Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-04-22
The SUnflOWer.
ITS nYeIsN1c, MEDICINAL AND ECONOMIC vALr

ITS HYaIENIC, MEDICINAL AND ECONOMIC VALUE
To The editor Of the State JomWul:
Limited observation during my delightful
visit, two years ago, at your Potomac home, led
me to think that one Of the obstacles to be con-
tended with by those seeking homes in some
sections Of Virginia, is the malaria generated by
the undrained sections Of country and the gene
raj narasmus and retr0gresslon into which the
peculiar institution brought the Old Dominion,
1t is presumed that many OF your readers may
not be informed rs to the great value Of the
common sunAower (helanthus annuus) for neu-
traliziug the miasmatic cxhaations of marshy
and unhealthy districts. That the sunhower, in
some way not yet fully determined, exercises
this sanitary influence to a remarkable extent
seems to have been well established.
NJ. Martin, few months ago, presented to
the Society Therapeutique de France.a memoir,
giving very conclusive evidence that the cutlva-
ton, on a very large scale, Of this. plant, pre-
vents agucs and other mlasmstlc diseases very
effectually where nlarshy exhalations abound
The experiment has been tried with great sue
cess in the fenny districts near ROchetOrt: one
of the naval establishments Of France. The
Hollanders, too, who, from the popularity OF
the country, have every opportunity OF study
ing such phenomena and who must be regard
cd as high authority on such Il subject, have a
finn faith in the sunhower as specific against
malariul diseases. They declare that lntermlt
tent fcvers, the scourgc Of the country, have
totally disappeared from every district in which
the sunfower has been cultivated to Il reason
able extent.
The fact appears to be quite we'll established,
but the modus operandi is in dispute. Some
men of science believe the sunhowcr acts Oh the
atmosphere merely like any other plant of rapid
growth l. G. by furnishing to it oxygen, ect !;
and,others think, that, like the conifer;e, it
emits ozone, and thus destroys the animal or
vegetable germs which are generally supposed
to constitute the masma which produce mala-
rial diseases, when floating in the atmosphere.
Whether the plant exercises its remarkable
sanitary influence by emitting or absorbing some
subtle agent is not so important as the fact that
it really neutraizes destroys the specific cause
eases Society should receive joyfillly all in
formation which medical science is able to al
ford in relation to the causasion and prevention
Of disease.
The adoption Of sanitary measures for the
prevention Of sickness Is much easier OF eXecu-
ton, and much more economical, than to cure
it after it is developed. American communities
have as yet only entered on the threshold OF
preventive medicine as applied to the MAIN
tainance and Improvement of the public health.
In presenting these few thoughts pertaining to
public hygiene, only tap fountain of lmpor-
tant 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 nhab-
itauts of some of the States an aggregate OF
physicians fees, quinine, human suffering and
profanity, beyond all easy computation. :, 81
much in favor Of the cultivation of the hcan
thus for its prophylactic and hyglenic worth.
Aside from this, the growth OF the plant
may be recommended as field crop tor ITS
economic value The seed that it yields in
such abundance contains a,arge amount OF oil /;
nearly as good rs olive oil for domestic uses and
for the manufacture of fine soap. 1t is sulta-
BILE for burning in lamps, and variety OF uses.
In Portugal, meal and bread are made from
the seed. They are also roasted and used as q
substitute for coffee Being rich in nutrtlve
elements, they are highly recommended for
fattening poultry and are eaten by such with
ayidity If good for poultry (geesc) and Por,
tugcse, | know not why they may not be ted
to domestic animals generally.
1t is stated in the American Dispensatory
that the leaves, which are large, may, when
resembling in flavor that of mild Spanish ones.
In State as noted as Virginia for It's tobacco
and cereals, these last named uses of the he
lianthus are of minor Importance But 1t 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 cultivate 1t.
1t may be mentioned also that tlncture OF
the seed of the sunfower, prepared by adding
one and a half ounces to pint, each OF alcohol
and water, has proved itself one OF the most
reliable remedies for asthma. The writer pre-
i Il, ,l, ~ ntoSh in
all cases of ttis 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:
Rochester, " y, April 18th: 1871. !.
}Some wears ago, Professor Maury, then at
the National Observatory in Washington,
urged the importance Of the cultivation OF the
of the Suuhower in countries liable to Ague
and Fever.
The Nashville Banner relates the following
''There lives in Nashville business man
whose life has been in many particulars very
romantic. Shortly after he was born his father
ran away with another woman, and owing to
the inability of the mother to support him he
was abandoned to the tender mercies of the
world, and brought up among strangers. lie
was twcnty-four OF five years old before he saw
single relative When thirty-one years, OF
age he heard of the whereab bouts of his father
in the far West, and travelled more than l,0o
miles and saw the old gentleman for the first
snd last time After this visit the father sold
out his property and moved into another State,
and the son has never since, though twelve
wears have passed away, been able to find out
his whereabouts
Rowland (Maine) has voted to exempt any
or all manufacturing establishments or c'rporai
tons that may locate upon anu improve ali. VI
the Rowland water-power from taxes ten yels,
provided the capital invested shall not oe 'eS>
than $4,000. =,
[Thn above IS not an uncommon manner ol
encouraging new manufacturing enterprises,
but is general in the New England and West
ern States