The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-21

intelligent Americans to whom it has
never occurred that there is any con-
nection whatever between Jamestown
and Jimson. All the same, the au-
thorities say that 'Jimson" is Short"
for the name of the place where the
English, made their first. permanent
settlement in what is now the United
States, and where the old dominions
first capital was situated.
The Unison weed, however, is not
native plant, but probably came to US
from South America or Asia. 1t is a
question how it got to jamestown, but
we believe it is conceded that it is not
Indigenous to Virginia. If it was de-
liberately and designedly imported, it
must have been because of its medi-
cinal value; certainly not for its odor,
which is vile-certainly not for its
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 Euro
peans. The Chinese, however use 1t
to some extent incidentally, and may
have done so from time immemoral,
that country being little given to the
acceptance of new ideas or new RENE
dies.
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
dumped ashore there. If so, and the
seed thus cast ashore found a resting
place in 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 1t 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 the weed came here from tropl-
cal land and found congenial soil IN
stable lots and other rich spots OF
ground, and fiourished nightly until
now, when it is to be seen and smelled
in most states of the Union.
Botanically it is known at "Datura
Stramonium'' thorn apple), and two
varieties are described by scientlilc
writers. All parts of the plant are
said to possess medicinal value, the
seeds and the leaves particularly. It's
presence in the United States, so FAR
as we are informed, 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 heads
as medicine. They are said to contain
hyoscure free from other alkaloids.
Baron Storck of Vienna. of whom
we know no more than this. is credlt-
ed with having introduced the plant
to the notice of the medical profession
in Europe. 1t is now regarded by
some practitioners as valuable in cases
of neuralgia and rheumatism; also IN
mania and epilepsy.
There is hardly any limit to the m
genuity of the pharmacists OF TINS
generation, and it is possible they may
be able to deoderize Jimson weed tine
lures and extracts. and make them
palatable to patients, but if so we
must consider that they have reached
the acme of professional skill rms
malodorous plant is, TO all intents anu
purposes, a weed, but is not 1.-The weed
of Virginia" though both are exotlcS
and both are associated with the ear
ly history of Jamestown. One is ira
grant: the other-isn't. The former
however is not elf-perpetuating u,
Virginia. 1t must be cultivated ana
renewed from year to year, while me
latter thrives not by the aid OF tne
planter, but in spite of him, while ~
presence indicates that there Is rat
land there.