time they were supposed to be the Artemisia santonica only, (tartarian southernwood;) but it seems more probable that most of them are the product of Artemisia contra (more). Our American southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum (more)) is, no doubt, very closely allied to the foreign article.

Several species of Artemisia have enjoyed some reputation as medicines. The leaves of A. Abrotanum L. (more), or southernwood, are reported by Craveri to contain a crystallizable alkaloid, abrotine; they were formerly employed as a tonic and anthelmintic

Vertues and Use.

Dioscorides saith, That the Seed bruised, heated in warm Water & drunk, helpeth those that are Bursten, or troubled with Cramps, or Convulsions of the Sinews, the Sciatica, or difficulty in making water, and bringeth down Womens Courses. The same taken in Wine is an Antidote or Counter poyson against all deadly Poyson, and driveth away Serpents, and other venemous Creatures; as also the smel of the Herb being Burnt, doth the same. The Oyl thereof anointed on the Backbone before the Fits of Agues come

[EDGENOTE:] Bursten, Cramps & Convulsions, Sciatica, Strangury, Womens Courses, Poyson, Agues, Inflamed Eyes, Pimples, Pushes & Wheals, Worms, Splinters & Thorns, Old Ulcers, Sores in the Privities, Baldness, French pox, Stone, Spleen & Mother.

taketh them away: it taketh away Inflamations in the Eyes, if it be put with some part of a roasted Quince and boyled with a few crums of bread and applied. Boyled with Barley Meal it taketh away Pimples, Pushes, or Wheals, that rise in the Face or other part of the Body. The Seed as well as the dried Herb is often given to kill the Worms in Children: The Herb bruised and laid to, helpeth to draw forth Splinters, and Thorns out of the Flesh. The Ashes thereof dryeth up and healeth old Ulcers that are without Inflamation, although by the sharpness thereof it biteth sore and putteth them to sore pains: as also the Sores in the privy Parts of man or woman. The Ashes mingled with old Sallet Oyl, helpeth those that have their hair fallen and are bald, causing the hair to grow again either on the Head or Beard. Durantes saith, That the Oyl made of Southernwood and put among the Oyntments that are used against the French Disease, is very effectual, and likewise killeth Lice in the Head. The Distilled Water of the Herb is said to help them much that are troubled with the Stone, as also for the Diseases of the Spleen and Mother. The Germans commend it for a singular Wound Herb, and therefore call it Stabwort. It is held by all Writers, Antient and Modern to be more offensive to the stomach than Wormwood.

The other day Mars told me he met with Venus, and he asked her what the Reason was that she accused him for abusing Women, he never gave them the Pox, in the Dispute they fell out, and in anger parted, and Mars told me that his brother Saturn told him, that an Antivenerial Medicine was the best against the Pox. Once a Month he meets with the Moon, Mars is quick enough of speech, and the Moon not much behind hand (neither are most Women) The Moon looks much after Children, and Children are much troubled with the Worms, she desired a Medicine of him, he bad her take his own Herb Wormwood: He had no sooner parted with the Moon but he met with Venus, and she was as drunk as a Bitch, Alas poor Venus quoth he, What, thou a Fortune and be drunk? I'le give thee an Antipathetical Cure, take my Herb Wormwood, thou shalt never get a

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Surfet by drinking.

The gray, much threaded foliage suggests the name "Old Man." Bailey says the name Abrotanum means "elegant" in Greek, descriptive of the form of the leaves and their aromatic odor. This artemisia is a feathery gray-green plant and the leaves smell, without crushing, of daisies mixed with spice.

Parkinson says the seeds and dried herb were given to children to kill worms, and that the ashes of the dried herb mixed with oil causes the hair to grow back on the head and beard after it has fallen out.

For one who spoke in his sleep it was thought southernwood tempered with wine, and partaken of in the morning, and before going to bed at night would cure him. It was well known as a love charm.

USES

The names are suggestive of its association with the God of Love and the consequences thereof, such as Lad's Love and Maiden's Ruin. The French name, Garderobe, which means guardian of clothes, that is, a closet, was derived from the fact that the dried stems of the southern-wood were supposed to keep the moths away, and so stand guard over the dresses.

The Pennsylvania Germans laid branches of it in the cupboards and pantries to keep out the ants.

Medicine. According to "Merck's Index" of 1907, it is used as a tonic, as a deobstruent and anthelmintic, and in aromatic baths and for poultices.

CULTURE

According to Miller's "Gardener's Dictionary," it is a popular plant in English cities for window boxes, for it endures the smoke of the city better than most plants and is fragrant besides.

The plants can be bought in America and are hardy. In my garden they thrive in a sunny situation in clay soil. I raised mine from divisions of the roots.