Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-12
TABLE VEGETABLES
OF MEDICINAL VALUE

The London Lancet of Fate date says:
That certain articles of food commonly
used in the daily dietary possess medic
fEal value becomes evsden: when we re-
view the number of plants or vegetables
which are included in 'theslist. 1t is err
rcneous to suppose that i'll the articles
which go to make. up meSl serve merely
as nutrients. for when the peculiar COM
position of some Of therrs is considered
there will be found pr: nciIles present Of
the nature of medicines
1t Is not improbable fthaj among these
constituents are some whi;h are entitled
to rank as active principles in the same
way as are the princfples found in the
drugs of the pharmacopoeta. 1t must be
admitted. however. that the pharmacol-
ogy of vegetables has Eof received the
scientific attention whisch las been given
tc drugs, and many medicinal virtues
which are claimed for! Gain vegetables
rest upon tradition rather chan OH labora-
tory inquiry. The fact. ho;vever, remains
that definite principles dc occur in many
articles used for food and that it is
probable that they possess accordingly
pnarmacology of their own. apart alto
gether from the question OF their role
az nutrients.
To give some illustrations. claims have
been made in favor of a medicinal action
exercised by the onion. Eek o. garlic.
Onions eaten at night, saif: Frank Buck
land are soporific and promote sleep.
They also are known 10 have diuretic
action and to produce: perspiration.
Among other things sheN are many
housewives remedy for cpsghs and colds
aid help to gastric digestion. The
pbarmacoogy OF the onion. probably rests
chiefly on the presence Of a powerful
sulphur oil-alylsulpiiids:- which has
marked stimulating properties. Onions
also are credited with bling Useful In
allaying the pains of rheamatisnl, and it
is interesting to remember the use by
medical men of sulphur III; some form or
other in that disease. Th4 turnip. pars-
MP and swede contain 9. peculiar oily
principle which may account for their
traditional value as an aper,ent and
diuretc, while their iuiaes are an old
country remedy for coughs and hoarse-
ness. The presence of starch and sugar
would hardly account for: these proper
ties. The potato. of COURSE possesses a
decided nutritive value, Dit it also con-
taans principles. among which is solanin..
that are credited with diuretic and
aphrodistiac properties. ;The common
cabbage is redolent with $ sulphur COM
pound which may possibly account for
| tie value attached to it lin scLrvy and
scrofula. Spinach is a We'll known laxa-
| tive-a property. however, which may be
ascribed to the fine inJigestible fiber
| which characterizes IL. There is present
| also a peculiar principle as well as a
| quantity of iron in organSc FORM
| The tomato exercises :rsedicnal effects
| which are not completed: explained by
the presence OF alkaline salts. There is
a principle present which:when taken in
a concentrated state produces salvation
and a free stimulation o. the liver. On
| this account the tomato k.as been called
vegetable mercury. and an official tine
tnre is prepared in America.
| Carrots have a similar action and form
| a considerable part Of tae meals at GER
tain health resorts in the belief that
they materially ass.s: in the treatment
T, OF arrangements OF the liver and of the
| hillary processes generally. AS a dress
| lag carrots have beet. G:,ed to mitigate
pain and to sweeten surfaces. The vege-
table contains a definite principle. car
| rotin and a volatile oil. Which may pos
sess properties that havh supplied the
traditional curative Qualities.