Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-08-04
The Cultivation of DandeIion II
Kansas.


Lawrence Journal
Among the papers read at the re-
cent meeting of the Kansas Pharma-
ceutical Association, was one by George
Leis of this city, entitled, "Dandelion
RoOt-can it be cultivated in Kansas ~
The paper was instructive in a medical
point of view, and the dandelion's val
ue commercially to Kansas was an in
ference that could not but be implied.
Kansas does not naturally produce the
root. Its growth, when found, is the
result Of the accidental transportation
of the seed to the state, We quote from
Mr.. Leis' address, and call the attention
of our farmers to the fact that the dan
delion may be grown in any ordinary
soil, and judging by the sales made of
the preparations and extracts of the
plant by the Leis Chemical Manufac-
turing Company, the dandelion might
very well be given a corner in every
annual crop raised for sale.
1.-THE dandelion is said to be native
of Greece, but to be known all over
Europe and the eastern United States.
1t is not indigenous to Kansas. Some
of the early settlers brought it here to
be used as greens, and, very likely, it
sometimes stole its passage with other
seeds and grains. 1t grows freely
without cultivation wherever it finds
place, and would no doubt, repay
cultivation here as well as any other
part of the world. No reason can be
given why, when grown here,
its medicinal properties should not
be as good as when grown elsewhere.
The medicinal properties of the dande-
lion are found in the milky juice of the
flower, stem and root, especially the lat
ter. The undrled root is the strongest.
This juice contains a bitter extractiye
principle, gum caoutchouc, saline mat
tiers. trace Of resin and free acid.
"By boiling the juice in distilled
water, altering, and allowing it to
evaporate in warm place, a chemical
principle is obtained called taraxacin.
Taraxacin is crystalline, bitter, fusible.
not volatile, sparingly soluble in cold
water, alcohol and ether.
1.-THE medicinal properties of the dan
delion are tonic, diuretic, aperient and
depurative. It acts on the liver, excit-
ing it when languid to reaction, resoly-
ing chronic engagements. 1t is en-
ployed much in Germany and America
and regarded as very useful in derange.
ment of the liver and digestive organs
as well as great Alternative Chicory.
which is raised largely in France as a
substitute for coffee, or to mix with il.
is sometimes mixed with dandelion
root, but no honest person will do it. as
the properties of the two are not alike.
"The diseases of Kansas are very COM
monty those of the liver and digestive
organs, and the medicinal properties of
the dandelion root are just what are
needed for their cure, hence we would
urge the cultivation Of this valuable
plant in our state"
The Isis Chemical Manufacturing
Company, at Lawrence, use large guam
titles Of the root of this plant in the
preparation Of Leis' Dandelion Tonic,
remedy that seems so well adapted to
the cure Of the common diseases of the
West that its consumption win be
enormous when this fact becomes uni.
versally known. 1t is probable, there
fore, that this enterprise win afford a
market for all the dandelion that win
be grown In the state for some time to
come, even If the industry should at
once prove profitable