Capsella.
Botanical name:
Capsella. Capsella Bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. Shepherd's purse. Bourse a Pasteur, Molette, Fr. Hirtentäschlein, G. (Fam. Cruciferae.)—This very common weed in the United States, naturalized from Europe, is bitter and pungent, yields on distillation a volatile oil identical with oil of mustard, and, according to E. Bombelon, contains an alkaloid, bursine. (See A. J. P., 1888; also Provincial Med. Journ., 1858.) It has been used as an antiscorbutic, also in hematuria, and in other hemorrhages, amenorrhea and dropsy. From two to four fluidounces (60-120 mils) of the fresh expressed juice may be given at a dose; or from one-fourth to one-half fluidrachm (0.9-1.8 mils) of the fluidextract of the dried plant.
