The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-01-22
THE UNISON WEED.

Once upon a time the name of James, ton must have been very sharply shortened Within the memory of many people now living James was pro-
 nounced "Jeems"; in fact, we believe that that was the accepted pronouncia- tion of cur Virginia forefathers. But Jim" must have been the diminutive of "Jeems" as well as of James; at least we judge so, because what is pop ularly known as "the Jimson weed really is the Jamestown weed.
 Nor is there any reason to suppose that this contraction was made jeering- ly or sneeringly. More probably it grew into use jess so,'' and we find intelligent Americans to whom it has
 Fever occurred that there is any con- nection whatever between Jamestown and Jimson. All the same, the authori- ties say that "Jimson" is short for the name of the place where the Eng ment in what is now the Unites States, and where the old dominions first cap ital 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 conceded that it is not
 indigenous to Virginia. If it was de- liberately and designedly imported. It
 must have because of it's medicinal val
 ue; certainly not for it's odor, which is
 vile-certainly not for it's flowers and leaves, because they do not compare in 1>a a,atx xr,st .P <,f. +fx,n plants. And while this weed is now | recognized a shaving some medicinal value it may not have had that repu- tation then with Europeans. The Chin ese, however, use it to some extent incidentally, and may have done so from time memorial, that country be- ing little given to the acceptance of new ideas or new remidies.
 There is a plausible theory that the seeds of the Jimson weed may have
 been brought to Jamestown in earth that was shipped as ballast and dEmpted ashore there. If so, and the seeds thus cast ashore found a resting place in a stable lot, we may well con- ceive that in due season they sprouted
 and grew, and that in time the winds waited them to other localities. It IS fairly imaginable also that what oc- cured at Jamestown may have oc-
 cured at other colonial ports. At any rate, the authorities are of the opinion that he weed came here from tropical land and found congenial soil in stable lots and other rich spots of ground, and f1ourished nightly until now, when it is to be seen and smelled in most States of the Union.
 Botanically it is known as "Datura Stramonium' thorn apple), and two varities are described by scientific writers. All parts of the plant are said to possess medicinal value, the seeds and the leaves particularly. Its pres- ence in the United States, so far as we are informed, is said to have been ob- served first at Jamestown. In India the juices of the plant are used on oc- casions as poison. The Chinese utilize the rather pretty f1owerheads as medi- |1cine. There are said to contain hyos-
 cure free from other alkaloids.
 Baron Storck of Veinna, of whom we know no more than this, is credited with having introduced the plant to the notice of the medical profession in Eu- rope. It is now regarded by some practitioners as valuable in cases Of neuralgia and rheumatism; also inma-
 nia and epilepsy.
 There is harly any limit to the in-
 genuity of the pharmacists of this gen. eration, and it is possible they may be able to deodorize Jimson weed tinctures and extracts and make them palatable to patients, but if so we must consider
 that they have reached the acme of professional skill. This malodorous plant is, to all intents and purposes, d
 weed, but is not ''the weed of Virgin
 ia,'' though both are exotics and both
 are associated with the early history
 of Jamestown. One is fragrant; the |other--isn't The former, however, is
 not self-perpetuating in Virginia. It
 must be cultivated and renewed from
 year to year, while the latter thrives
 not by the aid of the planter, but in
 spite of him, while it's presence indi-
 cates that there is fat land there.--
 Richmond Times-Dispatch.