The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-24
UNISON WEED.
First Brought to Jamestown, It Hal . Spread phroughout the Land.

First Brought to Jamestown, It Has Spread. Throughout the Land. Richmond Times lDispatch.
 "A Once upon a time athes name of. James 4pwn mott hsf*e sbeen'very sharply shor- Ikened.ss Wjthffs the memory of many people how living James was pronounced "Jeems." in fact, we believe that that was the accepted pronunciation of our Virginia forefathers. But, "Jim" must have been the diminutive of 'Jeemes' as wall as of James; at least we judge so, because what is popularity known as the Jimson weed" really is the Jamestown weed.
 Nor is their any reason to suppose that this contraction was made jeerinsly or sneeringly. More probably 1t grew into use jess so," and we find intelligent Americans to whom 1t has never occurred that there is any connection whatever be- tween Jamestown and Jimson. All the same, the authorities say that 'Jinason" |as sshoeg' eorsthe name ofsthe place where ktahe English made ptheir first permanent settlened1t in what is now the United States, and where the old Dominion's first capital was situated. ;; The Jimson weed, however, is not a native plant, but probably came to us from South America or Asia. It is a question how it got to Jamestown, but we believe 1t is not indigenous to Vir- ginia If 1t was deliberately and desig nedly imported, 1t must have been be- cause of its medical value; certainly not for its odor, which is vile-certainly not for it's flowers and leaves, because they do not compare in beauty with those of scores of native plants. And while this weed is now recognized as having some medicinal value, it may not have had that reputation "then," with Europeans. The Chinese. however, use it, to some extent fnediefnaifS and may nave done so from time fmmemorial that country being little given to the acceptance of new ideas or new remedies. N
 There is a plausible theory that the seeds of the Jimson weed may have been brought to Jamestown in earth that was shlpped. as ballast and dumped ashore there. If so, and the seed thus cast ashore found a resting place in a stable lot, we may well conceive that in due season they sprouted and grew, and that in time the winds waited them to other localities. 1t. Is fairly imaginable also that what occurred at Jamestown may have occurred at other colonial ports. At any rate, the authorities are of the opin- ion ittiat the weed came here from a tBpieAf flafIf and 'fbuhd congenial soil in stable lots and other rich spots of ground,
 
 is to be seen and smelled in most States of the Union.
 Botanicaliy it is known as "Datura Stramonium" (thorn apple). and two varieties are described by scientific writers. All parts of the plant are said to possess medical value, the seeds and the leaves particularly. Its presence in the United States. so far as we are in- formed, is said to have been observed first at Jamestown. In India the juices of the plant are used on occasions as poisons. The Chinese utilize the rather pretty flower beds as medicine. They are skid lto1 contain Hhyoscure free from other aliSaibfds. 9o4fohei' qae if. Baron storck of Vienna, of whom we know no more than this. is credited with having introduced the plant to the notice of the medical profession in Europe. It is now regarded by some practitioners as valuable in cases of neuralgia and rheu- matism; also in mania and epilepsy.