Arnica.

All parts of this plant, (Arnica montana,) were popular remedies in Germany at a very early period. The early botanists, such as Matthiolus (414), Gesner (264), and Clusius (153) had a knowledge of its medicinal qualities, as used by the common people. Franz Joël (341), of Greifswald, Germany, expressly recommended it in the sixteenth century. During 1678-79 arnica experienced an enthusiastic crusade as a "new remedy" in the cure of fevers, the hope being to supplant Peruvian bark by this domestic drug. Collin (162), of Vienna, reported a thousand patients in the Pazman Hospital cured of intermittents by the flowers, whilst other physicians were scarcely less enthusiastic. The herb was thus recognized in the London Pharmacopeia (1788) but fell into disuse, regaining in later years a position as an application in the form of a tincture for bruises, sprains, etc., in this direction being now commended in modern medical and domestic literature.

The History of the Vegetable Drugs of the U.S.P., 1911, was written by John Uri Lloyd.