Arnica

[Perhaps from Gr. ptairo, to sneeze.] ( Bot.) A gen. of plants, ord. Asteraceæ. The most important species is A. montana, known by the names of mountain tobacco, and German leopard-bane. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant, found growing in the meadows of the cooler parts of Europe, and also of the Western States of N. America. The florets are of a yellow color, tinged with brown. The whole plant, when fresh, po e es a strong and disagreeable odor, and an acrid, bitter taste. All parts of the plant have striking medicinal properties, but the flowers constitute the part generally preferred. The preparation known as tincture of A., which is obtained by macerating the flowers with alcohol, is now largely employed by the public as an external application for bruises and internally as a stimulant in typhoid and other low fevers, and also in cases of palsy. Its action is to promote perspiration. The use of A. in medicine, however, is lim Fig . 195.-ARNICA MONTANA. ited, and its utility is much questioned. The dose of the tincture varies from two to forty drops. The flowers, though not much used internally, have been occasionally employed as a substitute for Peruvian bark, and are said to have proved beneficial in cases of amaurosis and chronic rheumatism Preparations of A. are much used by the homœopathists. The species A. moll is is found in ravines on the White Mountains.