The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-20
evening State Sollrnal.
The sunhower.
IT'S HYeIENIc, MEDICINAL AND ECONOMIC VALUE.
To tho Editor of the State Journal.

To tho Editor of the State Journal.
Limited observation during my delight
full visit, two years ago, at your Potomac
home, led me to think that one of the OBJ
staces to be contended with by those seek
ing homes in some sections Of Virginia, is
the malaria generated by the undrained
sections of country and the general maras-
mus and retrogression into which the pc
culiar institution brought the Old Domin-
ion. 1t is presumed that many of your
readers may not be informed as to the
great value of the common suntiower
(helianthus annuuS) for neutralizing the
miasmatic exhalations of marshy and un-
healthy districts. That the sunfower, in
some way not yet fully determined, ex-
ercises this sanitary influence to remark
able extent seems to have been well es-
tablished.
M. Martin, few months ago, presented
to the Society Therapeutique de France,
memoir, giving very conclusive evidence
that the cultivation, on very large scale,
of this plant, prevents agues and other
miasmatic diseases very effectually where
marshy exhalations abound. The expert
ment has been tried with great success in
the fenny districts near Rochefort, one of
the naval establishments of France. The
Hollanders, too, who, from the popularity
of their country, have every opportunity
of studying such phenomena, and who
must be regarded as high authority on
such subject, have firm faith in the
sunfower as a specific against maarial
diseases. They declare that intermittent
of
totally disappeared from every district in
which the sunfower has been cultivated to
a reasonable extent
The fact appears to be quite well estab-
lished, but the modus operandi is in dis
pute. Some men of science believe the
sunfower acts on the atmosphere merely
like any other plant of rapid growth ii. g.
by furnishing to it oxygen, etc.; and
others think, that, like the conifer@, it
emits ozone, and thus destroys the ami
NAL or vegetable germs which are generally
supposed to constitute the miasma which
produce malarial diseases, when floating in
the atmosphere. Whether the plant exer-
cises its remarkable sanitary influence by,
emitting or absorbing some subtle agent
is not so important as the fact that it
really neutralizes or destroys the specific
cause of intermittent fever and other ma
larial diseases. Society should receive
joyfuly all information which medical
science is able to afford in relation to the
causasion and prevention of disease.
The adoption of sanitary measures for
the prevention of sickness is much easier
of execution, and much more economical,
than to cure it after it is developed Amer
lean communities have as yet only entered
on the threshold of preventative medicine
as applied to the maintenance and inn
provement of the public health. In pre-
senting these few thoughts pertaining to
public hygiene, only tap fountain of
important knowledge which should be
permitted to flow through channels more
numerous than those which convey the
waters of the Nile, and bring life and
freshness to the vegetation of every field
in the delta Of that classical river.
A certain preventive of those diseases
which are caused by malaria would save to
the inhabitants of some of the States, an
aggregate of physicians fees, quinine, hu-
man suffering and profanity, beyond all
easy computation. So much in favor of
the cultivation of the helianthus for its
prophylactic and hygenic worth.
Aside from this, the growth of the
plant may be recommended as field crop
for its economic value. The seed that it
yields in such abundance contain large
amount of oil nearly as good as olive oil
for domestic uses and for the manufacture
of fine soap. 1t is suitable for burning in
lamps, and variety of uses. In Portu-
gal, meal and bread are made from the
seed. They are also roasted and used as
substitute for coffee. Being rich in nutri-
tive elements, they are highly recommend
ed for fattening poultry, and are eaten by
such with avidity. If good for poultry
(geese) and Portuguese. I-know not why
they may not be fed to domestic anil /
mails generally.
1t is stated in the american Dispeas0to-
~ that the leaves, which are large, may,
when carefully dried, be made into cigars,
very much resembling in flavor that of
mild Spanish ones. In State as noted as
Virginia for its tobacco and cereals, these
last named uses of the helianthus are of
minor importance. But it will be seen
that if grown chiefly for the protection of
health, it may, when desirable, be made to
reimburse in other ways those who cult
vate it..
1t may be mentioned also that a tincture
Of the seed of the sunfower, prepared by
adding one and half ounces to a pint,
each of alcohol and water, has proved it.
self one of the most reliable remedies for
asthma. The writer prescribes it, COM
bined with iodide of potash, in all cases of
this distressing disease which come under
his care, with results, so far as keeping off
the paroxysms, surprising the use of all
other remedies of the materia medica.
L. G. d.
Rochester, ~ T., April 18th, 1871.