®t|f S- 1. Ml ffiibrarg Nnrtlj OlaroUna g>tatp HmtJpraitg This book was presented by Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Littleton ■& "5-. •'J M A ]\ U A L, OF THE * OF THE ^BPSi^gsi §j®^®esi CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF FIFTY-TWO MEDICAL PLANTS, WITH THEIR NAMES, QUALITIES, PROPERTIES, HISTORY, &.C, WITH REMARKS ON NEARLY 500 SUBSTITUTES AND FIFTY-TWO COLOURED PLATES. By Professor RAFINESQUE, A. M. PHILADELPHIA 1841. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Botanical Piinciples, - - - - 1 Chemical Principles, - - - - 6 Medical Principles, - - - - 8 Medical Properties, - - - - 11 Table of Properties, - - - - 13 Explanation of Botanical Terms, - - - 22 Agrimony, - - - - - 34 American Senna, - - , ' - - 93 Alum Root, - - - - - 1841 American Hemlock, - - - - 107 Bitter Dogbane, - . . . 49 Bear-berry, - - - - - 57 Bitterwort, ----- 61 Broadleaf Asarabacca, - - - - 70 Barberry Bush, - . - . 83 Black Cohosh, - - - - - 85 Blue Cohosh, - . - . 97 Buttonwood Shrub, - - .100 Bind Weed, ----- 123 Bonesett, ----- 174 Blooming Spurge, ^ - . . 181 Black Henbane, - - - - 255 Camomile (wild), - - - - - 44 Common Hemlock, - ' - - - 118 Columbo, - - - - - 196 Creeping Pollom, - - - - 202 Common Hops, ----- 246 CONTENTS. Dogwood, - - - - - 131 Ditany, - - - - - - 136 Dropwort, - - - . - 224 Eye wort, - - - - - 251 Fleabane, - - - - - 162 Goldthread - - - - - 127 Gentian, . . . . . 208 Leatherwood, • - - - - 158 Liverwort, ----- 238 Maidenhair, - - - - - 30 Mealy Starwort, - - - . 37 Pleurisy Root, - - - - - 74 Pennyroyal, - - - - - 231 Persimon Tree, - - - - - 153 Sweet Flag, - . * - . - 25 Sorrel Tree, - - - - - 41 Spikenard, ----- 43 Stone Root, - - - - - 1 1 1 Sweet Fern, - - - - - 115 Strawberry, - - - - - 189 Spotted Cranesbill, - - - - 215 Sneezewort, - - . - - 235 Three-leaf Arum, . - . _ 66 Thorn Apple, - - - - - 146 Winter Shield, - - . - 90 Worm-seed Goose Foot, - - - - 103 White Avens, - - . - 220 Witch Hazel, - - - - - 227 Yellow Indigo, - . . . 76 Yellow Lady's Slipper, - .- - . 140 Yellow Snake Leaf, - - - - 168 IIVTRODUCTIOX. 1. The Science of Botany was at all times intimately connected with medical knowledge. 2. Several ancient nations, such as the Gre- cians, Romans, Hindoos, Chinese, &c. consi- dered Medical Botany as equivalent to both botanical and medical knowledge. 3. Medicine was then, and is still among rude nations, nothing more than the application of an empirical knowledge of vegetable sub- stances. 4. Thence the usual vulgar division of Plants, into the five great Classes of Aliments, Sim- ples, Poisons, Flowers and Weeds, or ali- mentary, medical, poisonous^ ornamental and useless plants. 5. At the revival of learning in Europe, this notion being general, the first works on Botany, were of couise mere sketches of Medical Bo- tany, and comments on Grecian or Roman wri- ters. 6. When Tournefort and LinnsBus, about a century ago, became botanical reformers, and made Botany a separate Science, their efforts and improvements were resisted by those who at all times contend against useful innovations. II INTRODUCTION. 7. Linnseus in his Materia Metlica, gave a niodel of systematical Medical Botany, equally concise, perspicuous and accurate; but desti- tute of the help of figures. 8. This model was followed by Schoepf in his Materia Medica of North x\merica, the first general work on our medical plants, pub- lished in Germany and in Latin towards 1787* This small work of Schoepf has never been translated nor republished in America^ although highly deserving of it. 9. When America was settled, the native tribes were in possession of many valuable ve- getable remedies, discovered by long experi- ence, the knowledge of which they gradually imparted to their neighbours. 10. This knowledge partly adopted even as far as Europe, and partly rejected by medical skepticks, became scattered through our country in the hands of country practitioners, Herba- lists, Empirics and Botanists. 11. Schoepf collected his materials from them, and noticed about three hundred and sixty plants as medical; but he did not go every where, nor exhaust the subject, since nearly double that number are actually in common use in different States of the Union. ±2. Since the United States have become an independent and flourishing nation, much has been done to teach and spread correct medical knowledge. 13. The establishment of Medical Schools, Chairs of Materia Medica, of Medical and Systematical Botany, Medical and Botanic Gardens, Infirmaries, Hospitals, have largely INTRODUCTION. Ill contributed to impart Medical and Botanical knowledge, through the professional class. 14. This purpose has been aided by nume- rous publications of learned Physicians and Botanists, Medical Works, Pamphlets and Journals, Pharmacopeias, Dispensatories, In- augural Theses, &c. 15. Notwithstanding all these means, it is a positive and deplorable fact, that but few medi- cal practitioners, apply themselves to the Study of Botany, and therefore are deprived of the aid of comparative Medical Botany. 16. It is not less certain, but still more de- plorable that beyond the immediate sphere of medical knowledge, the majority of the people are yet in prey to medical credulity, supersti- tion and delusions, in which they are confirmed by the repeated failures of Theorists, and the occasional success of Empirical Rivals. 17. Even in large cities and in the centre of medical light, Empirics are thriving, because they avail themselves of the resources aflbrded by active plants, often neglected or unknown to the regular practitioners. 18. It is not perhaps so well known that there are in this Age and in the United States, Ame- rican Marabouts who like the Marabouts of the wilds of Africa, attempt in some remote placesj to cure diseases by charms, prayers, blowing, spitting, &c. 19. It is therefore needful to spread still further correct medical knowledge; and the state of medical science is such in the United States, as to require a greater diffusion of the IV INTRODUCTION, acquired knowledge, aided by freedom of en- quiry, liberal views, and mutual forbearance. 20, The practice of medicine is now exer- cised in the United States by three sets of men or Classes of Practitioners. 1. The Rationals, S. the Theorists, and 3. the Empirics. SI. The Rational medical men are liberal and modest, learned or well informed, neither intolerant nor deceitful, and ready to learn or impart information. They comprise the Im- provers, Kclectics, and Exjperiinentalists, 22, The Improvers study nature and the hu- man frame, write their observations, and im- prove medical knowledge. 23. The Eclectics are those who select and adopt in practice, whatever is found most bene- ficial, and who change their prescriptions ac- cording to emergencies, circumstances and ac- quired knowledge. 24. While the Experimentalists are those who are directed by experience and experi- ments, observations, dissections and facts. 25, But the Theorists are often illiberal, intolerant, proud and conceited ; they follow a peculiar theory and mode of practice, with little deviation, employing but few vegetable reme- dies, and enlisting under the banner of a teacher or sect. 2Q, They are divided into many Sects, al- ways at war among themselves and their rivals : such are the Brownists, Galenists, JMesme^ Tiansj SJceptickSf Chemicalists, CalomelistSf Entomists, &c. 27, The Empirics are commonly illiterate, ignorant, deceitful and reserved : they follow a INTRODUCTION. Y secret or absurd mode of practice, or deal in patent remedies. 28. They include the Herbalists, vulgarly called Indian or Root Doctors, and the Steam Doctors, who follow the old practice of the na- tives, the Qiiacks or dealers in Nostrums, the Patent Doctors, the Prescrihers of receipts, the Marabouts, &c. S9. All these classes need instruction on the natural knowledge of medical substances, and it ought to be afforded to them, that they may become properly acquainted with those which they employ or may avail themselves of. 30. Medical Sciences have lately been widely enlarged, by borrowing the help of all the Na- tural Sciences; and the enlightened physicians begin to avail themselves of all the materials they can command, rendering all the Sciences subservient or auxiliaries to their pursuits. 31. By Botany, the great majority of medi- cal Substances are ascertained and become available: while the study of natural aflRnities enables to detect; and compare botanical and medical Equivalents. 32. Medical Botany teaching to know and appreciate the greatest number of articles em- ployed in Materia Medica, is become indispen- sable to the enlightened physician. 83. Vegetable Chemistry analyses vegetable substances, discovers their active principles, re- lative medical value, and ascertains the equi- valent or incompatible substances. 34«. Even Pharmacy is become a science, by the aid of Botany and Chemistry. Druggists and Pbarmacians who sell vegetable Articles or A o VI INTRODUCTION. Drugs ought to be botanically acquainted with them, so as to distinguish the genuine kinds^ and detect the frauds or blunders of the collec- tors and herbalists. 3.^. Works on Medical Botany are of two kinds, with or without figures. This last kind includes all the Materia Medicas, Dispensa- tories, Pharmacologies, Pharmacopeias, &c. which try to convey the knowledge of medical substances by mere descriptions. S6. The other kind, and the most useful, em- ploy, Iconography or figures, besides descrip- tive references, to give a complete knowledge of the officinal plants: such are the Herhals, Medical Botanies, Medical Floras, &c. 37. A Critical List shall be given of such Works or Essays relating to our Plants, which have been consulted: but the three principal works with figures, deserve perhaps a separate notice. 38. Bigelow and W. Barton published some years ago, and towards the same time, two vo- luminous and expensive Works on Medical Botany. Barton's Work in two volumes quarto, contains only fifty plants and figures, and Bige- low's sixty in three volumes quarto. 39. Several plants are described and figured in both works, reducing the total number of medical plants given to about eighty, for which the price is about forty dollars or half a dollar for every plant. 40. These imperfect and costly works have each their merit, and although not free from errors and omissions, are useful assistants to those who can afford to buy them. Bigelow 's INTRODUCTION. Vll is the most learned, accurate and useful, while Barton's has often the best figures. 41. It is to be regretted that these authors by following the expensive plan of Woodville's Medical Botany liave lessened their utility and public circulation. 42. Some years before the above publications, a herbalist or spurious Botanist, Samuel Henry, printed in New York, 1814, a Medical Herbal, comprising in one octavo volume of five dollars, about one hundred sixty medical plants, with small fictitious figures. 43. This Work is merely mentioned here to warn against it. It is a worthless book, with incorrect names, wrong descriptions, erroneous indications, and figures mostly fictitious or misapplied. It is of no medical nor botanical account; yet it contains some of the Empirical concealed knowledge, available in a few in- stances. 44. Works of general utility ought to be ac- curate, complete, potable and cheap. Such alone can spread the required correct know- ledge, and suit every class of readers. 45. The popular knowledge of the natural sciences has been prevented in the United States, by the first works published on them, having followed the model of the splendid Eu- ropean publications intended for the wealthy or public libraries. 46. It is time that we should return to the pristine Linnean simplicity, and by the addition of cheap but correct figures of objects, engraved on copper, zinc, pewter, stone or wood, speak to the eyes as well as the miod. Till INTRODUCTION. 47. Such is the aim of the actual work, which is intended as a portable manual of Medical Botany, for the daily use of medical Students, Physicians, Druggists, Pharmacians, Chemists, Botanists, Florists, Herbalists, Collectors of herbs, heads of families, Infirmaries, &c. 48. It was many years in contemplation, and publicly proposed ever since 1816. It is now offered to the public, as a humble attempt to render one of the popular branches of medical and natural science, attainable and available by all. 49. The author has been collecting his mate- rials for many years, while travelling through fourteen states of the Union, and lecturing on medical plants in Transylvania University. 50. His qualifications for the task result from fifteen years of botanical and medical obser- vations and researches, and 8000 miles of bo- tanical travels, wherein he diligently enquired and elicited from the learned and the illiterate, the result of their practicj^ experience. 51. He has never despised knowledge because imparted by an uncouth mouth, and has often made experiments on himself and others to test peculiar facts. 52. Several Physicians and Botanists in Phi- ladelphia, Baltimore, Washington City, Wil- mington, Winchester, Alexandria, Bethlehem, Pittsburg, Wheeling, Lexington, Bowling- green, Sandusky, &c. have at different times communicated to him additional facts, or con- firmed the properties of some plants, 53. He feels particularly indebted to the ob- liging kindness of several friends for many im- INTRODUCTION. IX portant facts or valuable commuiiications, for which he feels happy to tender this public tes- timony of gratitude. 54. They are Dr. Mease, and Z. Collins of Philadelphia. Drs. Short and Brown of Lexington. Dr. Eoff of Wheeling. Dr. MuUer of New Harmony. Dr. Drake of Cincinnati. Dr. Crockett of Frankfort. Dr. Graham of Harrodsburg. Dr. Mac Williams of Washington City. Dr. Hales of Troy. Dr. Lawrence of New Lebanon. Drs. L. Beck and Tully of Albany. Drs. Mitcliell and Torrey of New York. 55. It has been ascertained that there are nearly six hundred medical plants actually known and used as such in the United States: many of which are merely medical equivalents. 5Q, This number being too great for the pur- pose of a manual, one hundred and five of the most active and efficient medical Types have been selected, figured and described. 5y* The others have been referred to these as substitutes or succedanea, when they possess nearly the same ostensible qualities and pro- perties. In fact they are mostly used for each other throughout the country. 58. Those selected include all the species of Bigelow and W. Barton, with twenty. five addi- tional species. It had been advised to reduce the whole number to fifty active plants; but such a reduction would have left out many va- X INTRODUCTION. liiable plants and not offered a sufficient quan- tity of generic Types or typical Equivalents. 59. When a Genus contains several medical species, only one is figured, unless their pro- perties are quite different, and the others are mentioned with some remarks as equivalent substitutes. The plants of genera not figured are inserted in the general table or appendix. 60. The Botanical alphabetic order has been adopted, as the most easy, obvious and service- able, since no scientific arrangement could have been equally available. 61. The medical arrangements are as nume- rous as the writers on Materia Medica. Every plant having commonly many properties, cannot be classed into any definite medical order, but should belong to several at the same time. 62. The defective and indelicate sexual sys- tem of Linnaeus is now. too obsolete for the state of the science. 63. The natural method would have been preferred, if the novelty of the attempt had not been anticipated as an obstacle to practical use. 64. Most of the figures have been drawn by the author, and a few reduced from Bigelow or Barton ; they have been engraved and printed in a style suited to the assumed purpose. 65. For the sake of perspicuity and conveni- ence every article is divided into sections. The names are at the head, and the Botanical name is the first. 6Q, The English, French and German names are given, next the officinal names used iu Pharmacopeias, and last the vulgar or common names of the country, which are variable in al- INTRODUCTION. XI most every section or state. When a plant had received several botanical names, the obsolet© are given as synonyms. 67. After the names follow the botanical and medical authorities connected, the generic and specific characters, the complete botanical des- criptions, the locality or native places of growth, with the general history of the genus and spe- cies, forming the botanical sections of each ar- ticle. 68. The medical division contains the sen- sible and chemical qualities of the plant, with the medical properties, including uses, doses and preparations. 69. Equivalent substitutes, and various re- marks conclude the article. The plan of adding medical substitutes is borrowed from the ex- cellent French work of Peyrilhe on Medical Natural History. 70. The knowledge of those medical Equi- Talents will be found very useful, when the re- quired plants are not obtainable, while some substitute may perhaps be procured. It fol- lows of course tiiat each Equivalent is vice- versa a mutual substitute in most cases: although the plants are seldom identical in power and activity. 71. Botanical accuracy has been strictly at- tended to throughout, and all the descriptions are original. To avoid other novelties, but few improvements have been attempted or sugges- ted in nomenclature or criticism. The locali- ties are however greatly extended. 72. In the medical part, brevity has been adopted; without impairing accuracy. All the XII INTRODUCTION. matter of Schoepf and subsequent writers has been incorporated. Nothing essential has been omitted, but discussions are avoided, and ex- periments merely stated in result. 73. This order and plan has enabled to give a complete knowledge of the objects in all their botanical, medical, chemical and historical points of view: while the general principles of the science are prefixed as preliminary guides* 74. If this labour may suit all the classes of readers and all those who employ medical plants, the wishes and object of the author will be fulfilled. GENERAL PRIXCIPLES OF MEDZCAA BOTANT^. FIRST SECTIOX-BOTANICAL PRINCIPLES. I. BOTANY is the science and knowledge of vegetable bodies or plants. 2* A botanical species is formed by the collective association of all the individual bodies, which have a similar form. 3. VARIETIES are mere occasional deviations from this spe- cific typical I'orm. 4. All the individuals of the same species, have the same forms, qualities and properties, but modified in some varieties. 5. The principal branches of Botany, are, GLOssotoGT, No- menclature, CLASSIFICATTOir, DESCRIPTIVE BOTAXT, BOTANICAL HISTORY and Philosophy. 6. Glossology gives names or Botanical terms to every Organ of plants, and to all their modifications of form or structure. 7. These names must be sought for in special botanical works; it is beyond this scope to notice them here, except in general. 8. NoMEifCLATURE applies names to every species, and succes- sive groups of species, referring their Synonyms to each. 9. These names derived chiefly from the Latin and Greek languages, become universal, and common to all languages and nations. 10. Synonyms are of wo kinds, 1. Erroneous or obsolete botanical names, 2. Local or variable Vulgar names employed by each nation. II. Classification teaches how to co-ordinate the species in Genera, orders and classes by methodical or systematical arrange- ments. B 2 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 12. Genera are groups of species having the same essential Organs of fructifi cation or reproduction, and affording the same collective characters in their structure and form. 13. Orders and Classes are successive groups of Genera af- fording some similar general characters. Families, Sections, Subclasses are Divisions of these groups based upon some pecu- liar considerations. 14. A Method studies, seeks and preserves iall the natural affinities of plants, grouping together, those which have the- greatest resemblance. 15. SisTEi^rs follow a peculiar theory, or are based upon a sm- gle consideration, without attending to natural affinities. 16. Descriptive B.OTANx gives accurate descriptions of all the species and their varieties. Genera and Groups of Genera. IT. These Descriptions consist of two modes or parts 1. Complete Descriptions, 2. Defhtitioits or abridged Descrip- tions, being the analytical epitome of the principal descriptive characters. 18. Botanical history includes many details and considera- tions comprising the Etymology of names, mode of growth, time of flowering and seeding, cultivation, collection, discovering, introducing, authors who have described plants, their biography, bibliography or knowledge of Botanical Books, criticism, &c. 19. The Locality of plants is a branch of Botanical history, which has lately been separated and called Botanical Geogra- THY ; it teaches the soils, climates and places where plants^grow spontaneously, and also their migrations, naturalization, &c. 20. Botanical Philosophy considers plants under all their points of view, which are many ; forming the following branches ; 1. Organology, studying their organization. 2. Physiology — their vital functions. 3. Anatomy — their internal structure. 4. Chemistry — their component elements. 5. Pathology — their diseases, 6. Cultivation — their culture. 7. Utility — their useful or noxious properties. 21. The ORGANS are external or internal ; the internal be- long to botanical anatomy : the external or the most conspicuous GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 3 afford the obvious descriptive characters, and form several series according to their vital use, as follows : 22. NuTBiTivE Orgaks are the Cotyledons, Roots, Leaves, &c. The Roots are commonly under ground, and the Leaves above : while the Cotyledons are within the seed. 23. Reproductive Organs which are the Flowers, Fruits and Seeds, with the Buds, Bulbs, and Gems. 24. Upon the flowers, fruit and seeds are chiefly based the generic and other general characters ; being present and conspi CU0U3 in every plant except those of the lowest orders. 25. The Roots, Leaves, Flowers, and Fruits assume a great variety of shapes, which have all peculiar names, and off'er the specific characters and distinctions usually resorted to. 26. Upholding Organs such as the stem and branches, the Scapes or leafless radical stems. Petioles, Pedicles, Nerves, kc. 27. Preserving Organs as the Barks, Cuticles, Sec. 28. CiRcuLATivE Organs which are the Wood, Liber, Pith, Fibres, Vessels, &c. The woody plants are called Ttees or Shrubs. 29. Secretoby Organs, such as Glands, Pores, Hairs, &c. 30. AncEssoiiT- OnoAvs are the thorns, bracteolcs, Stipules, tendrils, tubercles, down, wool, &c. 31. Inflorescence is the mode in which the flowers are dis- posed and unfolded. 32. The essential parts of the flowers are the Stamina or Sta- mens and Pistils : a complete flower has both ; when they are separate, the flowers are called Staminate or Pistilate. 33. The essential part of the Stamen is the Anther; when the filament or support is missing, the anther is called sessile. 34. The essential parts of the Pistil are the Germ or Germeit, and the Stigma. The germ is the bud of the fruit ; it is usually sessile; when it has a support or Podogtne, it is called stipitated. 35. The Germ is usually free and central ; but when it is connected or coherent with the perigone, it is called adherent or inferior, and the perigone becomes symphogyne or superior, 36. The Stigma is a pore, gland or appendage upon the Germ, single or multiple, sessile or supported by a base called Style. 4 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. o7. The accessory parts of the flowers are the Pebigone, Nec- TAHiES and Bracteoees. 38. The Perigojie around the Stamina and Pistils is either single, double or multiple. When single it retains that name ; but w hen double the exterior is called Calix, and the interior Conoi or Coroexa. In the multiple perigotie, the inner range is the trueCoROE. 39. The segments of the perigone and calix are called Sepals, or folioles, and those of the Corel Petals. 40. The Nectaries are Glands, scales, crowns, disks and other appendages within the flower. 41. The Bracteoles are small leaves, scales, involucres, 8tc. around the flowers, when they resemble a perigone and sur- round many flowers, they are called Perianthe or common calix. 42. Plants being organized bodies like Animals, perform the same vital functions, three of which are essential to life, and common to all plants, 1. Nutuitiox, 2. Growth, 3. Reproduc- tion." 43. The others are l.'ss essential, or less evident; they are 1. Circulation, 2. Respiration, 3. Secretion, 4. Irritability, 5. Ca- lorification, 6. Sulidifictttion, &c- 44. Plants are also like Animals subject to Sleep, hyemal Tor- por, Diseases, Necropsy and Death. 45. The ANATOMICAL structure of plants offers a mul'.itude of internal apparatus (about thirty kinds) formed by the aggre- gation of vessels, fibres and tissues. 46'. The principal are the Cellular, fibrose, glandular, absor- bing, moving, vital, nutritive, reproductive, &,c. 47. CHEMICAL BOTANY detects almost all the simple ele- rnents in the vegetable substances : the most abundant and pre- vailing are however. Carbon, Oxigen, Hydrogen, Azote, Potas- um, Sodium, Calcium, Sulphur, &.c. 48. The coiiipound chemical bodies absorbed or formed by vegetable Life are very numerous, the principal are Water, Air, Oils, Acids, Aromes, Tannin, Extractive, Alkalis, Resins, Muci- lage, Sugar, Fecula, &c. 49. Diseases in plants are as numerous as among Animals, if not Men ; they have only been attended to as yet with fruit trees, and useful cultivated plants; many are easily curable. gi;neral principles. 5 50. Agriculture and Horticulture are two arts, having for spe- cial object the cultivation of useful or ornamental plants. 51. Thesearts are closely connected with Botany, from which they borrow their materials. The general cultivation of medical plants in medical gardens is highly desirable. 52. Useful plants have three kinds of properties, 1. Alimen- tary, 2. Economical, 3. Medical. The noxious and poisonous properties are included with the medical. 53. We are dependent upon vegetables for our food anddrink» our solid and liquid aliments; they furnish us materiah forour dress, dyes, fuel, buildings, arts and manufactures. 54. Every plant has two names and two characters, both Ge- neric and Specific. 55. The Generic name is the first and !^ a substantive, the Specific follows and is an adjective appellation. 56. The Generic character is the collective definition ef the principal organic indications of each Genus, which constitute the TYPE of the Genus. 57. The Specific character is an abridged description of all the individuals forming a species, and it constitutes the TYPE of the species* 58. Orders and Families, Classes and Sections have also sub- stantive names, and peculiar characters assigned to each. 59. Three great natural classes constitute the vegetable King- don, l.DlCOTTLES, 2. MONOCOTTLES, 3. AcOTTLES. 60. The DICOTYLES are Vascular plants, with concentric fibres and vessels, and a bilobe or multilobe germination. They comprise two thirds of all the plants, shrubs and trees. 61. The MONOCOTYLES are Vascular plants with fascicu- lar fibres and vessels, and a lateral unilobe germination. ^Such are the Palms, Lilies, Grasses, Ferns, and Mosses. 62. The ACOTYLES are Cellular plants without vessels nor fibres, and destitute of lobes in the germination. Such are the Lichens, Algae and Fungi. 63. These natural classes may be divided in other less natural classes, and these into natural orders and families, by the botani- cal process of analysis. 64. The natural orders of Linn 8eus were fifty-eight, Jussien has •n 9 6 genehal principles, enumerated one hundred, now upwards of one hundred and fifty are known or designated. 65. Many of these being rather natural families may be reduced to about sixty-four great natural orders, including upwards of two hundred natural families. « 66.^Each natural family and order has some qualities and pro- perties, common to all their genera, and may therefore serve of Medical Indication. SECOND SECTION-CHEMICAli PRINCIPLES OR PRINCIPLES OF BOTANICAL CHEMISTRY. 1. The knowledge of the substances which enter into the bodily composition of Plants, form a branch of Chemical Sciences called Vegetable Chemistry. 2. This branch'of Chemistr)^ is intimately connected with Me- dical Botany, and becomes an essential part of it. 3. By it, the three Sciences of Botany, Chemistry, and Patho- logy are rendered subservient to each other. 4. Chemistry borrows from Botany the true knowledge of the Plants, while Chemistry teaches Botany the nature of the Sub- stances in these plants, 5. The Medical Sciences receive from Vegetable Chemistry the more intimate knowledge of the greatest proportion of Sub- stances employed in practice. 6. Chemistry acquires this knowledge by tests, analytical de- compositions, and reaching the first Elements or elementary bodies evolved in the plants. 7. Vegetable life assimilates or produces nearly all the Natural Bodies and creates many Substances peculiar to itself. 8. This is the foundation of three ^reat Divisions or Classes in Vegetable Substances or their proximate Elements. 1. Class. MINERAL, common to plants, animals and Mine- rals. 2. Class. ANIMAL, foreign to Minerals, but common to Plants and Animals. 3. PECULIAR. Not found either in Animals nor Minerals. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 7 9. These Classes may be divided into Orders, Genera and Spe- cies of Chemical Bodies, each possessing peculiar properties and actions. 10. Vegetable Chemistry has not yet obtained the same cer- tainty and attention as Mineral Chemistry. It is now emerging from the Clouds of ancient errors, and becoming a Science of de- cided importance. 11. A small portion as yet of the endless chemical Constituents of all the plants, has become known. • • 12. A long time will be required before the 60,000 known plants be analyzed, or even the 5000 Speciesof North America. 13. But some Substances are common to many different plants, and each active Genus has generally the same active principles. 14. The special knowledge of this branch of Medical Botany must be sought for in the Chemical Works. We shall merely give here a small Table of the principal Orders and Genera, lately detected and well ascertained. 15. It must be remembered that every plant contains many Elementary bodies, and that these Bodies are all reducible to their pristine Simple Elements. 16. It is not our purpose to designate the properties of these Vegetable Substances. This knowledge constitutes Medical Chemistry, a new Science, or branch of Pharmacy. CHE^nCAL TABLE. I. Class— MINERAL ELEMENTS.— 5 Orders. 1. Order. SIMPLE ETHERIAL. G. Caloric. Light. Oxi- gene. Hydrogene. Azote. 2. Order. SIMPLE and COMBUSTIBLE. G. Sulphur. Car- bone. Phosphore. 3. Order. SIMPLE and OXIDABLE. G. Tlie Metals. 4. Order. OXIDES. G. Airs. Waters. Limes. Potashes. Alumines. Chalybates. Silicates, &c. 5. Order. SALTS. G. Carbonates. Citrates. Fungates. Muri- ates. Malates. Gallates. Nitrates. Oxalates. Phosphates. Sul- fates. Tartrates, &c. 8 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. II. Class— ANIMAL ELEMENTS— 1 Order. 1. O. COMPOUNDS of Carbone, Hydrogene, Oxigene and Azote. G. Glutten. Albumine. Gelatine. Adipocire. Fungin, &c. III. Class.— PECULIAR ELEMENTS.— 4. Orders. 1. Order. AZOTES or Vegetable Alkalies, containing Azote. 3 Families. Carbonits. Oxigenits. Ammonits or true Alkalis. G. ferment. Narcotine. Asparagine. Morphium. Quinine. Eupato- rine. Cornine. Daturine, &c. 2. Orde"r. 'ACIDS, formed by Carbone, Hydrogene, with Oxi- gene in excess, G. Acetic. Malic. Oxalic. Benzoic. Citric. Tar- taric. Gallic. Moric. Fungic, &c. 3. Order. WATERS, formed by Carbone with Hydrogene and Oxigene in the proportion of Water. G. Lignites. Fecules. Sac- charines. Gums. Amarines. Polychromites. Tannines. Extrac- tives. MHcilages. &c. 4. Order. OILS, formed by Carbone, Oxigene, with Hydrogene in excess. G. Gluines, Wax. Fixed Oils. Aromes. Resins. Picrines. Acrines. Camphors, &c. THIRD SECTION— MEDICAL PRINCIPLES. 1. Every vegetable substance produces efTects on the human frame ; but these effects can only take place by actual contact of the parts, or their effluvia. 2. These effects are either grateful, or unpleasant, or noxious, and either nutritive, or medical, or poisonous. 3. Nutritive substances sustain life, the noxious impair it ; while the medical preserve or restore health. 4. Plants may be noxious to man, while they are innocent or nutritious for animals or cattle, and the everse may as ofte n occur. 5. The popular belief that every country produces simples suitable to cure all their prevaiUng local diseases, is not devoid of truth. 6. There are many modes of effecting cures by equivalent re- GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 9 medies ; but vegetable substances afford the mildest, most effi- cient, and most congenial to the human frame. 7. A vegetable substance is called active when producing strong or quick effects, and inactive or inert, when producing weaker or slower effects. 8. But th&re is hardly a plant totally inert, and not producing in large doses some sensation or effect. 9. Active plants and substances are commonly known by the senses of smell or taste : while inert plants are scentless and tasteless. 10. The most active plants are not always the best for use, be- ing less grateful than others, and more liable to impair the func- tions of life. 11. Poisonous plants are all available as medicinal, and often the most active ; but they are liable to tiie same objection, in a greater degree. 12. Active and poisonous plants, must be used with care and judgment, sparingly and in small doses only. 13. Similar or consimilar tastes or smells, indicate similar or consimilar Qualities and Properties. 14. The sensible QuaJitip.s nf plants are the results of their or- ganization, and chemical composition \ their medical Properties arise from these 'Qualities. 15. Plants of the same Genus have commonly the same quali- fies and properties, more or less unfolded. 16. Genera of the same Natural Family or Order, have often consimilar qualities and properties. 17. Modifications or Deviations from these two last rules occur when the organization and locality are very different. 18. Artificial Systems, like the sexual system of Linnxus separating the most related Genera, and uniting the most remote, cannot indicate medical affinities. 19. Where the artificial systems coincide with the natural me- thod; they may both answer the purpose of medical indications. 20. Few plants possess a single property ; many are commonly blended in the same plant. 21. Different parts of a plant have often separate qualities and properties. 10 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 22. Incompatible Substances are seldom or never found in the same plant. 23. Every plant has a peculiar and specific mode of action on the human body, in health or disease. 24. Even cong-eneric and consimilar species have their modi- fied effects at equal doses, which a difference in the dose may equalize. 25. The medical effects of the same plant are also modified by the soil, climate, season, and age ; also by exhibition and dose. 26. Botanical affinities indicate medical equivalents, which may be substituted to each other. 27. But Experience alone can decide if the substitution will be available and efficacious, and teach when and how it ought to be made. 28. Vegetable Equivalents are either botanical or medical, and each of three degrees. 29. In Botanical Equivalents these three degrees are : 1st Con- generic, belonging to the same genus : 2d Affiliated belong- ing to different genera of the same family. 3d Remote, belonging to remote genera. 8Q. Medical Equivalents have the degrcee of 1. Specific or having exactly the same value, 2. Similar or producing the same effects, 3. Consimilar or producing effects somewhat different. 31. Evert medical PLANT is a compound medicine prepared BY THE HANDS OF NATURE, in the most Suitable form for exhibi- tion and efficacy in suitable cases. 32. Medical substances becoming more powerful by admixture, those which enter by vital action into the organs of plants, are rendered more powerful by intimate combination. 33. By combining several medical plants in prescriptions their effect is increased. 34. Nauseous or noxious plants may be rendered grateful and available by combination wit^ others of a different character. 35. But all combinations mi\st either coincide or correct each other, else they are superfluous and useless. 36. When too many substances are mingled, or several that do not well coincide, they qften impair each other. ,3r.^The combination of substances which exert a chemical ac- ^,.h GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 11 tion on each other, must be avoided, unless a peculiar medical result is required. 38. When an unexpected result happens by a combination of substances, it must be corrected by suitable changes. 39. The active principles of medical plants may be obtained in a concentrated form by chemical operations. 40. When these active principles are obtained, their effects are stronger and quicker ; but less congenial to the human frame, than in their natural pristine combination. FOURTH SECTION-MEDICAL PROPERTIES. 1. The medical properties were detected by chance, or as- certained by indication, and,confirmed by experience. 2. There are four kinds of indications, 1. Botanical, 2. Che- mical, 3. Medical, 4. Evident. 3. Botanical indications have already been alluded to, they are proximate or remote, and teach us Botanical Equivalents. 4. Chemical indfcations result from analysis and decompssi- tion : when the same elements and substances are found in equal proportions ; the presumption must be that chemical equivalents have been detected. ~ *• 5. Medical indications are the result of medical inference ; when substances act alike or produce similar effects in some cases, they may do the same in other cases. ^, The most obvious indications are however, those which arise from the Evidence of the sensible qualities of plants. 7 . These qualities are constituted by chemical elements, and evinced to our senses by contact or effluvia. 8. Each plant, and sometimes each part of a plant, has a pecu- liar smell and taste, hardly alike in any two of them. 9. No plant is absolutely scentless or tasteless, even the most insipid evince themselves to our nose, and palate. 10. The vegetable Orders and Sapors may be classed under two great divisions, GRATEFUL or UNPLEASANT. 11. Orders may be further divided into six series, and one hun- 13 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. clred and fifty Genera: Sapors into ten series and as many genera at least. 12. The GRATEFUL Odors or Smells indicate wholesome' properties, the three Series are 1. Fragraxp, indication of stimulants and sudorifics, 8cc. 2. Aromatic — of stomachics, warm stimulants, 8ic. 3. Sweet — of Pectorals, Demulcents^ &c. 13. The UNPLEASANT Odors indicate active properties, their three Series are 1. Fetid, indication of noxioMS plants, emetics, &c. 2. Graveolent — of powerful medical plants. 3. Insipid — of Emollients, inert plants, 8tc. 14. GRATEFUL SAPORS or Tastes, belong to plants of mild properties. Their five Series are 1. Flatorei), belonging to palatable substances. 2. Spicy — to stimulants, sudorifici?, stomaciiics; &c, 3. Acid — to Refrigerants, Diluents, he. 4. Sweet — to Nutrients, Demulcents, 8tc. 5. Sapie or Saltish — to Antiscorbutics, &c. 15. UNPLEASANT SAPORS belong to plants of active pro- perties. Their five Series are 1. Nauseous, belonging^ to Narcotics, Emetics, Cathartics, Antispasmodics, Sec. 2. Acrid — Vo Salivatories, Stimulants, Epispastics, Anthel- minthics, Emena'gogues, &c. 3. Bitter — to Tonics, Corroborants, &c. 4. Acerb — to Astringents, Diuretics, &c. 5. Insipid — to Emollients, Demulcents, Diluents, &c. 16. The sense of feeling is susceptible of ascertaining at least five qualities in substances. 1. CooiNESS, belongipg to Refrigerants. 2. Heat — to Stimulants and Rubefacients, 3. Stinging — to external stimulants. 4. Vesication — to Epispatics, 8cc. 5. CoRRosioN-^to Escharotics, and Caustics. 17. These different qualities variously combined and modified by each other, form all the immense variety perceptible in plants. 18. Medical Properties of a corresponding nature being co- GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 13 existent with these sensible qualities, are obviously indicated by them. 19. Yet some plants of weak qualities and seemingly inert, are often possessed of unindicated active properties, resulting from chemical combinations or gazeous emanations. 20. Classifications of medical properties and remedies are end- less, and of little use. Every writer on Materia Medica common- ly contrives a new one. 21. As much could be done here, or some one adopted ; but it will be sufficient to mention that the most general Distribu- tion is at present in three Classes, 1 Stimulant, 2 Chemi- cal, and 3 Mechanical Properties or Remedies. 22. The following alphabetical Glossary of the principal medi- cal properties, will probably be more useful for reference. TABLE OF PROPERTIES. ABSORBENT, absorbing or involving noxious matter. ABSTERGENT or DETERGENT, cleaning foul ulcers and sores. ANODYNE, soothing the nerves, allaying pain, very similar to Sedative and Nervine. ANTACID, chemical remedies, neutralizing Acids. AGGLUTINANT, uniting divided solids. ALTERATIVE, producing a change in the whole system, or altering the appearance oflocal diseases. AMBROSIAL, of exquisite smell or taste, very palatable and restorative. ANALEPTIC, gentle stimulant of the nerves. ANTIBILIOUS, correcting the Bile. ANTIDOTE or ALEXITERIAL, commonly counter poisons, chemical remedies correcting the effects of poisons. ANTI-DYSENTERIC, against dysentery and bowel complaints, local and mechanical, unless astringent. ANTILITHIC, curing the gravel and stone. ANTISPASMODIC, diffusible stimulant, acting on the muscles, curing spasms, pains, &c. ANTHELMINTIC, expelling worms. ANTISCORBUTIC, useful in scurvy. ANTISCROFULOUS, useful in scrofula. C 14 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. ANTEROTIC, sedatives of venery. ANTISEPTIC or ANTIPUTRID, Tonic useful to prevent external or internal mortification. ANT ALKALINE, neutralizing alkalies. APERIENT, promoting- excretions. APHRODISIAC, stimulating- Venery; AROMATIC, diffusible stimulant,heating the stomach and body. ASTRINGENT, permanent stimulant, corrugating the fibres. ATTENUANT, or DEOBSTRUENT, local stimulant, remov- mg obstructions of the glands, liver, 8cc. BALSAMIC, mild healing stimulant. CALEFACIENT, local stimulant, heating the parts. CARMINATIVE, Or RUCTANT, local stimulant, expelling winds. CARDIAC or CORDIAL, acting on the heart, and increasing its muscular action. CATHARTIC or PURGATIVE, local stimulants cleaning the bowels. CAUSTIC, local stimulants, burning the parts, CEPHALIC, curing the head ache. CHOLOGOGUE, purging the bile. CONSOLIDANT, a kind of tonic, repairing defects in solids. CORROBORANT, a kind of stomachic, giving strength, COSMETIC, smoothing or lubricating the skin. DEMULCENT, mechanical remedy, shielding the surfaces from acrid matter, and lubricating the organs. DEPILATORY, removing the hair. DIAPHORETIC, increasing the insensible exhalation of the skin and lungs. DIFFUSIBLE, spreading through the whole frame. DILUENTS, diluting and expelling morbific matter, increas- ing the fluidity of the blood, &c. DISCUTIENT, healing sores of the skin. DIURETIC, stimulant, increasing the discharge from the bladder and kidneys, expelling accumulated fluids, and promoting dropsical discharges. DRASTIC, cathartics purging with violence and pain. EFFLUVIAL, producing gazeous emanations which affect the skin. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 15 EMENAGOGUE, increasing the menstrual discharge. EMETIC or VOMITIVE, local stimulant producing a dis- charge from the stomach. EMOLLIENT, the opposite of tonic, relaxing the fibres. ^ . EPISPASTIC or BLISTER, local stimulant, acting on the ' skin and membranes, blistering them, &c. ERODENT, removing spots and warts of the skin. ERRHINE, promoting sneezing and a discharge from the nose. ESCHAROTIC, corroding and decomposing the skin and other solids.' EXHANTHEMATIC, useful for Exhanthems. EXHAURIENT, exhausting vital powers. EXCITANT, stimulant exciting the vital functions. EXPECTORANT, promoting expectoration. FEBRIFUGE, curing fevers, one of the effects of tonics. HEPATIC, useful in diseases of the Liver. HUMECT ANT, a kind of Diluent moistening the solids. HYDRAGOGUE, a kind of Diuretic, discharging waters. ^. ^ INCITANT or INCISIVE, stimulant, acting on the glandular system. INEBRIATING or EXHILARATING, producing intoxication in different degrees. INVISCANT or COAGULANT, mucilagiaous remedies, thick- ening the fluids. LAXATIVE, useful against constipation and mild purgatives. ^. LITHONTHRIPTIC, chemical remedy, dissolving the gravel or stone in the bladder, or bezoars of the liver, '^ \ " LOCHIAL, a mild Menagogue. £ ir, NARCOTIC or STUPEFIANT, diffusible stimulant, acting on the nervous and vascular system, producing sleep, stupor and death in large doses. NAUSEANTS, producing Nausea without Emesis. NEPHRITIC, local stimulant of the kidneys. NERVINE, acting particularly on the nerves, and soothing pain, promoting sleep, useful in hysterics, epilepsy, &c. NOXIOUS or DELETERIOUS, or Pebnicious, or Basefui, or Venomous, all Synonymous of Poisons, producing pain, disease or Death. NUTRIENT, furnishing nourishment to the body. 16 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. ODONTALGIC, allaying or curing the tooth-ache. OPHTHALMIC, useful in diseases of the Eyes. PECTORAL, useful in diseases of the breast and lungs. PELLENT or REPELLENT, charging the course of dischar- ges, or repelling the morbid fluids. PHTHIRIAC or PSORIC, destroying Lice and Itch. PHRENETIC or PHANTASTIC, acting on the brain, pro- ducing delirium and dreams. PROPELLENT, moving the fluids. PROPHYLACTIC, preserving health, or preventic, a peculiar disease. REFRIGERANT, cooling, lessening the heat of the body, al- laying local or general inflammations. RESTORATIVE, restoring strength. REVIVING, diffusible stimulant, relieving from faintness, torpors, and necropsy. ' REPERCUSIVE, throwing back an eruption, a kind of repel- lent. REVULSIVE, a local stimulant, promoting a change or re- vulsion in a disease. RUBEFASCIENT, topical remedy, exciting redness and heat. SEDATIVE, allaying inordinate motions and pains, by lessen- ing the action of the heart and circulation of the blood. SIALOGOGUE or SALIVATORY, exciting salivation. SOLVENT or RESOLVENT, a kind of Diluent, promoting solution of the solids, acting on the lymphatic system, useful in scrofula, &c. SOPORIFIC or HYPNOTIC, promoting sleep. SORBEFACIENT, raising pimples, &c. SPECIFIC, a remedy supposed to act especially on a disease. STIMULANT, acting by stimulating the body or some parts of it. STINGING, acting like nettles by producing a burning pain. STOMACHIC, promoting appetite, useful in diseases of the stomach, and cholics. STYPTIC, stoping bloody discharges. SUDORIFIC, promoting a copious perspiration. SUPPURATIVE or RESOLUTIVE, promoting suppuration of ulcers, tumors. Sec. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 17 SYPHILITIC, useful in syphilis and venereal diseases. TONIC, permanent stin\ulant, acting on the whole body, in- creasing the tone of the fibres, &c. TOPICAL, a remedy acting by external application. UTERINE, acting on the uterus. URETHRAL or STRANGURIAL, a local stimulant, acting on the Urethra, producing Strangury, &c. VIRULENT, of strong active properties, producing powerful and somewhat noxious effects. VULNERARY, healing wounds and sores. CONCLUDING REMARKS. 1. Physicians do not agree on the mode of action of the pro- perties, nor the proximate and intricate operation of remedies ; but the ultimate effects and results being ascertained, they are sufficient for practical use. 2. Drugs are Vegetable substances prepared for use, and kept for sale by Druggists or Pharmacians. 3. Those which are imported, are often adulterated, or in- ferior kinds are substituted ; for instance Peruvian Bark or Cin- cHOKA, and Saffron or Cnocrs, are hardly to be met with in the U. S. — Caribean bark or Portlandia, and Bastard Saffron or Cah- THAMUs, are usually sold instead, which are very weak substitutes. 4. This arises from a want of medical inspections and officinal knowledge : the results are, that prescriptions fail, physicians are disappointed, and patients suffer. 5. To avoid in part these evils, it is desirable to employ our own genuine medical substances, whenever they afford sufficient remedies and suitable equivalents. 6. Medical substances being often impaired by age, it is de- sirable to obtain them fresh, or in yearly rotation. 7. Fresh and genuine substances can only be obtained at aU times from medical gardens, or honest dealers. 8. The best medical gardens in the United States are those established by the Communities of Shakers, or modern Esse- nians, who cultivate or collect about one hundred and fifty kinds of medical plants. 9. They sell them cheap, fresh and genuine, in a compact and c 2 18 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. portable form. Pharmacians would do well to supply themselves with them, or to imitate their useful industry. 10. Several of our medical plants and drugs are already an object of trade to Europe and elsewhere. Many more may be- come in demand, when their valuable properties will be better known. 11. Anew branch of trade may thus be opened, which it is our duty to encourage, by collecting and cultivating our medical plants. 12. Herbalists and Collectors are often ignorant and deceitful. The best way to prevent their fraudsjfand correct their blunders is, by enlightening them, adopting botanical names, and refusing spurious drugs. CRITICAL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL AUTHORS AND WORKS CONSULTED. Adansojt families of plants. Paris. AiToir, hortus kewensis — had many new American plants. American Pharmacopeia, or rather of the United States. Atlee, Dissertation on Monarda punctata. Fig. B. Barton, collections towards a Materia Medica of the United States. Phil. 1798, and Suplt. 1804 — many medical plants and properties indicated, no descriptions nor figures. W. Barton, 1. Vegetable Materia Medica of the United States. Phil. 2 vols. 4to. 50 fig. — 2. Flora of North America, 3 vols. 4to. 106 fig. — Another costly work mentioning about 1 plant in 40 of N. Amer. Descriptions short and flimsy. Bartram — Travels in Florida and the Southern States. Phila. Bece, plants of Missouri, in Silliman's Journal. BiGELow, 1. American Medical Botany, 3 vols. 4to. Boston, 1817, &c. 2. Sequel to the American Pharmacopeia, 1 vol. 8vo. 1822. 3. Florula Bostoniensis, 1 vol. 8vo.— deficient in specie* and descriptions. Brickei.1,, Essay on the plants of Georgia and N. Carolina. BuRsoN, Dissertation on 7 medical plants. Cadet, Materia Medica Veget. Guyamensis, 1816. Cabteb, Travels in' North America. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 19 Cahpbbtteb, on Cinchonas, &c. Chapman, Materia Medica. Philad. — mentions some American plants. Charlevoix, useful plants of Canada, with figures. CrAYTOx, Flora Virginica, with medical indications. CoELK, Specifica Canadensis, in Amenit. Acad. CoLDEif, useful plants of New York. CoRNUT, Plants of Canada, in liatin and French. CoxE, American Dispensatory, 7th Edit. Philad. 1827. — Use- ful compilation, few original indications on plants. CuiEEx, Materia Medica, Amer. Ed. Philad. Cutler, Plants of New England, rude attempt, many botanical mistakes, some medical indications. Decandolle. 1. French Flora. 2. Species Plantanum. 3. Si- nopsis pi. 4. Theory of Botany. 5. Medical Natural Families, &c. — All classical works, following and improving the natural me- thod, the species pi. is not yet completed. DicTioiyAiRE des Sciences Medicales. Paris. Dispensaries, or American Edition of European Dispensatories. Dissertations on Medical Plants, Inaugural and others, by Shultz, Eberle, Tully, Mead, Atlee, Cogswell, Burson, Watkins, Dupuy, Horsefield, Macbride, Mease, &c. &c. Drake, Picture of Cincinnati with a list of medical plants. Drayton, View of South Carolina, with ditto. DuMONT-CorRSET, Botanistc Cultivateur, 7 vols. 8vo. Paris 1816. Duncan, Amer. Ed. of New Edinburg Dispensatory. DuHAMEL, Arbres et Arbustes. Paris. Eaton, Manual of the Botany of the Northern and Middle States, 4th Ed. Albany, 1824— A popular elementary work, as good as a. Flora. Elements of Botany, by B. Barton, Wildenow, Necker, Mirbel, Scopoli, Sprengel, Link, Sumner, Smith, Lea, Thornton, Locke, Nuttal, Decandolle, Richard, &c.— the best are by De- candoUe, Sprengel, Wildenow, Mirbel, and.Necker. Elliott, Sketch of the Botany of Carolina and Georgia, 3 vols. Svo. Charleston, 1818 to 1822.— Under that modest title, we have the best Flora of the Southern States, full of New Species, good descriptions and with several medical indications. so GENERAL PRINCIPLES. Garden, Observations on the plants of Carolina. Gronovils, Flora Virginica from Clayton's. Henry, Medical herbal, 1 vol. 8vo. New York, 1814. — Empe- rical, erroneous in names, descriptions, facts and figures, some medical facts, and local names. Hunter, Narrative, 1 vol. Svo. Philad, 1824. — Another impos- tor, he has given a list of western medical plants with Osage names, not to be depended upon nor ascertained. Inaugural Theses of Medical Students, some on medical plants with experiments. A. IvEs, Amer. Ed. of Paris Pharmacology, 2 vols. 8vo. New York, 1825. — Many medical plants introduced. E. Ives, Tracts and Observations in Journals. Journals, Many Medical and Scientific, Med. Repository," Med. Recorder, Med. Register, Med. Museum, New Eng. Med. Journal, Silliman's Journal, Philad. Journal of Med., 6. Barton's Journal, &c. JussiEu, Genera phantarum. Paris, 1789. Kalm, Travels in North America. Lamark, Dictionary of Botany, &c. Laurence, Catalogue of Medical Plants, cultivated at the Medi- cal Garden of New Lebanon, New York. Lewis and Clarke, Travels to the Pacific Ocean. LiNsaius, 1. Philosophy of Botany. 2. Genera Plantarum. 3. Species Plantarum. 4. Materia Medica. 5. Amenitates Acade- mica, &c. 6. Systema Vegetabilium, &c. — All classical works. Macbride, Medical remarks in Elliott's Flora. Marshall, American Grove. Philad. 1785. Mease, Medical Tracts and Dissertations. MicHAux, Flora boreali Americana, 2 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1803. — Edited by Richard, incomplete, some figures. MicHAux, Junior, American Sylva, 3 vols. 8vo. Paris. — Good work ; but many trees are omitted. MiTCHiLL, Many Tracts and Dissert, in Med. Repository, &c. MuHLENBisHG, 1. Catalogue of Amer. Plants. 2. Graminea. 3. Florula Lancastrieusis. 4. New plants communicated to Wilde- now. Murray, Amer. Ed. of his Materia Medica. NuTTALL, 1. Genera of North American Plants, 2 vols. 12mo GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 21 Pliilad. 1819. Good botanical work. — 2, Elements of Botany. 1 vol. Bost. 1827 unworthy of him, not keeping- pace with ac- tual knowledge. Pehsoo^t, Sinopsis Plantarum, 2 vols. Paris, 1805 & 7. — Excel- lent manual. Pexbilhe, Medical Natural History in French, 2 vols. Svo. 1805. — Excellent work and plan, including- the officinal plants. Pharmacopeias of London, Dublin, Edinburg, Paris, America, Thatcher, Coxe, Dr. Paris, &c. ■PuKSH, Flora Americ. Septentr. 2 vols. Svo. Lond. 1815; — good, but many oversights, classical, till a better Flora is given ; has some figures and medical indications. RAFINESQ.UE, 1. New Gen. 8c Sp. of Amer. plants, and remarks on Amer. and Naturalized plants, in Med. Repository, N. York, 1808. — 2. Precis des Decouvertes Pal. 1814. — 3. Principles of Semiology Pal. 1814. — 4. Encycl. Journal of Sicily, 1814. — 5. Analysis of Nature, 1815. — 6. Florula of Louisiana. N.York, 1817. — 7. Florula Kentuckensis, 1825. — 8. Many Tracts and Disserta- tions, &c. RoBix, Travels in Louisiana, 3 vols. Svo. in French, with an Account of the Plants at the end. RoMER, Systema Segetabilium, Zurich, 1818. Salisbury, Tracts and Botanical Dissertations. ScHOEPF, Materia Medica Americana potissimum regni vegeta- bilis, Erlang, 1787. — Classical on our Materia Medica. . ScopoLi, Materia Medica, and Botanical works. Peter Smith, the Indian Doctor, Dispensary, Cincinnati, 1815. A guide for Empirics, some medical fadts ; but it is difficult to as- certain to what species they apply, no descriptions nor figures, nor correct names are given. SwEDiAXJB, Materia Medica, Paris, &c. in Latin. Thatcher, Pharmacopeia, — the first to introduce many nevr medical plants. Samuel Thompson, New Guide to Health. Boston, 1825-— An Empiric who has introduced some efficient plants in practice. No descriptions nor figures, names local. ToRBEY, 1, Flora of the Northern and Middle States, 1st vol. N. Y. 2. Compendium of the same, including all the Species to 22 GENERAL PRINCIPLES. Cryptogamia, N. Y. 1826. — 3. Many Botanical Tracts. — An accu- rate writer; classical works. TuLLT, Medical Tracts in Journals, &c. ViTMAN, Summa plantarum, 6 vols. 8vo. Milan, 1789. Walter, Flora Caroliniana, 1789 — only a florula. WiLDENOw, Species plantarum. — Laborious heavy work on the linnsean plan, carried as far as the Ferns. WooDViLEE, Medical Botany, in 4 vols. 4to. with coloured figures, London. — Expensive work, noticing about one tenth of the medical plants known. ZoLiicKOFFER, Materia Medica of the United States. Bait. 1826. No descriptions, and many errors. EXPLANATION OF SOME BOTANICAL TERMS. Achene, a single seed like wheat. Acuminate, abruptly sharp. — Acute, same as sharp. Adnate, connivent or growing together. Alternate, situated on two sides, but not opposite. Ament, catkin or spike of the oak, willow, &c. Ancipital, having two sharp sides like a sword. Angular, forming angles. Annual, lasting only one year. Anomalous, out of order or irregular. Axillary, situated at the corner between the stem and leaves. Biennial, lasting two years. Bifid, divided in two, trifid Avhen in three, &c. Binate, twin leaves or flowers. Bract, a floral leaf, bracteole a small one. Bulb, scaly thick root like Onions, Tulips, &c. Campanulate, shaped like a bell. Capsul, a dry fruit opening by valves or holes. Cells, the mternal divisions of the fruit, one celled or unilocu- lar, two celled or bilocular, three celled or trilocular, &c. Ciliate, having hairs on the edges. Cluster, or thyrsus, a bunch of flowers or fruit, like Lilac. Cordate, shaped like a heart. Coryj7ib, umbel with scattered shafts. Cuspidate or mucronate having a bristle at the end. Cylindric, long and round like a cylinder. Deciduous, falling off". Decomposed, cut up in many successive segments. Deltoid, triangular like a Delta. Dichotome, forked several times. Diclinous, with staminate and pistillate flowers. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. §3 Dioicaly having staminate and pistilate flowers on different in- dividuals. Disk, the flat part of a leaf or petal, &c. . Discolor, leaves having two colors. Distichal, in two flat rows. Drupe, a stone fruit like Peach or Plumb. Elliptic, oblong with rounded ends as an ellipsis. Exsert, protruding out of the flowers, &c. Fascicle, a small bundle of leaves or flowers, called then fasci- culate. Filiform, shaped like a thread. Fistvlose, a hollow stem, &c. Flexuose, bent in many ways, or crooked. Floret ar Floscule, a small flower in compound flowers. Foliole or leaflet, a small leaf of compound leaves. Fronde, leaves bearing the fructification, or stems shaped like leaves. Fusiform, shaped like a spindle. Glabrous, same as smooth. Gladiate, sword shaped. Glanditlar, having glands. Glume, the perigone of grasses. Hastate, halbert shaped. Imbricate, slanting over each other, like tiles or shingles. Inferior, below something. Inflorescence, mode in which the flowers grow. Involucre, bracteoles surrounding or annexed to several flowers Labiate, flowers with one or two lips uni or bilabiate. Lanceolate, shaped like a lance. Legume, the pods of Peas, Beans, &c. Ligulate, like a small tongue. Lobe, a rounded segment, lobed with lobes. Lyrate, shaped like a lyre. Monoical, having staminate and pistilate flowers on the same plant. Muricate, covered with short prickles. JS^erves, prominent fibres in the leaves, &c. J^^eutral, flowers without Stamina nor pistils and sterile. Oblique or Obliqual, having a slanting position, oblique leaves like those of the Elm, have two unequal sides. Obtuse, not sharp, blunted or rounded. Ojjposite, situated one over the other. Orbicular, perfectly round. Oval, shaped like an egg. Panicle, a loose bunch of flowers, much divided. Pappus, the downy or bristly calix of florets. Parted, cut into segments, 2 — 3 — 4 — 5 parted, &c. Pedicel, a small peduncle, or a branch of it. Peduncle, the foot stalk of flowers and fruits. Perianthe, the involucre or calix of compound flowers. ^1* GENERAL PRINCIPLES. Petal, parts or leaves of the Corolla, monopetal or peripetal having only segments ; 2—3 — 4 — 5 petal, having as many leaves or petals ; poly petal having many petals. Perennial, lasting several years. Persistent, not falling off. Petiole, support of the leaf ; petiolate having a petiole. Phoranthe, the central part of compound flowers bearing the florets. Pinnate, leaves having many folioles. Pinnatifid, having many deep lateral segments. Pinnule, the segments of pinnatifid parts. Polygamous, having complete flowers, as. well as some either Staminate or pistillate. Pome, fruit similar to an apple. Raceme, a spike with pedicels to the flowers. Radiate, having rays or ligulate flowers around the floretjs. Radical, growing from the root. Ramose, branching, divided into branches. Receptacle, the place where the seeds are attached. Reniform, shaped like a kidney.' - Retuse, blunt and notched. Rugose, wrinkled or roughened by nerves, &c. Runcinate, cut up into sharp segments like a barbed arrow. Sagittate, shaped like a forked arrow. Scape, stem, surrounded by radical leaves. Segment, a part not quite jlivided. Sepals, the folioles of the Calix or Perigone. Sessile, having no support. Serrate, toothed like a saw. Siliqne, the pods of Turnip, Cabbage, &c. Sinuate, having sinuses. Solitary, standing by itself. Spadix, a thick support of many crowded flowers. Spatha, Involucre surrounding a Spadix, or involvirg- flowers. Spur, a hollow appendage to some flowers. Stipule, appendage to some leaves. Subulate, shaped like an awl. Superior, standing above somethin,ms, fibres of leaves not prominent like nerves. Verticillate, forming whorls. No. 1. ACORUS CALAMUS. SWEET r&AG. No. 1. ACORUS. ^5 - - ■ ' ■ - No. 1. ACORUS CALAMUS. English Name— SWEET FLAG. French Name — Acore Odorant. German Name — Kalmus. Officinal Names — Calamus Aromaticus, Calami Radix. Vulgar Names — Flag-root, Sweet Cane, Myrtle Flag, Sweet Grass, Sweet Root, Sweet Rush. Authorities — Linnaeus, Michaux, Pursh, Dispen- saries, Schoepf, Woodville, Thacher, Coxe, Swediaur, Bigelow's Sequel, W. Barton fig. 30 bad, &:c. 4'C. Genus Acorus — Spadix cylindrical with crowded flowers. Perigone simple, six-parted persistent. Stamina six pericentric. Germen one, no style, stig- ma punctiform. Capsuls three celled, many seeded. Species A. Calamus Var. A me rig anus — Leaves and stems sword shaped, ancipital, stems longer. .Spadix cylindrical, obtuse, solitary, oblique, subme- dial lateral. Capsuls oblong acute. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, horizontal, jointed, rugose, nearly cylindrical, from six to twent}^-four inches long, joints from half an inch to an inch long, white, with triangular shades, or rings of brown and rose ; the inside is spongy, and loses much by dessication ; bunches of coarse fibres hang downwards, and hairy brown fibres spread upwards 26 ACORUS. No. 1. The leaves are all radical sheathing at the base, and variegated of white, rose and green ; they be- come flat above, green and smooth, with a ridge on each side in the middle, the end is very sharp, length from one to three het. The stems are similar to the leaves ; but commonly longer and bearing near the middle on one edge, the spadix or thick spike of flowers. Spadix solitary, oblique, cylindrical from one to three inches long, both ends tapering but obtuse. — Flowers small, crowded spirally on it, and yellow. Perigone with six equal and truncate segments — Stamina six, filaments thick, anthers bilobe — Ger- men one gibbose, oblong, stigma sessile, pointed — Capsul oblong with many minute, slender seeds. HISTORY — The Genus Acorus is so perfectly natural that the few species belonging to it, are hardly distinguished from each other. The Chinese Acorus (*/f. gi^amineiis) has narrow leaves and the spadix nearly terminal. The Asiatic and Malabar species (^z? verus,^ has a slender root and thin leaves. The European Acorus is deemed by all Botanists similar to the North American, and yet differs as much from it as the Chinese. The above specific character ap- plies to our American variety or species : while the European plant may be distinguished by the follow- ing definition. A. Calamus Var. Europeiis — Leaves and stems sword-shaped, nearly equal, hardly ancipital. Spadix cylindrical, obtuse, oblique, lateral, often double. Capsuis trigone obtuse. No. 1. ACORXTS. ^7 These distinctions hardly amount to specific differ- ence, land therefore the genus might properly be con- sidered as having a single type, which being widely spread has undergone some variations in China, India, Europe and North America. This surmise will be confirmed by the habit of these plants being perfect- ly identical, and all possessing the same aromatic smell and medical properties. Acofius is a name derived from llie Greek and alluding to a former belief that it was beneficial for disorders of the eyes. Calamus meant a Reed or Rush in Greek and Latin. This genus belongs to Hexandria Monogyiiia of Linnaeus ; but in the natural arrangement to the tribe of ' RONTiDES, a branch of Typhides, next to the genus Orontinm. It is like them an aquatic plant, growing on the borders of streams and ponds or mea- dows, ditches, &c. throughout North America, from Canada to Louisiana, east and west of the mountains, in company with the Iris or Flags, Typha, Sparga- 7iium, Orontlunii Juncus, and other Rushes. The fine smell of the leaves and roots, enables to distin- guish it from all other Flags and Rushes at any time. The roots are the most essential part. They form an article of trade in China, Malabar, Turkey, &c. — In the early stage of the North American Colonies, it was exported to England ; and is even now occa- sionally sent abroad. It might be carried to China where it is esteemed. It grows so copiously that there will be no need to cultivate it ; but when it may become expedient to produce more, it will be 28 ACOnuS. No. >, very easy to raise it by planting slips of the roots in ditches and swampy grounds. To prepare thcf roots tor use or exportation they must be dug, cleaned and dried. The best time to collect them is the spring and fall. Cattle will not eat this plant, and it is noxious to insects ; the leaves, therefore, may be used to advan- tage against moths and worms. This is owing to their strong smell. Leather can be tanned by the whole plant. The blossoms appear in May or June ; they are yellow and crowded on a thick spike or spadix. Qualities — A chemical examination of the roots, evinces the presence of Tannin, Amarine, and an es- sential Oil, in which resides the aromatic smell ; but this last can only be obtained in the proportion of half per cent. The bitter principle is better soluble in water than alcohol. PROPERTIES — The roots are warm, aromatic, pungent and bitter. They are deemed stomachic, to- nic, corroborant and carminative. The infusion in wine or spirits becomes bitter, but acquires a nauseous flavour. The infusion in water preserves the fine smell, and becomes pleasantly v/arm and bitter. It is useful in disorders of the stomach, flatulency, vertigo, cholics, dyspepsia, &:c. ; candied roots and the extract, or chewing the roots and swallowing the juice, are efficient in those cases. — The warm infusion like tea, cures the wind cholic of infants, sailors, &c. The dose of the extract is half a drachm. When No. 1. ACORUS. 29 the root is masticated, a copious salivation is produc- ed, which has cured the tooth ache. Children are fond of this root in many places, and may be indulged with it ; the taste is spicy and pleasant. The can- died roots are palatable and much used in Asia. — This root enters into many compound preparations, theriaca, mithridate, &c. It has been recommended in intermittents, which it has cured when the bark had failed but more eflfec- tual tonics, may be used. Substitutes — Panax quinquefoUum or Gin- seng— Anisum or Aniseed — Angelica — Illicium — Solidago odora or Golden Rod — Frasera or Golum- bo — with all mild tonics and aromatic-bitter sub- stances. Remarks — ^The Iris pseudo-Acortis of Europe doe« not grow in America, and cannot be mistaken there for this. Some other Iris roots (I. Jlnreniina^ I, versicolor^ Sac. J which are also sweet scented, but more agreeable, may be distinguished by the violet smell. Henry calls this Serous ! and gives a bad figure of it. c 2 30 ADZAKTTUM, No. % No. 2. ADIANTUM FEDATUM. English Name— AMERICAN MAIDENHAIR. French Name — Capillaire du Canada. German Name — Frauenhaar. Officinal Names — Capil Veneris, Herba Teneris. Filix Veneris. Vulgar Names — Maiden-hair, Rock-fern, Sweet- tern. Authorities — Linnaeus, Michaux, Pursh, Schoepfi Charlevoix, French Dispensaries, &.c. not in Barton Hor Bigelow. Genus Adiantum — Fern with divided Frond. Fructification in small interrupted marginal lines. Integument univalve, opening below. Species A. Pedatum — Petiole glossy pedate dich- ©tome. Frondules pinnate, folioles alternate, pe- tiolate, oblong, trapezoid, entire before and below, jagged and fructiferous on the upper margin, obtuse "and crenate at the end. DESCRIPTlON—i^oot Perennial, large, fibrous, brown. Frond about a foot high ; stems or petioles of the Frond smooth, compressed, contorted, .':hin- 'ing or glossy chesnut color, forked upwards, and each branch bearing upwards from four to seven frondules, the first being the ha-gest, which gives the pedate appearance. Tnese frondules are pinnate, No. 2. ADIANTUM PEDATUM. AXaERXCAlf MAZDEIVHAXR. No. 2. ADIANTtTM. 31 €lon2;ated, having each from twenty to sixty distichal folioles, vvhich are inserted by a corner, and a small petiole. The shape is oblong quadrangular, the out- side or end being rounded and crenate, while two sides are square and entire ; but the upper side is jagged and bears the fructification. Color pale green, surface smooth, with many oblique nerves. The fructification is marginal on the upper border of the folioles, of a pale yellowish color, formed by unequal and irregular marginal lines. The integu- ment is membranaceous, growing from the maro-in in transversal lines, which extends under it, and open transversally below, showing the cluster of small granular capsuls which they inclose. HISTORY — The Adiantum Capilveneris of Europe is the type of this genus, and has long held there a rank in medical plants, as a mild pectoral. The specific name meaning hair of Venus, is of old standing; the English, French and German names derive from it. *5. ptdatum possessing the same qualities, being larger, and more common, has long been an article of exportation from Canada, &:c. to Europe ; where it has gradually superseded the other, although it is less fragrant. The specific name indicates the pe- date appearance of the Frond or foliage, the whole of which is used and being very easily dried, like all ferns, is packed up in bags. It is from Canada and Nova Scotia that most is sent, and spread all over Europe ; but it could be sent from many other quar- ters since it grows all over the United States from abzantuim:. no. 2. New England to Missouri and Virginia. It becomes more scarce in the South, being confined to the mountains. It delights in rich soil and deep woods, but is also found on hills and among rocks. It may be collected at any time; but must not be mistaken nor blended with the Sweet fern shrub, Compionia %^sph7ii folia, which is a shrub with fragrant leaves. This genus belongs to Cryptogamia Filices of Linnaeus. The natural order of Ferns or Filices is very easily known by having a Frond or flat foliage, bearing an inconspicuous fructification in lines or dots without flowers. All the ferns have a peculiar smell, rather grateful, and more or less fragrant ; it is very perceptible in the Brake or Pteris aquilina, the Thelipteris, Driopteris, kc. Although but slightly unfolded in the t^. pedatum, yet it gives a flavor to its decoction or syrup. Qualities— The active qualities of this fern, reside in its mucilage united to a small portion of aroma and tannin. The same principles are found in various proportions in all the other medical ferns. PROPERTIES — Pectoral and expectorant, muci- laginous, subastringent, ?ubtonic. It is used in decoc- tion or syrup. The celebrated Syrop de Capillaire of the French is made with it, which is a pleasant summer drink, and popular pectoral remedy through- out Europe, although little known in America, ex- cept among the French and Germans. It is found useful in all coughs and hoarseness, also in asthma and tickling of the throat, and even in pleurisy and all disorders of the bronchia, larynx and breast. No. 2. • ADIANTUM. 83 Its properties as a promoter of secretions, and a cure for the jaundice are doubtful. But it strength- ens the fibres and promotes expectoration. It is a very good vehicle and auxiliary for pectoral remedies, and even for cathartics, such as Croton-oil, Castor-oil, &c. which are rendered palatable by it. Liquorice may be added to the decoction, instead of sugar, to render it more efficient Influenza is often cured by using some of the syrup to sweeten its^ own decoction or any other suitable herb tea. It has the advantage that it may be used ad libitum, or in any chosen dose. My own experience has tested the value of this plant and its syrup, in cough and influenza, and I can recommend the following cathartic, as one of the most effectual and withal pleasant to the taste : One single drop of Croton Oil dissolved in a SDOon-full or cup-full of this syrup. Substitutes — Althea officinalis or Marsh Mal- low— Agrimonia — Violet flowers — Gaultheria pro- cumhens or Mountain Tea — Tussi/as;o or Coltsfoot — Pulmonaria /^e>^/;22c« or Lungwort — Inula He- lenium or Elecampane — Evonymtts atropurpxireus or Wahoon — Crategvs crusgalli or American Haw- thorn— Marrtibium Vulgar e or ikOrehound, and many sweet Filices, &:c. &c Remarks — In Renry's herbal the figure of this plant is nothing like it ; perhaps the J3. capilveneris is meant ; which, however, does not grow in Americc^ S^ ACRIMONXA. No.S. No. 3. AGRIMONIA EUPATORIA. English Name— COMMON AGRIMONY. French Name — Aigremoine Commune. German Name — Gemeine Oderminig. Officinal Names — Herba Agrimonia. Vulgar Names — Cockle-bur, Stickwort, &c. Authorities — Linnaeus, Decandolle, Michaux, Pursh, Henry, Schoepf, Dispensaries, &c. — Not in Bigelow nor Barton. Genus Agrimonia — Calyx permanent urceolate five toothed, bristly outside. Corolla with five petals inserted on the calyx. Stamina twelve to fifteen in- serted on the calyx. Two germens, two styles, and two seeds surrounded by the calyx — Leaves pinnate. Species A. Eupatoria — Stem simple; leaves inter- l*upted pinnate, folioles opposite, sessile, oval, oblong, deeply serrate, the terminal petiolate; interfolioles short and jagged. DESCRIPTION— Root Perennial— Stem hairy, rounded, one or two feet high, seldom branched — Leaves alternating, the inferior larger, hairy, pinnate or compound, having from five to nine larger folioles and some smaller ones interposed, which are broad but short, and much divided. All the folioles arc sessile and opposite except the last. Shape oval or oblong, acute at both ends, margin deeply and une- No. 3. . AGRIMONIA EUPATORIA. COMMON ACRXMONT. No. 3. AaXlZMOKZA. 35 qually serrated. Inflorescence in a terminal slender spike. Flowers small, sessile. Calj^x 2;reen, bearing the Corolla and Stamina, bristl)'^, five toothed. Corolla yellow, with five oblong petals. Stamina yellow, short, anthers oval. Fruit, a small green bur, form- ed by the permanent Calyx, enclosing two seeds, convex outside, flat inside, and crowned by the two styles. This bur often sticks to clothes, like other bristly burs. HISTORY — This plant has a wide range, being found in Europe, Asia, and North America, with hardly any change. It has been deemed medical very anciently, and although not very powerful, is not destitute of efiiciency. The Genus contains but few species ; the Jlp^ri^o- nia parvijlora isanother found in North America, and probably equal in properties ; it merely difiers from this by narrower leaves, more numerous folioles, longer slender spike, and smaller flowers, but more fragrant. The Agrimonia Eupatoria is spread from Canada to Missouri and Carolina, and grows in woods, fields, glades and near streams. The AgrU iuonia j)arviJlora is more common in the west and south. Both blossom in summer. The whole plant is used and is slightly fragrant. The Genus belongs to the natural order of Rosacea or RiiODANTiiEs, next to Poteriuni and Waldstei- nia. In the Linnean arrangement it is placed in DoD- CA vDRiA Digynia. The name is a classical one, and Eupatoria comes from Eupator, to whom many 36 AanXlMEONXA. No. 3. useful plants were dedicated by the Greeks : here it is employed for the species, while in Eupatorium it becomes a generic denomination. Qualities — Similar to Adiantum ; but it has less mucilage, and more tannin, with some gallic acid. The Aroma is different, rather similar to that of Melilot or Clover. PROPERTIES— A mild astringent, tonic and cor- roborant. Useful in coughs, and bowel complaints. Being a very mild astringent it may be given in diarrhea, dysentery and relaxed bowels. It has been recommended in many other complaints, and is said to have cured the asthma. The best way to take it, is in a strong decoction sweetened with honey or Maiden-hair syrup. The dose is four cups every da^. Both root and plant may be boiled. Substitutes — Jidiantum pedatum or Maiden- hair— Solidago odora or Golden-rod — Geum vir- ginicum — Glechoma Hederacea or Ground Ivy- Rose flowers and all mild vegetable astringents. Remarks — This is one of Ihe few plants which Henry has not altogether mistaken either in name or figure ; yet his figure has both leaves and flowers too large and too sharp. No. 4. ALETRIS FABINOSA. VOBALY STARWORT. N*o.4. AZiSTRXS. 37 ... I ■ .■ ., , . , ■ , I i ^^^ No. 4. ALETRIS FARINOSA. English Name— MEALY STARWORT. French Name — Aletris Meunier. German Name — Mehlige Sterngrass. Officinal Name — Aletris Radix. Vulgar Names — Star-Grass, Blazing Star, Alo- root, Bitter Grass, Unicorn Root, Ague Root, Ague Grass, Star-root, Devil's-bit. Authorities — Linnaeus, Wildenow, Michaux, Schoepf, Pursh, Elliot, Cutler, Bigelow Mat. Med. fig. 50 bad, Bigelow Sequel, &c. Genus Aletris — Perigone simple, corolliform, tubular, persistent, six cleft, wrinkled, six stamina inserted at the base of the segments. Germ one oblong. Style one triangular tripartible. Capsul three celled, many seeded, opening at the top — Leaves radical, stem simple, scaly, flowers in a slender spike. Species Al. Farinosa — Leaves lanceolate mucro- nate membranaceous, scales adpressed, subulate, flowers cylindrical, white, farinaceous. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial small, black outside, brown inside, ramose, crooked — Radical leaves from six to twelve, spreading on the ground like a star ; but all unequal in size, sessile, lanceolate, entire, very smooth, membranaceous, with many longitudinal yeins, sometimes canaliculate, very p :38 ALETRIS. Ko. 4. sharp at the end : they are of a pale green or glan- cous, and bleach in winter or by drying; the longest are four inches — Stem from one to two feet high, :very simple and upright, scapiform or nearly naked, Avith remote, scales, whitish, adpressed, sometimes changing into leaves, subulate, acute. Flowers white, forming a long slender scattered spike ; each flower has a minute bract and very short pedicel ; shape oblong, spreading into six acute segments like a star at the top, the outside has a mealy, rugose appearance — six short stamina are in- serted near the mouth, anthers cordate. Germ one, central (not inferior) pyramidal. Style one, separable into three. Capsul triangular, clothed by the perigone, triangular, three valved at the top, three celled, and with many central minute seeds. HISTORY — A true natural genus peculiar to North America, and containing two species very similar to each other. The Jl. Jiurea differs merely by narrower leaves, and yellow flowers more cam- panulate. "Vhe %,^. fragrans, and others of Africa, must form a peculiar genus, the Osmanthes, different from this in habit and fruit. Both American species have the same properties. This genus does not belong to Liliacea nor %^S' phodelides ; but to Aloides, next to ^loes and Cri- ?ium, in the natural arrangement. In the Linnaean it ranks in Hexandria Monogynia. Aletris means a miller in Greek, and farinosa means mealy in Latin ; both names allude to the mealy appearance of the flowers. No. 4. AXiETnZS. 39 This species has a wide range, being found from New England to Georgia, and west to Kentucky and Missouri. But the A, Aurea is confined to llie south from Carolina to Alabama. I'he A. farinosa is also more abundant in the south, and always confined to dry and poor soils, in sunny glades and fields. It is unknown in the rich limestone soils and alluvial re- gions. In Kentucky and the west it is confined to the hilly glades, open prairies and barrens of the knob-hills. It is cstival, blossoming- in June and July. Many vulgar names given to it are common to other plants, dissimilar in properties if not in aspect. The Veratrum luteum or dioicum which is also called Star-grass, may be distinguished by its thick plumose dioical spike. The Sisyrinchium, another Star-grass, has single, blue and triandrous flowers, besides long grass leaves. Unicorn -root is :ilso a name of Vtratrum and of Neottia. Aoue-root is a o name applicable to a dozen roots. Such is the con- fusion arising from vulgar names. The root is the part employed, and being small, does not afford much hope to become an article of trade. Qualities — The root contains an intense bitter emulsive resin, soluble in Alcohol, somewhat similar to Aloes, but less cathartic. This bitter principle is also partly soluble in water. The tincture is render- ed milky by water. 'J he resin is therefore different from Amarine and Aloine, and is perhaps a peculiar compound, %filetrine^ formed by Amarine. an oil and a gum. No. 5. ANDROMEDA ARBOREA. SORIUBi; TRfifi. No. 5. A3TDROMSBA. 41 No- 5. ANDROMEDA ARBOREA. English Name— SORREL TREE. French Name — Andromedier. German Name — Safer Haum. Officinal Name — Andromeda folia, lignum, &c' Vulgar Names — Sour Tree, Sour Wood, Elk Tree, Elk Wood, Sorrel Wood, Sour Leaf. Authorities — Linnaeus, Clayton, Michaux Flora and Sylva, Pursh, Elliot, SchoepC, W. Barton Flora fig. 30. Genus Andromeda — Calix minute five parted. Corolla ovate or cylindric, border live cleft. Stami- na ten inclosed equal. One Pistil superior inclosed, style pentagonal. Capsul five celled, five valved, valves septiferous, many minute seeds. Species A. Arborea — Leaves petiolate, oblong acuminate, smooth, beneath glaucous ; Panicle termi- nal and loose, flowers racemose and lateral. Co- rolla ovoid pubescent, anthers linear mutic. DESCRIPTION— A small tree from fifteen to forty feet high, seldom fifty to sixty. Branches cy- lindrical, slender. Bark of the stem light brown, of the old branches reddish, of the young shoots green. Leaves large, crowded, alternate and jjotiolatc, from three to six inches long, from one to two brdad, oblong, base acute, end acuminate, margin often nn- D 2 4S ANOXIOMSDA. No. 5. dulate, entire, or sometimes serrulate, nerve with regular veins, surface smooth, glossy, green above, glaucous beneath, the young leaves are slightly downy at first. Flowers white, terminal, one third of an inch long,' forming a large, loose panicle, composed of many Jong and loose racemes, bearing each from twelve to twenty flowers pedunculate, alternate and secund — Calix small, greenish, with five acute teeth — Corolla pubescent ovate with five acute teeth — Stamina and Pistil inside of the Corolla ; ten equal filaments, an- thers small mutic linear — Pistil one, germ oval, style pentagonal persistent, stigma obtuse— Capsuls ovate mucronate, reddish brown, with five cells con- taining many small subulate seeds, imbricate and membranaceous. HISTORY— The Genus Andromeda belongs to the natural order of Ekicides or extensive heath tribe ; and to Decaxdria Monogynia of Linnaeus. The name is poetical or mythological, being dedicated to the Nymph Andromeda. This species is the largest and the only tree of the genus, whence its specific name ; all the others being shrubs, many of which are ornamental like this, and mostly native of Nortli America. This tree attains its largest size in the most southern states ; but be- comes almost a shrub in Tennessee and Kentucky. It blossoms in May. The common names of tliis tree have all a reference to the acidity of the leaves and wood. The elk and ^&ex eat those leaves, and even cattle like themv No. 5. ANDZIOIMECDA. 43 They are palatable and allay thirst when chewed by the hunters in want of water. Locality — The Alleghany mountains, and the hills and valleys diverging from them, as far as their most southern limits in Georgia and Alabama ; but seldom met north of Virginia and Kentucky, although Schoepf gives New York as its northern range. It is unknown in the alluvial and limestone regions. Qualities — A fine acid, (is it the malic acid ?) similar to that of the cranberries and whortleberries is diffused throughout this tree, and most unfolded in the leaves ; but united to some astringency owing to a mixture of gallic acid. PROPERTIES— The leaves and wood are a fine astringent acid, refreshing, cooling, allaying thirst, and antifebrile. Clayton says that a decoction of the leaves mitigates the ardour of fevers, and helps their cure. It is useful in all cases where a refrige- rant astrin2:ent is needed. A kind of lemonade can be made v/ith it. It may be substituted to the Rhtis glabrttm, or shumac, and the cranbeiries. Like shu- mac the leaves impart a black color to wool. The wood is soft, reddish, and will not burn ] but like the buck- eye wood may be used to make chip hats and paper. Substitutes — Shumac berries — Pomegranate- Strawberries — Cranberries — Currants — Sorrels, &c.— with many other mild vegetable astringents and acids. RcMARKs — B. Barton mentions the t/S, Mariana another species as pernicious, but a decoction of it useful in ulcers of the feet, for which this might be perhaps substituted. 41f AKTBSXMtZS. No. 6. No. 6. ANTHEMIS COTULA. English Name— WILD CAMOMILE. French Name — Camomile Puante. German Name — Stinkende Kamille. Officinal Names — Cotula, Camomlla Spuria. VuLOAR Namer — May-Weed, Dog's Fennel, Dil- iy, Dilweed, Fieldweed, &c. Authorities — Linnaeus, Wildenow, Pursh, La- mark, Schoepf, Dispensaries, Bigelow Seq. W. Bar- ton Mat. Med. fig. 14. Genus Anthemis — Flowers compound radiate Perianthe hemispherical imbricate. Rays above five, female. Phoranthe conical, chaffy. Seeds naked. Species A. Cotula — Annual puberulent, stem angular, furrowed, branched- Leaves bipinnatifid, sessile, carinate, pinnules linear, acute. Peduncles grooved, naked, thicker above ; chaff" bristly, seeds obovate, four sided, furrowed. DESCRIPTION— Root annual, crooked, fibrous. Stem and leaves covered v/itli short, adpressed, wooly hairs. Stem from one to two feet high, erect and very much branched, irregularly angular and striated ; branches corymbose. Leaves alternate sessile, flat, doubly pinnatifid, or almost pinnate, carinate beneath in the middle ; pinnules flat unequal, linear, acute, eTitire or trifid. No. 6 ANTHEMIS COTULA. WILD CAMOXKULB. No. 6. AKTHEMZS. 45 Flowers many, forming a terminal corymb ; each on a naked peduncle, erect, grooved and thicker up- wards. Perianthe or common calyx, hemispherical, imbricated hairy, rough ; scales linear, pale green, nearly equal, scariose on the margin and end. The central florets of the disk are numerous and bright yellow ; those of the rays are ligular, from seven to twelve, and white. Phoranthe or common recepta- cle conical, covered with short bristly chaff, or palea. Central florets tubular, glandular, five-toothed, with five stamina, anthera united. Germ inferior obo- vate. Style filiform bifid. Stigmas two filiform reflexed. Rays or ligular florets without stamina, oblong, two nerved, bidentate or tridentate at the end. Seeds brown, obovate, four sided, grooved and tuberculated. HISTORY— The genus Cotula of Toumefort has been blended with Anthemis by Linnaeus, from which the naked seeds, without a membranaceous appendage, and the conical instead of convex phoran- the, partly distinguish it, so as to allow of a subgenus or section at least. There appears to be some differences between the ^i. Cotula of the north and south of Europe and our American plant ; but although the various bota- nical descriptions offer several trifling diversities, they hardly amount to specific distinctions. Our de- scription applies to the American plant. The Euro- pean is smoother, more fetid, and sometimes describ- ed with bipinnate leaves, and trifid folioles. I have 46 ANTHESdZS. No. 6. seen both, and once had distinguished this by the name oi %^. Cotuloides ; but being unwilling'to inno- vate in this work, I have followed our Botanists in uniting the plants of both continents, although I great- ly doubt the botanical propriet}^ of it. It blossoms from June to November, affording a profusion of flowers in succession, of the size of Camomile, but never double. The v/hole plant has a strong graveolent smell, disagreeable to some per- sons, but not fetid. It is not eaten by cattle nor domestic animals. The name of Jinthemis is Greek, and applies to the profusion of flowers. Cotula is a diminutive of Cota% aaother plant of the same genus. Jinthemis belongs to the natural tribe of Radiates, section oi Antheniides. In the Linnean system it is placed in class Syngenesia. Order Polygamia Su- per flua. Abundant as it is, the collection of it becomes easy; the whole plant may be dried when in bloom, or the blossoms alone may be collected. . Locality — Our plant is indigenous and not natu- ralized as mentioned by some Botanists. It is spread all over the United States from Maine to Louisiana ; but confined almost every where to open fields. It is never found in woods, but delights in the sun, road sides, stony places and old fields, or near towns and villages. It is scarce in mountains, but prefers the limestone soils and plains. It is extremely abundant on the Ohio and in the Western States, covering ne- glected fields, and alternating in fallows with the Iron- No. 6. ANTBXSMZS. 4*7 weed or Vernonia, It is deemed a troublesome weed, although being annual it is easily destroyed by early ploughings. Qualities — Graveolent, bitter, and nauseous ; the smell of the plant resides in a Volatile Oil, pos- sessed of a strong or graveolent aroma, and diffused throughout the plant, although more concentrated in the flowers. It is similar to the smell of Camomile, but more pungent, and less balsamic. This oil is bitter and communicates a bitterish acrid taste to the whole plant. PROPERTIES — The same as those of Camomile, but weaker and less pleasant to the taste : it may be substituted thereto with safety. It is an active tonic, sodorific, stimulant, anodyne, emetic, and repellent; extensively used throughout the country for rheuma- tism, hysterics, epilepsy, dropsy, asthma, scrofula, &c, both internally and externally. The external use in warm baths or fomentations is proper in rheumatism, hysteric fits, suffocations, hemorrhoidal swellings, pains and contusions. The decoction and infusion are given for colds, fevers, rheumatism, asthma, &c. but a single cupful, if too strong, may produce vomiting, and even a weak infusion nauseates the stomach. It acts always as a sudorific, promoting copious sweating, and is often beneficial as an auxiliary to an emetic. In large doses it becomes emetic : in small ones it is a gentle tonic and diaphoretic, useful whenever it is needful to promote perspiration in fevers. Its advan- tages in epilepsy, dropsy and scrofula, are doubtful. The European plant is said to blister the hands, which is not the case with ours. ANTBEXMtZS. No. 6, Substitutes — Camomile or Matricaria Chamo- mila — Eupatorium perfoliatum — Ruta vulgaris or Rue — Hedeoma pulegioides or Fenny-royal — Marruhium Vulgare or Horehound — Achillea mil- lefolium or Yarrow — Tanacttum or Tansey, with all the graveolent bitter tonics and sudorifics. Remarks — The figure in Henry's, under the name of May weed, is quite fictitious, having entire leaves; but his article applies to this plant. No. T. APOGYNUM ANDROSEMIFOLIUM. -^- — ^— — i — ■ • V" ;•- ' .1 V ' : ' BITTZSR DOGSBANS. %: *••?» No. 7 JLTOCYISnmi, 4,9 No. 7. APOCYNUM ANDROSEMIFOLIUlii: English Name— BITTER DOGSBANE. French Name— Apocyn Amer. German Name — Fliegen Fangemdes. Officinal Name — Apocynum radix. \ llgar Names — Milk- weed, Bitter-root, Honey- . m, Catchfly, Flytrap, Ipecac. Authorities — Linnaeus, Kalm, Michaux, Pursh, Schoepf, Elliot, Bigelow, fig. 36, &.c. Genus Apocynum — Calyx five cleft. Corolla bell shaped, five cleft. Five Corpuscles surrounding the germ. Five Anthers alternating with them, conni- vent and adhering by the middle to the stegyne or cover of the pistils, which are two, small and conceals- •'.d; succeeded by two follicles, with numerous downy oceds. Species A. Androsemifolium — Smooth, stem erect, dichotome ; leaves petiolate, opposite, entire, acute ; cymes nodding, lateral, and terminal, beyond the leaves. Follicles linear. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, large, bitter and milky like the whole plant. Stem very smooth as well as ^he leaves, lactecent and with a tough fibrous bark : from three to five feet high, with few branches and leaves, cylindrical, often rose coloured : forked several times upwards. Leaves opposite, petiolate, £ dO APOCYNUM, No. r. pale beneath, ovate, acute, entire, two or three inches long, with one large nerve. Flowers on cymose racemes, lateral and terminal; always longer than the leaves, lax nodding and few flowered. Minute acute bracts on the peduncles. Calyx short, five cleft, acute. Corolla white, tinged with red, similar to a little bell, divided into five spreading acute segments at the top. Stamina five, with short filaments, anthers connivent arrow shap- ed, cohering with the stegyne or singular body co- vering and concealing the pistils, (mistaken for a stig- ma by many Botanists) : it is thick and round. Five glandular corpuscles, (called nectaries by some,) al- ternate with the stamina. Two pistils ovate, con- cealed, two sessile stigmas. Fruit a pair of follicles, slender, linear, acute, drooping, cylindrical. Seeds numerous, oblong, embricate, seated on a central re- ceptacle or spermophore, and crowned by a long down. HISTORY — -A pretty and interesting plant be- longing to a very distinct genus, which gives name to a large natural tribe of plants the Apocynes, distin- guished by the singular stegyne, double follicles, &c. In the Linnaean system they are put in Pentandria digynia, although the stegyne was mistaken for a single stigma. Apocynum means dogsbane in Greek, and the specific name implies the similitude of the leaves to %/indrosemum. There are some other species of the same genus in North America, but none so pretty. All have small white flowers, while in this the flow- No. r. APOClTNUiyX. 51 ers are larger, flesh or rose coloured. The Sp. can* nabinum has been used by the Americans to make a kind of hemp : the fibrous tough bark of all the spe- cies are calculated to afford it by maceration. AH have a bitter milky juice, and yet the flowers smell of honey, and produce that sweet substance. Bees and other insects, collect this honey; but small flies are often caught by inserting their probos- cis between the fissures of the anthers, where it is jiot easy for them to extricate it ; they are often seen dead in that confined situation, after unavailing strug- gles. Whence one of the names of this plant, Catch- fly. No animals eat it. Locality — Rather a common plant, found from Canada to Georgia and Missouri. It grows in woods, hills, dry or sandy soils, along fences, and over old fields : it is rare in limestone soils, and rich land. It blossoms in summer from June to July. Qualities — Kalm has mentioned this plant to be poisonous and blistering like Rhus Vernix ; but it is quite harmless. The root when chewed has an in- tensely bitter and unpleasant taste, perceptible in the whole plant in a lesser degree, except the flowers, and arising from the bitter milk it contains. The decoc- tion is of a red colour and very bitter. The spiritu- ous solution is colourless but bitter. It contains there- fore a bitter principle soluble in water and alcohol, and a colouring principle not soluble in alcohol ; be- sides a volatile oil and caoutchouc. PROPERTIES— This is a very active plant, high \y valued by the Southern Indians, It is tonic, 5S APOCYNUM. No. 7u f^metic, alterative and syphilitic. The root is the most powerful part : but it must be used fresh, since time diminishes or destroys its power. At the dose of thirty grains of the fresh powdered root, it acts as an emetic, equal to Ipecacuana ; in smaller doses it is :i tonic, useful in dyspepsia and fevers. The Chicka- s-aw and Choctaw Nations employ it in syphilis, and •ionsider it a specific, they use the fresh root chewed, swallowing only the juice. This later use has been introduced into Tennessee and Kentucky as a great secret. It must act as a tonic in all those cases, to- nics being often emetic and antivenereal. An ob- jection to this plant is its nauseous bitter taste. Many substitutes may be found of a less disagreeable na- ture. Substitutes — Ipecacuana — Eupatorium perfo- llatum^-^Prenanthes opicrina — Lobelia siphilitica — Jiletris farinosa — Sanicula marilandica — Eu^ phorbia Corollata ^' E. Ipecacuana — Frasera-—' Mezereon — Gaayncum, &c. and all bitter tonics or emetics. Remarks — Barton and Henry have not mentioned this plant. Bigelovv represents it with leaves too sharp or acuminate. All the other species of the same genus have the same properties in a lesser degree. The A. cannabinum is distinguished from this by smaller leaves and flowers in shorter panicles ; while the A. hypericifolium has prostrated stems with nar- row leaves, and grows only on the banks of streams and lakes. ARALIA NUDICAULIS. SMAKK SVtXEKARD. No. 8. ARAUA. 53 No. 8- ARALIA NUDICAULIS. English Name— SMALL SPIKENARD. French Name — Petit Nard. German Name — Nardwurzel Aralie. Officinal Names — Aralia radix, Nardus Ameri- canus. Vulgar Names — Spiknard, Sassaparil, Sarsaparil- la, Wild Liquorice, Sweet-root. Authorities — Linnaeus, Wildenovv, IVIichaux, Pursh, Schoepf, Golden, Dispensaries, Bigelow Se- quel. Genus Aralia — Calix united or superior five- toothed. Petals five entire. Stamina five epigyne a^lternate. Pistil united to the calix, five styles and stigmas. Berry crowned by the calix and styles, five celled, five seeded — Flowers in simple umbels. Species A. Nudicaulis — Stem naked, straight^ smooth, bearing three umbels without involucrum : leaves radical, biternate ; folioles ovate, acuminate, serrulate. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, brown, yellow- ish, cylindrical, creeping twisted, sometimes many feet long, thickness of the finger. One stem and one leaf mostly rising together, and less than two ket high. The stem is straight, leafless, cylindric, with three sftiall simple naked umbels at the end. Leaf 54* ARAZ.XA. No. 8. biternate or with nine folioles, the lateral ones sessile, the terminal ones petiolate, all ovate, oblong, round- ed at the base, end acuminate, margin serrulate, sur- face smooth. Sometimes some folioles are coales- cent. Flowers from twelve to thirty in each umbel, pe- dunculate, small, yellowish. Calix greenish, obconi- cal, united to the pistil, crowned with five teeth. Petals five, oboval, obtuse, yellowish white. Five stamina and five styles filiform. Berries small, round, similar to Elder berries in size. HISTORY— The genus ^ralia is the type of a natural tribe the Aralides, to which Panax or Gin- seng belongs likewise ; this last differing only by hav- ing two styles and two cells instead of five. This family differs from the Umbellate by producing berries instead of two seeds. All the plants of this genus and family have active properties. Two other American species v^. racemosa and ji. hispida^ have the same properties as this, and may be used for each other. The ji. spinosa or Angelica Tree partakes of the same, and also of the properties of Angelica root and Xanthoxylum. Aralia belongs to Pentandria ptntagynia of Linnaeus. This species blossoms in summer. It is often called Sarsaparilla, the root being similar to that article, and having similar properties. It might become an arti- cle of trade as such, and deserves to be cultivated. Locality — Found from New-England to Carolina, Snd Indiana, more conrimon in the north than the Na. 8. ARAZiZA. 55 south : it delights in deep woods, shady groves and valleys, good soils, &c. Qualities — The whole plant is balsamic, fragrant, and has a warm aromatic sweetish taste ; most un- folded in the root and berries. They contain muci- lage, aroma, and an essential milky oil or balsam. PROPERTIES—All the Spikenards or Aralias are popular medical plants throughout the United States : they made part of the Materia Medica of the native tribes, and are extensively used by country practitioners. They are vulnerary, pectoral, sudori- fic, stimulant, diaphoretic, cordial, depurative, &c. The roots and berries are most efficient ; in Ji. spi- nosa the bark. The roots bruised or chewed, or in poultice, are used for all kinds of wounds and ulcers by the In- dians. Fomentations and cataplasms are useful for cutaneous affections, crysipels and ring-worms. An infusion or a decoction of the same, are efficient sub- stitutes for those of Sarsaparilla, (and more powerful,) in all diseases of the blood, syphilitic complaints, chronical rheumatism, local pains, cardialgy, belly- ache, &c. As a pectoral both roots and berries may be used in syrups, cordials, decoctions, &c. and have been found useful in coughs, catarrh, cachexia, lan- gour, pains in the breast, &c. The cordial of Spike- nard berries is recommended for the gout, and the juice or essential oil for the ear ache and deafness. Substitutes — All the Aralias — Elder — Sarsapa- rilla— Guayac — Angelica-root — Cunila mariana — Sassafras — Ginseng — Eryngiuni aquaticum — Xan- 56 ARAt.XA. No. g. thoxylum or Prickly Ash — Magnolia Bark — Collin- sonia Canadensis, &c. and many aromatic stimu- lants. Remarks — Henry calls this plant Nardus Ame- ricanus, and his figure is fictitious, being like Fennel. Since all our species may be substituted to each other, and we can only give the figure of one at pre- sent, it may be well to add a short notice of each. ./?. racemosa or Large Spikenard — Root larger and thicker. Plant larger. Stem leafy, leaves similar to Ji. nudicauUsj but with larger and cordate folioles. Flowers in large axillary clusters, formed of many racemose umbels — Common from Canada to Alabama. Ji. hispida or Rough Spikenard — Stem hispid, leaves decomposed, folioles small oval, um.bels ter- minal, &c. — Confined to Canada, New-Endand, ^'€w-York, and the Alleghanies. A, spinosa or Spikenard Tree, called also Angeli- ca Tree, Tooth-Ache Tree, and Prickly Elder — A small tree full of thorns, leaves ample, decomposed, prickly. Flowers terminal, forming an amp'e pani- cle of umbels— From New-York to Georgia, and west to Missouri, &c. m No. 9. ARBUTUS UVA-URSI. No. 9. AHBVTUS. Sy No. 9. ARBUTUS UVA-URSL English Name— BEAR-BERRY. French Name — Bousserole Raisin d'Ours. German Name — Erdbeartegb Sandbeere. Officinal Name — Uva-Ursi. Vulgar Names — Mountain Box, Redberry, Up- land Cranberry. Authorities — Linnaeus, Woodville, Michaux, Pursh, J. S. Mitchell, Murray, Girardi, Dispensa- ries, Schoepf, Ferriar, Dehaen, B. Barton, Bigelow, fig. 6, and Sequel, &c. Genus Arbutus — Calix five parted and free. Co- rolla ovate, five toothed. Stamina ten basilar, fila- ments hairy, anthers bifid, each part bipore. One pistil, one style, stigma simple. Berry free, five celled. Species A. Uva- Ursi — Stem procumbent ; leaves scattered, cuneate, obovate, entire, coriaceous : flow- ers in small clusters, peduncles reflexed, bracteolate : berries globular, smooth, five seeded. DESCRIPTION — Roots perennial, creeping, slen- der. Stems procumbent, trailing, cespitose, radicate, the young shoots tending upwards, cylindric, cuticle pealing off. Leaves numerous, scattered, variable in shape, narrow or broad, always acute and alternate at the base, on short petiols, thick, coriaceous, evergreen^ 58 ARBUTUS. No.^. j» . - I . .. , , ■■■ ■ and smooth, shining above, pale beneath, margin en- tire, thick or rounded, and nearly obtuse. Flowers nearly terminal in a small racemose clus- ter, from six to twelve together, of a pale, rosy, flesh color. Peduncles shorter than the flowers, colored, reflexed, with some minute acute bracts, two of which in the middle. Calix colored, with five rounded acute segments. Corolla ovate, urceolate, white with a rosy tinge, transparent at the base, contracted above, hairy inside, with five acute, short, and reflexed seg- ments or teeth. Ten equal stamina inserted at the base of the corolla, with hairy, short, cuneate fila- ments, anthers equal in length, bifid, each part with two pores. Germ round, style straight, longer than the stamina, stigma obtuse. A black indented and persistent ring around the base of the germ, called nectary or gynophore. Berries globular, depressed, of a scarlet color, pulp insipid, mealy, five seeds al- most coalescent together. HISTORY — The G. Arbutus is very near to Vac* ciriium, (whortleberry,) differing chiefly by the free calix and berry, and to Andromeda, which has a cap- sul instead of a berry for fruit. It is divided into two sections or subgenera, (by some considered as gene- ra.) 1. Unedo, having a rough, many seeded berry. 2. 3fairania, a smooth five seeded berry. To this last belongs our actual species. Arbutus is an an- cient name, Mairania is dedicated to the French phi- losopher Mairan, Uva-Ursi means Bear's-grape in Latin. It was known under this last name to the Grreeks, and Galen mentions it as a medical plant. No. 9. ARBxrrns. 59 Belonging to the natural order of Ericines, (heath tribe,) section with berries : and to Decandria mo~ nogyiiia of Linnaeus. Locality — This plant is scattered throughout the northern hemisphere in Europe, Asia and America. In Europe, found from Lapland to the Pyrenees and Apenines. In Asia, from Armenia and the Volga to Kamtschatka. While in America it grows from Ice- land and Greenland to Hudson Bay and Alaska, ex- tending south to Canada, New-England, the high- lands, and hills of north New-Jersey. It covers dry, stony and gravelly soils, barren spots, and even sandy woods. It blossoms late, and the red berries are ripe in winter. These are eaten by bears, and man^y other animals. The leaves are chiefly used, and may be easily dried. In Sweden and Russia they form an article of trade, being used to tan Russia leather. They begin to be collected in America. The Indians smoke them like tobacco, and call 'them Sagack-homi in Canada. They dye black. Qualities — Taste astringent, styptic and bitterish; inodorous. It abounds in Tannin, which is the active principle, and is easily soluble in water. The other substances are mucus, resin, lime, and bitter extrac- tive. PROPERTIES— Astringent, tonic and diuretic. It was extolled once in Europe as a remedy against gravel ; but has since been found to be only a toler- able palliative in nephritis, gravel, calculous cases, 60 AKBUTUS. Nd. 9. disury, strangury, acting as an astringent, useful even when other remedies fail. Dr. Wistar, B. Barton, Mitchell, Bigelow, &c. recommend it in those cases. It has also been used for leucorhea, gonorhea, the ca- tarrh of the bladder, menorhagia, debility » diabetes, cnnuresis, disentery, ulcerations of the kidneys and bladder, and has often given relief or even cured ; yet more efficient tonic remedies may be substituted. It was once recommended in pulmonary consump- tion ; but it only abates the hectic feyer. The powder, decoction or syrup, may be used. The doses are from five to twenty-five grains of the powder, or a wine glass of the decoction every hour. A syrup of the leaves and berries is made in Sweden, which is preferable. Substitutes — Chimaphila or Pipsiseva — ErU geron Philadelphicum, &c. — Heuchera or Alum- root— Geranium maculatum — Statice Cay^oliniana — Asparagus — Strawberries — Tannin — and many as- tringents, acids, tonics and diuretics. Remarks — The figure of Henry is fictitious. ■^^ No. 10. ARISTOLOCHIA SERPENTARU. SXffABBROOT BXRTHWORT. .._ .^ L_ No. 10. ARZSTOLOOHXA. 61 No. 10. ARISTOLOCHIA SERPENTARIA. English Name— SNAKEROOT BIRTH WORT. French Name — Serpentaire de Virginie. German Name — Schlangen Osterluzey. Officinal Name — Serpentaria Virginiana. Vulgar Names — Virginia Snakeroot, Snakeweed, Snagrel. Authorities — Linnaeus, Schoepf, Woodville, Pursh, Elliot, Catesby, Golden, Cornutus, Moseley, B. Barton, Bigelow fig, 49, W. Bart. 2. fig. 28, and all the Dispensaries, Pharmacopeias and Materia Me- dicas, &c. Genus Aristolochia — Perigone tubular colored, base swelling, tube tortuose, limb labiate, often ligu- lar. No corolla. Germ inferior : stigma sessile lobed, surrounded by six stamina epigynous sessile. Capsul six celled, many seeded. Species A. Serpentaria — Stem simple flexuose j leaves lanceolate, cordate, entire, and acuminate : flowers bilabiate subradical, peduncles curved, uni- flore, scaly and jointed. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, knotty and gib- bose, brown and very fibrous, fibres long, small, yel- low when fresh — Stems round, slender, weak, flex- uose, jointed, less than a foot high, bearing from three to seven leaves, and from one to three flowers — Leaves r 0^ ARXSTOLOCnXA. No. 10. alternate and petiolate, oblong or lanceolate, base cor- dolate, end acuminate, margin entire, sometimes un- dulate, surface smooth or pubescent, of a pale green. Flowers nearly radical and solitary, on peduncles cur- ved, jointed, colored, with some small scales. Germ inferior, perigone redish or purplish, tube crooked, limb bilabiate, upper lip notched, lower entire, both short and lobular. Six sessile anthers, oblong ob- tuse, attached to the sides of a large round sessile stigma. Capsul oboval, with six angles, six cells, and many minute seeds. HISTORY — The genus Aristolochia requires a thorough investigation and reform, being rather a fa- milv than a 2;enus : two subj°jenera at least must be made of it. 1. Glossula. Flowers unilabiate and ligular. True type of the genus. 2. Pistolochia, Flowers bilabiate and ringent. To this belong A, serpentaria, A, ringens, A. bilabia- ta, &c. While many species widely deviating from the ge- neric characters must form peculiar genera, such as Siphwia, Flowers not labiate, limb equal trilobe. Such are A, sip/io, A. tripteris, A, tomentosa^ &c. Endodeca, With twelve stamina, Ex. A. dodecan- dra, and perhaps Bigelow's A. serpentaria, Einomeia, With only five stamina, capsul five celled, such as ./^. pentundra, &c. The actual species is by no means very definite as yet. The Virginia Snakeroot of Commerce is col- lected from half a dozen species or varieties, «^. has- No. 10. AKZSTOX.OCHZA. 63 tata^ A. tomentosa, and many called •/?. serpcnta- ria, because they have consimilar leaves and roots, while the flowers are different. The *^. serpentaria of W. Barton appears to be a peculiar variety, with long slender peduncles, having few scales and not co- lored, vvhile the flowers are small, purple, and hard- ly bilabiate. Bigelow's plant, which is from the Southern States, has the leaves trinervate, less acuminate, and more undulate ; vvhile the flowers are large, bilabiate and red, scales^ many and broad, stamina twelve ! and stigma lobed convolute. This may be a distinct species be- longing perhaps to Endodeca. Our figure is from a large flowered variety of the western glades ; but many other varieties exist there, one has broad leaves. All these plants blossom but seldom or once in their lives, in May or June ; being very similar to each other, (except S. tomeiitosa,) they are collected in- discriminately. The roots alone enter into Com- merce, and sell for more tlian the Seneca Snakeroot. They are an article of exportation to Europe. Aristolochia belongs with Asarum to the natural order of Asarides. Linnaeus has put it into GrxMAN- DRiA hexandria. Locality — In shady woods from New-England to Florida and Missouri, most abundant in the Allegha- ny and Cumberland mountains, scarce in the* alluvial and limestone resrions. Qualities — The root has an agreeable, penetrating, aromatic smell, somewhat similar to Valerian and i34 ARlSTOLOCRZA. No. 10. Spruce : and a warm bitterish pungent taste. It contains pure camphor, a resin, a bitterish extractive, and a strong essential oil. By distillation a pearly fluid is produced. By infusion in alcohol, it gives a yellow or green tincture ; and in water a brown li- quor : the tincture is most powerful. By decoction or distillation much of its active principles evaporate, PROPERTIES — Diaphoretic, tonic, anodyne, an- tispasmodic, cordial, antiseptic, vermifuge, exanthe- matic; alexitere, and a powerful stimulant of the whole system. It was first introduced into Materia Medica as a remedy against snake bites, whence its name, and was used as such by the Indians, with many other plants : it acts then as a sudorific and antiseptic. It is useful in the low stage of fevers to support strength and allay irregular actions : too stimulant in inflam- matory fevers and disorders ; but an excellent auxili- ary to Peruvian bark and other tonics in intermit- tents, enabling the stomach to bear them, and increas- ing their effects. In remittent fevers it is preferable to bark. It is deservedly a popular country remedy in infusion, for pleurisy, exanthems, cachexia, catarrh, rheumatism, &c. acting as a sudorific. In bilious pleurisy it has been found higlily serviceable : in bi- lious complaints it checks vomiting and tranquillizes the stomach. In typhus and typhoid pneumonia it has beneficial effects, promoting perspiration, check- ing mortification, and abating the symptoms. Thus the Snakeroot may be deemed an active and valuable medicine, it is often associated with other to- nics, and camphor, opium, valerian, &c. to increase Nolo. ARZSTOLOCHZA. Or? their action. It is probably a good substitute for cam- phor and valerian in many cases. The doses of the powder are froni ten to thirty grains, often repeated, or an' ounce of the warm infusion every three hours. Wine is an excellent vehicle for it in fevers. Many compound tinctures contain it. When too stimulant Spikenard {Aralia) and Elder {Samhucus) may be substituted to advantage. Substitutes Camphor Rosemary Seneca Snakeroot — Eupatoriuni perfolialum — Asarum Canadense and Virginicum — All the native Arts- tolochias — GauUheria procumbens, and many other tonic and diaphoretic stimulants. Remarks — The bark, seeds, and roots of the A, Sipko, (or Siphisia glabra,,) called vulgarly Dutch- man-pipe flower or Pipe Vine, may be substituted, having the same properties. It is a tall vine, with large cordate smooth leaves, and brown flowers like a pipe v^^ith a trilobe mouth, growing on the Ohio, &c. «/^, tonientosa (or Siphisia tonitfntosa) is a low- vine, with cordate woolly leaves, growing in the Western States. A. hastata is a small plant, with long narrow leaves, having obtuse auricles at the base : it grows in the Southern States. The roots of these two last are often mixed with the common kind in the shops. Henry's figure represents probably the A. iomcn- fosa, but the leaves are too sharp. F 3 6Q AKUM. No. li. No. 11. AHUM TRIPHYLLUM. English Name— THREE-LEAVED ARUM. French Name — Pied-de-Veautriphylle. German Name — Dreyblattrige Aron. Officinal Name — Arisarum trifolium, Arum ra- dix. Vulgar Names — Indian Turnip, Dragon Root, Dragon Turnip, Pepper Turnip. Authorities — Linnaeus, Michaux, Pursh, Elliot, Schoepf, Dispensaries, Bigelow fig. 4, Sequel, &c. Genus Arum — Spathe univalve cucullate, convo- lute at the base. Spadix naked above : no perianthe. Stamina and pistils naked separated at the base of the spadix : filaments with two or four anthers ; berries conglomerate, one celled, few seeded. Species A. tripJiyllum — Leaves radical, ternate, folioles sessile, oval, acuminate, entire and smooth : scape with one spathe ovate acuminate, inflexed : spa- dix club shaped, shorter : flowers polygamous, trioi- cious. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, round, flatten- ed, tuberous, with many white fibres around the base: skin dark, loose, and wrinkled. — Leaves one or two on long sheathing petiols, three folioles very smooth and sharp, pale beneath, oval or rhomboidal or ob- long, entire or undulated, with regular parallel nerves. Ko. 11. ARUM TRIPHYLLUM. THRSE-IiEAVSD ARUM. No. 11. AAum. 67 Scape or leafless stem, tunicated at the base by vagi- nated membranaceous acute sheaths, supporting one large upright spathe, tubular at the base, hooded at the top, either green or purple, or variegated with both colours in stripes within. Spadix cylindric, ob- tuse at the top, also variable in colour, bearing the flowers at the base where it is contracted. Some plants have only stamina, others pistils, and others have both, wherefore it is polygamous trioicious. Anthers two or four on short crowded filaments. Pistils crowd- ed below, round, without styles, stigma punctiform. Sometimes abortive pistils and stamina intermixed. The upper part of the spadix withers with the spathe, while the pistils grow into a large compact head of shining scarlet berries. HISTORY — Arum is the type of a natural family, the Aroides, among Monocotyle plants. In the Lin- tiaean system it has been put in Gynandria or in Po- ly andria ; yet many species are polygamous. Lin- naeus did very improperly, and against his own. bota- nical rules, change the previous name of Tournefort Arisaruni into Arum, which is a mere termination of many other genera, Asarum, Comarum, &c. : triphyllum means three leaved. The A, tryphillum blossoms with us from May to July, and in the summer bears its bright scarlet ber- ries. The vulgar names are common to all the North American species, which have similar roots. Their leaves are sensible to a harsh grasp like Onoclea se?i- sibilis, and the A. dracontium coils them when pluck- ed. The seeds and roots may be rendered edible like 6g AAUM. No. 11. A. esculentum (notwithstanding their caustic pun- gency) by long coction ; they were eaten by the In- dians roasted and otherwise. Locality — All over North America in woods : it is said to extend to South America as far as Brazil ; but probably a different species is found there. All soils and regions appear to suit this plant : it delights however in good, rich, and shady grounds. Qualities — The whole plant, and particularly the root, is violently acrid, pungent, and even caustic to the tongue, but not to the skin. It burns worse than Capsicicm or Cayenne pepper. This active princi- ple is a peculiar substance, •droine, highly volatile, having no affinity with water, alcohol, oil or acids, and becoming an inflammable gas by heat or distilla- tion. The roots yield one fourth of their weight of a pure amylaceous matter, like starch or arrow-root, or a fine white delicate nutritive fecula, by the same process as Cassava or Jatropha manihot^ PROPERTIES— Powerful acrid, stimulant, inci- sive, restorative, expectorant, calefacient, carmina- tive and diaphoretic. The fresh roots are too caus- tic to be used internally, unless much diluted, and when dry they are often inert, unless they have been dried very quick, or kept buried in sand or earth. It must be used in substance mixed with milk or mo- lasses, since it does not impart its pungency to any liquor ; or the fresh roots must be grated, or reduced to a pulp, with three times their weight of sugar, thus forming a conserve, the dose of which is a tea spoonful twice a day. No. 11. ARtTM. 69 In these forms it is used for flatulence, cramp in the stomach, asthmatic and consumptive affections. It quickens circulation, and promises to be a useful to- pical stimulant when the acrid principle may be ren- dered available. It has been found beneficial in lin- gering atrophy, debilitated habits, great prostration in typhoid fevers, deep seated rheumatic pains, or pains in the breast, chronic catarrh, &c. Substitutes — Capsicum — Salep — Erythronium — Squill — Arrow-root — Polygonum hydropiper — Salvia urticifolia — Cyclamen europeum — Arum dracontium^ and other native Arums — besides Ranunculus bulbo- suSf and some other acrid pungent substances. Remarks — A. dracontium has a large pedate leaf, with five to fifteen oblong segments, and grows in the Southern and Western States. A^ virgtnicum has sharp, wide, cordate leaves, and grows in Virginia, &.c. A, sagitefolium has sharp, long, sagittated leaves, and grows from New- York to Carolina. All these have similar roots, seeds, and properties. Henry has assumed the name and figure of the Eu- ropean A, maculatum for this plant. 70 ASARUM. No. K. No. 12, ASARUM CANADENSE. English Name— BRO ADLE AF ASARABACC A. French Name — Asaret du Canada. German Name — C anadkche Haselwurz. Officinal Names — Asari Canadensis, radix and herba. Vulgar Names — Wild Ginger, Indian Ginger, Ca«- nada Snakeroot, Heart Snakeroot, Coltsfoot, &c. Authorities — Linnoeus, Schoepf, Michaux, Pursh, Cornut, Coxe, Dispensaries, B. Barton, W. Barton, fig 32, Bigelow fig. 15 and Sequel. Synonyms — A. latifolium of Salisbury. A» carO' linianum of Walter. Genus Asaruii — Perigone urceolate trifid. Sta- mina twelve epigynous, anthers adnate. Germ coa- lescent with the base of the perigone, style short, stigma stellated six parted. Capsul six locular, many seeded. — Stemless, leaves radical geminate, flowers solitary in the bifurcation. Species -4. Canadense — Leaves broad, reniform, en- tire, puberulent : flower woolly, tripartite, segments lanceolate reflexed. DESCRIPTION— Roots perennial, creeping, fleshy, cylindric, jointed, with scattered fibres, brown outside, white inside. — Radical leaves, geminate, pu- bescent, with long and round petioles, reniform or No. 1 2» ASARUM C ANADENSE, BROADUBAF ASARABACCA. a^. 12. ASARUIML yi kidney shaped, broad, entire, tip often mucronatebut obtuse, surface puberulent, veined like a net work, and often spotted, glaucous beneath. No stems. Flower solitary between the two leaves, on a curved peduncle, tomentose, purple, darker inside. Peri- gone with three equal segments, acuminate reflexed. Stamina twelve unequal, filaments mucronate, an- thers adnate laterally. Three filiform nectaries or abortive stamina, alternating with the segments. Style conical grooved, or six coalescent styles, crown- ed by six thick revolute stigmas. Capsul round, hexa- gonal, crowned, and with many small seeds. HISTORY — A humble stemless plant, with flow- ers nearly concealed in the ground. It has many va- rieties, with small or large leaves, rounded or mucro- nate, spotted or unspotted ; the flowers also vary in colour from greenish purple to dark purple ; they blossom in May and June. Asarum is an ancient name, the genus gives name to a natural order Asarides, called Aristolochides by Jussieu, and Sarrnentacea by Linnseus. In the Linnean system it is placed either in Dodecandria or Gynandria. It has been called Canadense, because first noticed in Canada, the name latifolia of Salisbury would be preferable. The names of Wild Ginger, Heart Snakeroot, &c. arc common to all the other species, 'i'he roots are often collected and sold for Virginia Snakeroot, al- though yQ,VY different in appearance, but simJlar in taste, smell and properties. They deserve to be col- lected more extensively, as an article of tyade and ex- 7^ ASARUM. No. 12. portation ; being an excellent substitute for ginger in every instance. Locality — From Canada to Carolina and Missou- ri, in shady woods, it is most abundant in hills, val- leys, and rich alluvions. Qualities — The whole plant, but particularly the root, has an agreeable aromatic bitterish taste, inter- mediate between Ginger and Aristolochia serpentana ; but more pleasant, warm, and pungent. The smell is spicy and strong. The active substances are a vo- latile oil, possessing the taste and smell of the plant, with a red and bitter resin, both soluble in alcohol j they contain besides much fecula and mucilage. PROPERTIES— Aromatic stimulant and diapho- retic, cordial, emenagogjue, subtonic, errhine, &c. ; but not properly emetic like the A. europeuin, al- though often mentioned as such. It is a grateful sub- stitute of the Serpentaria in many cases. It is useful in cachexia, melancholy, palpitations, low fevers, convalescence, obstruclions, hooping-cough, &c. The doses must be small and often repeated, since it be- comes nauseous in large doses. The best preparation is a cordial made with the tincture and syrup j the tincture is coloured dark red by the resin. The dried leaves make a fine stimulating and ce- phalic snuff, when reduced to powder, which may be used in all disorders of the head and eyes. A grateful wine or beer may be made by the infu- sion of the whole plant, in fermenting wine or beer. Substitutes — Ginger — Aristolochia serpfntaria — - Aralia species — Helenium oiitumnale — Spices — Lau- No. 12. ASARtTlMC. 73 rus benzoin, with many aromatic stimulants, and all the other American species of this genus. Remarks — A, Virginicum may be known by its smooth cordate leaves ; it is found from Maryland to Georgia and Tennessee, particularly in mountains, and is still more grateful than A. Canadense, */?. arifolium has smooth, hastated, spotted leaves, and a tubular flower ; it is found in Carolina and Ten- nessee. The figure of Henry represents the leaves sharp, which is never the case, and he calls it Swamp Asa- rabocca, although never growing in swamps. 74 ASCIiEPZAS. No. IS. No. 13. ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA. English Name— ORANGE SWALLOW-WORT. French Name — Houatte Tubereuse. German Name — Knollige »schwalbenwurz. Officinal Name — A. tuberosa radix. Vulgar Names — Pleurisy root, Butterfly weedj Flux root, Wind root, White root. Silk weed, Canada :Toot, &c. Authorities — Linnaeus, Schoepf, Michaux,Pursli, B, Barton, Chapman, Thacher, Dispensaries, Parker, Tully, Bigelow, Med. Bot. fig. 26 & Seq. W. Bar- ton M. Med. fig. 22, &c. Genus Asclepias — Calix quinquefid. Corolla five parted, flat or reHexed, bearing five auricles with ap- pendages and a large central truncate stegyne, sup- porting and concealing the five stamina, covering the two pistils : which are succeeded by two follicles. Species A. Tuberosa — Hairy, leaves scattered, variable, nearly sessile, oblong or lanceolate, entire : umbels with subulate bracts, flowers lax and orange color. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, large, fleshy, white, of variable form, fusiform, crooked or branch- ed— Many stems either erect or ascending oi pro- cumbent, round, hairy, green or red — Leaves scat- tered, sessile, or on short petiols, very hairy, pale No. 13. ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA ORANOB SWASXOW-WORT. So. 13. ASCX.CPZAS. 70 beneath, entire or undulate, oblong or lanceolate, or nearly linear, obtuse or acute. Several terminal or lateral umbels, divaricate, with subulate bracts for involucre. Flowers erect, pedun- cled, and of a bright orange color. Calix small re- flexed, five parted Corolla reflexed, five parted, seg- ments oblong ; auricles erect, nearly as long, cuculate, with incurved appendages or horns. Stegyne tough, pyramidal, having five coalescent stamina around, each with two cells and two masses of pollen suspend- ed by a threat. Two pistils completely concealed by the stegyne ; germs ovate with short styles, stigmas jobtuse. — Follicles two, often abortive, lanceolate, acute, erect, downy, dehiscent laterally ; seeds many, imbricate, flat, ovate, connected to a longitudinal re- ceptacle by long silken hairs. HISTORY — The beautiful genus Asclepias be- longs to the natural order of Apocynes, section t^^s^ clepides. In the Linnean system, it has been put in Pentandria digynia ; but the singular structure of the flower is such as to puzzle Botanists, and it might as well be considered as decandrous, or monadel- phous ! the flowers appear to have a double corolla, the inner one has five lobes called nectaries or auricles. This structure renders, however, the genus very na- tural and easily recognizable. It is dedicated to Es- culapius, the ancient god of medicine, under his Grecian name of x\sclepias. This species is easily known at first sight by its bright orange flowers blossoming in July and Au- gust, among all the numerous American congeneric 76 ASCLSPXAS. N«. 13:. species ; which are upwards of thirty. It is a very ornamental plant, although inodorous, while many others are sweet scented. The roots which are near- ly tuberous, have given name to it, although the •/?. acuminata is also tuberous. The Jl. decitmbens of some Botanists is only one of its varieties : it is very variable in the stems and leaves. All the Asclepias are milky ; but this less than others. They all produce a fine glossy and silky down in the follicles or pods ; which has been used for beds, hats, cloth and paper. This down makes excellent beds and pillows, being elastic, and one pound and an half occupying a cubic foot. Light and soft hats are made with it : the staple is too short to be spun and woven alone ; but it may be mixed with flax, cotton, wool and raw silk. It makes excellent paper, and the stalks of the plants afford it likewise, as in flax and Jipocynum. The A, syriaca or Silky Swallow-wort producing more of the down, has been cultivated for the purpose, and a pound of down produced from forty to fifty plants. Its young shoots are edible like poke, and the flowers produce a honey by com- pression. The Ji. syriaca, Ji. incarnata, and several other species, have similar medical properties, and may be substituted to this, although somewhat less active. Locality — Found all over the United States, but most abundant in the South ; it prefers open situa- tions, poor and gravelly soils, along gravelly streams ^ and on hills. Rare in rich and loamy soils. Qualities — The root is brittle when dry, and easi- Ko. 13. ASCtEKAS. 77 ly reduced to powder ; it is somewhat bitter, but not unpleasant : it contains a bitter extractive and fecula, both soluble in boiling water. When fresh the root, as well as the whole plant, is rather unpleasant, sub- acrid and nauseous. PROPERTIES— Subtonic, diaphoretic, expecto- rant, diuretic, laxative, escarotic, carminative, antis- pasmodic, &c. It is a valuable popular remedy, and a mild sudorific, acting safely without stimulating the body. It is supposed to act specifically on the lungs, to promote suppressed expectoration, and to relieve the breathing of pleuritic patients. It appears to ex- ert a mild tonic effect, as well as stimulant power over the excretories. It relieves the dyspnoea and pains in the chest. It often acts as a mild cathartic, suita- ble for the complaints of children ; it is also useful in cholic, hysteria, menorhagia, dysentery, &c. In the low state of typhus fever, it has produced perspiration when other sudorifics had failed. In pneumonia and catarrh it is always beneficial. It re- stores the tone of the stomach and digestive powers. It has been given in asthma, rheumatism, syphilis, and even for worms. Ail these valuable properties, many of which are well attested, entitle it to general notice, to become an article of commerce, be kept in shops, &c. The doses are from twenty to thirty grains of the powdered root three times a day, or a gill of the de- coction and infusion every few hours : a vinous infu- sion and a decoction in milk are also recommended in some cases. ct 2 78 ASCLSPXAS. No. 13. Substitutes — Snakeroots — Myrrh — Spikenard — Squ il I Asarabaca — Sassafras — Tol u — %fipocynu7ii andro semi folium Liquorice— Ginseng Many other Swallow-worts, &c. Remarks — It may be useful to notice some other species possessing the same properties. %^. syriaca or common Silkweed, grows all over the United States near streams ; it has large oblong opposite leaves, white beneath, and large globular umbels of sweet scented flowers of a lilac color. «y5. incarnata, grows also near streams every where, has lanceolate leaves, opposite and acute ; flowers flesh colored or red, scentless. j1. acuminata, also near streams in New-Jersey, &c, with opposite ovate acuminate leaves, flowers red and white. ^. quadrifolia, from New-York to Kentucky in woods, beautiful little plant with leaves like the fore- going, but four in a whorl, flowers flesh coloured and very fragrant. Henry calls our plant ./?. decumbens, but his fi- gure is a very bad one of *d. incarnata. No, 14. BAPTISIA TINCTORIA TEUOW INDXCO-BROOM. No. 14. BAPTZSXA. 79 No 14. BAPTISIA TINCTORIA. English Name— INDIGO-BROOM. French NAftiE — Indigo trefle. German Name — Farbende Baptisia. Officinal Names — Baptisia tinctoria, herba & radix. Vulgar Names — Wild Indigo, Indigo weed, Horsefly weed, Yellow broom, Clover broom, Rat- tle-bush, Yellow Indigo. Synonyms — Sophora tinctoria^ Lin. Podalyria tinc- toria, Mich. &c. Authorities — Linnaeus, Michaux, Pursh, Elliot, Weems, Thacher Dispensary, Comstock, Schoepf, Bart. M. Med. fig. 29. Genus Baptisia — Calix bilabiate, four cleft. Co- rolla papilionaceous, petals nearly equal, vexillum la- terally reflexed. Stamina ten, free unequal. Pistil stipitate, ventricose, many seeded — Leaves ternate. Species B. tinctoria — Very smooth and branched, leaves small nearly sessile, folioles cuneate, obovate, obtuse ; racemes terminal, few flowered ; pods ovate on long pedicles. DESCRIPTION — Root perennial, large and woody, irregular, blackish outside, yellowish within, fibres lighter. Stems two or three feet high, round and smooth, yellowish green with black dots, very much 80 BAPTISIA. No. u. ramified ; but branches thin and with small leaves. These leaves are alternate, and with three folioles nearly sessile, obovate, smooth, of a bluish green ; stipules minute, evanescent, oblong, acute. — Flowers bright yellow, in small loose spikes at the end of branches, pea like, but smaller. — Calix campanulate bilabiate, upper lip entire or notched, lower trifid. — Stamina inclosed deciduous. — Pistil single and stipi- tate, succeeded by a swelled oblong pod of a bluish black color, with a row of small rattling seeds, HISTORY — This plant has the appearance of a small shrub and broom : it blossoms in July and Au- gust. The whole plant (even the flowers) often be- come black in the fall or in a herbarium ; it dyes a kind of blue like Indigo ; but greatly inferior. The young shoots are eaten like those of Poke in New- England, and are like it of a drastic nature. It is often used to keep off the flies from horses, as these insects appear to avoid it. Several other sp€cies grow in the Southern and Western States, which have probably similar quali- ties. The B. australis with large blue flowers, very t)rnamental, grows on the banks of streams : the B* alba has white flowers, &c. These plants were an- nexed to Sophoj'a by Linnaeus, and to Podalyria by other botanists, until properly separated by Vente- nat, &c. Baptisia belongs to the great natural order of Le- ctUMiNosE plants, (bearing pods,) and to the section Lomentaceous, having free stamina : also to Decan- DRiA mo;^o^y?^^tf of Linnaeus. No. 14. BAFTZSZA. 81 Locality — Found all over the United States from Maine to Louisiana and Illinois, in woods, and on hills ; it prefers dry and poor soils, is unknown in lich loamy soils, and seldom met in alluvions. Qualities — The whole plant, but particularly the root, is nauseous, subacrid, subastringent, but inodo- rous. It is active and dangerous in its fresh state, if taken internally, but loses much of its action by long keeping, and by boiling. Its active principles are lit- tle known ; it contains tannin, indigo, and an acid. PROPERTIES— Astringent, antiseptic, febrifuge, diaphoretic, purgative, emetic and stimulant. It is a valuable remedy for all kinds of ulcers, even the foulest, either gangrenose, phagedenic, or syphilitic: also for almost every sore, such as malignant ulcerous sore throat, mercurial sore mouth, sore nipples, aph- thous, chronic sore eyes, painful acrid sores, and every ulcerous affection. It must be used externally in strong decoction as a wash or in fomentation, also in poultice, or ointment with lard or cream. This is one of the most powerful vegetable anti- septics in putrid disorder and in internal mortification, it may be given internally at the dose of half an ounce of a decoction, made with twenty times its weight of water. It stops gangrene, has cured Scarlatina angi- nosa, inverted uterus, and sometimes putrid and ty phus fevers. ' As a cathartic and emetic, it is incon- venient and variable in results. Substitutes — Kalmia latifolia — Charcoal — To» nic Barks — Kubus villosus — Collinsonia Canaden sis — Solarium dulcamara & S. virginicum, 4*c. SS SEHBISRZS. No. 15. No. 15. BERBERIS CANADENSIS. English Name— BARBERRY. French Name — Epine Vinette, German Name — Berberitze. Officinal Name — Berberis baccae, &c. Vulgar Name — American Barberry bush. Synonyms — Berberis Vulgaris Var. Canadensis of Linnaeus, Michaux, &c. Authorities — Linnaeus, Michaux, Pursh, Schoepf, several Dispensaries, and Mat. Med. Genus Berberis — Calix free with six sepals or fo- lioles, and three small bracts outside. Corolla with six petals, biglandular at the base. Stamina six, op- posite to the petals. One free pistil, germ oblong, stigma sessile and umbilicate. Berry one celled, two-four seeded. Species B. Canadensis — Shrubby, upright, bran- ches dotted, with triple thorns ; leaves fasciculate obo- vate, remote serrulate : racemes nodding or drooping. DESCRIPTION — A pretty shrub rising from four to eight feet high, with long bending branches, hav- ing many confluent dots and some smaH thorns, often three together. The leaves are crowded and unequal in each fascicle ; on short petiols ; they are smooth and glossy, oboval, obtuse, with small remote teeth. The flowers are on slender and lax racemes, either No. 15. BERBERIS CANADENSIS No. 15. BERBEKXS. S3 nodding or pendulous ; they are yellow, on long pe- dicels, and rather small. The petals are oblong ob- tuse, and have each two glands and a stamen at the base. The berries hang in loose bunches, they are oblong and red, smaller and less juicy than in the com- mon garden Barberry of Europe. HISTORY — Berberis is an ancient name, it is the type of the natural order of Berberides. In the Lin- nean system it is placed in Hexandria monogynia. This species was considered a variety of the B. vuU garis of Europe, till Pursh separated it, and it hardly differs from it. It blossoms in April and May, and ripens the berries in June ; but they are sometimes abortive. The stamina of the flowers are irritable, and bend with elasticity towards the pistil. It is supposed that the vicinity of this shrub is injurious to wheat, and this has been noticed os one of the instances of vege- table antipathy or incompatible vicinity. It is liable to the rust, sterility, and many other diseases. Locality — From Canada to Virginia, in moun- tains, hills, among rocks, &c. Common in New- England in rocky fields : rare in the West and in rich soils. Qualities — The whole shrub (even the root) is acid ; in the berries this acid becomes very pleasant, and is probably the tartaric ; but mixed with some as- tringency 5 the bark is yellow and bitter. PROPERTIES — Antiseptic, acid, subastringent,^ refrigerant, &c. The berries, leaves, bark and roots, »iay be used in putrid fevers, dysentery, bilious di- 84 BERBERZS. No. 15. arrhea, summer flux, and all kinds of acute inflamma- tions, A syrup, jelly, conserve, &c are made with them, which prove very palatable, cooling, and bene- ficial in those complaints, as auxiliary remedies It has also been used in the jaundice and other diseases ; but with less success and certainty. The bark has very difierent properties : it is tonic and purgative ; it has been given in Leucorhcea, aphthes, jaundice, &c. it also dyes of a yellow color. Substitutes — Red Currants — Pomegranate — Le- mon Juice— Cream of Tartar — t^ndromeda Arbor ea Callicarpa %^mericana — Oxalis — Common terry — Tamarinds, and all strong vegetable a' also Elixir of Vitriol, &c. jy- IVo. 16. BOTROPHIS SERPENTARIA. BLACK SXTAKE-ROOT. No. 16. BOTROPKXS. 8.^ No. 16. BOTROPHIS SERPENTARIA. English Name—black SNAKE ROOT, French Name — Serpentaire noire. Ger3ian Name — Schwarz Schlangewurz. Officinal Name — -Serpentaria nigra. Vulgar Names — Squaw root, Rich weed, Rattle weed, Rattle-Snake-root, Black Cohosh &c. Synonyms — Actea raceniosa, Lin. &c. Cimicifu' ga Serpentaria, Pursh, &.c. Macrotrys, Sub-G. Ra- finesque and Decandolle. Authorities — Linnaeus, Schoepf, Colden, Mi- chaux, Pursh, B. Barton, Elliot, Decandolle, some Dispensaries, Tully, Big. Sequel, &c. G. BOTROPHIS. I G AcTEA. 1, Cal. four leaved Calix four leaved 2. Corolla, with'CoroUa, with four large flat petals. Stamina many. Pistil one. Berry not open- many minute flat petals. 3. Stamina many. 4. Pistil one. 5. Capsul dehis- cent longitudi nally. 6. Seeds many la teral. Species B. Serpentaria — Leaves ample, decom- posed or tripinnate, folioles ovate acute, serrate oi' mg. Seeds lateral. G. CiMICIFREGA. Calix four leaved. Corolla with four urceolate petals* Stamina many. Pistils several. Several dehiscent capsuls. Seeds scaly. 86 BOTROPKXS. No. 16. '■ ■ ' . , . . ^ .. . — jaggetl ; raceme terminal, very long, more or less bent: flowers scattered, peduncled, bracteolate. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, blackish, thick, with long fibres. — Stem simple straight, from three to six feet high, smooth, angular, furrowed, often, crooked — leaves few and alternate, one nearly radical, remote, ample, decomposed, tripinnate, upper one bipinnate; folioles sessile, opposite, three to seven on each last division of the petiole, oval or lanceolate, acuminate, smooth, pale beneath, with yellowish re- ticulated veins, margin unequally jagged, or sharply serrate, particularly outsider the last foliole is trifid. Flowers in a long terminal raceme, from one "to three feet long, often with one or two shorter ones near its base. This raceme is cylindrical, white, al- ways bent or crooked at first ; the flowers are scatter- ed, lax, often geminate or fasciculate, on short pedun- cles, with a subulate bract. The calix is white, like a corolla, with four thick rounded and obtuse sepals ; ihe petals are very small, shorter than the calix and stamina : these last form a pencil, the filaments are white, club shaped ; the anthers yellow, oblong, terminal. Pistil oval, without style, stigma sessile, Tateral and flattened. Capsul blackish and dry, with one cell and a longitudinal receptacle, opposite to the opening, to which many flat seeds are attached. This plant has many varieties, one is dwarf, a foot high, with a triangular stem, leaves small, biternate, and wiiii several racemes : growing in the moun- tains of New York. If it is a peculiar speeiesj it might be called 7?. pumila. No. IS. BOTROPBXS. 87 HISTORY — Notwithstanding my reluctance to in- novate in this work, I am compelled to separate this plant from the Genera Actea and Cimicifnga, to which it has been by turns united. I did so ever since 180S, calling it Macrotrys^ which meant long raceme^ which name Decandolle has adopted as a subgenus oi Actea\ but this name being delusive, too harsh, and an abbreviation of MucroboirySy I have framed a better one, meaning Snake raceme : the ra* ceme or long spike of flowers being mostly crooked, and like a snake. To convince any one of the neces^ sity of this change and impossibility of leaving this plant with Actea or Cimicifuga, I have given the characters of the three genera in opposition to each other, whereby the striking difference in the corolla, pistils and fruit, will be perceived at once. Actea and Botropkis belong to a peculiar natural family, the Acteides, having single pistils and fruits: while Cimicifuga belongs to Ranunculides with several pistils. Botrophis must be put with Actea in PoLYANDRiA monogynia, while Cimicifuga belongs to PoLYANDRiA pcntagynia or polygynia. The Actea joponica is probably a Botrophis. The American species has an extensive range, and was used by all the Indians. It blossoms in June and July. The whole plant, and even the flowers are medical. Locality — All over the United States, from Maine to Florida, Louisiana and Missouri, also in Canada and Texas ; very common in open woods, rich grounds and sides of hills 5 less common in -rocky 88 BOTROPHIS. No. 15. ■ » ■ ■ ■ ■ •»■ ■ ■ ^ — mountains and sunny glades, very rare in moist and wampy soils. Qualities — The root and plant have rather an un- pleasant smell, and a disagreeable nauseous taste. Schoepf considers it as nearly poisonous, and to be used with caution, yet powerful and heroic. It has not been analyzed, but appears to contain extractive and a fetid oil. PROPERTIES— Astringent, diuretic, sudorific, anodyne, repellent, emenagogue, subtonic, &c. It is an article of the materia medica of the Indians, much used by them in rheumatism, and also in facilitating parturition, whence its name of Squaw-root. It has been found useful in sore-throat, as a gargle : also in dropsy, hysterics and psora, in decoction alone, or united with Sahgiiinaria Canadensis, It is a bene- ficial auxiliary in the treatment of acute and chronic rheumatism. It is used by the Indian doctors for agues and fevers, which it cures like Eupatorhim perfuliaiiim, by a profuse perspiration. Yellow fe- ver is said to have been cured by it, after an emetic had been taken. This is one of the numerous In(Jian cures for the bites of snakes :. they use the root chewed and ap- plied to the wound ; but they consider the Eryn- gium aquaiicum ^ E. yuccefolium (corn Snake- root, or Rattle-snake flag) as by far more powerful and efficient. A decoction of the root cures the itch! It is useful for the diseases of horses and cattle, is said to purge them, expel their worms and cure the mur- rain, given as a drench. No. 16. BOTROPBXS. 89 Substitutes — »M-ctea alba <^' ^^. rubra — Eryngi- um aquaticum 4' -^. yuccefolium — Eupatorium pei'foliatum — Snakeroots — Spikenards or Aralias Cohosh or Caxdophyllum — Juniper and other similai sudorifics and diuretics. Remarks — Not figured in Bigelovv nor Barton's works. Henry's figure of the Squawroot, which he wrongly calls Asclepias purpurascens, is a bad re- presentation of this plant; but his description and text apply to some other plant. The Actea alba or Whiteberry Snakeroot, which has the same properties, will be known by a shorter stem, smaller leaves, short, oblong raceme, with round white berries like wax. It grows from New York to Tennessee, in rich woods. The A. rubra or Redberry Snakeroot, hardly dif- fers from A^ alba, but has red berries and is less common. These two plants aj-e also called Baneberries, and their berries are poisonous. They aie called White and Red Cohosh by the Indians : the blue Cohosh is the Caulophyllum, and the black Cohosh the Botro- phis. H 2 L 90 BZlASBiirZA. No. 17. No. 17. BRASENIA HYDROFELTIS. English Name— WATER-SHIELD. French Name — Hydropelte. German Name — Wasserschild. Officinal Name — Gelatina aquatica, Biasenia. Vulgar Names — Frogleaf, Little Water Lily, Water Jelly, Deerfood. Synonyms — Hy dr op elt'is purpurea y Michaux, &.c. Authorities — Schreber, Wildenow, Persoon, JNIi- chaux, Pur^, Elliot, Nuttal, &c. Genus Brasenia — Perigoiie simple, colored, co- roliform, with six equal sepals or petals, stamina ttiany, shorter, hypogynous, anthers adnate : many pistils, germs sessile with a style. Fruit, many small one-seeded achenes. Species B. Hydropeltis — Roots creeping, leaves floating, alternate, peltate, elliptic, entire, gelatinous beneath : flowers axillary, solitary, peduncled. DESCRIPTION— The roots are perennial, creep- ing under water and mud, cylindric, jointed with bundles of fibres at the joints — Stems many, growing till the leaves reach the surface of the water, almost similar to the roots — Leaves alternate, on very long blender petioles, floating on the water, of a regular el- liptic form, like an oblong shield, entire and obtuse, s-nooth and lucid above, with regular radiating veins, No. IT. BRASENIA HYDROPELTIS. / WtiXEB. SHIEXJ>. No. ir. BJIASENIA. 91 whit6 and veinless beneath, but covered with a coat of pale jelly, sometimes purplish : the leaves are two or three inches long. Flowers on long axillary and solitary peduncles, similar to the petioles: these flowers are ofa dark pur- ple color,, the six petals are oblong and acute : Stami- na from twenty to thirty, shorter than the petals, sur- rounding the pistils which are from twelve to twenty, germs oblong, styles short, stigma obtuse. Achenes or small nuts naked, maturing under water, oval ob- long. HISTORY — This plant was unknown to Linnaeus; it was first described by Schreber, and called Bras- enia, from a German botanist, Brasen ; IVIichaux changed improperly that name into Hydropeliis, meaning water-shield in Greek ; both names may be retained, but Brasenia has a prior claim to be the generic. Only one species is known. It belongs to the natural order of Ranttnculides, and to Voi.Yi\^D'&ix polygyuia of Linnaeus. It blos- soms in July and August. The flowers are pretty, but have no smell : the leaves are very singular, and af- ford one of the few instances of pure homogenous ve- getable jelly, being spontaneously produced, and co- vering the whole under surface of the leaves, the stems and petioles are also more or less covered with it. Deer and cattle are very fond of eating these leaves : they resort to the places where they grow plentifully, and even swim in the water in seai'ch of them. Locality — From Carolina to Kentucky, and Flo- 9B BRASSKXA. No. 17. rida, rare in Virginia, Missouri and Kentucky, found only in some local places, but there extremely abun- dant, and spreading so as to cover the whole surface of ponds, lakes, marshes and sluggish streams. Qualities — =The plant has no smell, but the taste is subastringent and bitterish ; the jelly is a pure muci- lage similar to that of Lichen and Sesamum, and spontaneously evolved ; becoming gummose in dry- ing. PROPERTIES— Mucilaginous, astringent, demul- cent, tonic, nutritive, &c. Intermediate between Lichen Islandicus and the Water Lilies. The fresh leaves may be used like Lichen, in pulmonary com- plaints and dysentery : when dry the gelatinous mat- ter almost disappears, yet they impart mucilage to water. If novirose quality exists in this plant, as the taste of deer for it appears to indicate, it may become a useful substitute or auxiliary to Lichen in phthisis, inflammations, debility, &c. boiled into decoction or jelly. Substitutes — Lungwort or Pulmonaisa — Lichens — Arrow-root — Salep — Nymphea & NelumhiuTn — Polypodium — jidianthum — Titssilago — Elecampane — Liquorice — Marshmallow — Sesamum — Flaxseed. Remarks — Unnoticed as yet by all medical wri- ters, but well known to the Indians. No. 18. CASSIA MARILANDICA, AMfiRZCJEkN SENNA. No. 18. CASSIA. 93 No. 18. CASSIA MARILANDICA. English Name— AMERICAN SENNA. French Name — Senne' d'amerique. German Name — Marilandische Cassia. Officinal Names — Senna Americana, folia, &c. Vulgar Names — Wild Senna, Locust plant. Authorities — Linnaeus, Michaux, Pursh, Schoepf, €oxc, Thacher, Chapman, B. Barton^ W. Bart. fig. 12, Big. fig, 39, & Seq. &c. Genus Cassia — Calix five parted, colored, deci- duous and unequal. Corolla with five unequal pe- tals. Stamina ten, unequal and free, the three up- per sterile, the three lower longer, anthers linear curved. Pistil stipitate. Pod bivalve, curved, many celled transversally — Leaves even pinnate. Species C. Marilandica — Herbaceous, leaves with eight or ten pairs of oblong mucronate folioies, petiole uniglandular : racemes axillar and terminal, panicled : pods linear, flat and pendulous. DESCRIPTION — Root perennial, contorted, irre- gular, woody, black, fibrose — Stems many, nearly smooth, upright, from three to six feet high, cylindri- cal and simple — Leaves alternate, not many, large, horizontal ; petioles compressed, channelled above, with an ovate stipitate gland at the base, bearing from eight to ten pairs of folioies or leaflets, which are Qii CASSIA. No. 18. smooth, green above, pale beneath, with short unL glandular petioles, shape ovate, oblong or lanceolate entire, equal, mucronate at the end — stipules subu- late, ciliate, deciduous. Flowers of a bright or golden yellow, forming a panicle, although partly axillary and in short racemes, having each from five to fifteen flowers ; peduncles furrowed, pedicels long, glandular, with short bracts. Calix colored, with five oval obtuse and unequal seg- ments. Petals five, spatulate, concave, obtuse, une- qual, two lower larger. Stamina with yellow fila- ments and brown anthers, the three upper filaments have abortive anthers, the three lower filaments are longest, crooked, with long rostrated anthers, all the anthers open by a terminal pore. Germ jdeflexed with the lower stamina and hairy, style ascending, stigma hairy. The fruits or pods are pendulous, linear, hard- ly curved, flat and membranaceous, a little hairy, blackish, from two to four inches long, holding from tvvelve to twenty seeds, or small brown beans. • HISTORY — The genus Cassia, although very striking by the structure of its flowers, varies much in its pods, and must be divided into many genera ; Tournefort and Gaertnesr had separated the Cassia fistula &c. with cylindrical, pulpy, evalve pods, cal- ling the others Senna ; but Persoon, &c. called the Cassia fistula by the new name of Cathartocarpus, leaving the name of Cassia to the Sennas. This was superfluous, and if I was not unwillingto increase this confusion, I would call this species Senna riparia, the name of Marilandica being also improper ; it was No. IB. OASSXA. %3 given to it because sent first from Maryland to Eu- rope. Cassia is an oriental name, derived from Kets'ich, name of the Cassia lignea and fistula. The genus belongs to the natural order of Leguminose, section Lonientaceous. In the Linnean system it is placed in Decandria monogynia, although it has only seven fertile stamina. This plant blossoms from June to August ; the best time to collect it, is in September, when the pods are ripe ; since they are with the leaves, the efficient parts of the plant. It has been ascertained th^t this plant is more efficacious than the Senna of Egypt ; it ought therefore, to superse le it altogether with us, and even to be exported to Europe : but the East In- dia senna is said by Bigelow to be a little stronger. — The Senna of the shops is obtained from different plants, Cassia lanceolala^ C. Serma, C, iialica, &c, and even from Cynanchiim olefolium. Locality — Found from Massachusetts to Mis- souri and Georgia, in rich moist and alluvial soils, near streams principally. Very common in the west- ern States. Qualities — The taste of the leaves is slightly nau- seous : they have no smell ■. they contain resin ex, tractive and a volatile oil. The infusion and decoction have the taste of the plant ; the distilled water is nau- seous ; the tincture is dark brown and rendered tur- bid by water. PROPERTIES— All the Sennas are simple ca- thartics, some kinds occasion gripings and yet are not 96 CASSIA. No. 18. so active as rhubarb or jalap. /This kind operates with mildness and certainty, at the dose of an ounce in de- coction : both the leaves and pods are employed ; the infusion is weaker, the tincture is less available, al- though stronger. They may enter into compound laxatives and cathartics, &c. Substitutes — Senna — Cassia fistula — Rhubarb — Jiiglans Cinerea — Podophylluin peUatum — Castor oil, and all mild purgatives, besides the following spe- cies of Cassia ; which are, however, still left active. Remarks — Clayton and Schoepf, mentions the C. ligustrina as equal to Senna : it grows from Virginia to Georgia, has seven pairs of lanceolate, unequal fo- lioles, and oblong curved pods. C. chamecrista, small plant found everj^ where in dry soils; it has many pairs of linear folioles, and large geminate flowers with two purple spots. C. nictitans, or sensitive Senna, similar to the fore- going, but with very small flowers : common. C. t oroides, N. Sp. or sickle Senna, is perhaps the C tora of ^ome botanists ; found from Georgia to Kentucky, it has three pairs of ovate folioles and long fulcated axillary pods. All the American Sennas have yellow flowers. — Schoepf, says that the C hijiora is antisyphilitic. Henry's figure of the American Senna is fictitious, having four pairs of folioles and regular terminal flowers. No. 19. CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDES. ■'^D^ W^^-' BXiUEBEIUElT COBOSB, No. 19. CAUZ.0PHYLX.U2ME. 97 No. 19. CAULOPHYLLUM THALICTROIDES. English Name— BLrEBERRY COHOSH. French Name — Cohoche Bleu. German Name — Blau Cohosch. Officinal Name — Caulophyllum radix. Vulgar Names — Cohosh, Cohush, Blueberry, Pnpoose root, Squaw root, Blue Ginseng, Yellow Ginseng. Synonyms — Leontice thaUctroides Linnaeus, &c. Authorities- — Mi-^haux, Pursh, Elliot and some dispensaries. Not in Barton nor Bigelow. Genus Caulophyllum — Calix colored with six equal sepals. Corolla with 6 small petals, opposite to the sepals of the calix and much shorter. Stamina six op- posite to the petals, anthers opening laterally. One central free pistil, one Style and Stigma, Fruit a glo- bular one seeded drupe. — Leaves three on a trifurcate stem. Species C. thalictroides — Very smooth, three leaves with three dissected or lobed folioles, the ter- minal cordate: in the centre a dichotome corymb, shorter than the leaves. DESCRIPTION— Whole plant from tv/o to four feet high. — Root perennial, yellow inside, brown outside, hard, irregular, knobby, branched, with many ■J JJ8 CAULOPHYLLUM. No. 19, fibres — Stem upright, straight, smooth, trifurcate at the top or dividing into three leaves, in the centre of wrhich comes out the panicle of flowers — Leaves pe- tiolate smooth, pinnate lobed, with three, very sel- dom five folioles, the lateral ones nearly sessile, oval or oblong, inequally bifid and acute: the terminal fo- liole separated, larger, subcordate, with five, seldom three, unequal lobes or segments, oval and acute. Flowers in a short central loose corymb, yellowish green, rather small ; rachis slender, dichotome, with minute bracts at each division. Each flower pedun- cled, with six equal elliptic obtuse sepals — Petals six very small, opposite and notched, with each an op- posite longer stamen, filaments short, anthers elliptic bilocular, opening on each side — Germ globular, style short, stigma obtuse — Drupes resembling ber- ries succeed the blossoms; they are smooth of a dark blue, globular, rather large, with only one hard seed. HISTORY — This genus which includes only one species, was united to Leontice by Linnaeus; but se- parated by Michaux; they both belong to the natural family of Berberides, and to Hexandria monogy- nia, Cauiophyllum implies that the stem and leaves are connected as it were, and the specific name alludes to the leaves being similar to many Thalictrums — Co- hosh was the indigenous name of this plant, and a better one than Blueberry, the usual one in many parts: it blossoms in May and June, while the leaves are yet tender and small, the berries are ripe in sum- mer; they are dry, sweetish, insipid, similar to hwckle berries, but larger. 1^0. 19. OAUS.OPHYLI.U1VL 99 This is a medical plant of the Indians, and although not yet introduced into our officinal books, deserves to be better known. I have found it often used in the country and by Indian Doctors ; Smith and Hen- ry extol it. Locality — All over the United States, from Ca- nada and New England to Missouri and Georgia ; but chiefly on mountains and shady hills, rare in plains and glades, yet often found in deep fertile soils, iswampy and moist grounds ; in river islands, &c. Qualities — The root is the, only part used : in smell and taste, it partakes of Ginseng and Seneca root, and is sometimes mistaken for both. It Is sweet- ish, a little pungent and aromatic: the infusion and tincture are yellow — it contains a gum, resin and oil. Properties — Demulcent, antispasmodic, cmena- gogue, sudorific, &:c. It is used by the Indians and their imitators for rheumatism, dropsy, cholic, sore throat, cramp, hiccup, epilepsy, hysterics, inflamma^ tion of uterus, &c. It appears to be particularly suit- able for female diseases, and Smith asserts that the Indian women owe the facility of their parturition, to a constant use of a tea of the root for two or three weeks before their time. As a powerful emenagogue it promotes delivery, menstruation, and dropsical discharges. It may be used in warm infusion, de- coction, tincture, syrup or cordial. Substitutes — Saiiguinaria canadensis — Penny- royal— Poly gala Senega— -SndkQ roots — Red Cedar — Spikenard — Camphor — Ginseng, &c. Remarks — The figure of Henry has trifoliate leaves and the berries on the leaves ! 100 CEPHAI.ANTIIUS. No. 20. No. 20, CEPHALANTIIUS OCCIDENTALIS. r:NGLisH Name—button-wood shrub. French Name — Cephalanthe d'amerique. German Name — Americanische Weissball. Officinal Names — Cephalanthus Cortex, &c. Vulgar Names — White Ball, Little Snowball, Svvampvvood, Pond Dogwood, Globe flower, in Lou- isiana Bois de Mar ah. Authorities — Lin. Mich. Piirsh, Elliot, Robin, W. Bart. Fl. fig. 9L Genus Cephalanthus — Flowers crowded on a globular and hairy phoranthe. Calix symphogyne quadrangular, margin small fourtoothed. Corolla tubular-funnelform, four cleft, epigyne, bearing four stamina equal and protruding. Pistil one cohe- rent with the caliX; st3^1e long, stigma globose. Cap- sule two celled, tw^o seeded, nearly bipartible, and each cell nearly bivalve, valves uniserial. Species C. occidentalis — Leaves ternate or oppo- site, petiolate, oval-accuminate, entire and smooth : heads of flowers terminal, peduncled, upright. DESCRIPTION—A fine ornamental shrub from five to fifteen feet high, very branched \ bark yellow brown spotted with red, rough on the stems. Leaves ternate or opposite, with red petiols from two to four No 20. CEPHALANTHUS OCCIDENT ALIS BUTTOXVWOOD SHRUB. No. 2a. OEPHAtANrHUS- 101 inches long, oval, base acute, end acuminate, maro-in often undulate, smooth on both sides, but glaucous beneath, nerves often red, veins yellow. Flowers terminal peduncled, forming round balls of a cream white color, and sweet scented, fringed all over by the protruding Stamina and styles, nearly as large as a walnut Phoranthe or common recepta- cle globular and hairy, flowers crowded all over it. Calix coherent with the pistil, with four small acute teeth — Corolla inserted on the Pistil, tubular or nearly funnel form, with four ovate segments. Sta- mina and style filiform, double the length of the Co- rolla, anthers and stigma yellow — Capsuls small, crowded, formed by two semibivalve cells, the valves opposite to each other, the two outside valves angular, each cell has only one seed. Locality — All over the United States from Cana- da to Louisiana, Missouri and Florida ; mostly found near streams, ponds, swamps, lakes, &:c. HISTORY — Cephalanthus means head-flower in Greek, alluding to the globular form of the blossoms. Linneus only knew this species, and gave to it the name of occidental. It is peculiar to North America ; the same kind said to be found in Cochinchina is a difierent species ; but there are several varieties in the United States, not yet well noticed, some of %vhich may be perhaps peculiar species ; such are Var. pubesccns, with pubescent leaves, in Georgia. Var. macrophylla, with large leaves half a fooi long, corolla hairy inside : in Louisiana, &c. i2 10^ CEPHAl.AS^TEtJS. No. iv Var. ob til si folia, leaves oval-oblong, obtuse, not undulate : in New York. They all blossom insunnmer, July and August : the flowers have a peculiar fragrant snnell, similar to Jessamine. The wood is brittle and useless. The Genus belonsis to the screat natural order of RuBiACEOtTS, forming with Nauclea, &.c. a peculiar section or family, with capitate flowers. It ranks in Tetrandria Monogyjiia. Qualities — The whole shrub active, and bitter- ish, the bitterness is most enfolded in the bark of the roots ; this bark and the inner bark of the stem are brittle, somewhat resembling Cascarilla and Cog- wood, in appearance and qualities. It has not been analyzed; but contains an essential oil, besides (he usual principles of tonic barks : the oil is most abun- dant in the flowers. PROPERTIES— Tonic, febrifuge, cathartic, dia- phoretic, &c. The flowers, leaves, bark of stem.s and roots, are used by the Southern Indians, and the French settlers of Louisiana. It has not yet been noticed in our materia medica, and is even omitted by Schoepf and Henry ; but it deserves further atten- tion. A fine fragrant syrup may be made with the flov/ers and leaves, which is a mild tonic and laxative. The most efficient part is the bark of the root. A decoc- tion of it, cures intermittent fevers, acting on the bow- els at the same time, is useful in relaxed bowels, &c. Substitutes — Cornus or Dogwood — Magnolias — Pinckneya — Liri oJendron — Cascarilla, &c. Remarks — The Platonus occidentalis or Syca- more, also called Button-wood i& a large tree. No. 21. CHENOPODiUM ANTHELMINTHICUM. WORMtSSED OOOSBFOOT. No. 20 CHI3HOPODlU3«r- 103 No. 21. CHENOPODIUM ANTHELMINTICUM, English Name— WORMSEED GOOSEFOOT. French. Name — Anserine Vermifuge. German Name — Wurmsamen Gansefuss. Officinal Name — Chenopodium sen Botiys An- thelminticum. Vulgar Names — Jerusalem Oak, Wormwood, Worm seed, Stinking weed. Authorities — Linnaeus, Michaux, Pursh, Schoepf, B. Barton, Mease, Wilkins, Coxe, Thacher, Chap- man, Stoker, Big. seq. W. Bart. Mat. IVIed. fig. 44. Genus Chenopodium — Perigone simple persistent, caliform, rive parted. Stamina five perigyne. Pistil free with a bifid style. Seed single, lenticular, co- vered by the perigone. Species Ch. anthelminticum. — Leaves oval-ob* long, sessile, sinuate-toothed : flowers terminal, ses- sile, in glomerules, forming leafless panicled slender spikes. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial and branched— Stem upright, grooved and branched, branches fasti- giate, giving a shrubby appearance to the whole plant, which rises from two to five feet in height — Leaves sessile, alternate or scattered ; attenuated at both ends, oval or oblong, rather thick, dotted beneath, margin sinuate by large unequal obtuse teeth, nerves very conspicuous. Flowers very small, numerous and yellowish green 101 CHENOPODIUM. No. 21. like the whole plant, forming large, loose leafless ter- minal panicles, composed of many slender alterning small spikes, and these of many small scattered une- qual glomerules, containing from five to twelve sessile flowers. Calix or simple perigone with five short oval segments; stamina opposite to the segments, and protruding. Styles bifid or trifid, filiform, lon- ger than the stamina. Seed flat, lenticular, shining, covered by the persistent calix. HISTORY — 1 he whole plant has a strong, pun- gent smell, somewhat like valerian, which is disgust- ing to many persons ; this smell is easily known and enables to distinguish it from some other consimilar species, which are often blended with it : such are the Ch. nmhrosioidesSf Ch. botrys, whose smell is agree- able and fragrant, although strong. The genus belongs to the natural order of Atripli- CEs, and to Pentandria digynia of Linnaeus. The generic name means Goosefoot in Greek, the specific refers to its value against worms. It blossoms from July to September, at which time the plant may be collected and dried ; but if the seeds are wanted, October is the best time, although they ripen in succession during all the autumn. The plant is now sometimes cultivated for medical uses, both in America and Europe. The dried plant retains the pe- culiar smell. Locality — From New England to Missouri and Georgia, more abundant and larger in the South : common in old fields, along fences, in alluvions, gra- Tel, rubbish, and even in streets 5 but never in woods nor mountains. No. 21. CHENOPOBITJIML 100 Qualities — The strong and lasting smell of the whole plant, is owing to an essential oil, very pene- trating or pungent, and in which resides the medical property. It is diffused throughout the plant, parti- cularly in the globular dots of the leaves, and the seeds. The taste is bitter, acrid and aromatic. PROPERTIES— A powerful vermifuge used both in America and Europe ; found equal to the officinal wormseed, which is the Artemisia Santolina, a very diflferent plant, native of Syria and Africa. It expels speedily, the Lumbrics and other worms of the in- testines. It must be given in repeated small doses, and the most palatable form : the seeds and their es- sential oil are the most efficacious, eight or ten drops of the oil, mixed with sugar are a common dose for a child, or a table spoonful morning and night fasting, of an electuary mode of the pulverized seeds with honey. A conserve, marmelade, syrup, beer, decoo- tion in milk, of the leaves, (or even their juice.) are also used. Children often dislike the strons: smell of this medicine, and it must be disguised by orange peel or sweet substances. The seeds and oil are now kept in the pharmacies, but the last is often adulterated with oil of Botrys or of Turpentine ; which lessen its power ; it may then be known by a less pungent smell. This plant has only been employed against worms, as yet, but it possesses probably all the properties of the Ch Rofrys and amb, osioides, whicli are pecto- ral, resolvent, carminative and emenagogue: useful in asthma, suppressed menstrations, &c. Sii^BSTiTUTEs — Spigelia or Piukroot — Lobelia 106 CHBNOPODIUM. No. 21. cnrdinalis — Wormwood — Silene Virs^inica — Pola- nisiagraveolens, and all other vermifuges. Remarks — Many other species of Chenopodi- urn are medical ; but none vermifuge like this : those which approximates in appearance and smell are the following ; which must not be mistaken for this al- though useful in other respects. Ch, hotrys or sweet Jerusalem oak, has oblong ob- tuse sinuate leaves, and crowded panicles. Common all over the United States, in sand and gravel near streams. Ch. anihrosioides or Fragrant Jerusalem oak, has narrow or lanceolate toothed leaves, and leafy pani- cles, with a very fragrant smell, stronger than in the foregoing. Grows promiscuously with Ch, anthel- Tninticum* The whimsical name of Jerusalum oak has been given to these plants, from a fanciful similitude to the leaves of the oak. Henry's figure represents probably the Ch. botrys* iCUTA MACULATA #'1 H^MBRfCAW HSBSIiOCfK. No. 22. CICUTA. 107 No. 22. CICUTA MACULATA. English Name— AMERIC AN HEMLOCK. French Name — Cigue d'Amerique. German Name — Americanische Schierling. Officinal Names — Cicuta Americana. Vulgar Names — Snakeweed, Death of man, Wa- ter Parsley, Poison root, Wild hemlock, Children's bane. Authorities — Linnaeus, Sclioepf, Pursh, B. Bar- ton, Ely, Stockbridge, Bigelow, fig. 1£. Genus Cicuta — Flowers umliellate : No invo- lucres, involuccls many leaved and short ; calix sym- phogyne, crown five toothed : petals ohoval, entire, inflexed ; five long stamina ; Fruit orbicular, crown- ed ; with ten furrows, bipartible, bisperme. Species C. maculata — Root fasciculate, tube- rose : Stem hollow and striated ; leaves tripinnate, folioles lanceolote, serrate, acuminate, teeth mucro- nate, veins exmedial: involucels acute, fiowers lax. DESCRIPTION — Root perennial, composed of many oblong fJeshy tubers, of a finger's size — Stem from three to six feet high, hollow, striated, jointed, purple or green, smooth and branched. Leaves smooth, decomposed, alternate with petioles clasping at the uase, bi'obe, membranaceous ; decreasing in size L!pwjr W. Bart, flora fig. 74, &c. Genus Cypripedium — Perigone symphog3^ne con- crete with the germen at the base, with five unequal sepals or divisions, superior and often colored ; the innermost or labellum larger, different, ventricose, split. Central pillar or gonophore bearing two Anthers and a terminal lobe. Species C. Luteum — Stem leafy, leaves broad, often acute and pubescent ; fiowers with the labellum shorter than the other sepals, saccate and compressed, two inner sepals linear spiral and very long, terminal central lobe deltoid nearly obtuse. DESCRIPTION — Roots perennial with many long, thick, fleshy cylindrical an^ flexuose fibres^ of a pale No 30. CYPRIPEDIUM LUTEUM. TEX&OW XiADXES' SUPFSIL. No. 30. CYPE-IPEDIUM. 141 yellowish castj diverging horizontally from the cau- tlex. — Stems one to five from the same caudex, sim- ple, erect, often pubescent and angular, rising one or two feet, three to seven leaves, and one to three flowers. Leaves alternate, sessile, sheathing, ovate or oblong, acute pubescent or smooth, but always entire and with many parallel nerves, green above, paler be- neath. Flowers sessile, when more than one, each has a bracteal leaf. Germen concrete or inferior, green, cylindrical, often curved. Perigone with five unequal and different sepals, called petals by the Linnean Bo- tanists : two are external oblong or lanceolate, acute, longer than the labellum and green : two are internal longer, narrower, spirally contorted and green : the fifth or innermost and lower, called Labellum, is to- tally ditferent from the others, shorter but larger, yellow with or without red spots, hollow like a bag, convex beneath, rounded in front, split above with inflexed margins. Style and stamina concrete in the centre, above the germen, fonning a central pil- lar, flattened above into an oblong deltoid lobe, sup- posed to be the stigma by some Botanists, and bear- ing before two anthers, lodged in separate cells. — The fruit is an oblong capsul, with one cell, three valves, and a multitude of minute seeds, as in all the Orchi- deous tribe. HISTORY — The natural order of the Orchideofs to which this plant belongs, is a very striking and peculiar tribe of Monocotyle vegetables, which even Linnceus considered as natural, and put in his class IJjS CTPMPEBXUM. No. S(>, Gynandria and order Diandria, although most of them are truly monandrous. He called their peri- gone, a corolla, because often colored, and deemed the labellum a nectary, while it is evidently a part of the perigone or sexual covering. The generic name of Cypripedhim, means Venus' Slioe ; it is a splendid genus containing several beautiful American and Asiatic species. Many Botanists have made two species, C, pubescens and C. parvijloriim of this, to which the previous and better name of C lufeum ought to be restored. I have ascertained that they form only one species^ affording many varieties, some of which are 1. C, L. Var. pubescens, entirely pubescent even the flowers. 2. C. L. Var. glabriim, nearly smooth. 3. C. L. Var. grandijiorum, slightly pubescent, labellum very large. 4. C. L. Var. /?(3rz;iy7orw7?2, slightly pubescent, la- bellum small. \ 5. C. L. Var. maculatum, labellum more or less spotted, with red dots, lobule often red. 6. C. L. Var. bifloriim, with two flowers and bracteoles. 7. C, L. Var. concolor, the whole flower yellow or yellowish, unspotted. 8. C. L. Var. angusti folium, leaves and brac- teoles lanceolate. A multitude of intermediate varieties or deviations may be seen, with undulate or spiral sepals, obtuse or acute lobule, broader or narrower leaves, &Ck No. }0. CYPJllPEDIUM. 143 This plant blossoms in May and June; it is much valued in gardens for its beauty and singularity, but it is difficult to cultivate : it will seldom grow from seeds; the roots must be taken up with earth round them, and transplanted in a congenial rich light soil. For medical use, they must be collected in the fall, or early in the spring, carefully dried and re- duced to powder. Locality — Found all over the United States, from New England to Louisiana ; but very rare in some places, while it is common in the hills and swamps of New York, the Highlands, Green and Catskill Mountains, and also in the glades and prairies of the Western States. Qualities — The roots are the only medical parts: they have a pungent, mucilaginous taste, and a pe- culiar smell, somewhat nauseous. They contain ex- tractive, gum, fecula, and perhaps a small portion of essential oil. PROPEilTIES— It is with some satisfaction that I am enabled to introduce, for the first time, this beau- tiful genus into our Materia JMedica : all the species are equally medical ; they have long been known to the Indians, who called them ISIocasin flower, and were used by the Empirics of New England, parti- cularly Samuel Thompson. Their properties how- ever have been tested and confirmed by Dr. Hales of Troy, Dr. TuUy of Albany, &c. The most efficient is the C. hifeum, next C. acaule, and last C spec- tabile and C. candidum. Neither Schoepf nor any «ther medical writer has mentioned them. 144- CYPRIPEBIUM, No. 30. They are sedative, nervine, antispasmodic, . tatula of some botanists, but not the real one of South Africa and Asia. 2. Var. Cordata. Leaves cordate at the base, stem green, flowers pale bluish. 3. Var. JJngustifolia. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, sinuate, flowers pale bluish. 4. Var. Physaloides, Leaves oblique at the base, viscid, flowers white. 5. Var. Meteloides. Stem viscid, tall, leaves sub- cordate pubescent viscid, flowers white, nodding. — This is the D. metel of some Botanists, but not the true kind of Africa, which has globose capsuls, and leaves nearly entire. 6. Var. %/ilba. Stem green without dots, flowers pure white. This plant has handsome flowers, sometimes four inches long, with leave* from three to seven inches long, of a lurid aspect. It has been formerly culti- vated for its beautiful blossoms, although they have a lurid smell. Children use them as yet for garlands, by forming strings of the flowers within each other. Notwithstanding its noxious qualities, I have seen Cows, Sheep and Goats browze on the leaves. It blossoms from May to September, in the Southern States, and in the Northern from July to October, bearing yet blossoms when the seeds of the first flowers are ripe. It is killed by the frost with us ; but in warmer climates becomes a half biennial plant. The whole plant is a narcotic poison, producing No. 31. DATURA. I4.9 many strange effects on the human system, according to the doses and constitutions. The leaves eaten boiled, have occasioned delirium and intoxication for many days, without producing death, or else madness or tetanus and death. The Antidotes of this poison are emetics, vegetable acids, and strong coffee. The vulgar name of Jimson is a corruption from Jamestown ; as it is said to have spread from the town of that name in Virginia. Locality — One of the erratic or wandering plants, common to all the parts of the world, and spreading with the utmost facility. It is probably a native of Persia and India; but has spread to Europe, Africa and America. It was once thought to be a native of North America ; but it has spread in it only since its colonization: the Indians call it the White people's plant. Its migrations and colonies might be traced from Virginia, and New England. In the Western States it has sprung only since their late settlement, and from seeds carried there as a pretty garden plant. It is now become a noxious weed, infesting the fields, &c. ; but as it is annual, it might easily be destroyed by pulling it before seed time. It is commonly met with near houses, along the roads, in commons, old fields, &c., never in woods nor mountains, and is found in all the States; also in Canada, and beyond Louisiana to Mexico, and even to Peru in South Ame- rica. Qualities — The whole plant has a fetid, lurid and narcotic smell, causing head ache and stupor ; it has a bitter and nauseous taste. It contains gum, resin, N 2 150 DATURA. No. 31. carbonate of ammonia, nitrate of potash, malic acid, and a peculiar alkaline principle called Daturin, to which most of its activity is ascribed. Daturin cris- talizes in quadrangular prisms, and is only soluble in boiling alcohol : yet the plant yields its properties to Water and Alcohol, because the Daturin is com- bined with the acid and forms a soluble mallate of Daturin. PROPERTIES— This loathsome weed is one of those bounties of nature scattered almost every where, and possessing energetic medical powers. It is narcotic, phantastic, antispasmodic, anti-epileptic, anodyne, sedative, &c. and externally refrigerant, detergent, resolvent, &c. It has been recommended by Physi- cians in Asia, Europe and America, in Epilepsy, rheumatic pains, tic douleureux, Gout and all kinds of pains, Mania, Convulsions, Asthma, Chorea, Sciatica, &c., and externally for burnings, scaldings, tumors, ulcers, cancer and piles. It is now a common article of Materia Medica every where ; but it fails some- times and requires care in the exhibition, owing to its noxious qualities when taken internally in too great quantity. It produces then Vertigo, confusion of mind, dilatation of the pupil, loss of sight, head ache, tremors of the limbs, loss of motion, dry throat, nausea, anxiety, faintness, delirium, convulsions, lethargy and death. Vinegar neutralizes the Datu- rin, as wtll as all vegetable acids ; but an emetic is always serviceable when poisoned by narcotics. The effects of this narcotic when administered in- ternally for medical purposes, and in proper doses, is No. SI. DATURA. 151 to lessen sensibility and pain, to cause a kind of ner- vous shock attended with some nausea, a feeling of intoxication and suffocation, to have little influence on the pulse, to relax the bowels, to dilate the eyes, &c. , followed by a sensation of ease and quiet, which induces sleep. It has been too much extolled by some writers ; but the results of the numerous cases in which it has been given, are as follows: — In asthma, it is only a palliative, useful in the paroxysms, but useless in ple- thoric cases, it is commonly smoked like Tobacco, a practice likely to be attended with some danger, and suitable only for smokers. In Mania it is of little use except in some cases difficult to be ascertained ; but in Epilepsy and Convulsions it cures the periodi- cal fits, while it avails not in the sudden fits. It is highly serviceable in Chronic acute diseases, such as Sciatica, Syphilitic pains, disease of the spine, para- plegia, Cancer of the breast, uterine pains, rheuma- tism, &c., also in chorea and dysmenorhea, strangury and Calculus, acting in all those cases as an antispas- modic. In tic douleureux it has only afforded relief in some cases, and has required repeated doses, but it has failed in others. Externally it is a safer and certain remedy for burns, tumors, gout, ulcers, inflammations and some cutaneous eruptions. The leaves or their ointment are applied to the parts, they promote the granulations or cicatrization of the worse ulcers, and afibrd speedy relief in piles and painful hemorrhoidal tumors. Sur geons use them topically to enlarge the pupil of the 153 DATURA. No. 31. eye previous to the operation of Cataract. It is said that the leaves applied to the head, produce sleep and dreams. The plant may be gathered for use at any time ; but it is best when in blossom. All the parts of the plant are efficient even the root; but the seeds contain more Daturin, and are preferable in some instances. Many preparations are made for internal use; but the distilled water is nearly inert. The powdered leaves, juice, extract, decoction, tincture, &c. are all available ; for external use an ointment is made by simmering one pound of fresh leaves in three pounds of lafd. The doses for internal use are to be very small. Dr. Bigelow recommends the following: one grain of dry powdered leaves or extract, half a grain of powdered seeds, one quarter of a grain of extract from the seeds, and from 15 to 20 drops of the tinc- ture. Marcet and others say that_even one-eighth of a grain is a sufficient dose to begin with. One pound of seeds afford two ounces of extract, and one pound of leaves three ounces. Substitutes — Hyosciamiis n'lger — Conium ma- culaium — Lactuca elongata — Solanum Virgini- cum and S. dulcamara — Cypripedium Sp — Opium and other active narcotics or sedatives. No. 32. DIOSPYROS VIRGINIANA PXnElSIMOlir TREE. No. 32. DZOSPYROS. 153 No. 32. DIOSPYROS yiRGINIANA. English Name— PERSIMON TREE. French Name — Plaqueminier. German Name — Persimon Baum. Officinal Name — Diospyros. Vulgar Names — Persimons, Yellow Plums, Win- ter Plums, Guaiacan, Seeded Plums, Pishmin, &c. Authorities — Lin. Mich. Fl. and Sylva, Pursh, Eaton, Torrey, Elliott, Schoepf, Kalm, Catesby, Woodhouse, Coxe, Brickell, ZoUickoffer, &c. Genus Diospyros — Diclinous, Calix 4 to 8 cleft. Corolla rotate or urceolate 4 to 8 cleft. Staminate flowers with 8 to 20 Stam. filaments free with one or two anthers. Pistilate flowers with one Pistil, a short style and 4 to 6 stigmas. Berry with 8 to 12 seeds. — Trees with alternate leaves. Species D. Virginiana — Leaves ovate oblong, acu- minate, entire, smooth, pale and reticulate beneath, petiolate, petiols pubescent; Berries solitary globose. DESCRIPTION— The Persimon is a common tree rising from 15 to 60 feet, with a smooth bark, and spreading branches. The leaves are from three to five inches long, shining above, whitish or pale and reticulate beneath, oval or oblong, base acute, end or tip acuminate, margin entire, on short alter- nate and pubescent petioles. These leaves vary in 154 DX0SP7R0S. No. 32. ■■ ' " ' ■ . — size, and some varieties have them glaucous or pu- bescent beneath. Buds smooth. Flowers lateral, extra axillary, solitary, nearly sessile or on a short pedicel. Calix spreading persis- tent, commonly 4 cleft, seldom 5 or 6 cleft, seg- ments oval acute shorter than the Corolla, v^^hich is yellowish, with as many segments as the calix, broad ovate, acute. Diclinous blossoms on separate trees or dioical, sometimes a complete flower occurs, in which are as many stigmas as segments to the Calix, and double the number of Stamina. The filaments are short, free or inserted on the calix instead of the corolla, depressed, anthers bilobe. One Pistil, ger- men round, style very short, stigmas obtuse, spread- ing.—-Fruit a globular yellow berry, similar to a plum, with a thin skin, fleshy pulp and many com- pressed hard seeds. HISTORY — This genus amply evinces the ab- surdity of the Linnean system, since hardly two spe- cies of it have the same number of stamina. Linnaeus put it in his class Polygamia ; it is now put in Dioe- da octandriay although many species have 10 or 12 or 16 or 20 Stamina, and 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 Styles or Stigmas. It however belongs to a very natural family the Ebenaceous. The whole genus appears to need reform, and ought to be divided in many Sub Genera or Genera, such as Diospyros to which Z>. Lotus, Virginiana, &c. belong. Embriopteris (Gaertner) 20 stam. One cruciate stigma. No. 32. DIOSPYKOS. 155 Ebenum, Cal. 5 Segm, Stam. 10. Berry 10 locular. DimiayVfiih 2 or 3 Styles, typ^ D, digyna, Chloroxylon, type D. ditto. Gonopyros, Cal. and Cor. 5 fid. Berry angular or lobed. The D. Virginiana is by no means a definite spe- cies. Pursh and Michaux, jun. have noticed that two species are probably blended under that name : to one of them Pursh gave the name of D. pubescens, I have ascertained three principal varieties at least, (and there are more) which might almost be deemed spe cific ; they are 1. Var. Macrocarpa, Leaves smaller, glauceous beneath, fruit very large — Southern States. 2. Var. Concolor, Leaves middle size, hardly pale beneath, somewhat obtuse, fruit of a good. size. S. Var. Microcarpa. Leaves large acute, pubescent beneath, fruit very small. — Virginia, &c. This is the D, pubescens of Pursh, who says that the leaves are tomentose beneath, petioles longer, &.c. The blossoms are of a pale yellow or orange color, they appear in May and June, when the leaves are yet small and not quite unfolded. The berries are only ripe late in the fall, and after frost; they re- semble a yellow plum, but are globular: before their maturity they are exceedingly acerb and astringent; but when fully ripe and soft, become sweet, and have a fine flavor. These berries were one of the spon- taneous fruits used by the native Tribes ; who pre- served them in various ways, dried them and made a paste with them : also a kind of Beer or Wine : this 156 BIOSPYROS. No. 32. liquor contains alcohol, which has been attempted to be extracted ; but too many substances afford it al- ready. A gum exudes sometimes from the tree, but in small quantity. The Persimon Beer is made by forming the fruits into cakes with bran, drying them in an oven, and bruising these cakes afterwards in water. The large variety has fruits as big as an egg, and deserves to be cultivated on a large scale as a fruit tree. The wood is hard and fine, suitable for tools and many other domestic articles. To make Persimon Wine the skin of the ripe fruits ought to be taken off, as it contains too much astringency. Locality — From New York to Louisiana, rare beyond the 42d degree of latitute, common in the South, in woods and groves ; more common in the plains than the mountains. Qualities — Bark bitter and acerb, containing Tannin, Extractive, &c. Fruit sweet and well fla- voured when ripe, containing sugar, mucilage, gallic acid and several other substances. PROPERTIES— Bark astringent, styptic, tonic, corroborant, antiseptic, &c. Ripe fruits subastrin- gent, nutrient, antiseptic, anthelmintic, &c. The inner bark is the most officinal part : it is extremely bitter, and a good astringent tonic, useful in sore throat, fevers, intermittents, and Dysentery. In this last disorder it is often united with rhubarb. It is much used in Carolina and Tennessee for intermit- tent fevers. It is also a powerful antiseptic, and equal to the Cinchona : Some physicians consider No. 32. DIOSPYROS. 157 it, as well as its equivalent the Sorbus %8.rtiericana as the best succedanea to Cinchona. It has been useful in ulcers, and ulcerous sorethroat. The doses are the same as common tonics either in substance or extract. It has not yet been analysed; but probably contains a peculiar principle, Diospyrine, which is by far more astringent than Cornine or even Quinine, owing to its union to the gallic acid. In the South of Europe the Diospyros Lotus, w^hich is very much like the Var. microcarpa, is called holy wood, and employed as a substitute for Guayac wood. This may perhaps possess similar properties. The unripe fruit has nearly the same properties as the bark ; but is too austere and very styptic. The ripe fruit is very palatable, sweet and vinous ; it has been used to kill the worms of children. Substitutes — Sorbus t^mericana — Prunus Vir- giniana Quercus rubra Spirea tomentosa Pinckneya bracteata — Cinchona Sp. and most of the Astringent Tonics. Remarks — The Persimons, Wild Grapes, Papaws (^»/Ssi7nina) Hickorynuts, Pecans, Walnuts, Chesnuts, Chincapins, Filberts, Whortleberries, Cranberries, Strawberries, Mulberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Crab Apples, Wild Plums, &c. were the fruits of the native tribes. Several have been introduced already in our gardens^ but the Persimon has not yet been cultivated, although no fruit deserves it better: it pro- mises to improve in flavor and size under the care of the gardener, affording a fine table fruit, many pre- serves, and a peculiar kind of wine. 158 BZRCA. No. 33. No. 33. DIRCA PALUSTRIS. English Name— SWAMP LEATHERWOOD. French Name — Diecier triflore. German Name — Leder-holz. Officinal Name- — Dirca. Vulgar Names Leatherwood, Moosewood, Swampwood, Ropebark, (Bois de plomb in Canada.) Authorities — Linnaeus, Pursh, Kalm, Bartram, Duhamel, fig. 212. Torrey, Eaton, Elliott, Locke, B, Barton, Zollickofier, Bigelow, fig. 37, &c. Genus Dirca — Perigone simple, colored or corol- liform, tubular, funnelshaped, nearly entire, sub-eight toothed. Stamina eight perigynous, exserted, four alternate longer. Germen free oval, style lateral. Berry one seeded. Species D. palustris — Shrubby, branches articu- lated; leaves alternate, subsessile, oval, entire; pe- duncles triflore drooping. DESCRIPTION— Shrub, from three to seven feet high, with branches spreading, cylindric, flexuose articulate, green, smooth. Leaves alternate or scat- tered, distichal, nearly sessile, petioles very short; shape oval entire, acute at both ends, downy when young, smooth and membranous when full grown, pale beneath, unfolding after the flowers. No 33. DIRCA PALUSTRIS SWAMP lEATHERWOOD. No. 33. DIRCA. 159 Flowers blossoming early and before the leaves come out, forming in the fall within terminal buds, where they hybernate, buds with many oblong hairy scales, and three flowers. Peduncle bearing a fascicle of three flowers, formed by three cohering pedicels. Each flower yellow, half an inch long, with a simple perigone, called Corolla by Linnaeus because it is co- lored: this perigone is drooping, tubular, contracted at the base and middle, campanulate at the end, with eight obscure teeth on the margin. Eight Stamina inserted on the perigone, with slender filaments, longer than the perigone, and alternately longer and shorter, anthers rounded. Germen oval, central free, with a long filiform curved style inserted on one side of the base, Stigma acute. Fruit a small orange berry, oval, acute, with a single seed. HISTORY — One of the few American genera con- taining as yet a single species. It is a very distinct genus belonging to the natural family of Daphnides, called Thymelea by Jussieu and Vepreciilse by Lin- naeus, and also to Octandriavionogynia of his sexual system. The specific name palustris implies that it grows in swamps ; but it is oftener found on the banks of rivers and even among rocks. The blossoms are scentless and appear very early in the Spring, as soon as the Maples blossoms, long be- fore the leaves are unfolded. The bark is very tough, can hardly be broken, and tearing in long stripes is used as yet in many parts for ropes, a practice bor- rowed from the Indian tribes : the wood is also flexible. The berries are poisonous, children must avoid 160 DIRCA. No. 33. them : if eaten by mistake, an emetic must be re- sorted to. Locality — From Maine and Canada to Georgia near streams, and in shady swamps, rare west of the Alleghany mountains, yet occuring in Ohio and Kentucky. Qualities — The bark and root have a peculiar nauseous smell, and unpleasant acrimonious taste; they contain an acrid resin, bitterish extractive, mu- cilage, &c. : the resin or active principle, is only so- luble in boiling alcohol. The decoction and extract are bitter, but not acrimonious. PROPERTIES — Emetic, cathartic, rubefacient, epispastic, &:c. and the berries narcotic. The fresh root and bark in substance at the dose of five to ten grains produce vomiting, with a sense of heat in the stomach, and sometimes act as a cathartic also. They are an active and dangerous medicine, to which less acrimonious substances ought to be preferred. Ap- plied to the skin they produce rubefaction and vesi- cation in thirty hours; this appears a more safe mode to use them, as they might become auxiliaries to the Spanish flies. The berries produce nausea, giddiness, stupor, dilatation of the pupil and insensibility like other narcotics. Bigelow considers this plant as a substitute for Ihe Poly gala Senega; but this last is by far better and safer, and therefore preferable. We are not told whether it acts like the Poly gala and is expectorant, sudorific, &c. Upon the whole this shrub possesses such active properties as to deserve attention ; but we do not possess as yet sufficient evi- No. 3d. DZRCA. 161 dence of its utility. When the bark is chewed it produces salivation, it is so tough that it cannot be reduced to powder, but forms only a kind of lint. The watery preparations are nearly inert. Substitutes — All the milder emetics and acrid substances, Cantharides — Baptisia tinctoria — Coni- um maculatum Polygala senega */3pocynu7n androsemifoliuTn — Eupatoriuvi perfoliatum — Ba- nunculus sp. — Euphorbia coroUata and E. Ipeca- cuana — R/ms Sp. — Clematis Sp. &c. Remarks — Our native epispastics are little known as yet, and deserve attention. The Juglans Cinerea and the Oil of Sassafras are with the Dirca most likely to become practically useful. We have also in the United States, several species of Cantharides, such as Cantharis Vittata. C. mar- ginata, C, atrata, C. cinerea, &c. which are equal to the officinal Spanish flies, and w^ould be available if not so scarce. B 0 16S ERZ6ERON. No. 34. No. 34. ERIGERON PHILADELPHICUM. English Name— SKEVISH FLEABANE. French Name — Erigeron de Philadelphie. German Name — Skewisch Berusungskraut. Vulgar Names — Skevish, Scabish, Sweet Sca- bious, Daisy, Cocash, Frostweed, Fieldweed, Squaw- weed, &c. Authorities — Linn. Mich. Pursh, Pers. Torrey, Eaton, B. Barton, Depuy, Hales, A. Ives, Bigelow Seq. Thatcher, Coxe. W. Bart. fig. 20. Genus Erigeron — Flowers compound radiate. Pe- rianthe imbricated, folioles subulate unequal. Pho- i^nthe naked. Rays ligulate, linear, entire, nume- rous, pistillate; central flowers of the disk tubular complete or staminate, five toothed. Seeds oblong crowned by a simple pappus. Species. E. Philadelphicum — Pubescent, leaves cuneate oblong obtuse, lower petiolate, upper semi- amplexicaule, nearly entire subciliate: flowers co- rymbose, rays twice as long as the hemispherical peri- anthe. DESCRIPTION Roots perennial yellowish, formed by many branching thick fibres. The whole plant is pubescent and rises two or three feet, stems one to five, straight, simple, branched and corymbose at the top, a little angular. Radical and lower leaves No. 34. ERIGERON PHILADELPHICUM, SSEVISB TLEABATiJl. No. 34. ERZGERON. 163 oblong, base cuneate decurrent on a long petiole, nearly obtuse, margin ciliate entire or seldom serrate : upper leaves sessile or nearly amplexicaule, cuneate, narrow oblong, obtuse, entire, alternate remote : floral leaves small lanceolate. Flowers numerous forming a panicled Corymb, peduncles scattered, slender, bearing one to three flowers. Buds globular. Perianthe or common calix hemispherical, formed by many subulate, adpressed folioles. Flowers radiate, half an inch in diameter, with yellow disk and rays white, bluish or purplish. Rays or radial florets ligular numerous, spreading, crowding, narrow, entire, pistilate. Florets of the disk, convex, crowded, the central ones sometimes staminate and abortive. Phoranthe or common re- ceptacle, bearing all the florets, flat, naked, pitted. Germen of the pistillate and complete florets oblong smooth, having a symphogyne calix forming above a pilose pappus which crowns the seeds. Each floret produces a single seed. Locality — Found all over the United States, al- though bearing the name of Philadelphian. It grows in New England, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Mis- souri, and as far South as Louisiana and Georgia. It is a field plant, seldom seen in woods and mountains; but covering sometimes whole fields, dry meadows, commons and glades. In old fields it is deemed a pernicious weed, like the other kinds which com- monly accompany it. HISTORY— Three species (if not more) of this genus have similar properties, and will therefore be included in this article, the other two are. 164} ERieimowr. no. 34, 1. Erigeron heterophyllum, (Aster Annuus of Linnaeus) Jagged Fleabane, which merely differs from this by broader jagged difforme 'leaves, the ra- dical and inferior ovate, sinuate dentate, acute, the upper one lanceolate subpinnatif, and the floral entire — Common in meadows, &c., mixed with E. phila- delphicum. Figured by W. Barton, fig. 21. Biennual. 2. Erigeron Canadense, Canada Fleabane. It has linear crowded entire leaves ; flowers paniculate, very small, with oblong perianthe and rays exceedingly short. One of the most common weeds from Canada to Kentucky, and yet perhaps the most efiicient of the three. It infests old fields, and has been spread in Europe by chance. Very variable, principal varie- ties 1. Uiiiflorurrif 2. Pusillum, 3. Maritimum, 4. Virgatum, 5. Serratum, 6. Lanceolatum, &c. A multitude of vulgar names are applied to these plants. Fleabane is the true English name, Daisy alludes to the flowers which are similar to those of the true Daisy or Bellis perennis, but the Bellis in- tegr'i folia is the true American Daisy, Scabious is erroneous, since they are nothing like the genus Scabiosa, Skevish derives perhaps from Scabious or from Cocash the Indian name. They all blossom from July to October, or until frost. They are deemed bad weeds ; but are easily extirpated. The E. canadensis is annual. Erigeron is a genus of the Radiate Order next to Sster^ of which it merely differs by numerous narrow rays. Both belong to Syngtnesia Superflua of Linnasus. No. 34. ERZGERON. 165 Qualities — These plants have a peculiar smell most unfolded by rubbing them, which is not dis- agreeable. Their taste is astringent, acrimonious and bitter: the smell and taste are most unfolded in E, canadense and E. philadelphicum. They contain Tannin, Amarine, Extractive, Gallic Acid and an essential Oil. This Oil is very peculiar, as fluid as Water, of a pale yellow color, a peculiar smell somewhat like Lemon, but stronger and a very acrid taste. It holds probably in solution Acrine or a pe- culiar substance Erigerine, PROPERTIES— These Weeds are valuable medi- caments, possessing very active powers; they are Diuretic, Sudorific, Astringent, Styptic, Menagogue, Pectoral and Tonic in a high degree, and act in a mode peculiar to themselves, by means of their acrid quality. Their Oil is so powerful that two or three drops dissolved in Alcohol, have arrested suddenly uterine hemorrhagy, in the hands of Dr. Hales of Troy, who employs the Oil of E, canadense. This kind is most used in New England and New York, the others in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The whole plants are available. The Diseases already relieved or cured by these plants are Chronic Diarrhoea, Ascites, Disury, Nephri- tis, Gravel, Gout, Anasarca, Suppressed Menstrua- tions, Dropsy, Hydrothorax, Dry Coughs, Cutaneous Eruptions, Hemorrhagies, Dimness, Rash, Cold hands and iQQtf &c. The whole plants are used fresh or dried, in infusion, decoction or tincture. Their ex- tract is rather fetid, more astringent than the infusion 166 ERXGEKON. No. 34. 'or tincture ; but less than the Oil, which is one of the most efficient vegetable Styptics. This -extract and a syrup of the plant have been given usefully in dry coughs, hemoptysis, and internal hemorrhages. The dose is from five to ten grains of the extract, often repeated. As diuretic the infusion, decoction and tincture are preferable and more active ; they have increased the daily evacuation of urine from 24 to 67 ounces, A pint or two of the former may be taken daily; they agree well with the stomach, even when Squill and Digitalis are intolerable : the dose of the tincture is from two to four drachms daily ; it is made by di- gesting one ounce of the leaves in a pound of proof Spirit. They are beneficial in all diseases of the bladder and kidneys, attended with pain and irritation, in which they give speedy relief. Also in all com- pound cases of gravel and gout. In rheumatism they have not been tried, although they are sudorific. In all Dropsical disorders they act as diuretic. In chro- nic Diarrhoea as astringent and have cured it without auxiliary. They are even useful externally in wounds, also in hard tumors and buboes, which a cataplasm of the fresh plants dissolve as it were. But the most valu- able property is the astringent and styptic power of the Oil, which has saved many lives in parturition and uterine hemorrhagy. A saturated solution of the Oil in Alcohol is applied and a little given in a spoonful of Water; and an instantaneous stop takes place in the bloody flow. No. 34. EKIGEHON'. 167 Since these plants appear to increase as well as to prevent several discharges from the body, they must not act as other diuretic and astringent remedies ; but by a peculiar acrid effect on the system, worthy of investigation. I highly recommend these plants to medical attention. They were known to the North- ern Indians by the name of Cocash or Squaw-weed as menagogue and diuretics, and are often employed by Herbalists. They may be collected for medical use at any time when in blossom. Substitutes — Erynghini yucefolium and Aqua- ticiim, or Corn-snake root, said to be the strongest diuretic and sudorific of the Southern States — Botro- phis Serpentaria — Fyrola umhellata, maculata, &c. — Daucus Carota and other diuretics. — For as- tringents Spirea totnentosa — Heuchera Sp. — Statue Caroliniana — Arbutus Uva Ursa — Geranium ma- culatum — Comptonia asplenifolia, &c. Remarks — Other species of this genus may possess the same properties: they are very similar to each other. The following might be tried. E. bellidifolium or Daisy Fleabane, a vernal kind. E, IntegrifoUum, or Slender Fleabane. E. purpureum, or Purple Fleabane. E. strigosum^ or Rough Fleabane, &c. 1 68 ERYTHROKIUM. No. 35 . No- 35. ERYTHEONIUM FLAYUM. English Name— YELLOW SNAKELEAF. French Name — Dent-de-Chien Jaune. German Name — Gelb Hundzahn. Officinae.Name — Erythronium. Vulgar Names — Yellow Adder's tongue, Adder- leaf, Dog-Violet, Rattle Snake violet. Lamb's tongue, Scrofula root. Yellow Snow drop, &c. Synonyms-—^. Jiavum Smith. E. americanum Ker, Nuttal, Torrey, &c. E. dens-canis Mich, Eaton, &c. E. lanceolatum Pursh. E. longifoUum Poiret, Authorities — Michaux, Pursh, Smith, Nuttal, Elliott, Torrey, Bigelow, fig. 58, and Sequel, W. Barton, flora fig. 33, Coxe, Zollickofier, &lc. Genus Erythronium — Perigone corolliform, with six deciduous colored sepals, subequal, campanulate ; the three inner ones with a fossule at the base. Sta- mina six subequal, inserted at the base of each sepal. One pistil, germ turbinate. Style fistulose. Stigma clavate three lobed. Capsul obovate, three celled, three valved, with many ovate seeds. — Stem with two opposite leaves and one flower, root bulbous. Species E. Flavum — Leaves subequal, subradical, lanceolate, mucronate, smooth, entire, flower nodding, sepals oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, the inner ones bi- No. 35. ERYTHRONIUM FLAVUM. TSULOW SNABELEAF. No. 35. ERYTHRONIUM. I69 dentate near the base : Stigma with three united lobes. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, a solid pyriform bulb, deep in the ground, white inside, covered out- side with a brown loose tunic, sheathing the base of the Stem, fibres of the root inferior, thick and short. Stem partly under ground with two leaves appearing radical because near the ground, the whole plant smooth and shining ; Stem white below, greenish pur- ple above, slender cylindrical from five to twelve inches long, two sessile leaves : on the first year of the growth only one leaf is produced, and it is commonly broader and elliptic. Leaves a little unequal, one being commonly narrower or smaller, they are from three to seven inches long, lanceolate or oval-lanceo- late, shining and glabrous, veinless and with a single nerve, often spotted by large irregular spots of a dull brown above, pale and unspotted below, and with an obtuse callous point. A single flower at the end of the Stem, one inch long, nodding, of a yellow colour, sometimes with a mixture of red outside by a stripe or veins on the external sepals or petals, which are lanceolate reflect- ed, sometimes acute, while the inner ones are oblong lanceolate, obtuse, quite yellow, veinless, with a cal- lous notch on each side at the base, and a furrow in the middle above the fossule or little pitt of the base, above the Stamina, which are inserted quite at the base, shorter than the sepals, yellow, with depressed subulate filaments, and depressed linear anthers. Germ turbinate triangular, Style fistulose, Stigma clavate 170 EnYTKRONIUM. No. 35. prismatic trilobe above. The Capsul is naked, turbi- nate triangular, with three cells and many large oval seeds. HISTORY — This pretty genus was long formed by a single species E, dens-canis growing in Europe and Asia, to which was referred this at first. Several species have since been discovered in Anierica, and they afford many varieties, some of which may on further attention be deemed peculiar species. They all possess the same properties as well as a striking peculiar generic habit, somewhat similar to Claytoniaj Clintonia, Mayanthiis, <§'C. The Stem has been mis- taken for a Scape by many, because it is partly sub- terraneous. When this species was distinguished from E, dens-canis, several names were given to it by Botanists nearly at the same time, I have chosen the best if not the oldest also, applying to its yellow flo\yers, while all the others have white flowers ; the name of Jlmericanmn so often proposed, is become absurd now. The varieties of this yellow species which I have detected are, 1. Var. Viperinuin, Leaves canaliculate with large reddish brown spots; external sepals acuminate, veined with red outside, all the sepals with small purplish dots inside. Stigma entire, trigone, pubescent. This is probably the kind figured by W. Barton. 2. Var. Croceum, Leaves narrow flat with small spots, flower drooping, external sepals partly red out- side and obtuse, Stigma trilobe smooth. This is figured by Bigelow. 3. Var. Bracteaiumy Leaves unequal. Stem with No. 35. ERYTKRONIUl^r. I7I a lanceolate bract, flower small. This is the E, brae- teatum of Boott and Bigelow, from Vermont and the Alleghany ; probably a peculiar species. 4. Var. Lucid.utn, Leaves unspotted, flat shining, oblong lanceolate, flowers quite yellow. This is figured here. 5. Var. Glaucum, Leaves unspotted glaucous, flower yellow with some red veins. 6. Var. Lati folium^ Leaves broad oval or elliptic, flat, seldom spotted, flower yellow. 7. Var. GrandiJIornm. 8. Var. Parvijloruni, &c. Many strange vulgar names have been given to these plants, the spotted kinds are called Snakeleaf, Adder's tongue or leaf, because compared to Snake's spots, while the unspotted kinds become Lamb's tongue. The Goodyera and Hieracium Venosujn are also called Rattle Snake leaf and used as equiva- lents. Snow-drop alludes to its early blossoms, com- inar often throusrh snow. In fact it is in the United States the representative of the Gala?ithus nivalis or true Snow-drop of Europe, blossoming in March and April, while snow is yet falling. The E. albidum is called W'hite Snow-drop. They are both pretty vernal blossoms, deserving to be cultivated in gardens although scentless, Erythronium is a generic name of Greek origin, applying to the red spots of the leaves. The genus belongs to the fine natural order of Liliacea, near Tulipa and Fritillaria, It belongs to Hexandria 7no7Xogynia of Linnaeus. 172 EHYTHRONIUM. No. 35. ™ * ■ Locality — It grows from New England to Ohio and south to Carolina ; in the Western States it is often superseded by the E* albidum, which extends from New York to Missouri and Tennessee. They both grow in woods, and under the shade of trees, shrubs or plants. Qualities — The whole plant, but particularly the root, contains fecula, mucilage, a resin, and some volatile principle rather acrid. When dry, the root is farinaceous and loses its unpleasant flavor. PROPERTIES— The root or bulb and the leaves are emetic, emollient, suppurative and antiscrofu- lous when fresh, nutritive when dry. The plant appears to possess nearly the same properties as the bulbs of many Lilies ; but with the addition of an acrid emetic eti'ect, which is lost by drying, boiling, roasting, &c. The dose to produce the emesis is twenty-five grains of the fresh root, or forty of the recent dried root. As it loses its activity by keeping, it is an inconvenient and unsafe emetic. Bigelow proposes to try it as a substitute of CoIchicu7n: al- though they belong to different Natural Orders. This plant promises better as an antiscrofulous, for which purpose it is employed as well as the JS. albidum from New York to Kentucky, &c. the fresh roots and leaves are stewed with milk and applied to the scrofulous sores as a poultice, healing them speedily: this new medical property was first communicated to me by Dr. Crockatt. Many bulbs of Lilies have been used in the same way for sores, but the active acrid principle of this, may act beneficially on the Ko. 35. ERYTHRONITTM. 173 scrofulous sores. Bigelow mentions that even bulbs of Tulips and Daffodils have acted as emetics sometimes. The roots and leaves of this plant may be eaten after boiling, like those of E, dens-canis ; but the broth is emetic and nauseous, while it is said that the E» dens- canis makes good broth in Siberia. Salep could be made of these roots by scalding them and drying them afterwards. Substitutes — Erythronium albidum and Goodr yera picbcscens for Scrofula, Salep, Roots of Acrid Liliaceous plants, many Emetic roots, &c. Remarks — The E, albidum, White Snakeleaf or Snow-drop, will be known by its bluish white blos- soms, and trifid stigma. It offers as many varieties as the E.Jlavum, such as 1. Cerulescens, 2. Candi- dum, 3. Maculatum, 4. August if oliumy 5. Bract ea- turn, 6. Grandijlorum, 7. Parvijlorum, 8. Clan- destinum, 9. Glaucum, &c. Found from New York to Missouri and Kentucky. F 2 174 EUPATORZUlMt. No. 36. No. 36. EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM. English Name— BONESET. French Name — Eupatoire percefeuille. German Name Durchwachsener Wasser- DOST. Officinal Name — Eupatorium perfoliatum. Vulgar Names — Thorough-wort, Boneset, Joe- pye, Teazel, Feverwort, Sweating-plant, Thorough- stem, Crosswort, Indian Sage, Agueweed, Thorough- wax, Vegetable Antimony. Synonym — E, connatum Michaux. Authorities — Lin. Mich. Pursh, Golden, Schoepf, Cutler, Stokes, B. Barton, Torrey, Eaton, Elliott, Thatcher, CoXe, Anderson, Guthrie, Burson, A. Ives, all the Dispens. and Mat. Med. Bigelow, fig. £ and Sequel, W. Barton, fig. 37. Genus Eupatorium — Flowers compound floscu- lose. Perianthe imbricate, unequal, oblong or cy- lindric. Phoranthe naked, Floscules five toothed, Style exserted bifid. Seeds oblong angular. Pappus subplumose. — ^Leaves commonly opposite or verticil- late, flowers corymbose. Species E. perfoliatum — Stemvillose, cylindric; leaves opposite connate-perfoliate, oblong, tapering, acute, serrulate, rugose above, tomentose beneath: flowers with a dozen of floscules. No. 36. EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM. BONESET. No. 36. EXTPATORIUM. I75 DESCRIPTION Root perennial, horizontal, crooked, with scanty fibres, and sending up many- Stems, which are upright, simple at the base, branched above in a trichotome form, forming a depressed corymb ; from two to five feet high, round, covered with flexuose hairs ; the whole plant has a greyish green color, and even the flowers are of a dull white. Leaves opposite, decussate, connate at the base, or united to each other there, where broadest, and gra- dually tapering to a sharp point, from three to eight inches long, narrow oblong, rough above, woolly be- neath, margin serrulate, upper leaves often sessile, not united. Inflorescence in a dense depressed terminal Corymb formed by smaller fastigate corymbs, peduncles hairy ,^ as well as the.perianthe or common calix, each in- closing from twelve to fifteen floscules or florets, Scales lanceolate acute, florets tubulose white, five black anthers united into a tube. Seeds black, pris- matic, oblong, base acute, pappus with scabrous hairs. HISTORY — A very striking plant, easily recog- nized among all others, even when not in bloom, by its connate leaves, perforated by the Stem, as in the Teazel or Dipsacus fullonum. It belongs to a genus containing nearly one hundred species, all very dif- ferent from this except the E, sessilifolium which is nearly alike, but has smooth Stems, leaves rounded at the base, not united nor tomentose, flowers whiter, whereby they will be easily distinguished. One half of the Species grow in America, and many have medical properties; but this appears the most 176 EUPATORltriMt. No. 36. efficient, and being also best known, deserves a pre- ference, although several are useful substitutes in some cases. It is by no means a handsome plant, while many congeneric are quite elegant plants, in- troduced into many gardens, such are the E. celesti- num with beautiful azure blossoms, common all along the western streams, and the K. purpureum with large purple flowers, on a stem five to eight feet high, with whorled leaves. The genus belongs to the great Natural Order of Corymbose plants, family Flosculose, or to Synge- nesia Equalis of Linnaeus. It takes its name from Mithridates Eupator, an ancient eastern king 5 it was first given to the E, cannabinum, the Asiatic and European species, whose medical powers were made known by him ; it is an emetic, purgative and altera- tive like this. They are all autumnal plants : this blossoms from August to October. Locality — Common in swamps, marshes, and near streams, from Maine to Florida, and from Ohio to Louisiana: where it appears to have been stationed by the benevolence of nature, wherever men are liable to local fevers. It is found also in Nova Scotia, Canada, Missouri, Arkansas, &c. Qualities — The whole plant, roots, stems, leaves, and flowers are intensely bitter, but not astringent; they have a peculiar flavor and faint smell. They have been analized by Anderson, Bigelow and Lau- rence, and found to contain Extractive, Amarine, a gum, a resin, an acid similar to the gallic, Acetate of No. 36. EUP AT0RIU2VE. 177 lime, some azote and tannin, and lastly a peculiar substance Eupatorine, brown, bitter, resiniform, soluble in water and alcohol, forming sulfates, ni- trates, &c. PROPERTIES— A valuable sudorific, tonic, al- terative, antiseptic, cathartic, emetic, febrifuge, cor- roborant, diuretic, astringent, deobstruent and stimu- lant. It was one of the most powerful remedies of the native tribes for fevers, &c. It has been intro- duced extensively into practice all over the country from New England to Alabama, and inserted in all our medical works, although writers differ as to the extent of its effects. It appears to be superior to A^n- themis nobilis or Camomile as a sudorific tonic, and preferable to Barks in the treatment of the local au- tumnal fevers of the country, near Streams, Lakes and Marshes. I have seen them cured efficiently by it when other tonics failed. It acts somewhat like Antimony, without the danger attending the use of this mineral. The cold preparations are powerful tonics and do not produce emesis as an over-dose of the w^arm decoction. It acts powerfully on the skin and removes obstinate cutaneous diseases. It has cured the following disorders in many instances. In- termittent and remittent fevers; petechial or spotted fever, called also malignant or typhoid pleurisy ; dis- eases of general debility. Ascites, Anasarca, Anorexia, and debility arising from intemperance ; acute and chronic rheumatism; violent catarrhs; bilious and typhus fever, particularly low typhus, incident to marshy places, and attended with a hot and dry skin ; 178 EUPATORIUM. No. 36. also influenza, the Lake fever similar to the yellow fever, and the yellow fever itself; ring- worms, and Tinea Capites, Dropsy, Gout and Syphilitic pains : dyspepsia and complaints of the Stomach, and Bites of Snakes. This plant may be so managed as to act as a tonic, a sudorific, a laxative or an emetic, as required. No other tonic of equal activity can be exhibited in fevers, with less danger of increasing excitement or produc- ing congestion : the only objection to its general use is its nauseous and disagreeable taste. In substance or cold decoction, and combined with aromatics it becomes very efiicient in intermittents and dyspeptic disorders : it strengthens the viscera and restores tone to the system. The doses of the powder are from ten to twenty grains, the decoction and infusion from one to three ounces. No unpleasant effects follow the cold preparations. Ample accounts of the beneficial effects of this plant, are to be found in all our medical Works. Burson says that in Anorexia consequent to drunken- ness, a cold infusion has speedily restored the tone of the stomach. Zollickoffer extols it as an alterative remedy in tinea capites, united to cremor tartar and sugar, two spoonfuls given three times a-day. Thatcher says that the cold infusion cures bilious cholic with obstinate constipation, a tea-cup full every half hour producing a cathartic effect. The warm infusion causes a copious perspiration, and often becomes a safe and certain emetic. Chapman relates that it cured the kind of Influenza called Breakbone fever. No. 36. EUPATORIUM, I79 acting as a diaphoretic, whence its popular name of Boneset. The name of Joepye is given to it, and to E. picrpureum, in New England from an Indian of that name, who cured typhus with it, by a copious perspiration. Eberle says that catarrhal fevers may be removed by drinking a weak infusion of it in going to bed. It is particularly useful in the Indi- gestion of old people : and may be used as an auxiliary to other tonics and emetics in all cases. The extract and syrup preserve all the properties, and are less disagreeable to the palate. Substitutes — Anthemis nobilis and Cotula — Matricaria Camomila-^Marrubium Vulgare or Common Horehound — Jisdepias tuherosa — Leptan^ dra — Botrophis — Yarrow, Tansey and Sassafras, &c. Besides the following species of the same Genus. 1. E. teucrifolium or Rough Boneset (Wild hore- hound, &c.) has rough sessile ovate leaves, with some teeth at the base, the flowers white with five florets. Common from New England to Georgia. — Milder, less bitter and disagreeable than the former, a larger dose may be given, chiefly used in the South, in bilious remittent fevers, when Barks are inadmissible, dose two or four ounces of the infusion made by one ounce in a quart of water. 2. E, yurpureum or Purple Boneset (Joepye, Gra- vel root, &c.) Stem hollow, rough, five to six feet high, leaves whorled, four to five, petiolate, lanceo- late, serrate, rugose : flowers purple, many florets. — In meadows and near streams from New England \.o Kentucky. It has the same properties as E.perfolia- turn, has been used in fevers and gravel, &c. 180 EUPATORIXnVC. No. 36. 3. E. verticillatum or Tall Boneset (Joepye, &c. ) Stem solid, smooth, five to eight feet high, leaves whorled three to five, sessile, ovate-lanceolate, base attenuate, unequally serrate, smooth : flowers pur- plish with many florets — With E, purpureum, same properties often blended together. 4. E, Tnaculatum or Spotted Boneset. Stem solid sulcate, spotted ; leaves petiolate, ovate-lanceolate, pubescent beneath, four to five in a whorls — With the last. Stem four to five feet high. 5. E, trifoliatum or Wood Boneset. Stem solid, leaves petiolate, ternate, ovate, acuminate, serrate, punctate, rough. — In woods from New England to Kentucky, Stem three to four feet high. 6. E. sessUifolium or Bastard Boneset. Described above, common in dry and hilly grounds, while the E, perfoliatum is always found in damp and low grounds. 7. E. urticefolium or Deerwort Boneset. Leaves opposite, petiolate, ovate, serrate, similar to nettle leaves, flowers white, many floscules. — In woods, exceedingly common in the Western States, eaten by Deer. 8. E. violaceum, Violet Boneset. Leaves oppo- site, petiolate, cordate, toothed, undulate, pubescent. — In Louisiana, Alabama, &c. a beautiful species with fine blossoms of a violet color, deserving to be culti- vated. These and many others are much weaker than the three first. No. 37. EUPHORBIA COROLLATA. BIOOMXNG SPURGB. No. 57. EUPHORBIA. 181 ^ No. 37. EUPHORBIA COROLLATA. English Name— BLOOISIING SPURGE. French Name— Tithymale fleuri. German Name — Blum Wolfsmilch. Officinal Names — Ipecacuana, Euphorbia radix. Vulgar Names — Milkweed, Ipecacuana, Picac, Hippo, Ipecac, Persely, Milk-purslain, White-pursely, Indian Physic, Purge-root, Emetic-root, Bowman- root, Apple-root, Snake's milk, and Peheca in Loui- siana. Authorities — Lin. Clayton, Schoepf, Michaux, Pursh, Torrey, M*Keen, Zollickoffer, A. Ives, B. Barton, Coxe, W. Bart. Eberle, Bigelow, fig. 53, and Seq. Genus Euphorbia — Monoical. Perianthe persistent caliciform, ventricose, alternate Segments petaloid. Staminate flowers eight to sixteen in the Involucre, naked, each has one bilobe anther with a filament articulated to a pedicel. Pistilate flowers solitary central, stipitate, one germ, three bifid styles. Cap- sul stipitate, three celled, cells formed by the involv- ed valves, one or two seeded. Species E. Corollata — Stem simple erect ; leaves scattered sessile, oblong-euneate, obtuse, entire; umbel with five rays and leaves, rays trifid with two oblong iS2 EX7PB0RBZA. No. 37. bracts ; flowers pedicellate, rotate, five lobed, corolli- form ; capsuls smooth. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, large, one inch thick, two feet long, yellowish. Several Stems from two to five feet high, simple, round, erect, often smooth. Leaves sessile, entire scattered, often crowd- ed, oblong, obovate, cuneate or linear, flat or revolute, smooth or hairy, A large terminal umbel with five rays, and as many leaves in a whorl, similar to the stem leaves. Rays trifid and next dichotomous, each fork has two oblong bracts. Perianthe (mistaken for the Calix by Linnasus, &c.) large, rotate, white, with five rounded flat segments, looking like a corol. Five small inner segments (nectaries of Lin.) like obtuse projections at the base of the segments, A dozen of Stamina, evolving gradually, each is a true flower on a pedicel, with an articulate filament and a bilobe anther. Many perianthes without pistil, when ex- isting it is central, stipitate, nodding, rounded, with three bifid Styles. Capsul three cocca or formed by three valves rolled in and making three cells, each with a seed convex outside, angular inside, where it is inserted. Locality — From Canada to Florida and Louisi- ana, in dry soils, barren fields, among stones and rocks, also in glades, seldom in woods and never near waters, nor in rich alluvial soils. HISTORY— As in the case of the Erigeron this article shall include three species, which have equi- valent properties, the two others are 1. E, Ipecacuana Lin. Ipecacuana Spurge. Fe- No. sr. EUPHORBIA. 183 rennial, smooth, dififuse or procumbent, dichotome, articulated : leaves opposite, sessile, entire, variable, round, oboval, elliptic, oblong, lanceolate or linear : Flowers solitary at the forks, on long pedicels, peri- anthe small, campanulate five lobed : capsuls round and smooth. — Confined to the great Atlantic alluvial region exteniiing from New Jersey to Florida and Mexico, along the Sea : very common there in sands and Pine woods. It blossoms from June to August, and affords a multitude of varieties, such as 1. Cespi- tosa, 2. Prostrata, 3. Kotundifolia, 4. Lanceolata^ 5. Uniflora^ &.c. this last has only a single white flower, with procumbent stem, and obovate leaves. I described it in 1808, as a N. Sp. E. unijiora, 6. Rubra, the whole plant is red, 7. Portulacoides with erect stems and oval leaves, described by Linnaeus as a peculiar species. — Root grey, white inside, very long. It is figured by Bigelow fig. 52 and by W. Barton, fig. 18. 2. E. hypericifolio Lin. (also E. maculata of Lin.) Black Spurge, (or Spotted Pursely, black Pursely, &c.) Annual, smooth, dichotome, erect or procumbent, divaricated : leaves opposite, petiolate, oblique, subfalcate, oblong, serrate, acute ; flowers ter- minal fasciculate, perianthe four lobed and white, cap- suls smooth. — Common all over the United States, in fields, &c. Several Varieties, 1. Prostrata, 2. Mtd" tijiora, 3, Maculata with a purple spot on each leaf. 4. Simplex, &c. The varieties of E. corollata are 1. Linearis all the leaves linear obtuse. 2. Plcbescens, Stems and 184^ EUPHORBIA, No. 37. leaves pubescent. 3. Rosea flowers tinged with rose color. 4. Paucijlora only 5 or 6 flowers, &c. They all blossom in Summer, from June to September, and make a pretty appearance by their fine umbels of snowy blossoms: they are bad weeds in some fields, and all animals avoid them. In these plants, we have quite efficient substitutes for the Brazilian Ipecacuana, Calicocca, which is often adulterated or old in our shops. We could even export them as true Equivalents of the officinal Ipe- cacuana. The E. hypericifolia^ however, which is an annual plant is available as an herb, while the E, IpecacAiana has a large root from four to six feet long, which might be exported and afforded cheap. It is a singular coincidence that the name given to these roots by the Indians of Louisiana is FehecOf very similar to the Brazilian native name of Ipeca^ both meaning Emetic-root. The Psyckotria emetica and Viola Ipecacuana furnish also similar emetics. The Genus Euphorbia has been named after Eu- phorbus, physician of Juba, king of Mauritania, who brought the Euphorbium or Juice of the E. offici- nalis into practice. It is a very extensive and ano- malous genusj divided into many sections. Esula, Tithymalus, Characias, Lathyras, &c. It is the type of the Natural Order of Tricocca or Euphor- biaceous plants. Linnaeus put it in Dodecandria monogynia, mistaking the*perianthe for a Corolla, but it is now properly removed to Monoecia monan- dria. Most of the species are medical, more or less drastic and emetic, but difficult to manage, and in large No. 37. EUPHOUBXA. 185 doses they bring on violent pains, heat and thirst, de- bility, cold sweats -and even death. The E. helios- copia and a species akin to E. pephis grow also in the United States and have been used in Europe in small doses, as well as the E. esula, dulcis, exigua, characias, palustrh, cyparissias, &c. Each has a peculiar mode of action, and the E, officinalis of Africa produces a blistering gum. They are all milky plants. Qualities — These plants have been analysed by Barton, Bigelow and ZoUickoffer ; they contain mu- cilage, sugar, starch. Caoutchouc, Resin, an essential Oil, Tannin, and a peculiar principle similar to Emeta, which is soluble in Alcohol and colors it yellow, but insoluble in Water, forming oxalic Acid with Nitric Acid, it might be called Oxalemis. The ana- lysis of the true Ipecacuana differs from Jhis and gives Starch forty, Gum twenty, Wax six, Fibrine twenty, Oil two. Emetine or Acidified Emeta sixteen parts. The roots and leaves of these Euphorbia have a sweetish taste subastringent and not unpleasant, with a peculiar smell, when rubbed; but no nauseous taste nor smell : the milk is acrid. PROPERTIES— Emetic, cathartic, diaphoretic, expectorant, astringent, rubefacient, blistering, and stimulant. These plants are highly recommended by some physicians as equivalent to the officinal Ipecac, which it is said they ought to supersede ; but Bige- low contends that they are less mild and bland, and although equal or even stronger, are not so useful in all indications. They were formerly considered too 2q i86 EUPHORBIA. No. 37= violent in their operation ; but have since been found to be manageable and safe : the action is always pro- portionate to the quantity taken, which does not hap- pen with common Ipecac. As a cathartic they have been found equal or better than Jalap or Scammony ; requiring only "half the dose, ten grains will com- monly purge well, while twenty-five to thirty grains produce repeated evacuations from the stomach. Given in large doses they excite violent vomiting, attended with heat, vertigo, dizziness and debility. The E, corollata appears to be the most efficient since it purges at the dose of three to ten grains, and vomits at ten to twenty. But a diversity has been noticed in various constitutions, the same doses being sometimes inert, cathartic or emetic, or both in some instances; they often produce nausea even in small doses, and then act as diaphoretics like Ipecac, to which they are preferable by having no unpleasant taste, nor exciting pains and spasms. The medical properties reside in the thick bark of the root, which forms two thirds of the whole root, and produces one twelfth of watery extract, and one tenth of alcoholic extract. They may be substituted to Ipecac in all the pharmaceutical preparations, wine, tincture, extract, &c. ; the emetic dose of the wine is an ounce, of the extract three to five grains. When used as a diaphoretic and expectorant, the dose is three or four grains of the powder : it may be com- bined with opium or antimonials. The bruised root applied to the skin, produces vesication in about twelve hours, which lasts two or three days ; this property No. sr. EUPHORBIA. 187 jft- has not yet been applied to practical use ; but might be equivalent to that of the officinal Euphorbium used by farriers. The milk of all the species of this genus destroy Warts and cure Herpes, they may afford a kind of black Varnish, or Gum Elastic. The other diseases in which these plants have been occasionally employed are Dropsy, asthma, also hooping cough and fevers, but we have no great evidence of their success, except in Asthma when they act as pectoral sudorifics. The E. hyper id folia appears to differ in its effects from the two others, it is an annual, the herb being employed instead of the root : it has been bror^ht into notice by Zollickoffer, who says that it is more astrin- gent and slightly narcotic ; but it is also purgative, &c. After evacuations, he prescribes it in tea-spoonfuls of the decoction, for Cholera infantum, diarrhea and dysentery. This plant is also one of those producing the salivation of horses, called Slabbering, when eaten by them through chance in meadows, and the remedy for which are Cabbage leaves. All our Spurges are more or less active plants, those with large perennial roots are all emetic, while the annual kinds are altera- tive or pernicious. One species E. peploides {E, peplus Americana) is said to cause the milk fever, or disease of Cows and cattle which render their milk or flesh pernicious. It grows from New- York to Ten- nessee, on rocks near streams. By a strange mistake the capsuls of the E, lathyrus (Capper plant of New England) are pickled instead of Cappers, being mis- taken for the Capparis Spinosa or true Capper, and 188 EUPHORBIA. No. sr. are not found unpalatable, although they cannot be a healthy condiment. Substitutes — Gillenia Sp, — Sanguinaria Cana- densis— Lobelia in flat a — Asclepias Sp. — Erythro- nium Sp, — Eupatorium perfoliatum — Officinal Ipe- cacuana and other active Emetics. Remarks — The figure of Henry, under the name oT Bowman's root is fictitious ; the true Bowman's root is the Leptandra, The helioscopia, which grew in the Northern States, has nearly the properties of the E. hyperici folia, as was well as the E, polygonifolia 2i small annual plant, growing on the sea shores from New England to Florida, and spreading flat on the sand. No. 38. FRAGAEIA VE8CA. COIOMON STRAWBERItT. No. 38. PRAGARIA. 189 No. 38. FRAGAKIA VESCA. English Name— COMMON STRAWBERRY. French Name — Fraisier Sauvage. German Name — Gemeine Erdbeere. Officinal Name — Fragaria baccae. Vulgar Names — American Strawberry, Wild Strawberry, Synonyms — F. virginiana and F, canadensis, Wildenow, Persoon, Pursh, &c. Authorities Lin. Clayton, Colden, Cutler, Schoepf, Michaux, Pursh, Torrey, Eaton, many bo- tanical works and some Materia Med. &.c. Genus Fragaria — Calix ten cleft, subequal, bear- ing the corolla and stamina. Petals, five on the base of the calix. Many stamina, unequal, filaments fili- form, anthers round. Large central gynophore, pulpy, deciduous, bearing many Pistils immersed in it, and forming together a pulpy many seeded berry, — Leaves trifoliate, serrate, stipulate. Species F. Vesca — Stoloniferous and hairy ; radi- cal leaves as long as the stems, stem leaves few, sub- sessile : folioles subsessile, oboval, lateral ones oblique. DESCRIPTION — Root perennial, creeping, knot- ty, bunches of fibres at the knots. Stems of two kinds, some procumbent, stoloniferous, creeping, 190 FRAGABXA. No. 38. '* ' — — — ~-— — -^— .^ .. rooting, slender, with few small leaves, and commonly sterile; true stems upright or reclined, short, with few leaves; both stems and leaves are more or less hairy. Leaves either radical or caulinal, the former on long petiols, the others nearly similar when at the base of the stem ; but much smaller and with short petioles when higher up : stipules lanceolate or oblong, acute: three folioles sessile or nearly so, the middle one subpetiolate, nearly equal, but the lateral ones Qommonly oblique, and with fewer teeth inside ; shape oboval or oval or nearly round, margin broadly ser- rate, surface with regular veins, lower surface pale and more hairy. Flowers one or many on each stem, with pedicels erect or drooping. Calix spreading or reflexed, di- vided into ten acute segments, the alternate somewhat shorter. Five white petals, oboval or obcordate in- serted on the calix. Many small stamina inserted there also, with short filiform filaments and small round anthers. Pistils many, very small, oval, with a small sessile stigma, forming a convex head, being inserted on a fleshy gynophore, which grows, becomes pulpy and colored, involving the pistils or the small seeds succeeding them, and forming together the fruit or Strawberry, which is either round or oval, and scrobiculate or punctate by little pitts, each corres- ponding to a seed inside : these fruits are either red or white. HISTORY— Few plants are better known at first sight, and yet more difficult to describe, owing to the variable characters. Linnaeus and many botanists No. 38. PR AG ARIA. 191 thought that all the Strawberries of the five parts of the world, formed only one species, the actual one. Others have thought otherwise and attempted to dis- tinguish several species and varieties, among those found in America, Africa, Asia and Polynesia; but the difficulty has been to ascertain (as among the Roses) which are the specific or constant forms and which are variable deviations. If every deviation of form, color, direction, pubes- cence and composition, was to be considered specific, we should have 100 kinds of Strawberries, and indeed some gardeners have described thirty or forty kinds, while more accurate botanists only acknowledge ten to fifteen species as yet. Meantime these species have all the same habit and flowers, difiering only by some inconspicuous details. Our wild Strawberry was long thought the F. vesca, until Wildenow and Pursh made two new species of it. In attending to the many varieties which I have seen in my travels, I thought that three or four more species could be made from them ; but noticing that they are all connected by intermediate links, I came to the conclusion that they were only varieties of the F, vesca, and that the whole genus requires a revision, I could mention about twenty varieties of our wild Strawberries and seventeen from our gardens; but shall confine myself to seven of the most remarkable native kinds. 1. Var. Uniflora, stems simple, one flowered, one leaved, as long as the radical leaves, folioles sessile, auboval, incise-serrate ; calix spreading or erect, pe- 192 FHAGAHZA. No. 38. tals rounded, fruits rounded or depressed — Common in glades. This is figured here. 2. Var. Clandestina. Nearl}- stemless, stems short leafless, two to five flowered, concealed by large radi- cal leaves, folioles oboval, sessile; calix spreading or reflexed, fruit round or oval. — Rare in New York, Ohio, &c. S. Var. Piunila. Stems short, one to two flower- ed, leaves shorter, very small oval and oboval, with adpressed silvery hairs, calix spreading and small. — In the mountains of Virginia ~&:c. one or two inches high. 4. Var. Glabra* Stems two to three flowered, leaves ample, longer, nearly smooth, folioles oboval, subsessile, fruit oval. On the banks of the Ohio, Ten- nessee, Cumberland, &c. 5. Var. yBprica. Stems one to five flowered, leaves shorter, hairy, glaucous beneath, folioles subsessile oval and oboval, calix spreading, fruit suboval. — Very common in the western glades, and open fields from New Jersey to Virginia. 6. Var. Sylvatica, Stems 1-5 flowered as long as the leaves, folioles broad oval, subsessile, smooth above, calix spreading, fruit round or oval — This is probably the F. virginiana of many; common in woods and mountains, 7. Var. Pendula. Stems three to five flowered, leaves ample, folioles broad oval, smooth above, sub- sessile, calix spreading; fruits pendulous, globular, pubescent. — In the mountains of New England, Penn- Ko. 38. TRACrAXlZA. 193 isylvania, &c. This must fee the Fr. Canadensis of Pursh, &c. All these varieties afford excellent fruits, rather ismall, but highly flavored, tfeey are red, seldom white, and ripe from May to June, the blossoms appear in April and May. Strawberries are deservedly esteem- ed as pleasant and healthy fruits, and have long been tenants of gardens : the wild ones are always as good as those cultivated. Fragaria belongs to the natural family of Senti- cosEs next to Rubus and Comarum, and to Icosan- dria poli/gynia of Linnseus. LocALiTY^-Strawberries are scattered all over the globe, in cold climates, or on the high mountains of warm countries. They are found on the Himala mountains of the centre <5f Asia, and from Natolia to Siberia and Japan in that Continent ; they grow all over Europe, on Mount Atlas of Africa, on the moun- tains of the Polynesia Islands, and in America all over the Andes from Oregon to Chili, also from Alas- ka to Canada. In the United States, they are found every where in woods, glades, &c. Qualities — The whole plant has a subastringent taste, the flowers have a honey smell, the fruits have a peculiar fragrant smell, and ambrosial acid flavor. The plant contains tannin : and Strawberries contain the malic and tartaric acid, some sugar and much water, besides an essential oil giving the Aroma. PROPERTIES — Although Strawberries have been commonly considered as an article of food, they highly 194< PRAGARIA. No. 38. deserve a place among medicaments, which are not the worse I should think for being palatfible. Lin- naeus introduced them in his Materia Medica, as well as Schoepf, &c. They are diluent, refrigerant, sub- astringent, analeptic, diaphoretic, diuretic, pectoral, eccoprotic, &c. They are useful in fevers, Gravel, Gout, Scurvy, and Phthisis. They are cooling, pro- mote perspiration, give relief in diseases of the blad- der and kidneys, upon which they act powerfully, since they impart a violet smell and high color to urine. Hoffman and Linnaeus have long ago extolled them in gout and phthisis ; persons labouring under these chronic complaints ought to eat them frequently when in Season, and use at other times their Syrup. An excessive dose of either is however liable to pro- duce emesis or a painful stricture in the bladder, with red urine, as I have experienced myself. But used moderately they are certainly a valuable medical diet in many cases. They possess also the property of curing chilblains, their water is used in France for that purpose as a wash. A fine wine can be made with them and some sugar. The Plant and leaves have nearly the same properties, although they are less cooling and more astringent. Both have been employed like Cinquefoil and Agrimony for sore throat, swelled gums, bowel complaints, jaundice and fevers in infusion and decoction. A Vinegar Infu- sion, Distilled Water, S3^rup, Conserve, &c. of Straw- berries are kept in shops in Europe. Substitutes — Raspberries best substitute, Black- No. S8. FRAGARIA. 195 berries, Mulberries, Red Currants, Cranberries and other acid berries, but none is so good, lacking either the diuretic or diaphoretic property. Remarks — The Arbutus Unedo or Strawberry tree of Europe, is a fine evergreen and ornamental shrub, producing large berries similar to Strawberries, but belonging to different orders of plants, the Bi- CORNES and Decanclria Monogynia like the Arhutus Uva ursi. These berries are edible but less acid than Strawberries, and they are emetic even at a moderate dose, as I have myself experienced. This fine shrub does not grow in the United States, except in gardens. The Evonymus *dmericanus is also called Straw- berry shrub with us ; but erroneously, since the ber- ries hardly resemble Strewberries, being depressed, with four or five warty lobes, not eatable, and without any of their properties. The leaves of this shrub, however, as well as of Evonymus atropiivpiireiis (the Wahoon or Arrow wood of the West and South) make a fine pectoral tea, much used for colds, coughs, ca- tarrh, influenza, &c. The leaves of the Crategiis cniS'gaUi, or White-thorn are also used for the same purpose. ig5 rZlASERA. No. 39. No^ 39. FRxVSERA YERTICILLATA. English Naivie— AMERICAN COLOMBO. French Name — Frasere Colombo. German Name — Colombo Wurzel. Officinal Name — Colombo. Frasera radix. TuLGAR Names — Colombo-root, Columbia, In- dian Lettuce, Yellow Gentian, Golden Seal, Curcuma, Meadow Pride,. Pyramid, &c. Synonyms — Sivertia difformis Lin. Sw. frasera Smith in Rees' Cyb. Frasera carolmensis Walter. Fr. officinalis B. Bart. Fr, Walteri Mich. &c. Authorities — Waller, Bartram, Michaux, Pursh, Persoon, Nuttall, Torrey, Schoepf, Elliott, Drake, Bigelow Sequel, Thatcher, Coxe, A. Ives, Hildreth, ZoUickofier, many Dispens. B. Barton, W. Barton^ fig. 35 bad. Genus Frasera — Calix persistent, four parted. Corolla spreading, rotate, four parted, segments ellip- tic, each having in the middle a large bearded gland. Stamina four short, alterne with the segments. One pistil, germen oval compressed, one style, two stig- mas. Capsul oval flat, one celled, two valved, several winged imbricate seeds inserted on the valves. Species Fr. verticillata — Very smooth, leaves ses- sile, entire, radical leaves procumbent, elliptic, obtuse ;: stem leaves vesticillate by five ta seven, oblong or No. 39. FRASERA VERTieiLLATA. h ^r^ mk AmBFaCAU COKOMBO. No. 39. PRASEEA. 197 lanceolate, acute: flowers in a pyramidal panicle, bracts opposite. DESCRIPTION—Root triennial, large, yellow, rugose, suberose, hard, horizontal, spindle shaped, two feet long sometimes, with few fibres. The whole plant perfectly smooth, stem from five to ten feet hio^h cylindrical, erect, solid, with few branches, except at the top, where they form a part of the pyramidal in- florescence. Leaves, all vcrticillate, sessile and entire, with a single nerve : the radical leaves form a star spread upon the ground, they are elliptical and obtuse, from five to twelve in number, from ten to eighteen inches long and from three to five broad, constituting the whole plant in the first years, or before the stem grows. The stem leaves are in whorls of four to eight, seldom more or less, smaller and narrower than the radical leaves, the lowest are narrow oblong, the un- per lanceolate, acute, and sometimes undulate. Flowers yellowish white, numerous, large, forming an elegant pyramidal panicle, the branches of which are axillary to leaves or bracts, unequally verticillate or trichotome : this pyramid is from one to five feet long: the bracts are ternate or opposite, shorter than the leaves, broader at the base, acute: pedicels lax, longer than the flowers, cylindric. Calix deeply four rted, spreading, segments lanceolate, acute, per- .ent, nearly as long as the Corolla, which is one .ich in diameter, open, flat, deeply four parted, with four elliptic cruciate segments, margin somewhat in- flexed, end cucullate obtuse, a large gland in the mid- dle of each, convex on both side, ciliate. The four r2 igS FKASEHA. No. 39. stamina opposite to the sinuses and inserted on them, filaments short, subulated, anthers oval oblong, base ^lotched. Germen central aval, compressed, desinent into a style as long, and having two thick glandular stigmas. Capsul yellowish, borne on the persistent calix, oval, acuminate, very compressed, margin thin, sides subconvex, with a suture, opening in two flat valves, one celled. Seeds flat, elliptic, imbricated, -winged around, inserted on the sutures of the valves. Sometimes a few flowers have five or six stamina, and as many segments to the Corolla. Locality — It grov/s West, South and North of the Alleghany mountains ; but neither on them, nor East of them. It is spread from the w^estern parts of New York to Missouri and thence to Alabama and Carolina. It is fouad in rich woody lands, open glades and meadows. Rare in some places, in others extremely abundant. HISTORY — One of the handsomest native plants of America: I have seen it in the western glades of Kentucky ten feet high, with a pyramid of crowded blossoms 4 or 5 feet long. They are scentless and in full bloom from May to July. It is a true triennial, the root sending only on the third year a stem and flowers. Linnaeus did nat know well this plant, and called it Sweriia difformis: it is so large that botanical spe- cimens of it are generally defective like the patched figure of Barton. Walter gave it the name of Fraseray thinking that it was new, and dedicating it to an En- gJLsh gardener, Mesadenia would have been a better No. 39. FRASSHA. 109 name, expressing its generic peculiarity, of having 4 central glands, while Swertia has 8 glands, 2 at the base of each segment. Four specific denominations have been given, among which I have selected the best. It bears also many vulgar names, but Colombo root is the most common, since it has been found medical, and very similar to Calumba, once called Colombo also, the Cocculus palmatus. It is become a kind of substitute for it, and an article of trade on that account, bexng largely collected in the western states. It affords few varieties, and stands as yet alone in its genus, the varieties are, 1. Oppositi folia. 2. Un- dulata, 3. Pauciflora. 4. JlngusHfaliUj &c. the names expressing their deviations. It belongs to the Natural order of Gentianides next to Si(Tertia, and to Tetrandria monogynia of Linnaeus. Qualities — The root is the officinal part, it has a sweetish bitter taste like Gentian, and resembles Ca- lumba in appearance, having a thick yellow bark, and a yellowish spongy wood. But their chemical cha- racters are very different, the Frasera contains Ex- tractive, Amarine, and Resin ; while the Cocculus palmatus contains Cinchonin, a bitter Resin, Oil, Starch, Sulfate of Lime, and Calumbine, I sus]>ect, however, that the analysis of the Frasera has not been accurate, and that it contains Inuline or a peculiar substance, FraserinCy intermediate between Inuline and Calumbine. It yields its qualities to water and alcohol. The leaves are also bitter. PROPERTIES— Emetic and Cathartic when fresh, 200 PRASERA. No. 39^, Tonic, antiseptic and febrifuge when dry. When first brought into notice it was supposed to be equal to the Cahimba, and substituted thereto; but has been found to be inferior, A. Ives even contends that it is infe- rior to many other native tonics. It has however the advantage over them to afford a very large rooty often weighing several pounds, and to sell cheap: it is about equal to Gentian and Rhubarb, in diseases of the stomach, and debility. It has cured a wide spread gangrene of the lower limbs by internal use and ex- ternal application, when bark had failed. It avails in Intermittents like other pure bitters, and is exten- sively used in the Western States in Fevers, Cholics^ Griping, Nausea, relaxed stomach and bowels, Indi- gestion, &c. As a purgative it is substituted to Rhu- barb in many cases, particularly for Children and Pregnant Women, being found serviceable in the constipation of pregnancy, &e. It has the advantage of not heating the body. Cold water is said to add to its efficiency and prevent nausea or emesis. A tea- spoonful of the powder in hot water and sugar will give immediate relief in case of heavy food, loading a weak stomach. It is a good corrector of the bile alone or united with other bitters. Clayton and Schoepf, calling it Swertia difformis, say that it is employed in jaundice, scurvy, gout, suppressed men- struation and is a specific in hydrophobia! these indi- cations require confirmation. The root ought to be collected from the fall of the second year to the spring of the third year growth ; when in blossom the root becomes softer and less bitter. The doses are two. No. 39. FRASERA. J^Q^ drachms of the powder, one or two ounces of the infusion ; an extract of it ought to be made which would probably be like that of Gentian ; a Vinegar is made of it in the west, useful as a refrigerant tonic, &c» Substitutes — Coptis trifolia — Xanthorhiza api- folia — Triosteum perfoliatum — Menyanthes trU foliata Sabhatia nngularis Getitiana Sp. — Rhubarb, Common Gentian, Calumba or Cocculu^ palmatus and many other tonics, chiefly roots, rather than barks. Remarks — The Frasera deserves to be cultivated for its beauty and utility. It grows easily from seeds. It begins to disappear like the Ginseng, from large tracts of country, by being wastefully gathered. Per- haps the true Calumba might also be cultivated ia Florida and Louisiana. 202 GAUTIERA. NR.The infusion is a valuable lotion in unhealthy ulcers and passive hemorrhagy, also one of the best injec- tions in gleet and leucorhea. It was once deemed a styptic in bleeding hemorrhagy, but has failed in many instances. United to our native Gentians or to Fra- sera, it forms one of the most efficient cures for inter- mittents. A decoction in milk is very good in loose- ness of bowels and diarrhea. Our Indians value this plamt highly, and use it for wounds, gonorrhoea, ulcers on the legs, diabetes, bloody urine, involuntary dis- charges of urine, immoderate menstruations, &c. The general effects on the system are to give tone to the bowels and stomach, stop all immoderate discharges, and prevent internal mortification. It has also been recommended in scurvy, nephritis and phthisical diar- rhea, but does not avail much in those disorders. Not being at all stimulant, it may be useful when sedative astringents are required. • It has cured a periodical No. 42. GERANIUM. SI 9 hemoptysis according to Dr. Harris. It is also used in Veterinary for the diseases of cattle or horses, and cures the bloody water of cattle. The doses are one to two ounces in infusion or decoction, two to four drachms of the tincture, fifteen to forty grains of the powder, and ten to fifteen grains of the extract, which is a most powerful and efficient astringent, equalled only by the extract of Spirea tomentosa. Substitutes — Orobanche Virginiaiia — Statics Caroliniana — Tormentilla erecta — Rubus villosus — Heuchera species — Geum Sp, — Spirea tome?itosa and Sp. cpulifolia — Kino, Catechu, Galls and all powerful vegetable astringents. Remarks — The officinal kinos are four. 1. African Kino or Fterocarpus erinacea^ 2. Botany Bay Kino or Eucalyptus resinifera, 3. Jamaica Kino or Butea frondosa, 4. American Kino or Geranium macula- turrif this last is the most efficient and powerful, by far preferable to all the others, since it has no bitterish taste nor resinous matter, like the first and third, nor the disagreeable sweetish taste of th.e second. It ought to supersede them in our pharmacies at least, if not elsewhere. The Catechu or extract of Minosa Cate- chu is merely equal to it. The Geranium robertianmn of Europe, grows also in North America from New England to Ohio, on stony hills, and is a weak equivalent of the G. macu- latum; but it is also diuretic, and therefore more available in nephritis, gravel, and diseases of the blad- der. It will be easily known by its musky smelly annual root, small flowers, &c. 220 GEUM. No. 43. No. 43. GEUM yiRGINIANUM. English Name— WHITE AVENS. French Name — Benoite de Virginie. German Name — Bennet. Officinal Name — Geum radix. Vulgar Names — Evan root, Avens, Chocolate root, Bennet, Cure-all, Throatroot. Authorities — Lin. Mich. Pursh, Kalm, Schoepf, Cutler, A. Ives, Buckhaven, Melandri, Zollickoffer, Bigelow seq. Coxe^ &c. Genus Geum — Calix ten cleft, spreading, the alter- nate segments smaller. Petals five on the calix. Many stamina inserted on the base of the calix. Many cen- tral pistils, each with a long persistent style and ob- tuse stigma, and becoming a seed. Seeds forming a cluster, awned by the styles. Species G. Virginianum — Pubescent, stem erect, radical and lower leaves ternate, petiolate, upper ses- sile and simple, folioles ovate, lanceolate, acute, un- equally serrate, stipuks ovate, serrate or entire: flowers few, erect, petals oboval, shorter than the calix; awns uncinate, hairy, twisted. DESCRIPTION— Roots perennial, small, brittle, brown, crooked, tuberculated, oblong, horizontal. Stem simple, erect, about two feet high, pubescent, few flowered. Radical leaves on long petioles, with- No. 43. GEUM VIRGINIANUM. WHZTZ3 AVI32VS. No. 43. &£UM. ^2i out stipules, lower leaves with large stipules and shorter petioles, up'per leaves sessile, simple, similar to the folioles of the lower leaves, which are oval, or oval- lanceolate, or lanceolate, base acute, and acumi- nate, border deeply and unequally serrate : stipules large, broad, sessile, ovate or rounded, serrate or near- ly entire. Flowers terminal, white, few, on erect peduncles. Calix spreading, ten cleft, segments lanceolate, acute, five alternate smaller. Five yellowish white petals, opposite to the short segments, shorter than the longest, and inserted on the base of the calix, oboval, entire, flat. Stamina many, short, unequal, perigynous ; fila- ments filiform, anthers roundish and yellow. Pistils many, conglomerate, oval, styles long, hairy, stigma hooked. Fruit a small burr or round cluster of achenes or single seeds, oval, brown, smooth, having a long tail or awn, formed by the persistent styles, filiform, hairy, t^visted and uncinate at the top. Locality — Common from Maine to Carolina and Kentucky, in woods, groves, thickets, hills, &c. HISTORY — An estival plant blossoming in June and July, the flowers resemble those of Strawberries, but are smaller; a variety has them yellowish. The varieties are 1. Uiii flora, 2. Macrophylla, S. Lan- ceolata, 4. Ochroleuca, 5. JRamosa, &c. The Geum rivale or water Avens, a boreal plant, spread from New England to Canada in damp places, is more commonly employed in the north, and this species in the south ; they are both equivalents. Geum belongs to the natural order of Senticoses T 2 aSTTM. No. 43, near Dryas, Dalibarda and Stylypus, and to Ico- sandria polygynia of Linnaeus. * Qualities — The whole plant is available, but the root is principally used, it has a bitterish astringent taste, and a pleasant smell,'somewhat like cloves, only perceptible in the spring, when it must be collected for use. It contains resin, gum, tannin, extractive, mucilage, fibrine, a volatile oil, &c. The Geiim xir- banum, a consimilar and equivalent species, has been found to contain out of two ounces, 496 grains of lig- nine, 118 of tannin, 181 extractive, 61 of saline and soapy matter, 92 of mucilage, 23 of resin, 76 of oil and water. - It yields these principles to water and alcohol, and dies them red ; the alcoholic preparations are scented, the watery scentless and merely astrin- gent. PROPERTIES— All the Avens have nearly the same properties, they are astringent, styptic, tonic, febrifuge, stomachic, &c. They are much ^ used in the Northern States and Canada. In Connecticut they supersede the Chincona ; but they are weaker, although less stimulant, in fevers. They do not in- crease excitement and are therefore useful in hemop- tysis and Phthisis. They are decidedly excellent in dyspepsia and visceral affections ; Ives states that its long use, restores to health the most shattered and enfeebled constitutions. They are often used in de- coction with sugar and milk, like chocolate or coffee, to which they resemble : and also for dysentery, chro- nic diarrhea, colics, debility, asthma, sorethroat, leu- corhea, uterine hemorrhagy. They are the base of No. 43. 6EUM. 2^3 the Indian Chocolate of Empirics. The doses are a daily pint of the weak decoction, or about 60 grains of the powder daily, divided into three doses : this powder may be mixed with honey. A table-spoonful of the tincture is also given in some cases. These roots are sometimes put in Ale, as stomachics. Substitutes — Gei^anium maculatum and all the plants mentioned as equivalent to it ; the Geum rivale and 6r. urbanum, also the Stylypus Vernus, Remarks — The E, urhanuin does not grow in America, although indicated by some. The G, rivale of America is a peculiar variety. It will be known from this, by its locality in the north, near waters, the radical leaves pinnate, cauline three cleft, and large purplish nodding flowers. It is said to be more efficient than this kind. My Stylypus vermis is a new annual plant, grow- ing only in the Western States, from Ohio to Ten- nessee, in woods, and bears small yellow blossoms in March and April. It has the properties of this plant and Agrimony. The generic and specific character are as follows, G. Stylypus. Calix persistent, campanulate, five cleft, segments reflexed. Five small petals and many Stamina inserted on the top of the calix. Many Pistils in a head borne by a cylindrical gynophore. Several Seeds or Achenes, with persistent smooth Styles. — Stylypus vernus Annual, many decum- bent Stems, leaves int^rupted pinnate, folioles laci- niated, upper leaves simple jagged : flowers terminal, few, peduncled. ^M 6ZLZ.EKZA. No. 44. No. 44. GILLENIA STIPULACEA. English Name— WESTERN DROPWORT. French Name — Gillenia occidentale, German Name— Gillenwurzel. Officinal Name — Gillenia radix. Vulgar Names — Indian Physic, Indian hippo, Ipecac, Beaumont root, Bowman's root. Meadow sweet, &c. Synonyms — Spirea trifoliata Var. Auct. Authorities — Pursh, Wildenow, Schoepf, Thatch- er, Coxe, Duncan, Nuttal, Moench, Eberle, A. Ives, Baum, W. Bart. fig. 6, &c. Genus Gillenia — Calix campanulate 5 cleft. Five narrow unequal petals inserted on the calyx. Many short Stamina inserted there also. Five coherent pistils, five Styles, Capsules five connate at the base, opening inside, unilocular, two seeded. Species G. Stipulacea — Lower leaves pinnatifid, upper leaves trifoliolate, folioles lanceolate [incise serrate ; stipules foliaceous, ovate, oblique, jagged : flowers loosely corymbose. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, dark brown, amorphous, with large and long fleshy fibres. Several Stems from two to three feet high, slender, smooth, brittle, reddish, branched. Leaves large, alternate, sessile, with three folioles and two large stipules; No. 44. GILLENIA STIPULACEA 4fti WESTERnr DROPWORT. No. U. 6II.X.ENIA. gS5 these last are oblique, ovate, irregularly jagged, acute. Folioles smooth, lanceolate, acute at both ends, with a large nerve, border unequally serrate or jagged, and in the lower leaves often pinnatif. — Flowers in loose thin terminal corymbs, peduncles clingated, calix campanulate with five teeth; petals white, three times as long, linear lanceolate, a little unequal, base cunei- forrrt, and nearly obtuse. Stamina short, inclosed, anthers round yellow. Pistil central free, five parted, five filiform Styles, five obtuse stigmas, five connected Capsuls, &c. &c. Locality — Found only West of the Alleghany mountains, from Ohio and West Virginia to Missouri and Louisiana ; rare in the limestone and alluvial re- gions, very common in the hilly and sand-stone re- gions, growing always in poor or gravelly soils, both in woods and glades. HISTORY — This genus contains two species, this and G. tr'ifoliata, which .has similar properties, and will be known by its locality, growing on the moun- tains Alleghany, or north, east and south of them from Canada to Florida, but never west of them. It is a larger plant, with broader folioles, small linear sti- pules and fewer flowers, but larger. It has been figur- ed by Barton and Bigelow, but resembles this so much as not to need it. Both blossom in June and July, and are pretty plants, worth cultivation. They had formerly been united to Spirea, Filipendulaf and Ubnaria, Moench proposed long ago the genus Gillenia, but it was only lately adopted. It belongs to the Natural Order of n^Q 6II.X.ENZA. No. U. Senticoses, family Spireadia, and to Icosandria pentagynia. The G. Stipulacea was only lately des- cribed. It offers many varieties, 1. Unijlora, 2. Pin- natijida, 3. Virgata, 4. F'ariegata, &c. Cattle do not eat it. Qualities — Roots scentless, taste bitter but not unpleasant. Containing a resin, extractive, lignine, fecula, amarine, and a coloring matter, which u ,^30 HAMAMSLIS. No. 45. ful tumors and piles, external inflammations, sore and inflamed eyes, &c. in cataplasm or poultice or wash. A tea is made with the leaves, and employed for many purposes, in amenorrhea, bowel complaints, pains in the sides, menstrual effusions, bleeding of the stomach, &c. In this last case, the chewed leaves, decoction of the bark or tea of the leaves, are all em- ployed with great advantage. A strong infusion is given in injection for bowel complaints. It is said- to be a mild yet efficient astringent in all cases, and a safe substitute of Statice, Myrica and Ruhus, Substitutes — *Conmm viaculatiitn — Vlhirmivi ctcerifolium and V. dentatutn — Nymphea odor^ata Myrica ccrifera — Jlgrimdnia Enpatorium — Geiini g.p^ — Rhus typhinum and R. glcibritTn — Statice Ca- rolinm^ia and many other mild astringents. Remarks — All tbe species of this genus have pro- bably the same properties. In the north the H. par- vlfolia is equally used. It is distinguished by smaller leaves, pubescent beneath, hardly cordate at the base, undulate and sinuate. The shrub is smaller, with blossoms of a brighter yellow, and grows in mountains. The H. macrophijlla or Bigleiif Witch hazel, is only found in the Southern mountains, and will be knovs-n by its large, rough and round leaves. No. 46. HEDEOMA PULEGIOIDES AMERICAMT PENNYROYAL. No. 46. HEBEOll^A. 231 No. 46. IIEPEOMA PULEGIOIDES. English Name— AMERICAN PENNYROYAL. French Name — Hedeome Pouliot. German Name — Poleyblattrige. Officinal Name — Hedeoma herba. "N'ulgar Names — Pennyroyal, Tickwecd, Stink- ing Balm, Squaw-mint, &c. Synonyms — Melissa pidegioides Lin. Cu7iila jju- Icgioides Lin. and many botanists. Authorities — Lin. Mich. Pursh, Persoon,.KaIm, S^choepf, Thacher, Cullcn, Big. scq., Duncan, Eberle, Zollickoffer, Chapman, Elliott, B. Barton, W. Bar- ton, M. M. fjg. 41. Genus Hedeoma — Calix bilabiate, ten striated, base gibbose, upper lip trifid, lower with two subulate teeth and ciliated bristles, corolla bilabiate, upper lip nearly entire, lower trilobe, middle lobe obcordate. Two fertile stamina as long as the corolla, two sterile and short. One style, four seeds. Species H. -pulegioides — Annual, leaves sub])e- tiolate, oblong, acute, subserrate, a little rough. Flowers axillary, verticillate by six, on short pedi- cels, with two small bracteoles. DESCRIPTION— Root annual, small, ycllowii^h, branched fibrose. Stem upriglU, about a foot high, with slender erect-branches, terete, pubescent. Leaves 233 HSDEOMA. No. 46. opposite, small, oblong lanceolate or suboval, on short petioles, base attenuated, end subacute, margin with small remote serratures, surface rough or pubescent, nerved and pale beneath. Flowers all along the branches in axillary whorls of six, nodding, on short pedicels, very small. Calix as above, pubescent. Corolla very small, hardly longer, white, with the lips purple, base slender, then campanulate with two small lips, the upper rounded, seldom notched, the lower with two rounded lateral lobes, and an obcordate middle lobe. Stamina and style filiform, anthers oblong. Stigma lateral acute. Fruit four small oblong seeds in the persistent calix, mouth closed by the ciliated bristles of the lower lip. Locality — Very common and abundant all over the United States, and in Canada, in dry woods and hills chiefly, but also in plains, alluvions, roads, stony fields. Never in moist soils. No where more abun- dant than in lime soils or arid grounds. HISTORY — IL was the fate of this plant to be suc- cessively united by Linnaeus and other botanists to Melissa and Cunila, until distinguished and named fey Persoon, and it is as yet commonly blended, even by medical writers, with the European Pennyroyal or Mentha jmlegium^ which does not grow in Ame- rica; the shape, smell, and properties being somewhat similar, whence the same vulgar name; but our plant appears to be more efficient. It belongs to the natural order of Labiate, and to Diandria monogynia of Linnaeus. It blossoms in summer from July to September. • The name of lie- No. 46. HSDEOMA. ^33 deoma means sweet smelling in Greek; the whoie ])lant is scented ; but the smell far from agreeable, being strong and graveolent: many persons, however, like it and call it pungent,* reviving and pleasant: females are sometimes fo'nd of it as well as of Rue or Ricta graveolens, although both very graveolent. Qualities — The smell and taste are very warm, pungent, strong, and hardly aromatic, but pleasant or disagreeable according to different personal affections. The medical principle resides in an essential oil, pos- sessing eminently the same smell and taste. PROPERTIES — Carminative, resolvent, pectoral, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, menagogue,pellent, stimu- lant, &:c. It is a popular remedj^ throughout the coun- try for female complaints, suppressed menstruations, hysterics, &c. It is chiefly beneficial in obstructed catamenia, and recent cases of suppressions, given as a sweetened tea, with the pediluvium. Eberle, how- ever, deems its menagogue property problematical, and useful only as a vehicle for other- remedies: that he is mistaken, is proved Ijy daily experience. It promotes expectoration in the whooping cough, it al- leviates spasms, pains in the hips, and the spasmodic or dyspeptic symptoms of menstruation. Schoepf mentions it for palpitations, fevers and gout; but it is too stimulant in fevers. A warm cataplasm of the herb is useful in severe pains, and thrilling palpita- tions. Zollickoffer says that it is a valuable medicine in some cases of diarrhea, but which ? Some herbalists in the north, employ it extensively for colds, cholics of children, to remove obstruction, warm the stomach u2 23 1 HEDEOMA. No. 46. and promote perspiration. Although it affords one of the most popular graveolent tea, there are many other labiate plants which are equivalent to it and more agreeable withal: the be^t are Mint, Dittany, Balms, Sage, Monarda, Isanthus, &c. The oil is now kept in pharmacies, and often used instead of the infusion, in mixtures, &:c. Substitutes — Monarda Sp. — Mentha pulegium and M, piperita — Cunila mariana — Isanthus ceru- teiis — Riita graveolens — Salvia officinalis — Melissa nepeta — Jiiniperus Sp. — Rosmarinus officinalis — Rnhia tinctoria — Poly gala senega, &c. Remarks — This plant is also frequently used to kill the Ticks, [Ixodes) which attach themselves to men, dogs and cattle, in summer. These troublesome animals are found wherever the Hedysarums and Le- spedezas or true Tickweeds grow, upon which they breed, but both are unknown in the limestone plains. By rubbing the legs or boots with this plant or its oil, these insects will avoid you, or if they have taken hold, the oil kills them.* A strong decoction of the plant is equally convenient, and a strong decoction of Tobacco as good likewise. HELENIUM AUTUMNALE. coMnxonr snteezewort. No. 47. HSLEinUM. 235 No.* 47. HELENIUM AUTUMNALE. English Name— COMMON SNEEZEWORT. French Name — Helenie d'automne. German Name — Niessenkraut. Officinal Name — Helenium. Vulgar Names — Sneezeweed, Sneezewort, Swamp Sunflower, False Sunflower, Yellow Star, Oxeye. Authorities — Lin. Mich. Pursh. Torrey, Elli- ott, Cornut, Clayton, Schoepf, B. Barton, W. Bart, ft. fig. 26, Duncan, &c. Genus Helenium — Perianthe many parted, seg- ments linear. Flowers radiate, rays cuneate trilobe, styliferous, from 15 to 30. Phoranthe hemispherical, naked, chaffy on the margin. Florets complete, four or five cleft. Pappus with five chaffs. Seeds hairy. Species H. autumnale — Pubescent, Stem corym- bose above, winged : leaves lanceolate, serrate, de- current: peduncles thicker above, rays flat, florets five cleft. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, fibrous. Seve- ral Stems from three to seven feet high, erect, angu- lar, winged by the decurrent leaves, branched and co- rymbose above: covered as well as the leaves with a very short and dense pubescence. Leaves glaucous, alternate, sessile, decurrent, lanceolate, acuminate, 'unequally serrate, dotted by small pits, subtrinervate. 236 IIELEN3UM. No. 47. Flowers corymbose, golden yellow, large, one or two inches in diameter. Peduncles axillary, uniflore, with one oval lanceolate bract, clavatc or thicker upwards. Perianthe with many unequal linear acAte segments. Phoranthe semiglobose, with chaffs near the rays, lanceolate. Rays from five to twenty, spreading flat, or sometimes rather rcflexed, shape cuneate, end broad trilobe, middle lobe often smaller. Disk greenish yellow convex, florets small crowded five cleft, with syngenesious stamina, a bifid style, oblong germ, pappus formed by three to five chaffs subulate anji awned. Locality — It grows all over the United States, and from Canada to Texas and Florida, in wet mea- dows, and Savannas, damp fields, overflowed grounds, banks of streams, &c. HISTORY — Linnaeus has employed the specific name of the Inula heleniuTn or Elecampane as a generic one in this instance, owing to a faint resem- blance. The Helenium was said by the Greeks to have sprung from the -tears of the fair Helen. This was once a unique species, but now several others are added, which grow in the Southern States. It be- longs to the great Order of Radiate, where it is the type of a small family the Helenides : Linnaeus puts it in his Syngenesia swperjlua. It is a fine plant, rather ornamental, and adorning in the fall the meadows with its golden blossoms, ap- pearing from September to November. The Cattle do not touch it. The varieties are 1. Villosa, 2. Pu- mila, 3. Prealta, &c. No. 47. HSLENIUai. 237 Qualities — The plant has hardly any smell : the taste is bitter, and a little pungent or even acrid. It has not been analyzed ; but contains amarine, extrac- tive and an oil. PROPERTIES— Tonic, febrifuge, errhine. Clay- ton and Schoepf mention its use in intermittents ; but it is not extensively employed as yet in fevers : while it is known and employed all over the country as a valuable Errhine. The whole plant reduced to pow- der act as such ; but the flowers and particularly the central florets are powerful sternutatory. A very small pinch of their powder produces a lasting sneez- ing. The late B. Barton has eminently extolled it, as a substitute to more acrid Errhines, either alone or united to other ingredients. It may be used in diseases of the head, deafness, anavrosis, head-ache, hemicrania, rheumatism or congestions in the head and jaws, &c. The shocks of sneezing are often use- ful in those cases, when other remedies can hardly avail. This plant has probably many other proper- ties, little known as yet, and deserving investigation. Substitutes — As a tonic Chelone gluhra, and other herbaceous tonics. As an errhine, Asarum Caiiadense, Sunguinaria ca7iadensis, Myrica ceri- Jera, Tobacco and Cephalic Snuffs. Besides the Helenhun quadridentatum of Louisiana and Florida, which will be known by its lower leaves pinnatifid, upper, entire, and the florets quadrifid or four cleft. f) 38 HEPATSOA. No. 48. No. 48. HEFATICA TRILOBA. English Name— COMMON LIVERWORT. . French Name — Hepatique teilobe. German Name — Leberkraut. Officinal Name — Hepatica. Vulgar Names — Liverweed, Trefoil, Noble Li- verwort. Synonym — Jlnemone hepatica Linn. &:c. Authorities — Linn. Schoepf, Pursh, Torrcy, Eaton, Hereford, &c. Genus Hepatica — Involucre caliciform, near the flower, persistent, three parted. Perigone corolliform, with six to nine oblong petals. Many short Stamina. Many pistils, Styles short. Seeds awnless achenes. Species H. triloba — Leaves radical, cordate, three lobed, lobes entire, petioles and scapes equal in length and hairy, scapes uniflora, flowers drooping before the anthesis and pilose. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial, fibrose, fibres long fasciculate, brown. Leaves all radical, on long hairy petioles, somewhat leathery and partly persis- tent in winter, base cordate, divided into three equal entire lobes, rounded, obtuse or acute, with obtuse or acute sinuses, nearly smooth, mottled of olivaceous and purplish above, glaucous and purplish beneath. Several scapes equal in length to the petiols, upright. i\X 48. HEPATICA TRILOBA (I f%d \ /( coiMExaonr lxvsrwort. No. 48. HEPATICA. §39 1 . ■ ■- ■ • four to eight inches long, invested at the base with several membranaceous sheaths, hairy, round, bear- ing a single flower. Flowers terminal, drooping at first, spreading when unfolded. Involucre resembling a calix, very hairy, hairs grey and long, segments very deep, oval, entire, obtuse. Perigone like a Corolla bluish, purplish or white, sepals elliptic obtuse, equal, but in two or three series. Filaments subulate, anthers elliptic, pale yellow. Pistils and seeds oval, acute. Locality — A boreal plant, native of the northern parts of Europe, Asia and America, spreading in this last continent from Labrador to Virginia and the Pacific Ocean, common in woods, hills and moun- tains of the United States from New England to Kentucky. HISTORY — A pretty vernal plant, the leaves stand the winter, and early in the spring the flowers come out, even when snow" is yet falling: thej last from jNIarch to May, are rather pretty and deserving culti- vation. The varieties are 1. Jllhijiora. 2. Jlcutiloha, 5. Parvijloray flowers half the usual size and blue. In Kentucky, perhaps a peculiar species. Tournefort established this genus, Linnceus wrongly blended it with Anemone, it has again been sepa- rated lately. The name derives from its hepatic pro- perties. It belongs to the Natural Order of Adnates or Ranunculaceous, and to Poly andria poly gynia. Qualities — Scentless and nearly insipid, not bitter; but a little astringent and mucilaginous. It contains -tannin, mucilage, extractive, &e. 240 KSPATICA. No. 4S. PROPERTIES — Subtonic, subastrlngent, hepatic, deobstruent, pectoral, demulcent. It was kno"" the ancients as a medical plant, and Linnseus has it in his Materia Medica; but it had fallen into disuse, its properties being very mild. It was formerly used in fevers, liver complaints, indigestion, cachexy, hypo- chondria and hernia. It lias lately been brought to notice in America for hemoptysis and coughs, it has been used in Virginia with benefit in the form of a strons: infusion, drunk cold. It may be serviceable in hepatisis and hepatic phthisis, as well as all com- plaints arising from dyspepsic and hypochondr?'^ -ffec-' tions ; it may be used as a tea, warm or cold and ad- libitum ; but it has no effect on the lungs beyond that of a mild demulcent astringent. Substitutes — Jigrimonia — Oeum Sp. — Lijcopus Virginicus— Tussilago — Symphytuni — Leoiitodon tariixaciun or Dandelion, — Sisyrnhi^ium or Water Cresses, 6cc. No. 49. HEUGHERA ACEBIFOLIA. MAPLEUBAr AXiViaROOT. No. 49. HEUCHERA. ^H No. 49. HEUCHERA ACERIFOLIA. English Name— MAPLELEAF ALUMROOT. French Name — Heuchere Erable. German Name — Ai/Aunwurzel. Officinal Name — Heuchera radix. Vulgar Names — Alumroot, Sanicle, Ground Maple, Cliffweed, Split-rock, &c. Authorities for the Genus — Lin. Mich. Pursh, Nuttal, Eaton, Torrey, Elliott, Dispens. Murray, Stokes, B. Barton, W. Barton, Bigelow seq., Zol- lickoiler, Coxe, &c: Genus Heuchera — Calix persistent, campanulate, live cleft. Five entire equal lanceolate petals inserted on the calix. Five stamina inserted on the calix. Pistil central,* free, round, cleft, two styles. Capsule bifid, bilocular, many seeded. Leaves radical, cor- date and jagged, loith radiatim^ ntrvcs, scape ivith a terminal panicle of flowers. Species H. Acerifolia — Petioles hirsute, leaves smooth, glaucous beneath, acutely five cleft, unequally toothed, teeth mucronate : scape smooth, panicle elon- gated, laxiflore, minutiflore, petals short, stamina ex- serted. DESCRIPTION — Root perennial, yellowish, hori- zontal, crooked, with few fibres. Radical leaves on ,cng petioles, slender and covered with short stiff •X 243 HEUCHERA. No. 49. hairs : shaped like those of the maple trees, base deeply and acutely cordate, circumference acutely five cleft, sometimes seven cleft or even nine cleft ; segments angular, acute, unequally toothed, teeth short, round- ed, mucronate; only five branched nerves: both sur- faces smooth, upper green, lower glaucous. Scapes round, smooth, fistulose, straight, one or two feet high. Flowers very small, forming a long panicle, occu- pj'ing the upper half of the scape, cylindrical, but loose, small pinnatifid or pectinated bracts at the base of the branches, which are scattered and irregularly divided with small subulate bracteoles at the lower divisions: pedicels longer than thie flower. Calix with five acute teeth. Petals lanceolate, flesh colored, fila- ments subulate, erect, jutting out, anthers rounded. Pistil bifid with two long styles. Stigma obtuse. Cap- sule with two beaks, opening inside of the beaks, with two cells formed by the involute valves. Many small blask seeds. Locality — In the mountains, hills, clifis and fis- sures of rocks in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Vir- ginia, and Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, &c. HIS-TORY — All the species of this very natural genus have the same properties, and are used indis- criminately under the name of Alumroot: they shall therefore be united in this article. I have thought preferable to figure one of my new species, rather than to give another figure of the most common kind, wrongly called H. americana. Since the If, dicho- toma has been removed from this genus, all the known No. 49. HEUCHERA. 243 species are North American/ and possess the same peculiar habit. Linnaeus only knew one species, Michaux two, Nuttal three, Pursh five, and I know seven, besides many varieties, without being sure of having seen all the species of Pursh and Elliott. As this genus is yet in a great confusion and uncertainty, I shall men- tion here only those which I have seen : they are be- sides the actual. 1. //. Viscida of Pursh, (or //. cortusa of Mi- chaux, the H, americana of Linnaeus, &c. and W. Bart. fig. 40.) Vicidly pubescent, scapes and leaves a little scabrous, leaves oblong cordate ciliate, with many rounded lobes, and unequal mucronate teeth, surface concolor: panicle short and laxiflore, calix short, obtuse, petals short lanceolate, stamina exsert- ed. — The most common species east of the Alleghany mountains, rare to the west: petals rose. The varie- ties are 1. Macrophyllo^ 2. Maculata, 3. Scabra, &.c. 2. II. Villosa of JNlichaux, (or H. hispida of Pursh.) Entirely hairy, leaves cordate, with acute lobes, panicle laxiflore, minutifiore, pedicels filiform, calix acute, petals short, &c. — In the Alleghany moun- tains of Virginia, Carolina, Sic. Flowers very, small, petals white. 3. H. Pulverulenta (ov H. piihescens of Pursh, &c.) Leaves pulverulent-pubescent, cordate, with acute lobes, toothed, smooth beneath ; scape smooth below, rough above, panicle crowded, petals longer than calix, ?tamina hardly exserted. — In the mountains from New 244j HEUdMERA. No. 49. England to Pennsylvania : petals red and yellow. Var. 1. Rubra, 2. Grandijlora, &c. 4. H. Squamosa Raf. Petioles pilose, leaves sub- hirsute, ciliate, cordate, acutely seven lobed, denticu- late, glaucous beneath : scapes hairy, with oval distant scales ; panicle short or ovai, crowded, and scaly, pe- dicels short, calix obtuse, stamina exserted. — In the mountains of Maryland and Virginia, the Cumberland mountains of Kentucky, &c. Leaves rather small, flowers middle size. Var. 1. Pumitn, 2. Laxijiora, 3. Confertijlora, 5. H. Reniformis Raf. Petioles smooth, leaves re- niform rounded, faintly lobed and toothed, ciliolate, concolor, sub-hirsute above, smooth beneath : scapes rough, panicle elongated, grandidore, laxiflore, pedi- cels filiform, calix urceolate obtuse, petals and stamina exserted. — In the Cumberland mountains and Knob hills of Kentucky : leaves aad flowers large, petals white. * " 6. H. Glauca Raf. Smooth, glaucous, leaves cor- date obtusely lobed, mucronate-denticulate ; panicle laxiflore, elongated, minutiflore, petals and stamina short. In the Cumberland mountains. They all grow among; rocks and near streams, blos- soming in June and July. The genus has been dedi- cated to Heucher, a German botanist. It belongs to the natural order of Diceres or Saxifragides, diflei ing from Saxifi'aga merely by having five instead of ten stamina, and to Pentandria Digynia of L. Qualities — The whole plants are astringent; but the roots strongly so, and biting on the tongue like No. 49. HEUCHERA. 245 alum, but nearly scentless. They contain nearly the same elements as Geranium maculatznn, but more tannin and acid. PROPERTIES— The root of these plants is a pow- erful astringent styptic, antiseptic, vulnerary and de- tergent, probably equal to Geranium maculaium and Spirea tomenfosa. It was used by the Indians, and is still used in Kentucky and the Alleghany moun- tains, in powder, as an external remedy in sores, wounds, ulcers, and even cancers : it is one of the bases of the cancer powders of Empirics ; united to Orobanche, Hydrastis, &c. It is employed as a styp- tic in internal and external hemorrhagy, bleeding of the nose, foul or indolent ulcers, wounds and cuts. It is seldom taken internally the taste being so inten- sively astringent ; i)ut it promises to be useful even in very small doses, whenever astringents are indi- cated. Coxe says that the Alumroot has been sold for the Colchicum, to which it bears no resemblance in form nor properties. Substitutes — Geranium, Geum, Spirea, Sfaiice Sp. and other powerful astringents. 2 X £46 KUMtTLUg. Ko. 50. No. 50. HUMULUS LUPULUS. English Name— COMMON HOP. French Name — Houblon commun. German Name — Hopfen. Officinal Names — Lupuli coni, humuli strobili. Vulgar Names — Hops, Wild-hops, Hopvine. Authorities Lin. Pursh, Nuttal, A. Ives» Schoepf, Treaks, Bryorly, Bigsby, many Dispens. Alibert, Goxe, Eberle, Maton, Roches, ZoUickofler, Bigelovv, fig. 60 and Seq. Genus Humulus — Dioical, Staminate flowers with a five leaved perigone, Stamina five, anthers bipore. Pistilate flowers strobilate: bracts biflore, perigone one leaved, persistent entire, concave, involute. One pistil, two styles, one seed. Species H. lupulus — Stem twining and rough, leaves opposite, petiolate, cordate, three or five lobed, acute, sharply serrate, rough: staminate flow- ers panicled, fertile strobiles axillary peduncled. DESCRIPTION— Root perennial. Stem annual, forming a climbing vine, twining from right to left, angular, rough with minute reflexed prickles. Leaves opposite, petiols crooked, smaller and floral leaves cordate, acuminate, serrate: the fhain* leaves nearly palmate, trilobe, sometimes five lobe; lobes large, oval acute^ sharply serrate j sinusses obtuse, without No. 50. HUMULU8 LUPULU8. COMMON BOPS. No. 50. KUSaULUS. 247 teeth; surface very rough with three main nerves and many veins. Flowers numerous and greenish. The staminate on different individuals, forming axillary panicles, with two or four bracts, reflexed, opposite, petiolate, oval: each flower peduncled, Perigone caliciform, with five oblong obtuse concave and spreading sepals: five stamina, filaments short, anthers oblong, opening by two terminal pores. Pistilate flowers forming oval, opposite, axillary, tlrooping and peduncled strobiles or cones. Scales imbricate, oval, acute, tubular at the base, each covering two sessile flowers. Perigone (Corolla of Linnaeus) shorter than the scales, lateral, oval obtuse, infolding the pistil by the edges. Germen rounded, compressed, two short styles, two long subulate and downy stigmas. Each flower produces a single roimd seed. Locality — Native of Europe and America, and cultivated also in both continents. Schoepf found it wild in Virginia, Nuttal on the Missouri, and I have seen it spontaneous from New York to Kentucky in groves, thickets, coppices and banks of streams. HISTORY — This vine is ornamental and useful. It is extensively cultivated wherever malt liquors are used, and forms a profitable branch of agriculture. The fertile plants alone are raised, since the medical and economical parts are the strobiles of the seeds. The young shoots, when emerging from the ground, are however eaten like Asparagus in Italy and Ger- many. The fibres of the vine are also made into coarse cloth in Sweden and England. The blossoms S48 HUMULUS. No. 50. appear in the summer, and although un colored are not devoid of elegance. Humulus belongs to the Natural Order Scabrides or Urticides, and to Dioecia pentandria. It has but this species, both names are ancient. Qualities — The whole plant, but particularly the strobiles have a fragrant sub-narcotic smell, and a bit- ter, astringent, aromatic taste. A. Ives has shown that this taste and smell reside in a fine impalpable yellow powder, sprinklecT over the fertile plants, and chiefly on the strobiles, which may be separated by threshing and sifting. This powder has been called Lupulin, although it is not a proximate principle, but a dry secretion from the plant, and a compound sub- stance containing the active principles and properties. The Lupulin contains out of 120 parts, 46 of lignin, 36 resin, 12 wax, 11 amarina, 10 extractive, 5 tannin, besides two per cent, of a singular essential oil, very volatile, partly soluble in water, very acrid, and having the narcotic smell of the Hop. The Lupulin is very inflammable, it becomes soft and adhesive by handling: the strobiles contains one-sixth of their weight of it, and it may be available in brewing like the hops : one pound being equal to six pounds of hops. PROPERTIES— The whole plant, but chiefly the Strobiles and the Lupulin are tonic, narcotic, phan- tastic, anodyne, sedative, alterative, astringent, anti- lithic, diuretic, corroborant, &c. The strobiles or hops have long been an ingredient of porter, ale and other malt liquors, to which they impart a bitter and No. 50. BUlMEUZaUS. S49 aromatic flavor, besides a small share of their proper- ties ; but by the habitual use of these liquors all the good effects are destroyed. The hop-beer made with molasses, hops and yeast, is a better liquor still, and an agreeable, refreshing, tonic beverage. As a medicinal article hops have been praised by many physicians, and employed in Nephritis, Gravel, Gout, Phrenitis, Alopecia, Luxations, articular Rheu- matism, Dyspepsia, Scrophula, Rachitis, Eresypelas, Debility, Strangury, Hysteric and Nervous com- plaints. Cancer, &c. As tonic, stomachic and corro- borant, they are available in diseases depending on debility or a loss of tone in the stomach ; but their powers are weak in this as well as all the other pro- perties ascribed to them, which, however, may ren- der them useful when mild remedies are required. As a narcotic and sedative they operate mildly, and are often preferable to opium: they induce sleep with- out producing the bad effects of opium. Even the external application of hops, produces the same effect, and a pillow of hops is a popular mode of promoting sleep. Poultices and fomentations of hops are common applications for painful swellings. Their antilithic and diuretic property is questionable, they can at ut- most act as palliative, and are sometimes injurious; but available in the strangury produced by Cantha- rides. Besides allaying "pain and producing sleep, hops have been found to reduce pulsations from 96 to 60, while rendering the pulse more firm. They are useful in the weakness and watchfulness of hysteric patients. An ointment of hops Is a palliative in the 250 HUMITLUS. No. 50, last stage of Cancer. They are said to act as antisep- tic and corroborant in bowel complaints. Some phy- sicians consider them as general alterative of the sys- tem. Schoepf mentions the seeds as used in Obstipa- tion. ZollickofFer has used the flowers to relieve the pains after parturition. . Many preparations are made with them ; the tinc- ture and extract of hops were formerly most used. Now the pills, syrup, infusion, tincture, extract and ointment of Lupulin are employed. Boiling water and alcohol dissolve the Lupulin. The doses must be small and gradually increased, beginning with one grain of Lupulin, four of the extract, a tea spoonful of the tincture, or two ounces of the infusion. An over dose produces sore throat, nausea, purging, tre- mor, head ache, &c. Substitutes — The mild aromatic tonics and nar- cotics ; but none are similar, nor combine the same number of properties, the Lyoopus virginicus alone comes nearest to it. Remarks — The malt liquors brewed in the United States, instead of being a wholesome beverage, are often rendered deleterious by the substitution or ad- dition of bitter and narcotic ingredients: the harmless substitutes to Hops are, Liquorice, Wormwood, Quas- sia, Teucrium Virginicum, &c. but Datura StramO' nium, Cocculus, Aloe, &c. that have been added in Pittsburg and elsewhere, are dangerous, pernicious or useless ingredients. No. 61. HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. ITEILLOlXr SITZSROOT. No. 51. HYDRASTIS. 251 No. 51. HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. English Name— YELLOW PUCOON. French Name — Hydraste du Canada. German Name — Gelb Puckuhn. Officinal Name — Hydrastis radix. Vulgar Names — Yellowroot, Ground Raspberry, Yellowpaint, Golden Seal, Orange root, Indian paint, Eyebalm, &c. Synonyms — Warner a CanadensisyiiW^r — Hydro- phylluni verum Linn, Hydrastis Ellis. Authorities — Linn. Mich. Pursh, Miller, Elliot, Eaton, Torrey, Stokes, Coxe, B. Barton, W. Barton, fig. 26, bad. Genus Hydrastis — Perigone simple, petaloid, three leaved, caducous. Stamina many, unequal, linear. Pistils many forming an ovate head, Styles very short, stigmas compressed. Fruit a compound berry, formed by acines or fleshy seeds. Species H, Canadensis — Stem two leaved, uniflore: leaves unequal, alterne, lower petiolate, upper sessile, palmate, cordate, three to seven lobed, lobes acute, unequally serrate; flower terminal on a short pedun- cle. ^ DESCRIPriON— Root perennial, of a bright yel- low, tortuose, knobby, wrinkled, with many long fibres. Stem a foot high or less, simple, straight, 25S HYDRASTIS. No. 51. round, pubescent, base naked, top with two unequal alterne leaves. First leaf petiolate, cordate, palmate, five or seven lobed, sinuses oblong and obtuse, lobes oval, unequal, acute, wiA irregular sharp serratures, five branched nerves. The upper or second leaf similar, ;but sessile and commonly trilobe. These leaves are not quite expanded when the blossoms ap- pears. Flowers single terminal, on a peduncle shorter than the upper leaf. Three petals or petaloid leaves, flesh or rose colored, oval, obtuse, equal. Many unequal filaments, shorter than the petals, linear and com- pressed; anthers oblong, obtuse, compressed. Many Pistils oval, crowded forming an oval head, styles very short, stigma dilated, compressed. Berry red and oval, formed by many oblong grains or acines ; fleshy, obtuse, muricatcd by the persistent styles, each one seeded, seeds oblong. Locality — From Canada and Maine to Carolina and Tennessee, in rich shady woods, on the banks of streams, sides of hills, deep valleys : very common in West Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, &c., rare in lime- stone plains. HISTORY — A pretty and singular plant, easily known by its habit. It blossoms very early in the spring in March and April, and the petals are so ca- ducous and fugaceous that they fall off, as soon as the blossoms expands, leaving the Stamina and pistils bare. The fruit ripens in May, and is very much like a Raspberry of a Bright red color ; but scarcely edible. Linnaeus knew so little of this plant, that he united No. 51. HYDRASTIS. 253 it at first with Hydrophyllum! he afterwards adopted the name Hydrastis of Ellis, which is a very bad name meaning imbibing water, while this plant is not at all aquatic. The name of Miller Warnera would have been better, and I should have adopted this last and called it fVarnera diphylla or tinctoria if established errors were not so difficult to correct. The vulgar names of this plant are also various, and common to many others, yellow root is a name given to ten or twelve plants, Jeffersonia, Coptis, Xan- thorhiza, &c. Pucoon is an Indian name for all roots dying red, orange or yellow, such as Sanguinaria, Batschia, Galium, Cecmothus, &c. ; but this is their best yellow Pucoon. affording a juice of a brilliant yel- low color, which they use to stain skins and clothing; it may become a valuable dye. Hydrastis belongs to the Racunculaceous Order where it forms a very distinct genus, by its berry like seeds. Also to Poly andria poly gynia. Qualities — The root is only used, it is juicy when fresh, and loses two thirds of its weight by drying. The taste is exceedingly bitter, rather pungent and nauseous. The smell is strong and virose. It con- tains Amarine, Extractive, several salts, and a pecu- liar principle Hydvastin of a yellow color, PROPERTIES— Tonic, ophthalmic, detergent, &c. This plant is much used in Ohio, Kentucky, &c. for diseases of the eyes, the juice or an infusion are used as a wash, in sore or inflamed eyes. It is considered a specific by the Indians for that disorder; they also employ it for sore legs, and many external Y 254i HYDRASTIS. No. 51. complaints, as a topical tonic. Internally it is used as a bitter tonic, in infusion or tincture in disorders of the stomach, the liver, &c., and is equivalent to */9le- tris and Coptis.- It is said to enter into compound remedies for the Cancer, acting as a mild detergent tonic, and the Cherokees are supposed to use it in that disease ; but better detergents are known. The proper- ties of this plant are not yet fully known, it appears to be slightly narcotic and available in many other disorders. Some Indians employ it as a diuretic, stimulant and escharotic, using the powder for blister- ing, and the infusion for the Dropsy. Substitutes — Jeffersonia binata — Coptis tri folia Xanthorhizaf *Mletris^ Sanguinaria, Sigillaria, Frasera, Menyanthes, &c. But none of these is so efficacious for sore eyes, except perhaps the Jeffer- sonia. For Cancer Viburnum dentatum, Rumcx and Orobanche, No. 52. HT0SCIAMU8 NIGER. BKAOS BsmjurB. No- 52. HYOSCIAMUS. 255 No- 52. HYOSCIAMUS NIGER. English Name— BLACK HENBANE. French Name — Jusquiame noire. German Name — Schwarz Bilsenkraut. Officinal Name — Hyosciamus. Vulgar Names — Henbane, Poison-Tobacco, Stinking Nightshade, &c. Authorities — Lin. Pursh, Eaton, Torrey, Cullen, Murray, FoLhergill, Kinglake, Withering, Schoepf, Thacher, Duncan, Coxe, and all Dispens. Eberle, A. Ives, Vv^oodviile fig. 52, Bigelow fig. 17 and seq. . Genus Hyosciamus — Calix persistent, urceolate, with five unequal teeth. Corolla funnel shaped, with five unequal lobes. Stamina five, unequal. Pistil oval, stile filiform declinatc, stigma obtuse. Capsule two celled, many seeded, operculate. Species //. niger — Viscid hairy, leaves clasping, lower oval oblong, acute, sinuate or undulate: flowers unilateral, sessile, calix with sharp teeth, corolla reti- culate, with rounded lobes. DESCRIPTIOx\— Root biennial, fusiform, whitish. The whole plant glaucous, hairy, glutinous, lurid, and fetid. Stem one or two feet high, stiif, round, branch- ed. Radical or first year leaves spread on the ground, oval or oblong, undulate, contorted, acute, sessile, feinuated by large acute unequal teeth, nerve thick and g56 HYOSCIASMUS. No. 52. branched. Lower leaves of the stem similar, crowded, alterne, clasping: upper leaves smaller, narrower, nearly entire. Flowers forming unilateral rows on the branches, extra axillary and opposed to the leaves. Calix urceo- late with five short acute and stiff segments. Corolla irregular, funnel shaped, with five unequal, spreading, rounded and entire lobes, with acute sinuses: this co- rolla is of a dingy yellow, with a pretty net work of purple veins. Stamina inserted in the tube of the corolla; filaments filiform unequal; anthers oblong, large, yellow. Style slender, longer than stamina, with an obtuse stigma. Capsule rounded, invested by the calix, two celled, opening by a circular lid. Seeds numerous, unequal, small, oblong, brownish. Locality — In the Northern and Eastern States only, from Nova Scotia to Rhode Island, and extend- ing West to New York and Canada: very rare in Ohio and Pennsylvania; unknown in the South. It is sup- posed to be a naturalized plant, being found merely near houses, roads, rubbish, in old fields and gardens. It is properly an European plant, scattered all over Europe and extending to Asia. HISTORY — This genus belongs to the natural order of LuRiDES, and family Verbascides, having irregular corolla or stamina, and capsular fruits. Also to Pen- tand^na monogynia of Linnseus. It was known to the ancients as a violent narcotic poison ; horses, cattle, deer and swine eat it with im- punity, but it poisons rats. The appearance is lurid, the smell offensive and disgusting: there is therefore No. 52. HYOSCIAMUS. 257 little danger of using it inadvertantly. The whole plant, roots and leaves, produce the usual effects of narcotics. It blossoms in June and July. The seeds are said to have the property of keeping lon^ under ground, and germinating whenever brought to light. Qualities — The taste is insipid, slightly acrid and mucilaginous; but the smell is virose, rank, strong, fetid, pernicious and narcotic, which, however, is lost by exsiccation : when burpt it smells like Tobacco. It contains resin, mucilage, extractive, gallic acid, nitrates and other salts, besides Hi/osciam an alka- line and crystalline active principle, which does not decompose by red heat. Yet decoction is said to de- stroy the narcotic power of this plant, water and di- luted alcohol extract it. PROPERTIES — Narcotic, phantastic, phrenetic, anodyne, antispasmodic, repellent, discutient, &c. The whole plant may be used ; but the seeds contain more Hyosciam, Externally the bruised leaves are employed in cataplasm or an ointment made of them : while internally the extract and tincture are chiefly used. The extract ought to be made with the inspis- sated juice w^ithout boiling, the doses are from one to ten grains. This plant operates as a powerful narcotic, and if taken in large doses, it produces drowsiness, intense thirst, anxiety, head ache, irregular hard pulse, vertigo, intoxication, delirium, dilatation of the pupil, difficulty of breathing, aphonia, trismus, coma, a fall- ing sensation, risus sardonicus, double vision or blind- ness, convulsions, apoplexy, loss of speech, cold ex- tremities, blue face, typhomania, carphologia, gan- 253 HYOSCIAMUS. No. 52. grene, and death. A single dose of one grain has even produced delirium in nervous persons. The root having been mistaken and eaten for Parsnip, has caused many of these alarming symptoms : the remedies are vegetable acids, sulphate of iron, &c. which neutralize the poison, and emetics which discharge it. The internal use of this poison has been recom- mended in epilepsy, hemoptysis, colica pictorum, rheumatism, hysteria, mania, melancholy, trismus, palpitations, spasms, arthritis, glandular swellings, obstinate ulcerations, asthma, spasmodic coughs, tic douleureux, &c. by many phj'sicians, and deemed a good substitute to opium and stramonium in most cases ; but it is not so safe nor certain, and far less uniform in its operation: the smallest doses are apt to produce nausea, head ache, laborious sleep, confusion of ideas and even delirium. The stomach is inflamed and evinces dark gangrenous spots when death follows overdoses, therefore it must be considered as one of the most dangerous narcotics. It ought to be handled by experienced physicians only, and always begun by minute doses gradually increased. It may be prefer- able to opium in some cases, as it is rather laxative than constipating, arid does not stimulate the body. It has often failed in epilepsy and convulsions. It acts better in spasmodic coughs, the leaves are directed to be simmered in olive or almond oil, and the oil used in emulsions. It is highly praised in Tic united to Valerian and Oxide of Zinc. It has been found useful in some puerperal complaints, &.c. The external use of Henbane is more safe, and equal No. 52. EYOSOIAMUS. 259 to that of Stramonium. It may be safely employed in painful swellings, schirrous or scrofulous or can- cerous ulcers, inflamed piles, indolent tumors or milk indurations of the breast, wandering rheumatic pains, inflamed eyes, spasms of the bowels ; inflammation of the kidneys, urethra, bowels, testicles, &c.; in chordee, blind piles, and all painful external afiections, as a very eflicient topical anodyne. The fresh or powder- ed leaves are used as well as poultices with bread and milk, or liniments in wax and oil. Injections of it for bowel complaints ought to be given in decoction of milk. The extract has been used to prepare for ophthalmic operations, by dilating the pupil, contract- ing the iris and diminishing sensibility. The smoke of the leaves and seeds, directed by a funnel to a cari- ous tooth, is said to cure odontalgy ; but the practice may be deleterious and attended with danger. Substitutes — Datura Stramonium — Atropa belladonna — Solanum Sp. — Conium — Cicuta Tobacco, Opium and other powerful narcotics. The Hyosciamus albus of Europe is a milder equivalent, as well as Humulus or hops.