AGRIMONY:** A genus of the digynia order, belonging to the dodecandra clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 35th order, *Senecio*. The characters are these: The calyx is a monophyllous perianthium, divided into five acute segments, persistent, and fenced with another calyx: The corolla consists of five petals, flat, and crenated at the ends: The stamina have ten capillary filaments, shorter than the corolla, and inserted into the calyx; the antherae are small, didymous, and compressed: The pistillum has a germen beneath; the styli are two, simple, and the length of the stamina: There is no pericarpium; the calyx is contracted in the neck, and indurated: The seeds are two, and roundish. Of this genus there are five species enumerated by botanical writers; but none of them have any remarkable agrimonia properties except the two following.

**Species and properties.**

1. The eupatoria, or common agrimony, grows naturally in several parts of Britain by the sides of hedges and of woods. It is eat by sheep and goats, but refused by horses and swine. The Canadians are said to use an infusion of the root in burning fevers with great success. An infusion of six ounces of the crown of the root in a quart of boiling water, sweetened with honey, and half a pint of it drank three times a day, is an effectual cure for the jaundice, according to Dr Hill. He advises to begin with a vomit, afterwards to keep the belly soluble, and to continue the medicine as long as any symptoms of the disease remain. It is said to be an aperient, detergent, and strengthener of the viscera. Hence it is recommended in scurvy disorders, in debility and laxity of the intestines, &c. Digested in whey, it affords an useful diet-drink for the spring-feast, not ungrateful to the palate or stomach. Doctor Alston says, that the best mode of administering this herb is in powder, when the intention is to corroborate; and that if thus taken in a large quantity, we may expect many of the effects of the bark from it in agues.

2. The odorata, or sweet-scented agrimony. This grows near four feet high; the leaves have more pinnae than the former; the serratures of the leaves are also sharper, and, when handled, they emit an agreeable odour. The leaves of this species make an agreeable cooling tea, which is sometimes prescribed by physicians as a drink for people in fevers.

**Culture** Both these species may be propagated either by seed, or by parting the roots in autumn when the leaves begin to decay. The seeds ought also to be sown in this season; for if kept out of the ground till spring, they seldom come up that year.—Agrimony is a hardy perennial plant, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation; but the plants should not be placed nearer one another than two feet, that the roots may have room to spread.

**Hemp Agrimony.** See Eupatorium.

**Water Hemp-Agrimony.** See Bidens.

**AGRIONIA,** in Grecian antiquity, festivals annually celebrated, by the Dorotians, in honour of Bacchus. At these festivals, the women pretended to search after Bacchus as a fugitive; and, after some time, gave over their inquiry, saying, that he was fled to the Muses, and was concealed among them.

**AGRIOPHAGI,** in antiquity, a name given to those who fed on wild beasts. The word is Greek, compounded of ἀγρός, "wild," "savage," and ἐσθίω, "I eat." The name is given, by ancient writers, to certain people, real or fabulous, said to have fed altogether on lions and panthers. Pliny and Solinus speak of *Agriophagi* in Ethiopia, and Ptolemy of others in India on this side the Ganges.

**AGRIPPA,** in midwifery, a term applied to children, brought forth with their feet foremost.