Se 2 MAT] mas? e AMERICAN : BYF 1¥/% MEDICAL BOTANY, oS BEING A COLLECTION NATIVE MEDICINAL PLANTS UNITED STATES, BOTANICAL HISTORY AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS, AND PROPERTIES AND USES IN * MEDICINE, DIET AND THE ARTS, WITH COLOURED ENGRAVINGS, | BY JACOB BIGELOW, M. D. ; eer RUMFORD PROFESSOR ANT LECTURER ON MATERIA MEDICA AND BOTANY IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY. : BOSTON: 7 PUBLISHED BY CUMMINGS AND HILLIARD, AT THE BOSTON BOOKSTORE, NO, 1 CORNHILL. UNIVERSITY PRESS....HILLIARD AND METCALF. ss ‘< 1818. Mo. Bot. Garden, 1893 es G, Tals lor. SPL OMAN V3ET7 DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT: District Clerk’s Office. BE it remembered, that on the twenty eighth day of October, A. D. 1818, and in the forty third year of the Independence of the United States of America, Jacob Bigelow, M. D. of the said die trict, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he ¢laims as author, in the viz. “ American Medical Botan: cal vy id chemical anlpsioeand property of the United States, containing their botanical history and chemical het ge medicine, diet and the arts, with coloured By so ow, Ma. D, d Professor and Lec- turer on Materia Medica and in Harv: In to the Act of the Cor of the ee ots aves ds aa couragement learning, seeurin: ies maps, charts books, to authors an proprietors of such copies, duri iat lives Coca tioned :” and also to an act entitled, “ An act supplementary to an Lect enttfiod: un ace Sr tee tates jearning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times em mentioned ; s thereof to the arts of ing, engraving and etching historical and other prints, JOHN W. DAVIS, pg hee cercidags + ADVERTISEMENT. Upon presenting to the public the portion of this work, which completes one half of his labours, the author of the American Medical Botany feels himself bound to offer some report of the progress and prospects of his undertaking. The plan of this work was formed and announced at a time when such a subject was wholly novel, and when coloured bo- tanical engravings, from the difficulty and expense of their exe- cution, were almost unknown in this country. It was endeay- oured that the plan should be such as in some degree to insure, what both authors and their friends should desire, extensive cir- culation and permanent utility. An edition of a thousand copies was printed, and that the work might be generally accessible, — the price was fixed at a lower rate, in proportion to the number of plates, than works of the kind have ever been placed at in this country ; a rate which the probable sale of the whole edition could alone justify. As permanent utility was esteemed of more importance than ephemeral success, the work has not been hur- ried in any stage of its execution, even though some temporary advantages might have been obtained by its earlier appearance. The author has not willingly adopted the opinions of others in bot- any or medicine without examination, and has thought no delay in- jurious which might lead to the establishment of truth or the de- tection of error. He has been desirous, in adding the results of his own experience, that the book should have, in some degree at vi ADVERTISEMENT. least, the character of an original work, rather than of a compi- lation; at the same time that it should present a fair view of what is known on the subjects of which it treats. The figures of the plants have, in every instance, been made from original drawings, which were executed by himself, with the exception of two or three presented by his friends. The style of engraving is wholly new in this country, and is one which has been suc- cessfully attempted only by the first artists in France. It gives him pleasure to state, that the reception of the work. in all parts of the United States, has exceeded his anticipations, that the subscription is already more than sufficient to defray the expense of publishing, and that its regular increase renders it probable that the whole edition will be taken up at an early period. : He avails himself of this occasion to return his acknowledg- ments to those correspondents who have obligingly assisted him by the communication of specimens for the work, and of the re- sults of their own researches and experience. Particularly he would express this remembrance to Zaccneus Corziys Esq. of ‘Philadelphia, a gentleman whose active kindness has repeatedly supplied his botanical necessities ; and whose extensive erudition has enabled him to afford counsel, which would not have been sought at a less respectable source. To Professor Ives of New Tlaven, a zealous and intelligent cultivator of the American Ma- teria Medica, he would express the obligations derived from his communications and correspondence. It would be unjust to for- get that many medicinal plants of the Southern States, with ob- servations on their properties, were furnished expressly for this work, by the late Dr. James Macsrme of Charleston, S. C. a ADVERTISEMENT, Vil physician and a botanist, whose premature death has terminated a dereer of honourable usefulness and of active, liberal and efficient prosecution of science. His friends cannot remember without re- gret a man, who had the rare quality of being learned without ostentation, who was ambitious of usefulness more than of fame, and who sought rather to be valuable to others than just to him- self, As the materials for the rest of the American Medical Bota- ny are now principally collected, and most of the drawings finished ; the remaining numbers will be issued with as much promptness and regularity, as is consistent with their faithful execution. | PREFACE TO THE SECOND VOLUME. As frequent use is made in these pages of observations drawn from the. auxiliary sciences, as affording some light on the medicinal properties of plants, it may be proper to examine how far tes- timony of this kind is entitled to receive credit in our inquiries and examinations. There can be no question, that the actual op- eration of medicines upon the human system, gathered from positive experience, is, in the pres- ent state of our knowledge, the only criterion by which we ean pronounce, with universal certainty, on their properties. There are nevertheless many things to be learnt from chemical analysis, sensible qualities, and botanical affinity, which may afferd us, in some instances certainty, and in most others presumptive evidence of the medicinal characters of vegetables. The correspondence in these respects is frequently so striking, that we can hardly resist the belief, that an entire har- mony of properties exists, which, if we are unable 2 x PREFACE, fully to comprehend, it is rather owing to the im- perfection of science, than to the irregularity of nature. A. few illustrations of this point, taken from general facts already ascertained, will place the subject in a clearer light. The chemical substances, known by the names of Gum Mucus and Fecula, are constantly emol- lient, demulcent, and nutritious. They manifest these qualities even when extracted from acrid and poisonous vegetables, as in Arum, Calla, and Jatropha. : Sugar is nutritious and demulcent, — When subjected to a spontaneous chemical change by the vinous fermentation, it is universally a strong diffusible stimulus. < : on _ Fixed oils are emollient and laxative. Also nutritious, - es _ Folatile oils on the contrary are acrid, stimu- lating, heating, and antispasmodie. ibigliesdh co eit : Tannin and the Gallic acid are uniformly an- tiseptic and powerfully astringent. The Acetous, Citric, Tartaric and similar veg- etable acids are refrigerant and antiseptic, ) | Bitter Extractive substances are usually tonic. Resins, which are bitter and acrid, are com- monly cathartic. PREFACE. xi Emetine, as separated by Pelletier and Magen- die, is powerfully emetic. Morphium, obtained by Serturner, is a yery strong narcotic. The foregoing are some of the examples, which the present state of Chemistry allows us to ob- serve of affinity between chemical and medicinal characters. With a few exceptions they will be found to be strictly true. Yet the analysis of vege- tables is at present but imperfectly known, and an extended investigation is continually bringing new principles tolight. We can hardly expect that the business of generalization should be attempted with complete success, until the constituent facts are better understood. From what we already know, however, it is not chimerical to predict, that if the chemistry of vegetables were as per- fectly known in all its parts, as in those which we have detailed; their medicinal properties might be inferred, with at least as great certainty, as that which now attends most inferences in the conjectural science of medicine. In regard to the botanical affinities of plants, as affording evidence of their medicinal powers, much has been said and written. Petiver, Hoff- man, Linneus, Hasselquist, and recently the learned Professor Decandolle have bestowed much ce PREFACE, investigation on this subject. It is regarded as a desideratum by all, and as the consummation of botanical science by many, that plants should be so arranged, as that their assemblages should agree, not only in external forms, but in internal qualities and operative powers. Certain general agreements of this kind evidently prevail through- out nature ; yet they are so varied, and subject to so many exceptions, that it is difficult to establish them by general scientific descriptions, and when they are rendered too minute they seem to lose much of their importance. It is perhaps as easy to know the properties of plants from their exter- nal habit, as to understand the characters of man- kind from their physiognomy. Accurate obser- vers know more than they can communicate the means of knowing to others, yet the most accu- rate are liable to be mistaken. Many vegetables of the closest affinity and resemblance, even spe- cies of the same genus, differ wholly from each other in their effects. Witness the species of Cucumis, Convolvulus, and Solanum, some of which are salutary, and others highly deleteri- ous. Nevertheless there are many general truths, or at least general probabilities, by which every one would be influenced, and which have so much importance, that they will never be forgotten. PREFACE. Xi No botanist, even if in danger of starving in a wilderness, would indulge his hunger on a root or fruit taken from an unknown plant of the nat- ural order Luride, of the Multisilique, or the wm- belliferous aquatics. On the contrary, he would not feel a moment’s hesitation in regard to any of the Gramina, the fruit of the Pomacew, and several other natural families of plants, which are known to be uniformly innocent in their effects. —— The sensible properties of plants afford another clue to their influence on the human system. It is true, that observations derived from this source will not serve us in forming very minute distine- tions. ‘They are, however, almost always adequate in vegetable productions, to enable us to distin- guish what is innocent and salubrious, from what is noxious and virulent. The brute creation de- pend wholly upon the powers of sense in selecting their food, and this reliance does not often betray them. In regard to mankind it almost uniformly happens, that what is sweet, delicious, or aromat- ic, proves nutritive or salutary; while on the oth- er hand, vegetable poisons are nauseous, acrid, and disgusting. It has been observed, that it would have been a sort of treachery in nature to have made it otherwise. Considering the univer- sal dissemination of poisonous plants, and the XVL PREFACE. number of them, which frequent the vicinity of human habitations, this arrangement of Provi- dence, by making ungrateful what is dangerous, has furnished almost the only safeguard from harm, to the inexperienced and unwary. These remarks have been offered on account of an impression which many persons entertain, that collateral evidences of the characters of plants are worthless and undeserving of attention. Even if the community were composed exclusively of physicians, such an opinion could not be wholly correct. Every one may be called on to form hasty decisions on subjects where his experience is deficient, and where an acquaintance with aux- iliary facts might lead him to a correct issue. It is not only curious and instructive to perceive the harmonies of nature, but to every inquirer among her works it must be practically useful. It can no where be more useful, or more deserving of study, than in a new country, where the face of nature presents an ungathered harvest, and where every clue to useful discovery derives importance from its influence and tendency. DS vo 4 a) eo ~ é + — 3 a 4 & PR & @ Ly umlellale pfs \ - AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANY. a PYROLA UMBELLATA, Winter Green. — PLATE XI. 2 most beautiful of the species of Pyrola is extensively diffused throughout the northern hemisphere. It inhabits ail latitudes in the Unit- ed States, and extends across the continent to the shores of the Pacific ocean. It is also found in the forests of Siberia, and in several of the northern and temperate countries of Europe. It only grows in shady woods, where it is protected from the sun, and nourished by the peculiar soil formed ‘from the decomposition of leaves and wood. The most common appellations, by which it is known in the United States, are Winter green and Pipsis- sewa. It flowers in June and July, being some- what later than most of the other species of its family. sie 46 PYROLA UMBELLATA. By Pursh and some other American botanists, this species and one other have been separated from the genus Pyrola, to constitute a new family by the name of Chimaphila. As the grounds of distinction, however, between them are not suffi- cient to render it certain that this genus will ul- timately stand; I have preferred retaining the original Linnean name.* * It is somewhat remarkable, that the genus Chimaphila was first established upon characters, which hardly exist in either of the plants it is intended to comprehend. ‘The principal grounds of distinction, suggested by Michaux and adopted by Pursh, seem to consist in a sessile stigma, and anthers opening by a subbivalve foramen. Now the stigma is not sessile, since that term implies the absence of a style, and the anthers do not open by any subbivalve foramen, differing from the rest, but by two tubular pores, precisely as in the other spe- cies of Pyrola. Mr. Nuttall, in his interesting work on North Ameri- can genera, has amended the character of Chimaphila, by bringing into view the calyx, filaments, &c. while he has added to the char- acteristics of Pyrola, a duwny connexion of the valves of the cap- sule. In the calyx, however, the two species of Chimaphila are at different extremes from each other ; one of them having a five leaved calyx, the leaves overlaying each other at base; the other having a re toothed calyx only, while the remaining species of Pyrola, being five parted, come between them. I have not been able to find the tomentum spoken of by ere in all the spiked species, and par- ticularly in P. secunda. If the genus Pyrola were ever to be dismembered, it should be - into at least four distinct genera, as follows ; 1, Style declined, stigma annulate. P. rotundifolia, P. asarifolia, &c. WINTER GREEN. 17 The genus Pyrola belongs to the class De- candria, and order Monogynia. It ranks among 2, Style straight, stigma peltate. P. secunda, P. uniflora, &c. 3. Style incrassated, calya five leaved. P. maculata. _ 4. Style immersed, calyx five toothed. ~~ P, umbellata. If we go farther and take into view the direction and form of the filaments, and the other parts of flower and fruit, with their various combinations ;. we shall have nearly as many genera as there are now species, since it is well known that many of the most important spe- cific distinctions in this genus are taken from the fructification. On these accounts there can be no doubt that the genus Pyrola had better remain entire. In habit it is certainly one of the most natural genera we possess, All the species are humble evergreens, growing in woods, with creeping roots, ascending stems, and nodding flowers. All of them have their leaves in irregular whorls, flower with reversed anthers, and retain their style until the fruit is ripe. In inflorescence, one is solitary, two somewhat corymbed, and the rest spiked. ‘The leaves of P. secunda, umbellata and maculata are usu- ally in two or more whorls; those of most others in one radical whorl or aggregate. One species is said to be leafless. _ Ape In the dissections accompanying the figure of P. Pa Wig I a endeavoured to represent the evident gradation of the stvle from the -species in which it is longest, to that in which it is shortest. In the _same plate are added some of the varieties of the calyx and stamens. . “The following remark of Sir James Edward Smith, the learned president of the Linnzan society, is from Rees’ Cycloperia, rt. _ Pyroxa. “ We can by no means assent to the establishment of that able writer’s (Pursh’s) Genus Chimaphila, there being surely no di- versity of habit to support it, nor any character but a difference in the length of the style ; which the other species of Pyrola shew to af- ford admirable specific, but no generic distinctions. 3 18 PYROLA UMBELLATA. the Bicornes of Linneus and the Erice of Jus- sieu. Eaiiea/ Sins _ The generic character is as follows. Calya mostly five parted ; petals five ; anthers inverted, opening by two tubular pores ; capsule five celled, fice valved. The species umbellata has its leaves wedge shaped and toothed, flowers. somewhat wmbelled, calyx five toothed, and style immersed. Its more minute description is as follows : Root woody, creeping, sending up stems at various distances. The stems are ascending, somewhat angular, and marked with the scars of the former leaves The leayes grow in irregular whorls, of which there are from one to four, ‘They are evergreen, coriaceous, on yery short petioles, wedge shaped, subacute, serrate, smooth, shin- ing, the lower surface. somewhat. paler.. The flowers grow in a small corymb, on nodding pe- duncles, which are furnished with linear bractes about their middle. | Calyx of five roundish suba- cute teeth or segments, much shorter than the corolla, Petals five, roundish, concave, spreading, cream coloured, with a tinge of purple at base, Stamens ten, Filaments sigmoid, the lower half fleshy, triangular, dilated, and slightly pubescent at the edges ; the upper half filiform. . Anthers” WINTER GREEN. 19 two celled, each cell opening by a short, round, tubular orifice, which points downward in the bud; but upward in the flower. Pollen white. Germ roundish, depressed, furrowed, obscurely five lobed, with a funnel shaped cavity at top. Style straight, half as long as the germ, inversely conical, insert- ed in the eavity of the germ, and concealed by the stigma. Stigma large peltate, convex, moist, ob- scurely five rayed. Capsules erect, depressed, five celled, five valved, the partitions from the middle” of the valves. Seeds linear, chaffy, wey numerous and minute. This plant, like the other species of Pyrola, is very difficult to cultivate, when transplanted from its native soil; although it thrives luxuriantly in the shade and rich mould of ows — where it originates. | _ The leaves of Pyrola umbellata, when chewed, communicate to the mouth a taste which partukes of both sweet and bitter. The stalk and roots possess the same taste, combined with a moderate degree of pungency. A Dissertation “De Pyrola umbellata,” published at Gottingen, by Dr. Wolf, in 1817, coutains an elaborate chemical examina- tion of this plant. As the result of his trials, this author concludes, that 100 parts of Pyrola umbel- lata contain about 48 of a bitter extractive princi- 20. PYROLA UMBELLATA ple, 2.04 of resin, 1.38 of tannin, a slight portion of gum, and the rest of fibrina and earthy salts. "The resin is adhesive, brownish, readily soluble in ether and alkalis, burning with flame and a res- inous odour, and leaving a white cinder. From my own trials the quantity of resin in this plant appears to be very small. A saturated tincture of adeep brown colour does not give a precipitate on the first addition of water. Itis only after some time standing, and partly perhaps from the evaporation of the alcohol, that a turbid- ness begins to appear in the solution. Itis prob. able that spirit is a better menstruum than water for the soluble portions of this plant, although the latter is capable of sian the ae _— of its virtue. | The Pyrola sribsaliats; seins ential ia as a medicine until within a few years past, has at the present day acquired a reputation of con- - siderable extent in the treatment of various dis- eases. Its popular celebrity seems to have origi- nated in its application to the treatment of fever and rheumatism ; but the attention of physicians has been chiefly drawn towards its use in other complaints. The instances in which this plant has received favourable testimonies on medical authority, of its successful use, both in America WINTER GREEN. 21 and Europe, are principally the following. 4. As a palliative in strangury and nephritis, 2. Asa diuretic in dropsy. 3. As an external stimulant, susceptible of useful application to various cases. In the first of these cases, the Pyrola is entitled. to attention and confidence. Some practitioners in this country haye employed it with advantage in the same cases, in which the Arbutus Uva ursi is recommended*. Dr. Wolf, the German writer lately cited, has reported a number of cases of ischuria and dysuria, arising from various causes, in which the Pyrola, given in infusion, produced the most evident relief, and took precedence of a variety of remedies which had been tried. His method of administering it was to give a table spoonful of a strong infusion, with a little syrup, every hour. In all the cases he has detailed, small as the dose was, it gave relief in a very short time. In one case its effect was so distinctly marked, that the disease returned whenever the medicine was omitted and was removed on re- suming its use. A tonic operation attended its other effects, so that the appetite was improved and digestion pia i? the eae i its — 8 See Dr. ‘Mitchells I Inaugural Dissertation. Philadelphia, 1803, : 22 PYROLA UMBELLATA. The diuretic properties of the Pyrola umbel- lata, seem to have been fully illustrated by Dr. W. Somerville in a paper on this vegetable, pub- lished in the 5th volume of the London Medico- Chirurgical transactions. The facts presented by this physician afford satisfactory evidence of the power of this medicine to promote the renal excretion, and to afford relief to patients afflicted with dropsy in its various forms. 'The most dis- tinguished case presented by him, is that of Sir James Craig, the British governour in Canada, -who was labouring under a general dropsy, which - in its progress had assumed the forms of hydro- thorax, anasarca and ascites, and which was com- © bined with different organic diseases, especially of the liver. After having tried with little or tempora- ry success, almost every variety of diuretic and ca- thartic medicines, and submitted twice to the operation of tapping, the patient had recourse to a strong infusion of the Pyrola, in the quantity of a pint every twenty four hours. Although the case was altogether an unpromising one, yet the plant gaye relief, not only in the first, but in the sub- sequent instances of its use. It increased the urinal discharge, and at the same time produced an augmentation of — and an ee, appetite. oe WINTER GREEN, 23. Several other cases of dropsy are detailed in Dr. Somerville’s paper, in which the Pyrola was administered by himself and by other practioners with decided advantage. Dr. Satterly and Dr. Marcet are among those who have added their observations to the testimonies in its favour. Dr. Somerville found his patients to remark, that an agreeable sensation was perceived in the stomach soon after taking the Pyrola, and that this was followed in some instances by an extraordinary increase of appetite. He considers it as haying in this respect a great advantage over other diu- retics, none of which are agreeable to the stomach, and most of them yery offensive to it. He fur- ther states, that no circumstance had occurred within his own experience or information, to for- bid its use in any form, or to limit the dose. Dr. Wolf has given one yery satisfactory case of the utility of our plant in ascites. He also found it to alleviate altogether the ardor urine attendant on gonorrhea. = ‘Such are the most important facts which to my knowledge have been published respecting the internal use of the Pyrola umbellata. I have administered this plant on various occasions, and — attended to its mode of operation. In a number of dropsical cases, when first given, it made a dis- ‘D4 PYROLA UMBELLATA, tinct and evident impression on the disease, com- municating an increased activity to the absorbents, followed by a great augmentation of the excretion from the kidnies. The benefit, however, with me has been in most instances temporary, and it was found better to omit the medicine for a time and to resume it afresh, than to continue it until the system had become insensible to its stimulus. After suspending it for a week or two, the same distinet operation took place on returning to its use, as had been manifested in the first instance. It proved in almost every instance, a very accep- table medicine to the patient, and was preferred both .or its sensible qualities and its effects on the stomach, to other diuretics and alteratives which had been prescribed. The Pyrola has been considerably employed as an external application in tumours and ulcers of various descriptions. It first acquired notice in consequence of some newspaper attestations of its efficacy in the cure of eancer. Those persons who know how seldom genuine cancers occur in comparison with reputed ones, will be more ready to allow it the character of curing ulcerous, than really cancerous affections. There are undoubt- edly many ulcers, and those frequently of a malig- nant kind, which are benefitted by antiseptic WINTER GREEN. 25 stimulants ; and to such the Pyrola may be useful. But of its efficacy in real cancer we require more evidence than is at present possessed, before we ascribe to it the power of controlling so for- midable a malady. Dr. Miller of Franklin informs me that he has used a decoction and cataplasm of this plant with apparent success in various chronic indurated swellings. It acts as a topical stimulant, and when long continued, not unfrequently vesicates. Tumours of long standing have in seyeral in- stances disappeared under its use. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Pyrola umbellata, Lin. Sp. pl. Genin, Flora Sibirica. Roru, Flora Germanica.—Bot. Mag. t. 778.—Muicuaux, Flora Americana, i. 251.—Pyrola fruticans, PaARKINSON, Theatrum, 509.—J. Bau, Hist. plant. iii. 536.—Chimaphila corymbosa, Poursh, i. 300.—NutTratx, Genera, i, 274. mass MEDICAL REFERENCES. - Mircuett, Inaugural Dissertation—SomMERvVILLE, Medico- Chirurgical Transactions, vol. v.—Woxr, Dissertatio Inauguralis. PLATE XXI. Fig. 1. Pyrola wmbellata. Fig. 2. Pistil of Pyrola rotundifolia. Fig. 3. Pistil of Pyrola secunda. Fig. 4. Pistil of Pyrola uniflora. Fig. 5. Pistil of Pyrola maculata. A 26 PYROLA UMBELLATA, Fig. 6. Pistil of Pyrola wmbellata. Fig. 7. Section of the same, shewing the length of the style. Fig. 8. Five toothed calyx of P. wmbellata. Fig. 9. Five leaved calyx and incrassated pedicel of P. ma- culata. Fig. 10. Anther magnified of P. secunda. Fig. 11. Diito of P. rotundifolia. Fig. 12. Stamen magnified of P. umbellata.. Fig. 13. Ditto of P. maculata. XXIT . ( } fi : } ‘ be GYaullherta Va rOCUMLE NA. GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS. Partridge Berry. PLATE XXII. D ines is no soil so inhospitable, that it does not afford the means of sustenance and erowth to some vegetable tenant. The most arid and penu- rious spots of earth not only give support to a variety of plants, but they are even selected by certain species, which make them their perma- nent residence, and thrive better in the midst of poverty and drought than they could in the most fertile and luxuriant situations. The Gaultheria procumbens is one of those hardy and abstemious plents, which are better satisfied with the clear air of the mountains, than with a deep or mellow soil. It is found growing in large beds under the shade of shrubs and trees upon elevated tracts of ground, or upon the sand and gravel of the driest forests. Its bright evergreen leayes seem adapt- 28 GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS. ed for ready absorption and slow perspiration, so that it derives from the dews and rain, what the earth fails to supply it. The Gaultheria procumbens is remarkable for the different periods of producing its flowers and fruit. It is found in blossom not only in the éarly part of spring, but in the last weeks of sum- mer, and the fruit is found ripe at corresponding periods. Whether this appearance is the product of different shoots, or whether the same stems blossom twice in a year, I am unable to say. I have, however, met with beds of the Gaultheria in full flower in August and September, quite as frequently as in May. I have also seen the fruit in the market at various penis of the summer, fall, and spring. : The plant takes its vulgar names from the fruit, and is denominated in different parts of the United States, Partridge berry, Chequer berry, Box berry, $c. Its domestic use has also given it the name of Mountain tea. The genus Gaultheria is beautifully sin gular and distinct in its character, derived from the form of its fruit. The calyx is five cleft, caly- culated, or bibracteate at base. Corolla ovate. Capsule jive celled, invested with the baccated calyx. PARTRIDGE BERRY. 29: The species procumbens has a prostrate stem with ascending branches. Leaves im a terminal tuft, obovate with a few ciliate serratures. Flowers axillary. Class Decandria, order Monogynia, Natural orders Bicornes Linn. Erica: Juss.) fa) vacac Beay, The stem, or as it might be called root of this plant is horizontal, woody, often a quarter of an inch in thickness. The branches are ascending, but a few inches high, round and somewhat downy. Leaves scattered, near the extremities of the branches, evergreen, coriaceous, shining, oval or obovate, acute at both ends, revolute at the — edge, and furnished with a few small serratures, each terminating in a bristle. Flowers axillary, drooping, on round downy stalks. Outer calyx of two concave, heart shaped leafets, which may with perhaps more propriety be called bractes. Inner calyx monophyllous, white, cleft into five roundish subacute segments. Corolla white, urceolate, five angled, contracted at the mouth, the border divid- ed-into five short, reflexed segments, Filaments white, hairy, bent in a semicircular manner to ac- commodate themselves to the cavity between the corolla and germ. Anthers oblong, orange col- oured, ending in two double horns, bursting out- wardly, for their whole length above the filaments, 30 GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS. and not opening by pores as in Pyrola. Pollen white. Germ roundish, depressed, five angled, resting on a reddish, ten toothed, glandular ring. Style erect, straight. Stigma simple, moist. The fruit is a small, five celled capsule, invested with the calyx, which becomes large, round, and fleshy, having the appearance of a bright scarlet berry. If the aroma or odour and also the taste of plants were susceptible of description in as defi- nite language as their proportions and form, the sensible qualities of many vegetables might afford new grounds for generalizing and combining them together. The aromatic flavour of the Partridge berry, which cannot easily be mistaken by those who have once tasted it, may be recognised in a variety of other plants, whose botanical habits are very dissimilar. It exists very exactly in some of the other species of the same genus, particu- larly in Gaultheria hispidula ; also in Spircea ulma- ria and the root of Spirwa lobata. It is particu- larly distinet in the bark of the Sweet birch, Betula lenta, one of our most useful and interest- ing trees. This taste and odour reside in a Volatile oil, which is easily separated by distillation. The essential oil of Gaultheria, which is often kept in our druggists’ shops, is of a pale or greenish white PARTRIDGE BERRY. B1 colour and perfectly transparent. It is one of the heaviest of the volatile oils, and sinks rapidly in water if a sufficient quantity be added to overcome the repulsion of two heterogeneous fluids. Its taste is aromatic, sweet and highly pungent. The oil appears to contain the chief medicinal virtue of the plant, since I know of no case in which the leaves, deprived of their aroma, have been employed for any purpose. ‘They are nev- ertheless considerably astringent, and exhibit the usual evidences of this property when combined with preparations of iron. The berries, or berry-like calyces, have a pulpy but rather dry consistence, and a strong flavour of the plant. They are esteemed by some persons, but are hardly palatable enough to be considered esculent. In the colder seasons they afford food to the partridges and some other wild animals. The leaves, the essence and the oil of this plant are kept for use in the apothecaries’ shops. An infusion of the leaves has been used to com- municate an agreeable flayour to tea, also as a substitute for that article by people in the country. Some physicians have prescribed it medicinally as an emmenagogue, with success in cases attended with debility. The oil, though somewhat less pun- gent than those of peppermint and origanum, is” 32 GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS. employed for the same purposes. It shares with them the property of diminishing the sensibility of the nerve exposed by a carious tooth, when repeatedly applied. The essence, consisting of the volatile oil dissolved in alcohol or proof spirit, is antispasmodic and diaphoretic, and may be applied in all cases where warm or cordial stimu- lants are indicated. A tincture, formed by digest- ing the leaves in spirit, possesses the astringency as well as warmth of the plant, and has been use- fully employed in diarrhea. A respectable physician of Boston informs me, that he has in various instances found the infu- sion of this plant very effectual in promoting the mammary secretion, when deficient ; and even in restoring that important function after it had been for some time suspended. Whether the medi- cine has any specific influence of this sort, inde- pendent of the general state of the patient’s health, I am not prepared to say. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Gaultheria procumbens, Linn. Sp. pl.—Mucwavx, Flor. i. p. 249,.—Pursn, i. 283.—Nutraut, Gen. i. 263. —ANDREWwS, Bol. Repository, t. 116.—Witx1p. rb. 123.—Vitis Idea Canadensis Pyrole folio, Tournerorr, Inst. 608.—Anonyma — arcuatis, CoLDEN, WVoveb, 98. PARTRIDGE BERRY, 33 > MEDICAL REFERENCES. Kam, Ameenitates Academice, iii. 14.—Barr. Coll. i. 19. PLATE XXII. Fig. 1. Gaultheria procumbens. Fig. 2. The bractes or outer calyx. Fig. 3. The true calyx. Fig. 4. Stamen of the natural sixe. Fig, 5. inther magnified, the dark places shewing the mode of opening. Fig. 6. Calyx and pistil. Fig. 7. Fruit. Fig. 8. Longitudinal section of the fruit. Fig. 9. Transverse section of the capsule. m Si UMa te fi Bo sud ‘ PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM. May Apple. PLATE XXII, se Podophyllum peltatum or May apple, otherwise called Mandrake in this country, in- habits low shady situations from New England to Georgia. On the Atlantic coast I have never met with it farther north than Boston, yet in the interior of the country it has a more extensive range. From its large creeping roots, it has a great tendency to multiply, and is always found in beds of greater or less extent. Its flowering time is from March to May. This plant is one of the Ranunculacee of Jus- ieu and Rheades of Linneus ; and is in the first order of the Class Polyandria, Its generic character consists in a calyx of three leaves ; from six to nine petals ; and a one-cel- led berry crowned with the stigma. Only one spe- MAY APPLE, 85 cies is at present known which strictly belongs to the genus. The May apple has a jointed. running root about half the size of the finger, by which it spreads extensively in rich grounds, where it gets introduced. The stem is about a foot in height, and invested at its base by the sheaths which covered it when in bud. It is smooth, round and erect, dividing at top into two round petioles from three to six inches long. Each petiole supports a large peltate, palmate leaf, smooth above, slightly pu- bescent beneath, deeply divided into about seven_ lobes, which are wedge shaped, two parted and toothed at the extremity. On the inside the leaf is cleft almost to the petiole. In barren stems which support but one leaf this does not take place, and the leaf is very perfectly peltate. In the fork of the stem is a solitary flower on a round nodding peduncle one or two inches long. Calyx of three oval, obtuse, concave leaves, cohering in the bud’ by their scarious margins, and breaking off at base when the flower expands. Petals from six to nine. Linnzeus makes them nine in his gene- ric character, but in this climate 1 have found them more frequently seven even in luxuriant specimens growing in very rich soil. They are obovate, obtuse, concave, smooth, white with sli ght 36 PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM. transparent veins. Stamens shorter than the pe- tals, curving upwards ; the anthers oblong, twice as long as their filaments. Germ oval, compress- ed, obseurely angular. Stigma nearly sessile, convex, its surface rendered irregular by nume- rous conyolutions and folds. The flower is suc- ceeded by a large ovate yellowish fruit, which is one celled, many seeded and crowned with the stigma. Its early period of ripening has given rise to the trivial name of May apple. The dried root of the May apple is fragile and easily reduced to powder. It has a peculiar and rather unpleasant taste, but without much acri- mony. When chewed for some time, it manifests a strong bitter taste. Both the tincture and de- coction are intensely bitter. "When water is add- ed to the alcoholic solution the mixture becomes very gradually turbid, and at length opaque. On the other hand, alcohol disturbs both the infusion and decoction, especially the latter, in which it produces, after some time, a pearly whiteness. The trials I have made with it lead me to con- clude that it contains a resin, a bitter extractive matter, frecula and a slight proportion of a gummy substance. ) ‘The medicinal properties of the Podophyllum peltatum are those of a sure and active cathartic, MAY APPLE. 87 in which character it deserves a high rank among our indigenous productions. We have hardly any native plant which answers better the common purposes of jalap, aloes and rhubarb, and which is more safe and mild in its operation. The root is the part to be employed, and should be given in substance in fine powder. I have commonly found twenty grains to operate with efficacy, and not to be attended with pain or inconvenience. In irritable stomachs it sometimes occasions nau- sea and vomiting, but this effeet, as is well known, may ensue from any cathartic medicine. The late — Professor Barton informs us, that although. the root is an excellent cathartic, the leaves are poi- sonous, and the whole plant has something of a narcotic quality. Its botanical affinities would justify, a priori, a suspicion of this kind. In the various trials which I have made with it, 1 have not observed any such property in the root. The leaves I have never subjected to experiment for any purpose. | | The fruit is acid and agreeable to the taste of many persons. It is sometimes called wild lem- ons, and is eaten with impunity. | ; The root is said by some physicians to be a medicine particularly suited to dropsy. It has 38 PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM, also had the character in the Southern States of curing intermittent fever. A physician in Albany informs me that the Shakers at Lebanon, N. Y. prepare an extract of the Podophyllum, which is much esteemed by medical practitioners as a mild cathartic. These people are well known to our druggists by the care and neatness with which they prepare a va- riety of medicines from native and naturalized pharmaceutical plants. For medicinal use the root of the May apple is advised to be dug in the cold season, when veg- etation is not active, viz. in the autumn and win- ter. At this part of the year the secretions of perennial plants are concentrated in their roots, and the same weight of their substance is less di- luted with the watery or ascending sap, than it is at any other period. This constitutes a rea- son why the roots of all perennial plants should, as fur as practicable, be taken up during the cold season. But from what I have been able to ob- serve, the difference of their virtue in different months is much less than is commonly supposed. iInever knew a medicinal plant whose efficacy was destroyed in consequence of being taken up eyen at midsummer, although it may be in some degree lessened. It is probable that those roots / MAY APPLE. 39 which constitute staple articles of commerce, as ipecac, gentian, rhubarb, &ce. are gathered indis- criminately for exportation at all seasons when they are to be found. Being collected by savages or by ignorant persons, who seek for them in their native wilds, and who are not much interested in their future efficacy; it is probable they would be gathered in greatest quantities when their vege- tation was most luxuriant, because at this time their shoots and tops would be most conspicuous. We know this to be the case with our Ginseng, Spigelia, Snake root, §c. which form considerable articles of exportation, and which it would be dif- ficult to find at any other than the yegetating sea- son.* * Annual plants should be gathered at the time when their veg- etation is most vigorous, which is generally from the time they begin to flower, until the leaves begin to change. The leaves contain the greatest activity in most annual plants employed for medicine, while the root is a comparatively insignificant part, being small, woody and fibrous. Thus the leaves of Stramonium and Tobacco are much more active than the root. : Biennial plants should, in most instances, be gathered in the second season of their growth, and about the time of flowering. The leaves of these plants also contain their medicinal activity, asin Hem- lock and Henbane. The roots are medicinal, but usually in a less degree. In some aromatic biennials, the seeds are the most impor- tant part of the plant. 40 PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Podophyllum peltatum, Linn. Sp. pl.—Muicuavx, Flora, i. $09.—Poursh, ii. 366.—Lamarck, Iilust. gen.—Trew, Ehret. t. 29.—Anapodophyllum Canadense, Caressy, Car. i. 24.—Aco- nitifolius humilis &. Menrz. pug. f. 11. MEDICAL REFERENCES, Scnepr, 86 —B. S. Barron, edit. of Cullen, $375.—Tuacu- ER, Disp. 307,—CHarmMan, Mat. Med. 209. PLATE XXIII. Fig. 1. Podophyllum peltatwm. Fig. 2. Calyx. Fig. 3. Stamens. Fig. 4. Germ and stigma. Fig. 5. Fruit. Nomar ‘ Stier we ICTODES FRTIDUS. Skunk Cabbage. PLATE XXIV. WD sis is one of our most noticeable plants, both from the frequency of its occurrence and the peculiarity of its sensible properties. Scarcely a swamp or meadow is found in the middle and northern parts of the United States in which this vegetable may not be discovered at a distance, es- pecially in the spring season, by its large tufts of rank, crowded leaves. Its singular flowers are among the first which break from the ground, after the rigours of winter, appearing in different latitudes, from February to April. The vegeta- tion is rapid, so that in most instances the fruit is ripe and the leaves wholly decayed before the end of August. From this precocity of the plant to- gether with the depth to which the roots pene- trate the earth, it seems calculated to bear the 6 42 ICTODES FOTIDUS. cold of high latitudes. I have found the flowers a second time formed, and shooting from the ground in Noyember. ‘The strong and unpleasant odour which every part of the plant emits on being broken, and which is precisely similar to that of the Viverra mephitis ; has given it by an almost common consent, in every part of the country, the appellations of Skunk weed and Skunk cabbage. The structure of this singular vegetable has caused it successively to be assigned to the gene- ra drum, Dracontium and Pothos, with none of which it fully agrees. Of the Aroidex, to which it is related, it approaches most nearly in its flow- er to Pothos ; while its fruit has more affinity to Orontium. The Rev. Dr. Cutler many years ago, in the Transactions of the American Academy, pointed out the distinctive characters of this plant, and pronounced it a new genus. No name, how- ever, substantiated by a character, has to my knowl- edge been given it, in any botanical work, except the name of Symplocarpus, a term lately adopted by some American’ botanists on the alleged au- thority of Mr. Salisbury. As this name by its ety- mology implies a resemblance of the fruit to Symplocos, a genus with which the plant has not the least affinity ; it appears to me inadmissible. Although I am ayerse to multiply the confusion SKUNK CABBAGE. 43 of synonyms, with which our science is already too much burdened, yet in the present instance an appropriate name, which should not be at va- riance with the character of the plant, appeared to be required. With the advice of the venerable Dr. Cutler, I have translated, as nearly as possible, the common English appellation for the plant. The name Ictodes from jzrig, viverra, and oa, oleo ; is sufficiently expressive of the property from which its common name is derived. — The genus Tetodes: has for its character a hooded spathe, spadix covered with perfect flow- ers, calyx with four segments, petais none, style pyramidal, seeds immersed in the spadix. Only the present plant can be assigned ‘to this genus. It belongs to Tetrandria, monogynia; andis found among the Piperite of Linnzus and Aroidee of °2“«« Jussieu. The root is large and. abrupt, with nu- merous, crowded, fleshy fibres. The spathe which emerges from the ground some time before the leaves, is ovate, swelling, various in width, cucul- late, spotted and sometimes nearly covered with dull brownish purple, the top acuminate and in- curved, the edges infolded, auriculate at base, and at length coalescing. Within this is the oval spadix, ona short peduncle, covered with perfect tetrandrous flowers, and of the same colour with 4s ICTODES F@TIDUS, the spathe. Calyx leaves four, fleshy, wedge shaped, truncate, the top and edges inflected, the whole crowded together so as to form a compact covering for the spadix. Stamens four, opposite the calyx leaves, with subulate filaments equal in length to the calyx, and oblong four celled anthers, Style four sided, tapering ; stigma minute, pubes- cent ; germ roundish, concealed. within the spadix, After the spathe decays, the spadix continues to grow, and with it every part of the flowers except the anthers. When the fruit is ripe, the spadix has attained many times its original dimensions, while the calyx, filaments and style are larger, yery prominent and separated from each other. Within the spadix at the base of each style is a round, fleshy seed, as large as a pea, white, tinged with green and purple, invested with a separate membranous coat, and with a prominent corcu- lum situated in a depression at top. 7 | _ The leaves which spring up some time after the flowers are numerous, large and. crowded, ob- long heart shaped, acute, smooth, with numerous fleshy veins of a paler colour. They spring from the root on long petioles, hollowed in front, and furnished with large oblong sheaths, They con- tinue to increase in size for a month or two after the flowering period is past. SKUNK CABBAGE. 45° Mr. Nuttall, who has observed the germination of this plant, informs us that the seed does not ap- pear to possesss any other cotyledon, than a sheathing stipule, similar to that which is after- wards produced in the plant. The principle bulk of the seed is formed: by what he considers a vitellus, having the embryo exactly resembling the future plant, situated in an umbilical depres- sion at its top. ‘The attachment of this body to the embryo is at first by a minute funiculus, which enlarges and becomes more distinet dur- ing the progress of germination ; but the most sin- gular circumstance respecting it is the length of time for which it continues attached to the grow- ing plant, apparently inert at the base of the can- dex for twelve or even eighteen months, = The offensive and powerful odour which char- aeterizes this plant is not peculiar to it. The fruit of some of the North American currants, and particularly Ribes rigens of Michaux, a species often met with on the high mountains of the East- ‘ern States ; emits when bruised a scent exactly similar to this vegetable. : The odour of the Ictodes resides in a princi- are which is extremely volatile. I have not been able to separate it by distillation from any part of the plant, the decoction and the distilled water be- 46+ ICTODES FETIDUS. ing in. my experiments but slightly impregnated with its sensible character. Alcohol, digested on the plant, retains its odour for a time, but this is soon dissipated by exposure to the air. ‘ An acrid principle exists in the root even when perfectly dry, producing an effect like that of the Arum and Ranuneuli. When chewed in the mouth, the root is slow in manifesting its pe- culiar taste ; but after some moments, a pricking sensation is felt, which soon amounts to a disa- greeable smarting, and continues for some time. This acrimony is readily dissipated by heat. The decoction retains none of it. The distilled water is impregnated with it, if the process be carefully conducted, but loses it on standing a short time. . | A resinous substance is dislodged from the alcoholic solution of the root by the addition of water, the solution becoming moderately turbid. A gummy or mucous principle is also present, and fills the mouth with mucilage when the root is chewed. It is separated from the decoction in small flocculi when alcohol is added. The spadix consists of a fleshy cellular sub- stance, which shrinks very much in drying. The seeds when dry are reduced to half their former size, and in this state they have a tough waxy SKUNK CABBAGE, 47 consistence and an animal odour. They contain fixed oil in abundance, which is easily forced out from them by expression. Their principal bulk appears to be albumen, and when reduced to powder they are less easily soluble in boiling water, than grains which are less oleaginous. They burn with an oily smoke, leaying behind a large coal. ie The sensible properties of the Sktodne sect a strong affinity with those of assafcetida and the other fetid gums, practitioners have been led to expect from ita similar antispasmodic power. Experience has justified these expectations in a variety of disorders of the spasmodic and nervous kind. The Rey. Dr. Cutler of Massachusetts was the first who recommended its use in asth- matie cases. In his account of indigenous Amer- ican vegetables, he tells us that the roots: dried and powdered form an excellent remedy in asthma, and often give relief when other means prove in- effectual. It may be given, he says, with safety to children as well as adults ; to the former in dos- es of four, five or six grains, and to the latter in doses of twenty grains and upward. In a private letter he states, that he made use of it in his own case of asthma for several years, and generally fonnd relief. In the winter he used the dried | 48 ICTODES FOTIDUS. root in powder, and in summer, the fresh grated root. It continued to afford more relief than any other remedy, so long as the parexysms remain- ed under the influence of any medicine. Since the recommendation of Dr. Cutler, many country physicians have employed the root in asthma, catarrh and chronic coughs, with evident benefit. A number of cases have fallen under my own ob- servation of the catarrh affections of old people, in which a syrup prepared from the root in substance has alleviated and removed the complaint. Dr. Thacher informs us on various authorities, that the powdered root has given immediate relief in hysteric parexysm, that it has affected the cure of -dropsy, and that rheumatic patients have found great benefit from its use. Its strong and pene- trating acrimony would lead us, @ priori, to ex- pect advantage from it in these complaints. Even. in the more formidable disease of epllepsy; it - appeared to do good. Some caution, hetinerwene’ is requisite in its man- agement, as serious inconvenience may ensue from an over dose. In delicate stomachs I have found it frequently to occasion vomiting even in a small quantity. In several cases of gastrodynia where it was given with a view to its antispas- modic effect, it was ejected from the stomach SKUNK CABBAGE. 49 more speedily than common cathartic medicines. I have known it in a dose of thirty grains to bring on not only vomiting, but headach, vertigo and temporary blindness. Other practitioners have given it in larger quantities without any evil of this kind, but I think such an exemption must be attributed to the age and deteriorated quality of the root. Its active ingredients being more or less volatile, it must necessarily be impaired in strength by long sities peelx in a pulveriz- ed state. To insure a tolerably uniform activity of this medicine, the root should be kept in dried slices and not reduced to powder until it is wanted for use. It may then be taken in pills or mixed with syrup in doses of from ten to twenty grains. These may in most instances be “ita anal three times a day. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Arum Americanum, Caressy, Car. ii. t. 71.—Dracontium feetidum, Lin. Syst. pl.—W1xn. ii. 288.—Pothos foetida, M1- cHAUX, Amer. ii, 186.—PRsH, ii. 398.—Bot. Mag. 836.—Sym- plocarpus fetida, NurTALL, genera, i. 105. MEDICAL REFERENCES. Currer, Trans. Amer. Acad. i. 407. THACHER, Dispensa- tory, 150. : es. : 2S > MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 50 I€TODES FETIDUS. PLATE XXIV. Fig. 1. Ictodes Jtidus in flower, the spathe inclosing the spadix. Fig. 2. The spadizx taken out of the spathe. Fig. 3. The leaves, stalks, Fc. . Fig. 4. The spadix in fruit, one quarter being cut away to show the seeds, Fig. 5. A flower magnified. Fig. 6. The same opened. Fig. 7. Petal and Siamen, Fig. 8. Style. Fig. 9, 10. Seeds. ae 3 < a (i Pa coltmunred STATICE CAROLINIANA. Marsh Rosemary. PLATE XXV. ‘Bas class of vegetables, denominated mari- time, or sea shore plants, are constituted to occupy extensive tracts of ground, which, from their im- pregnation with sea salt, are incapable of sustain- ing the life and growth of other species. The mu- riate of soda, if poured at the roots of the most vigo- rous plants belonging to a fresh soil, will often de- stroy them in ashort time. Few forest trees of the temperate zones can grow in marshes where their roots are wholly exposed to the access of salt wa- ter. Yet such is the wise arrangement of nature, that this substance, which proves a poison to most vegetables, is converted into the food and necessa- ry stimulus of the rest. Maritime plants flourish alike in places visited by the tide, and those im- 52. STATICE CAROLINIANA. pregnated by the salt springs of the interior. The degree in which they require the presence of the mineral is various, some growing upon the beach, where the earth is saturated with salt, and others atthe extreme edge of marshes, where the impreg- nation is much less powerful. With a few excep- tions, they cannot long be cultivated in fresh earth, but soon decay when remoyed from their native marshes, Maritime plants deriye a peculiar character from. their place of growth, which distinguishes them even when dry from other vegetables. The salt with which they are impregnated crystallizes on their surface in dry weather; and. deliquesces so as to render them damp and supple, when the atmosphere is moist. These plants are trouble- some in an herbarium from the facility with which - they contract moisture from the atmosphere, and communicate it to the adjacent papers. The hay cut upon salt marshes often becomes extremely damp, and would be entirely spoiled, were it not for the antiseptic and preservative quality of the salt. The barilla of commerce is obtained by the combustion of maritime vegetables. Many of these plants are thick and fleshy intheir mode of growth, and differ remarkably in this rese pect from their co-species on dry ground. This is MARSH ROSEMARY. 53 vaallinieats seen in sapineenshan sacha Chenopo- dium, &c. The vegetable which is the subject of this ar- ticle is exclusively a maritime plant. It is one of the few ornamental species in our salt marshes, and is yery conspicuous for its purple tops ap- pearing among the grass in all the summer months. It varies from a few inches, to a nih and more in height. This species has generally been’ considered a variety of the Statice limonium, which is a com- mon plant in the salt marshes of Europe. In- deed, several of the maritime species of this genus approach each other so closely in their characters, that they have been considered the same by able botanists. The American plant, to which the name of Caroliniana was’ given by Walter in his Flora of Carolina, is distinguished from the Eu- ropean principally by its sinaller flowers and plain or flat leaves. From the Statice Gmelini, an Asiatic species, ehirenan gents still less in its general form. | The genus Statice beloiige to the class Pentan- dria and order Pentagynia. Its natural orders are Aggregate of Linneus and Plumbagines of PCcc a7, In a valuable inaugural dissertation on the Cornus florida and Cornus sericea by Dr. Walker of Virginia, much attention appears to have been bestowed on the chemical properties of their bark. He found that water distilled from the bark in powder had a transparent, whitish appearance, with a slight aromatic odour, and no perceptible taste. When the heat was increased, the fiuid had a lemon colour, with an unpleasant smell and an acerb taste. These effects were probably pro- duced by the volatilization and partial decom po- sition of portions of the bark in consequence of the heat being continued until the mixture was evaporated nearly to dryness. — | 339 | - With a view to ascertain the effect of different menstrua, Dr. Walker subjected to experiment the vesidual mass furnished by evaporating a decoc- tion of the root of Cornus florida. ‘Two drachms of this residuum; which had been furnished by seven and an half ounces of the decoction, were macerated in successive quantities of the best al- cohol, until the last portion ceased -to be changed in colour ‘and taste. "The part, which remained undissolved, weighed only half a drachm. When redissolved it was destitute of taste, and underwent no change of colour on adding the test of iron. The aleohol, which had been employed in the ex- 73 | CORNUS FLORIDA. periment, was found to possess an intensely bitter taste with astringency, of a clear red colour, and turning to a deep, black on the addition of iron. On evaporation, it yielded.a drachm and an half of residuum.—Dr. Walker attempted to ascertain the quantity of resin by macerating the alcoholic ex- . tract, in repeated portions, of sulphuric ether. The ether acquired a dark colour and a bitter taste, and was found to have dissolved three quar- ters of the extract. When tested with iron, it was found that the remaining quarter only was chang- ed to a black colour. | 7 _ The Cornus florida is one of the many vege- tables which, by the union of their gallic acid with the salts of iron, form a black compound, applica- ble to the purposes of ink. The constancy of the black colour thus produced varies greatly, ac- cording to the substance from which the gallic. acid is derived. It is often extremely fugacious, sometimes fading in a few days, and at others be- coming indistinct after some weeks or months. Considering the very great importance of the pur- poses for which ink is employed, and the immense evils which may result from its obliteration in writ- ings intended for permanency ; it is with extreme caution that we should recommend the introduction of any change in the mode of its formation, The DOGWOOD. 79 oak gall has had the experience of ages in favour of its permanence and immutability. It is not until some indigenous article, producing an equal intensity of colour, has undergone a series of tri- als from time and exposure, sufficient to establish beyond a doubt its durability, that its substitution in the manufacture of ink should be considered expedient or even justifiable. | | Upon the human boily the bark of the Cornus florida acts as a tonic, an astringent and an anti- septic, approaching in'its general effects to the -character of the Peruvian bark. From a variety of experiments made by Dr. Walker upon the healthy system, it was found that this medicine uniformly increased ‘the force and frequency of the pulse, and augmented the heat of the body. Collateral experiments were made at the same time with the Peruvian bark, with which the Cor- nus appeared to agree sgansed in its rae: and’ ex- ternal effects. meine Sw a In disease it has been a qettnigane employed in the same euses for which the cinchona is resorted to, particularly intermittent: and remittent fever. Dr. Gregg of Pennsylvania, cited by Dr. Walker, states, that after employing the Cornus florida ha- bitually for twenty three: years in the treatment of intermittents, he was satisfied that it was not in- 80 CORNUS FLORIDA. ferior to the Peruvian bark as a means of cure in such cases. Among the number of cures by this ‘medicine, was that of his own case. He obsery- ed that in its recent state it sometimes disagreed with the stomach and bowels, but that this ten- dency in the article was corrected by age. He recommends the bark as being in tie best state after it has been dried a year. — ; Other medical men have employed the bark of this tree with advantage in intermittents, and also in continued fevers of the typhoid type. Its tonic operation in these cases appears very analo- gous to that of the Peruvian hark. - Lhaye employed the tincture of Cornus flori- i as a stomachic in-various instances of loss of appetite and indigestion. The report of those who have taken it has perhaps been as frequently in fayour of its effects, as of gentian, columbo, and the other imported tonics of the shops, though perhaps it is somewhat ‘more liable to offend the stomach in large doses. In the Southern States adecoction of the buds and twigs has been thought to agree better with weak stomachs, thin the oth- er preparations. Some other species of this family resemble the present tree in the bitterness and tonic power of their bark, particularly the Cornus eircinate and C. sericea. : DOGWOOD. Si The wood of the Cornus florida is hard, heavy and fine grained, and susceptible of a good pol- ish. It is employed for various purposes where strength and solidity are required, although its small size does not permit. it to be used for ob- jects of much magnitude, From its hardness it is found peculiarly useful for handles of instru-— ments, the teeth of wheels, and the smaller parts of wooden machinery. _ BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Cornus florida, Lin. Sp. pl.—Gronovrus, Virg. 17 alk Sl travels, ii. $21.—WANGENHEIM, Amer. pe 51, t. 17.—L’Herr- Tier, Corn. 2, 3.—SCHMIDT, Ard. [ 62—Botanical Mag. t. 526. —PURSH, i. 108.—Muicnavx, FIL. Arbres forestiers, i iii. 138, trans- lated, i. 255 —Exirorr, Car. i. 207.—Cornus mas Virginiana, &c»—PLUKENET, Jlm. 120, t. 2, f. 3.—-CaTessy, Car, t. 27. MEDICAL REFERENCES. Water, Inaugural Dissertation, Philad. 1803,—Barr, Coll. 12.—Tacusr, Disp. sont anv ul supra, . "PLATE XXVIL. : Fig. 1. 1. Cornus florida, a branch w ith flowers. and one with lear on Vig. 2. Fruit. Fig. 5. A flower, PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. Ginseng. PLATE XX1X. Fa early part of the eighteenth century some accounts were sent to Europe by travellers and missionaries, of a root growing in Chinese Tartary, known by the name of Ginseng, upon which a high value was set by the eastern Asiat- ics, and which was sold in the cities of China at an enormous price. Father Jartoux, a missionary at Pekin, who had an opportunity of witnessing the collection and use of this root, made a drawing of the plant, accompanied with a particular descrip- _ tion, and an account of its uses, and the cause of ~ its high estimation and demand among the Chi- nese. While on a journey among the mountains of Tartary, performed under the sanction of the emperor of China, he met in various instances XXIX. —_— ap A AWAL GUCNGUY he terg oT] é é with the plant, and with people employed in col- lecting it. He states that the root is found prin- cipally between the 39th and 47th degree of north latitude, in thick forests, upon the declivities of mountains, on thegbanks of torrents, and about the roots of trees. It never grows in the open plains or vallies, but always in dark, shady situa-. tions, remote from the sun’s rays. As the right of gathering this root is monop- olized by the emperor of China, the most exten- sive precautions are taken by him to prevent an encroachment on this privilege. The places where the Ginseng is known to grow are guarded with great vigilance, and a whole province, that of Quantong, bordering on the desert, is surround- ed by a barrier of wooden stakes, about which guards continually patrole, to keep the inhabitants within bounds, and prevent them from making excursions into the woods, in search of the pro- hibited drug. Notwithstanding this vigilance, their eagerness after gain incites the Chinese to wander by stealth in the desert, sometimes to the number of two or three thousand, in search of the _ root, at the hazard of losing their liberty, and all the fruits of their labour, if they are taken. The for the pur- emperor employs his own servants 09, had ten pose of collection, and in the year 17 84 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. thousand ‘Tartars engaged in scouring the woods m pursuit of the plant. Each man so employed was obligated to present his majesty two ounces of the best he should collect, and to sell him the rest for its weight in pure silver. At this rate it was computed that the emperor would get in a year, about 20,000 Chinese pounds, which would cost him not above one quarter of its value, at the common rate of selling it. ~The collectors of the Ginseng carry with them neither tents nor beds, every one being sufficient- ly loaded with his provision, which is only parch- ed millet, on which he is obliged to subsist during the whole journey. The mandarins send them from time to time some pieces of beef, with such game as they happen to take, which they eat very greedily, and almost raw. ‘They are accustomed to sleep on the ground, and notwithstanding six months are passed in this way, they continue lus- . * and in perfect health. vd | The army of sendin in eden to scour the country effectually, divide themselves into compa- _ nies of one hundred each, which proceed forward in direct line, every ten of them keeping at a dis tance from the rest. In this way they overrun an extensive wilderness in a short space of time. © GINSENG, 85 If any one of. the company was wanting, as it often happened, either by having wandered out of the way, or being attacked by wild) beasts, the party devoted a day or two to search for him, and then returned to their labour. or. The root of the Ginseng is the only part pre- served. The collectors bury in the ground every ten or fifteen days all that they have procured. In order to prepare it for use, they dip it in seald- ing water, and scour it with a brush. The roots are then prepared with the fumes of a species of millet, to give them a yellow colour. The millet is put in a vessel with a little water and boiled ever a gentle fire... The roots are placed over the yessel upon transverse pieces of wood, being first covered with. a linen ‘cloth, or) another vessel. When treated in this way they assume upon dry- ing a horny or semi-transparant appearance. _ The roots may also be dried. in the sun, or by the fire, and retain their qualities perfectly. In this case, however, they have not that yellow col- our, which the Chinese so much admire. .., ‘Phe Chinese consider the Ginseng as possessing unequalled medicinal powers, and their physicians have written many volumes upon the | qualities of the plant. It is made an ingredient in almost all the remedies which they give to their nobility, its 86 ‘' PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. price being too expensive for the common people. The sick take it to recover health, and the healthy to make themselves stronger and more vigorous. They affirm that it removes all fatigue, either of body or mind, dissolyes humours, cures pulmona- ry diseases, strengthens the stomach, increases the vital spirits, and prolongs life to old age. [ts price at Pekin, according to travellers, has been eight or nine times its weight in silver, and even more, : eNaTitant _ Father Jartoux became so fara convert to the virtues of the plant, that he tells us that after hay- ing taken half of a root, he found his pulse quick- er and. fuller, his appetite improved, and. his strength increased so as to bear labour better than before. On another occasion, finding him- self so fatigued and wearied as to be searce able to siton horseback, a mandarin in company per- ceiving his distress, gaye one of the roots. He took half of it, and.in an hour was not sensible of any weariness. “1 have observed,” says he, “ that the green leaves, especially the fibrous part of them, when chewed, would produce nearly the same effect. The Tartars often bring us the leaves of Ginseng instead of tea, and I always find myself so well afterwards, that I should read- ily prefer them before the best tea. Their de- GINSENG. 87 coction is of a grateful colour, and when one has . taken it twice or thrice, its taste and smell be- come very pleasant.” Saas The Chinese use a decoction of the root, for which they employ about a fifth part of an ounce at a time. This they boil in a covered vessel with two suecessive portions of water, in order to extract all its virtue. bis | The following is the substance of Jartoux’s de- scription of the Asiatic plant. The root is whit- ish, rugged and uneven. The stalk is round, and. shaded with red; it terminates in a knot or joint at top, from which proceed four equal branches. Kach branch produces five leaves, which are equi- distant from each other, and from the ground, The leaves are unusually thin and fine, with their fibres very distinguishable, and a few whitish hairs on the upper side. Their colour is dark green above, and a pale, shining green underneath, All the leaves are serrated or finely indented on the edge.—From the centre of the branches rises a second stalk which is very straight and smooth, and whitish from bottom to top, bearing a bunch of round fruit, of a beautiful red colour, composed of twenty four red berries. ‘The red skin of the berry is thin and smooth, and contains a white pulp.. As these berries were double, (for they 88 PANAX QUINQUEF OLIUM. are sometimes found single,) each of them had two rough stones, separated from each other, of nearly the size and figure of common lentils. The berries were supported on small. sprigs, which rose from a common centre like the rays of asphere. The fruit is not good to eat.. ‘The ber- ries are not round but a little flat on each side. When they are double there isa depression or hollow place in the middle where the two parts unite. Each berry has a small beard at top dia- metrically opposite to the sprig on which it hangs. When the berry is dry there remains only a shrivel- led skin, adhering close to the stones, of a dark red, or black colour. | The plant dies away anda springs up again every year. The number of years may be known by the number of stalks it has shot forth, of which there always remains a mark or scar on, the up- per part of the root. . «As to the flower,’ says esd “ not posiap seen it, I can give no deseription of it. Some say itis white and very small; others have assured me that the plant has none, and that nobody ever saw it. rather believe that it is so small and so little remarkable, that none of them ever took notice of it. GINSENG. 89 “There are some plants, which, besides the bunch of berries, have one or two berries like the former, placed an inch or an inch and an half be- low the bunch. And when this happens, they say if any one takes notice of the point of compass to which these berries direct, he will not fail to find more of the plant.” The foregoing description of Jartoux is intro- dueed as being a very intelligible deseription of a plant, in language not the most botanical. The drawing, which ecru: damian the si aoe is ve satisfactory. © ae St I 4 - The report of the high value of the Ginseng at Pekin led to an inquiry among Europeans, wheth- er the plant was not to be found in parallel lati- tudes, in the forests of North America. Father Lafiteau, a Jesuit, missionary among the Troquois, after much search, found a plant in Canada an- swering the description, and sent it to France. In 1718, M. Sarrasin published in the Memoirs of the Academy an account of the American Gin- seng; which, together with one published by Laf- iteau the same year, seemed to put its identity with the Chinese vegetable beyond a doubt. “Soon after this the French commenced. the collection of the root in Canada for exportation, For this purpose they employed the Indians, who 12 90 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. brought it to the merchants for a certain com- pensation. At one period the Indians about Que- bee and Montreal were so wholly taken up in the search for Ginseng, that their services could not be engaged for any other purpose. | The Ameri- can English engaged i in the same traffic, and al- though the plant is a rare one in ‘the woods, yet very large quantities of the root were collected. In 1748, Kalm tells us the common price of the root at Quebec was from five to six livres a pound. The first shipments to China proved | extremely profitable to those concerned, especially to the French. In a short time, however, the amount exported | overstocked the market, the Chinese be- gan to think the American Ginseng inferior to the Tartarian, and its value depreciated, sO that it ceased to be an object _ of profitable commerce. Its demand has not materially risen at any subse- quent period, although it is still occasionally eX. ported. ‘The Chinese most. readily purchase the forked or branching roots ; and those exporters have been most ‘successful, who have prepared their Ginseng by clarifying it after the Chinese manner. _ The American Girone is thinly seatiored throughout the mountainous regions of the North- ern and Middle States. Kalm informs us, that it GINSENG. 91 is seldom found north of Montreal. Michaux states that it inhabits mountains and rich, shady woods from Canada to Tennessee. I have princi- pally met with this plant in the western parts of Massachusetts, and in Vermont, especially on the sides of the Ascutney mountain. Bartram found it near the mouth of the Delaware. Linnaeus has given to the genus of plants, which includes the Ginseng, the name of Panax, a Greek word, intended to express the oputed character of the Chinese. panacea, ‘The character of this genus consists in @ sim- ple umbel ; corolla jive petalled ; berry inferior, two or three seeded ; plants polygamous. The species quinguefolinm has" pee pau leaves. The root of this plant consists of one or more fleshy, oblong and somewhat fusiform portions, of a whitish colour, transversely wrinkled, and ter- minating in various ‘radicles. | Its upper portion is slender and marked with the scars of the former shoots. Stem smooth, round, green, with often a tinge of red, regular ly divided at top into three petioles, with a flower-stalk at their centre. Peti- oles round, smooth, swelling at base. Leaves three, compound, containing five, rarely three or seven leafets. _ The partial: leaf-st nee are given 92 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. off in a digitate manner, and are smooth, com- pressed and furrowed above. Leafets oblong, ob- ovate, sharply serrate, acuminate, smooth on both sides, with scattered bristles.on the veins above. The flowers, which are small, grow in a simple umbel on a round, slender peduncle, longer than the petioles. The inyoluecrum consists of a mul- titude of short subulate leafets, interspersed with the flower-stalks. These stalks or rays are so short as to give the appearance of a head, rath- er than umbel., In the perfect flowers the calyx has five small acute teeth; the corolla five petals, which are oval, reflexed. and deciduous. Sta- mens five; with oblong anthers. Styles two, re- flexed, persistent; germ large, inferior, ovate- heart shaped, compressed, The berries are kid- ney shaped, retuse at both ends, compressed, of a bright scarlet colour, crowned with the calyxand styles, and containing two semi-circular ‘seeds. In most umbels there are flowers with only one «style, ‘in which ease the berry has a semi-cordate form, as ‘represented in fig. 3. Sometimes there are three styles and three seeds. The:outermost flowers ripen first, and their berries often obtam their full size before the central ones are expand- ved. The middle flowers are frequently abortive. GINSENG, 98 _ There’ are also barren flowers, on separate plants, which botanists describe as having larger petals, and an entire calyx. I have not met with plants of this description in flower. The foregoing character leaves little doubt that the American” plant is precisely the same with the Asiatic, although Loureiro and some oth- ers have disputed their identity. The description of Jartoux, which has been given, as well as his drawing of the plant, agrees in every respect, ex- cept that his plant had four branches or leaves, instead of three.’ ‘This is accounted for by sup- posing he ‘had chosen a luxuriant ‘specimen.—It is somewhat remarkable that the names of the Chinese, and of the North American Indians, should signify the same thing im their'respective Janguages, ‘viz. a resemblance to the jigure of a man, 'This resemblance, however, it must be con- fessed, even in the ee is rather of a humble kind. - rie . The genus Panax owas blanc byt Fiimnindis in his class: Polygamia, and ‘by ‘late writers in Pen- tandria, Digynia. The plants of this family were salso’ referred by Linneus to his natural order ‘Hederacee, or somewhat heterogeneous assem- plage of vegetables ; and by Jussieu to his Aralie. job 1/erv ad Later botanists have placed them among the Um- / 04 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. belliferous vegetables, from which they differ in their berried fruit. The genus most near to Pa- nax is unquestionably Jralia, which differs only in the number of styles, a character extremely va- riable in the Ginsengs.* The root of the Ginseng has an agrocahii taste, consisting of a mixture of sweet and bitter, with some aromatic /pungency. Water, both cold and hot, receives a gummy mucus, which i is pre- cipitated by alcohol. The watery extract has the taste and smell of the root in a strong degree. The distilled water gives evidence of a volatile oil, and has the aroma, without the sweetness of the root. The common tests indicate. the presence of but little resin, and no tannin. As far as Ginseng has been tried medicinally in this country, and in Europe, its virtues do not appear, by any means, to. justify the high estima- tion of it by the Chinese. That it is not a very active substance, is proved by the fact, that a whole root may be eaten without inconvenience. Its place in the materia medica is among demul- cents. It approaches more nearly to liquorice, than to-any other medicine in its taste and exter- * Panax trifolium, a a beautiful little plant, with neatly the herb of Anemone nemorosa, has always three styles and a tricoccous ber- ry. P.quinquefolium varies from one to three styles, though the usual number is two. - GINSENG, 95 nal qualities. Its extract forms a very neat pre- paration, and is by no means unpleasant to the taste. Dr. Fothergill tells us, that “in tedious chronic coughs, incident to people i in years, a de- coction of it has been of service. It consists of a lubricating mucilage combined with some degree of aromatic warmth, ” Ginseng i is principally ‘sold 2 our druggists as a masticatory, many people hayi ‘ing acquired an habitual fondness for chewing it. ‘At is certainly one of the most innocent articles for this purpose. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. _Panax quinquefolium, Lin. Sp. pl.—Mucnavx, Flora, ii, 256. —Porsu, i i. 191.—Woopvinte, Med. Bot. i. t. 58.—Botanical Mag. t. 1025.—Aureliana Canadensis, Caressy, Car. Suppl. 2g : 16.—Breynivs in Prod. rar. p. 52.—Araliastrum foliis: ternis quinquepartitis, Ginseng sen Ninsin_ officinarum.—Trew, Fir. eo eee ee . MEDICAL REFERENCES. | -Bovrvetin, Hist. de? Acad. 1797.—Jarrovx, tr.in Phul. Trans. xxviii, 237.—Larrreav, Memoires concernant la precieuse plante de Ginseng. Paris, 1718.—Sarrasin, Hist. Acad, 1718.—Katm, travels, tr. iii. 114,—OsBEck, China, p- 145.—HEBERDEN, Med, Trans, iii. 34,—FOTHERGILL, Gent. Mag. xxiii. 209.— CULLEN, Mat. Med. Vol. ii. &ee 96 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. PLATE XXIX. Fig, 1. Panax quinquefolium. Fig. 2. 4 flower magnified. Fig. 3. Umbel in flower, the ecternal fruit nearly grown. Fig. 4. Germ, calyx and styles magnified. : Fig. 5. Root. PUALYX — « 4 Re = y ) (7? ¥. fp iti . i vf oS aN | Ply gala ‘ J ‘ce weg POLYGALA SENEGA. Seneca Snake root. PLATE XXX. se Seneca snake root has attracted so gen- eral an attention from the medical public, as to have become an article of exportation to Europe, and one which holds a regular place in the drug- gist stores. The plant which produces it has nothing to boast on the score of elegance, and little to attract attention independent of its me- — dicinal virtues. It grows in most latitudes of the United States, especially in the mountainous tracts. The specimen, from which our drawing was taken, was gathered on the borders of Lake Champlain. The genus Polygala has a five leaved calyx, two of the leaves wing like, and coloured, Capsule obcordate, two celled, and two valved, 13 * “ 98 POLYGALA SENEGA. _ The species Senega has erect, smooth, simple stems, with alternate, lanceolate leaves, broadest at base. Flowers slightly crested. Class Diadelphia, order Octandria; natural orders Lomentacew, Linn. Pediculares, Juss. Prlygn/ Eulnde The Polygala senega has a firm, hard, braneli- ing perennial root, consisting of a moderately solid wood, and a thick bark. This root sends up a number of annual stems, which are simple, smooth, occasionally tinged with red. The leayes are scattered, nearly or quite sessile, lanceolate, with a subacute point, smooth, paler underneath., Flow- ers white, in a close terminal spike. ‘The calyx, which in this genus is the most conspicuous part of the flower, consists of five leafets, the two larg- est of which, or wings, are roundish-oyate, white, and slightly. veined. Corolla small, closed, having two obtuse lateral segments, and. a short crested extremity. Capsules obcordate, invested by the persistent calyx, compressed, two. celled, two valyed. . Seeds two oblong-oboyate, acute at one end, slightly hairy, curved, blackish, with a longi- tudinal, bifid, white appendage on the concave side. The spike opens gradually, so that the lower flow- ers arein fruit while the OPE ones are in blos- som. fo _ / f Zz SENECA SNAKE ROOT. 99 ‘The rose coloured variety of this plant, as it has been considered by Michaux, proves to be a distinct species. Some species which I possess from Carolina have branching, pubescent stems, and very long, loose spikes. ‘The flowers are sey- eral times Liber than those of P. senega. The root of the Polygala senega has an un- pleasant and somewhat acid taste. After chewing, it leaves a sensation of acrimony in the mouth, and still more in the fauces, if it has been swal- lowed. These properties it communicates fully to water upon boiling. The process of decoction does not appear to dissipate any of its power, since the distilled water is destitute of the taste and smell of the plant. Alcohol dissolves a substance, apparently of the resinous kind, giving a precipi- tate when water is added. Tron produces little change in solutions of this root, and spe is oc- casions no alteration whatever. — “i ; ‘Medicinally administered, the. Seneca snake root is sudorific and expectorant in “small doses, and emetic and cathartic in large | ones. Its most usual mode of exhibition is in decoction, which may be made of suitable strength by boiling an ounce of the root ina pint and an half of water, till itis reduced toa pint. This preparation may 4100 POLYGALA SENEGA. in most eases be given in doses of a table spoonful and upward without disturbing the stomach, _. The first reputation of the Seneca root was one which it divides with a multitude of other plants, that of curing the bite of the Rattlesnake. A re- ward was given by the legislature of Pennsylva- nia to Dr. Tennent for the promulgation of this supposed property. When, however, we consider the number of cases of recovery from the bite of this serpent, under every variety of treatment, we cannot avoid the conclusion, that these injuries are not necessarily dangerous, and that spontane- ous recoveries are perhaps as frequent as those | which. are promoted by medicine. , 3 More certain. success attends the use prs i % —— in pneumonia and some diseases related to _ Tn the advanced stages of pneumonic inflam- senee venesection and the other usual rem- edies have been carried to their proper extent; and the cough still remains dry and painful, while the debility of the patient forbids further depletion ; in these cases, I have often found a decoction of — the. Seneca root. to afford very marked relief by | promoting expectoration, and relieving the tight- ness and oppression of the ehest. . Various medi- cal writers have spoken favourably of its employ- — SENECA SNAKE ROOT. 404 mentin these cases, among whom are Lemery and others, in the Memoirs of the French Academy, | It has been found injurious, from its stimulating _ properties, when given at too early a stage, or during the prevalence of much acute meumared tion, ax mtd » Benefit has been derived in asthma from the ~ use of this plant. The following is Dr. Bree’s opinion, quoted from his treatise on that disease. “ Decoetion of seneka is eminently useful in the first species, administered to old people, but in the — paroxysm of young persons, I have found it too irritating. ‘This distinction applies to convulsive — asthma purely uncomplicated, but the disease is | frequently observed 'in middle aged and elderly persons, to take the character of peripneumonia ~ notha in the winter and spring, and seneka is then” the most ‘useful medicine that I have tried. In ~ such cases, it should be united with acetated am- — monia, during the febrile state, and ‘as this. state” eives way; the addition of squill, and camphorated — tineture of opium, will’ be found to promote ex- — peetoration, » perspiration, and urine ina” most powerful manner.” 9) 08) vig In croup, this medicine was’ iteredinied: into — notice: by Dr. Archer of Maryland. He speaks — with much confidence of its utility in that disease, A402 POLYGALA SENEGA. particularly in promoting the separation and dis- charge of the membrane formed in the trachea of patients affected by it. Such a membrane, how- ever, does not exist in all cases of croup. And in the early part of the complaint it may be ques- tioned, how far a medicine, which acts as a stimu- lant to the fauces and neighbouring organs, is en- titled to reliance, in a local inflammation of the trachea. It ought not from such a reliance to exclude more active remedies, especially vene- section. Dr. Archer’s mode of administering it is to give a tea-spoonful of a strong decoction every hour or half hour, according to the urgency of the symptoms, and during the intervals, a few drops occasionally, to keep up a sensible action of the medicine upon the mouth and throat, until it acts as an emetic or cathartic. In various forms of dropsy, the Seneca root. has been resorted to with advantage, and has re- ceived the commendations of Percival, Millman, and some others. ‘Its cathartic and diuretic effects are very considerable, when regularly persevered in, in quantities as large as will set easily on the stomach ; and have in various instances effected the dissipation of dropsical swellings. In chronic rheumatism, this root sometimes does good by its universally stimulant and diapho- SENECA SNAKE ROOT. “403 retic effects. The following case occurred to me some time since in practice. A man labouring under severe rheumatism was ordered to take at intervals a wine glass full of a strong decoction of the Senega made from an ounce of the root in a pint of water. The patient, from a desire to expedite the cure, thought proper to drink the whole quantity at once. The consequence was the most violent vomiting and purging, which lasted the whole night, accompanied with profuse diaphoresis. The patient, as “might have been hoped from the violence of the operation, was rad- ically relieved of his disorder. | . In uterine complaints, particularly amenorrhea, | the Polygala senega has been found of decided efficacy. Dr. Chapman of Philadelphia is one of the authorities for its use. in these cases. It must be given largely, and continued for some time. | The most common mode of exhibition of this root is in decoction, as already mentioned. It is also given in powder i in doses of twenty or ‘thirty | ‘grains. Dr. Tennent likewise employed a wine of Senega made by digesting four. ounces of the root in a pound of wine, of which three spoonfuls 2 were given at a dose. 104 POLYGALA SENEGA. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Polygala senega, Lin. Sp. pl. Watrer, Car, 178.—Woon- VILLE, ii. ¢. 93.— Bot. Mag. t. 1051.—Micwavx, ii. 53,—Pursn, ii.464.—Poly gala caule simplici erecto, &c. Gronovius, Virg. 80. MEDICAL REFERENCES. | TENNENT, Diseases of Virginiaa—Lemery, DuwaMeEL, &c. Hist. de ? Acad, 1739, 136.—ArcuEr, Med. & Phys. Journal, i, 83, 106.—PErcivaL, Med. Journal, iv. 67.—BREx on Astima, 258. —Massie, Inaug. Diss. Philad. 1803.—Tuacuer, Disp. 319.—~ M. Eng. Journal, vii. 206. PLATE XXX. Fig. 1. Polygala Senegae Fig. 2. A flower magnified. Fig. 3. Calyx of the same. Fig. 4. Corolla magnified. Fig. 5. Capsule. Fig. 6. 4 seed, LE AALE merraneappne Tremere Ss : Pt SIAR D ENE N Pre eel are AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANY. LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA. Tulip Tree. PLATE XXXL Tue vegetable world can hardly offer a more interesting object, than a tree of exalted stature and extensive shade, covered with a beautiful and singular foliage, putting forth from its boughs an immense number of large and variegated flowers, at the same time that its trunk affords one of the most useful species of wood, and its bark an aro- matic medicinal agent. Such an one is the Tulip tree of the United States. The forests of the Middle and Western States, . according to the representation of Michaux, a- bound with the Liriodendron tulipifera, as do like- wise the elevated parts of Carolina and Georgia. It is found in the New England states, but is principally confined to the southern parts of them. 408 ' LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA. Cultivated trees are common in Boston and its ‘vicinity, but I have never met with it in the woods of this part of the pat nor to: the north of it © Nar gd eh he sie wilingg ~ In point of size the Litiodendton i is eocegaiial ‘by few trees of the: North» American forest. Its growth is regular, straight and majestic. Its trunk often acquires a diameter of from two to three feet, and an elevation of eighty or ninety. In fa- vourable situations it frequently exceeds. these di- mensions. \ Michaux measured a tree near Louis- ville-in Kentucky, which at: five feet from the ground was:twenty two feet.and an half in cireum- ference, and which he estimated to be a. hundred and twenty or a hundred and forty feet in height. Catesby: informs us that. hts aa ciginaeslecs is - sometimes thirty feet, : beside - “Lhe names of. Pulip. ee White. nee anne wood, and. Poplar are applied to this tree in diffe- rent parts of the United States. Its flowering sen is inthe months of May.and June. The genus Liriodendron, to which» Linneus has assigned four species of trees, is characterized by @ double calya, the. outer of two, the inner of three leaves 3 nal wing seeds imbricated into a ees idiot Daten: ‘TULIP TREES. 4). 409 The species tulipifera, the only one in Amer- ica, is remarkably isgeeaeinage - ‘its lobed and truncated leaves. «> Together with seven) to our aeiiham ering trees and shrubs, the Liriodendron is found int the class Polyandria.and order Polygynia, and the: natural. orders Coadunate of Linnzeus, ong Magnolie of Jussieu. © gih _ The branches of the Tulip tree are alae a grey- ish colour inclining to red: The buds which ter- minate them in. winter are very curiously. con- structed. They are obovate, and. flattened or compressed into: a sharp edge at» the. extremity. They are made up of a number of concentric sheaths, each of which contains a single minia- ture leaf between it and the next interior, sheath. This leaf, instead of embracing the next sheath, is folded up and bent down upon one side of it. When vegetation begins in the spring the sheaths swell to a large size before bursting, and at length liberate the leaves one ata time, the remains of each sheath becoming’ converted into a stipule. _.» 'Phe leaves of the Tulip tree have:a form alto- gether peculiar, and whieh is not resembled by any other production of our forests. ‘They are divided into four pointed lobes and terminated by a shallow notch, the extremity being nearly 440 LIRIODENDRON 'TULIPIFERA. square, and the middle rib énding abruptly, as if eut off. In the large leaves, the two lower lobes are furnished with a tooth or additional lobe on their outside. They are attached by lone pedun- eles and have a beautifully smooth and bright green surface. There is one variety of this tree which has the lobes of its leaves not pointed, but very obtuse. The flowers are large, solitary, and terminal. ~The outer calyx has two triangular leaves which fall off as the flower expands. The inner calyx consists of three large, oval, concaye, veined leaves, of a pale green colour, spreading at first, but afterwards reflexed. Petals six, some- times more, obtuse, concave, veined, of'a pale yel- lowish green, marked with an irregular, indented crescent of bright orange on “both ‘sides ‘toward the base. Stamens numerous, with long linear anthers opening outwardly, and short filaments. Pistil a large, conical, acute body, its upper half covered with minute; blackish, recurved stigmas ; its lower furrowed, being @ mass of coalescing styles and germs. «The fruits 4. cone of imbri- cated seed vessels, which are woody and solid, their upper portion formed by a long lanceolate scale. Seeds two, blackish, ovate, one or both epsbertineriinns waisilirsasie x on. imcviees, ote x TULIP TREE... ._.. 144 ‘The bark of the Tulip tree has. a eared bitter taste and a strong aromatic. pungency. The lat- ter property appears to reside in a volatile oil, When the bark is distilled with water, it fills the apartment with its fragrant odour, yet the product of the distillation, at least when the process is con- ducted in the small way with the luting of the ap- paratus not perfeetly tight, has scarcely any taste or smell. Dr. Rogers informs us that he obtain. ed an oily matter in the form of a whitish scum on the surface of the water in the receiver. A bitter resin exists in small quantities in the bark. Water dissolyes. a mucous substance, which is precipitated in a flocculent form by alcohol. . Wa- ter is also impregnated with the bitterness, and, if too much heat be not employed, with some of the aroma of the tree. ‘The sulphate of iron pro- duced a dark brown colour, but.a solution of isin- glass did not increase the chemical evidence of astringency, producing a barely perceptible effect. Aleohol and proof spirit may be considered the most perfect solvents of the active ingredients of this article, although water dissolves “Indeed this appeared to be rather a singular’ cirenmstance relating ‘to this substance, and one 17 130 ~ VERATRUM VIRIDE. > in which it differs from most or all other enteties. These articles, when they fail of producing vomit- ing, generally occasion a determination down: wards, and thus produce all the phenomena of ca- thartie medicines, This effect is also frequently produced when they have operated in their pecu- | liar way. But in no instance did this appear to be the case with the Hellebore. Some patients, indeed, said that it operated upon them: by stool very slightly—but on strict inquiry I did not think that the medicine had had any effect in this way, and that what was told me proceeded from a desire in the persons to attribute some sort of ef- feet to what had been given them. — 3 - “In thé greater number of the cases, the: Helle- bore was longer before it produced vomiting than is the case generally with other emetics. It did not often operate in’less than three quarters: of an hour or ati hour=-but sometimes’ the interval was — to two or three Wourest-beithi in one case, noon, its effet were not welt deste baleen nine and. ten o’clock in the evening.» "This tardi- ness int inifesting its effects/on the system cor- ‘responds with’ what has’ been ‘observed with re- ise to — — ls | : AMERICAN HELLEBORE. 434 “I made a few experiments with the powder of the Veratrum album in order to compare its pow- ers with those which existed in our native species. It was given in six eases—of two doses of three grains—neither produced any effect—one of four was not more effectual—six grains produced some vomiting, but not to any considerable extent—seyen no effect whatever—and. eight produced in about four hours after taking it considerable effect. If these experiments are to be depended upon, the foreign _— is mot, more» aonselied than the native species: | a 1 Sandahaniionhtent to snaniitiil cai esis ie power the Hellebore was. possessed of over cu- tanéous diseases. It has the reputation in the country of some.eflicacy in these complaints. The ointment and decoction were applied in a number of cases, and it certainly proved to be an applica- tion of considerable power. its effects. in some eases:amounted to a remoyal of the disease en- tirely—and in most, some diminution of it fol- — “which was more or less durable. oe »o#In one case where there was Slatin aboist ve wrists and other parts of the body, supposed to be the itch—the ointment (made by simmering together a dram of Hellebore in an ounce of lard) after being applied for some time, removed the 132 ’ VERATRUM VIRIDE. — disease: The cure; — was — and tediewe: izoin aili ave a4 ines ‘i deide Hide) © ® second ease was due of ‘a boy who had on the back of his head, what appeared to be the com- mencement of Tinea capitis: The ointment made in the same way as that before mentioned, except that simmering was omitted; removed’ it\in the course of a fortnight. It returned again’ in the course of a few weeks and was again’ destroyed by the same application. It did not recur ‘so long as‘ had an opportunity of observing: the: — which was, however; not long. — i “© “Ty one elear case of iteh, the ointment hailed of producing any beneficial effect; and it was’ ne- cessary to hayé recourse to the usual remedy. — o) @An Dann ovcsbeltndlsetilebbultemctin dota ing eruption upon the hands and fingers, accom: panied by a venereal taint of the: ‘system, was very: much relieved: by this ointment.» Its final: remoy- aly however, could not be ‘attributed to this, since the patient was. —— the influence of —— at ~~ same time.» lo oben: abe ta ee aval gy seed: In some ache cases both theointment and dnoostions were used with success fora time, but: the effects. they produecd were ee and anpiaeneee: oi eux oT lo odouth.@ iy etd THEN va rit iit selga AMERICAN HELLEBORE,. 133 _ Of the power of this plant to-relieve the,formi- dable disease of gout, we have the most. satisfae+ tory evidence... A composition. intended. to imi- tate the celebrated Eau medicinale was. prepared in, England by Mr, Moore. from the wine, of white hellebore,and wine of opium in the proportion of three parts of the former to. one. of the. latter. This compound was used by many. arthritic pa- tients both in. Europe and America with great success in relieving the paroxysms of the disease. In Boston a considerable number. of individuals have been induced to make trial of the remedy, and. generally with advantage. ...But/I am inform- ed. by several of our most. repectable apotheca-. ries, that for a long. time, especially during the. late war, when the white hellebore could not be obtained from Europe, the American plant, was the supposition of its, being the same with the European. Various gouty, patients made use of it, and no difference was, perceived. by them or their physicians in its mode of operation or effect upon the disease. Some were relieved by small doses, which did not even nauseate, such as fifteen. or twenty drops, repeated if necessary... Others found a drachm of the mixture necessary, which quantity affected them unpleasantly by yomiting A384 . -YERATRUM VIRIDE. ~ of otherwise., Some experienced such severe et: fects as to-deter them after one trial from a repe- tition of the experiment. In general the “parox- ysm of gout was completely intial by the. ~~ — of the medicine. Prviti » On the whole, we have sufficient knowledge of ae American: green hellebore, to feel assured that it is a plant of great activity, closely resem- bling in its properties the Veratrum album of ‘Europe ; and that like that plant it has given: re- lief in the paroxysms of gout and in rheumatism. Whether the original Eau medicinale be a prep- aration of Veratrum; Colchicum, or any other ac- rid narcotic, it is not of consequence here’ to: de- eide. These plants, with several: others that might be mentioned, are similar in their operation, and probably influence the system when under disease, much in the same way. Some: individu- als obtain relief from moderate: doses, which do not oceasion nausea or any very disagreeable ef. fects: “Others: have not derived benefit except from such quantities as bring on vomiting.» Some have experienced very distressing consequences, such as excessive sickness, ‘purging, great pros- tration of ‘strength, impaired vision, and even total insensibility, where the ‘dose’ has been: im- prudently large. AMERICAN HELLEBORE. 135 - The wine of green hellebore is prepared like that of the white, by imusing for ten days eight ounces of the sliced root, in two pints and an half of Spanish white wine.. Before being given, in gout, itis combined with one fourth part its quantity of wine of opium. Of this compound the dose varies from twenty drops to a drachm. From some observations made by Sir Everard Home respecting the wine of Colchicum autum- nale, it is probable that the wine of Veratrum may be less violent in its effects, if freed — sediment which it deposits by standing. iW Of the substance of the root freshly ty Giom two to six grains will be found a sufficient dose. For medicinal use, however, in most cases it is probable that. the oe pa rare éhore described promises more. lia The external ES of hs ointment» iid decoction sometimes produces the same effect on the stomach: as the internal use of the plant. In one instance a patient was nauseated and vomit- ing brought on by the: ointment applied to an ulcer ofthe leg.:. I have known similar conse- quences from a strong decoction in cutaneous. af- fections.. Might the. topical a oft this plant be of any service insgout 2.0 een) be 436 VERATRUM VIRIDE. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Veratrum viride, Arron, Kew. iii. 422,—W1LLDENOW, Sp. pl. iv. 896.—Pursu, i. 242.—Rexs’ Cyclopedia, ad. verb.—Ve- ratrum album, Micwavx, ii. 249.—Helonias viridis, Bot. Mag. 1096. ; MEDICAL REFERENCES. Kau, travels, ii. 91.—JossELyNn, Voyage to New England. p. 60.—THacuer, W. Eng. Journal. | \ PLATE XXXII. Fig. 1. Leaf and flowers of Veratrum viride. Fig. 2. Petal magnified, Fig. 3. Stamens. Fig. 4. Pistils. Fig. 5. Capsule. Fig. 6. Section of the capsule, showing the seeds. Fig. 7. 4 seed. PL. AAAIV, GENTIANA CATESB.EI. Blue Gentian. PLATE XXXIV. Lam indebted to the late Dr. Macbride, of - Charleston, S. C. for my specimens of this me- dicinal plant, and for a quantity of its root in preservation. Many of the perennial species of Gentian have a great degree of bitterness in the root, and among these the Gentiana lutea, or com- mon imported Gentian of the shops, stands pre- eminent. Of the American species, several bear great resemblance in taste and effect to the Euro- pean plant. No one, however, which I have ex- amined approaches so near to the officinal root in bitterness, as the species which is the subject of this article. This species was formerly con- founded with the Gentiana saponaria, a fine au- tumnal plant, common in the Northern and Mid- 18 438 GENTIANA CATESBEI. dle states. It differs widely, however, from that species in the size of its leaves, the length of its calyx, the open mouth of its corolla and shape of its segments. An imperfect figure of this plant, published by Catesby sixty years ago, has been quoted by subsequent botanists as belonging to G. Saponaria. It has now been very properly distinguished by Walter and Elliott, who have ap- plied to the new species the name of its earliest delineator. The genus Gentiana has a monopetalous corol- la ; a capsule one-celled and two-valved, with two longitudinal receptacles. The species Catesbwi has a rough stem; leaves ovate-lanceolate 3 seg. ments of the calyx longer than the tube ; mouth of the corolla open, its outer segments subacute, in- ner segments bifid and fimbriate. : This genus is placed by Linnzeus in his class and order Pentandria, Digynia. A part of the Species, however, depart from the character of this class, and constitute one of those instances in which the general rules of the arrangement are violated, that apparently natural genera may not be divided. A part of the Gentians have five sta- mens and a five-cleft corolla; others have four stamens and a four-cleft corolla; others have a still different number. Yet so uniform is the BLUE GENTIAN. 139 structure of the fruit, and so great the apparent affinity of the plants, that botanists have hitherto kept the genus entire, even though the variety of form as well as of number in the calyx, corolla, and stamens might perhaps justify a subdivision. This genus belongs to the natural order Ro- tacew of Linnzeus, and to Jussieu’s Gentian. The Gentiana Catesbxi has a branching and somewhat fleshy root. Stem simple, erect, rough. Leaves opposite, oyate or lanceolate, slightly three-nerved, acute, rough on the margin. Flow- ers crowded, nearly sessile, axillary and terminal. Segments of the calyx linear-lanceolate, varying in length, exceeding the tube and sometimes more than twice its length. Corolla large, blue, ventricase, plaited ; its border ten-cleft, the five outer segments roundish and more or less acute, the five inner bifid and fimbriate. Stamens five, with dilated filaments and sagittate anthers. Germ oblong-lanceolate, compressed, supported by a sort of pedicel. Style none, stigmas two, oblong, reflexed. Capsule oblong, acuminate, one-celled, two-valved. The dried root of this vegetable has at first ‘a mucilaginous and sweetish taste, which is soon succeeded by an intense bitter, approaching near- ly to that of the officinal gentian. This quality 140 GENTIANA CATESB&I. appears to reside in a bitter extractive: principle, soluble in both alcohol and water. A little resin is developed by the pearly appearance which the tincture assumes on the addition of water. ‘The decoction, howeyer, is nearly equal in bitterness to the tincture, and both these solutions exhibit this property much more powerfully than the root in substance. No astringency appears in this root, and nothing remarkable in the distilled water. I have found the root of this plant in a variety of instances in which I have used it, to resemble very nearly the imported Gentian in its proper- ties, being but little inferior to it in strength or efficacy. Like that substance it invigorates. the stomach and gives relief in complaints arising from indigestion. Dr. Macbride, at whose sug- gestion I first employed it, entertained a high opinion of its tonic power in cases of debility of the stomach and digestive organs, In Mr. Elliott's Botany of the Southern States, we are told, that in the form of a decoction it is used with decided advantage in cases of pheumon- ic, where the fever is nervous, and that it acts as a tonic and sudorific, A tincture of it is esteem. ed as a remedy in dyspepsia, given in doses of one fourth or half an ounce. It is said to increase BLUE GENTIAN. 444 the appetite, prevent the acidification of the food, and to enable the stomach to bear and digest ar- ticles of diet, which before produced oppression and dejection of spirits. . BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Gentiana Catesbeei, Watrter, Flora Carol. p. 109,—Ex11- orT, Botany of the Southern States, i. $40. MEDICAL REFEREN CE. ee loc. cit. — ‘PLATE XXXIV. setae! "Fig. 1. Gentiana Catesbei. Fig. 2. 4 flower with the corolla drawn open to show the _ inner plice, Fig. 3. Stamens and pistil in hain natural situation, | Fig. 4. Stamens sepurate. “Fig. 5. Pistil. “ LAURUS SASSAFRAS. Sassafras Tree. PLATE XXXV. Aunost every section of the United States produces the Sassafras tree. It not only inhab- its every latitude from New England to Florida, but we are told it is also found in the forests of Mexico and even of Brazil. Its peculiar foliage and the spicy qualities of its bark render it a prominent object of notice, and it seems to have been one of the earliest trees of the North Amer- ican continent to attract the attention of Europe- ans. Its character as an article of medicine was at one time so high, that it commanded an extraya- gant price, and treatises were written to celebrate its virtues. It still retains a place in the best Kuropean Pharmacopzias. Pi AILTV. ~~ 3 # s Coe ‘st oe : or So Se. Ee see ‘Safeg Cid Ate Pat Su a fo SASSAFRAS TREE, 148 The genus of trees and shrubs known by the name of Laurus comprises many of the most use- ful as well as celebrated products of the vegeta- ble world. The Bay tree or Laurel of the an- cients, the Cinnamon tree, Cassia tree, Camphor tree, and Avocado pear, are either of them sufii- cient to give notoriety to the genus to which they belong. This genus has a calyx of from four to six divisions ; nectary of three bisetose glands, or wanting ; stamens variable in number ; fruit a drupe ; flowers often polygamous. The species Sassafras is polygamous, with leaves entire and lobed. The Laurels constitute one of the few genera assigned by Linnzus to his class Enneandria, to the first order of which they belong. Jussieu has placed them with his Lauri, to which they give name. The propriety with which they haye been associated with the Linnzan natural order Oleracew is of a very questionable nature. The Sassafras tree, of the United State, ar- riyes, in favourable situations, to a tall stature and large circumference. In the Northern States, it is of smaller size, yet trees are sometimes met with about Boston which attain to nearly the average height of the woods around them, and have trunks a foot in thickness. The bark of the {44 LAURUS SASSAFRAS, trunk is much cracked and of a greyish colour ; the young twigs are of a reddish green. 'The leaves are remarkable for the variety of their form on the same tree. Those which proceed first from the bud are usually oval and entire; the next have the same form with a lobe on one side : the last and most numerous have regularly three lobes. They grow on petioles, and are very downy when young, but become smoother by age. The flowers grow from the sides of the branches below the leaves, having the scales of the former bud for their floral leaves. They are disposed in short slender racemes of a pale green colour, each _ flower having six oblong segments. — Different trees produce barren and perfect flowers. The barren flowers have nine stamens, six of which are exterior and three interior. The perfect flow- ers, the kind represented in our plate, have only six stamens, with short filaments and heart-shap- ed anthers. Nectary none. Germ roundish with a straight, erect style. Fruit an oval drupe of a deep blue colour, supported by a red inerassated pedicel. Only a small number of the trees pro- duce fruit. Led The bark of this tree has a fragrant smell and a very agreeable spicy taste. The flavour of the root is most powerful, that of the branches SASSAFRAS TREE. 445 more pleasant. The flavour and ‘odour reside in a volatile oil which is readily obtained from the bark by distillation. It is of a light colour, be- coming darker by age, very pungent, and heavier than water, so that it sinks in that fluid when the drops are sufficiently large to overcome the re- pulsion at the surface. The bark and pith of the young twigs abound with a pure and delicate mu- cilage. A very small quantity of the pith infused in a glass of water gives to the whole a ropy con- sistance, like the white of an egg. . This mucilage has the uncommon quality that it is not precipi- tated, coagulated, or rendered tarbid by alcohol. It continues in a perfectly transparent state when mixed with that fluid, though it does not unite with it. When evaporated to dryness, it leaves a light coloured, gum-like residuum. The volatile oil and the mucilage appear .to contain all the medicinal virtue of the tree. _ The bark and wood of the Sassafras were formerly much celebrated in the cure of various complaints, particularly syphilis, rheumatism and dropsy. Its reputation, however, as a specific in those diseases, particularly the first, has fallen into deserved oblivion, while it is now recognized only with regard to its general properties, which are those of a warm stimulant and diaphoretic. 19 bes 146 LAURUS SASSAFRAS. It is retained by the Dispensatories as an ingre- dient in several preparations, particularly the compound decoction of guaiacum, formerly called “decoction of the woods;” and the compound ~ decoction of Sarsaparilla, formerly the “Lisbon diet drink.” ‘These preparations are useful as sudorifics in rheumatism, some cutaneous diseas- es, and the sequele of syphilis. They derive, however, more of their efficacy from their other ingredients, than from the Sassafras, a principal part of the efficacy of which is dissipated by boil- ing. | The most proper mode of employing the Sas- safras is in the form of its volatile oil, which may be given in very small quantities as an antispas- modic, stimulant and sudorific. It is too acrid to be taken unmixed, and should therefore be dis- solved in spirit and mixed with water or syrup. The mucilage of the pith of this tree is pe- culiarly mild and lubricating, and has been used with much benefit in dysentery, and in catarrhal, as well as calculous affections. Some eminent surgeons have employed it as a lotion in the most inflammatory stages of ophthalmia, to which its softness renders it extremely well suited. The wood of the Sassafras tree is of a light. texture, but is said to be durable when exposed SASSAFRAS TREE. 4147 to the weather. It has been thought capable of repelling insects by its odour, and on this ac- count has been employed for trunks, bedsteads, &e. A property of this kind, however, is wrongly attributed to it, since the wood retains scarcely any odour after a few months drying. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. | Laurus Sassafras, Linn. Sp. pl.—Pursn, i. 277.—NvTrait, i, 259.—W ooDVILLE, iv. t. 234,-MicHaux, FIL. -rbres fores- tiers, iii. 173.—Laurus foliis integris, trilobisve .—Trew, Ehr. t. 69, 70.—Cornus mas odorata, &c.—PLUKENET, Alm, ee 329 ee Car. i. t. 55. i Morray, Pegi iv. ii ee travels, ii—HorrmMan Obs. Phys. Chem. 31.—Cunten, Mat. Med. ii. 200.—CuiayTon, Phil. Trans. Abr. viii. 332.—Bremane, Sassafrasologia in 1627. «PLATE XXXV. ‘Fig. 1. Laurus Sassafras a branch with perfet lowers of the natural sixe. Fig. 2. stamen ee Fig. 3. Pistil, ditto. Fig. 4. Fruit. : APOCYNUM ANDROS EMIFOLIUM. Dog’s Bane. PLATE XXXVI. Tuts is a branching perennial plant, found from Canada to Carolina about the sides of fences and the borders of woods. It has a peculiarly neat aspect derived from its smoothness, its leaf- Jess and coloured stalk, bushy top and delicate flowers. Like the other American species, it is # lactescent plant, with a fibrous bark. It attains its flowering period in June and J uly. The genus Apocynum has a bell-shaped co- rolla; a nectary of five corpuscles surrounding the germ ; anthers adhering to the stigma by the middle ; follicles two ; seeds with down. The present species is glabrous, its stem erect and branching ; cymes lateral and terminal; co- rolla spreading. | rs “( : COS —Yooeyrum a . DOG’S BANE. 149 Class Pentandria, order Digynia ; natural or- ders Contorte, Linneeus ; Apocinew, Jussieu. The Apocynum Androszmifolium grows often to the height of five or six feet, though its com- mon elevation is three or four. Its stalk is smooth, simple below, branching repeatedly at top, red on the side exposed to the sun. Leaves opposite, smooth on both sides, paler beneath, ovate, acute, on short petioles. “The flowers grow i in nodding cymes from the ends of the branches and axils of the upper leaves, furnished with mi- nute acute bractes. Calyx five-cleft, acute, much shorter than the corolla. Corolla white tinged with red, monopetalous, campanulate, with five acute, spreading segments. Stamens fiye, with very short filaments, and connivent, oblong arrow- shaped anthers, cohering with the stigma about their middle. ‘The nectary consists of five ob- long glandular bodies alternating with the sta- mens. Germs two, ovate, concealed by the an- thers. Stigma thick, roundish, agglutinated to the anthers. The fruit is a pair of slender linear- lanceolate follicles, containing numerous imbri- cated seeds each crowned with a long pappus or down, and attached to a. Remy central recep-. tacle. 150 APOCYNUM ANDROSEMIFOLIUM. _ Every part of the Apocynum when wounded emits copiously a milky juice. When chewed, the root communicates an unpleasant and in- tensely bitter taste. It exhibits, when dry, the following chemical phenomena.—If a solution in ether be mixed with alcohol, the aleohol, though not turbid at first, becomes so when the ether evaporates. An aqueous infusion or decoction is of a deep red colour and intensely bitter. A. so- lution in aleohol is nearly destitute of colour, but retains the whole bitterness of. the plant, and is not disturbed by the addition of water. When submitted to distillation a slight oily film floats on the surface of water in the receiver.—From these facts we may conclude that the Apocynum con- tains, 4. A bitter extractive principle. 2. A col- ouring prineiple soluble in water and not in al- cohol. 3. Caontchoue. 4. A volatile oil, An various parts of the Eastern States this plant has been shewn to me by country practi- tioners under the name of Ipecac. This name is applied to it from its power of acting on the stomach in the same manner as the Brazilian emetic. Several physicians, among whom is Dr. Richardson of Medway, inform me that they have found about thirty grains of the root to evacuate the contents of the stomach as effectually as two DOG’S BANE. 4514 thirds the quantity of Ipeeacuanha. In my own trials it has appeared to me much less powerful than the latter substance, and although it produces vomiting, yet this power is diminished by keeping, and appears to be eventually destroyed by age. When used for the purpose of an emetic, the re- cently powdered root should be employed. The sensible and chemical qualities of this root seem to promise a good effeet when given in small doses as a tonic medicine to the stomach. My observations on this subject may hereafter be more mature. (See Appendix.) We have certain: ly very few indigenous yegetables which exceed the Apocynum in bitterness. Perhaps its emetic property when given in large doses may be owing to this quality. Most bitter vegetables produce vomiting when administered in large quantities. Kalm observes in his travels in North Ameri- ca, that in some parts of the country this plant was suspected of poisonous properties like those of the Rhus vernix. The country people inform- ed him that the milky juice rubbed on the hands produced. blistering in many persons, and that some were affected in the same way even by the effluvium of the plant.—I know of no other au- thority than that stated above for the existence of such a property in the Apocynum, ‘The plant is 152 APOCYNUM ANDROSEMIF OLIUM. common and well known in Massachusetts, yet I have never heard it suspected of deleterious - properties. The flowers of the Apocynum have a power of catching flies and small insects which was as- eribed by Dr. Darwin to an irritability in the in- ternal organs. Mr, Curtis in the Botanical mag- azine, has considered this subject at large, and ascribes the property to a more rational cause. In consequence of the close convergency of the anthers and their adhesion to the stigma, a nar- row fissure or slit exists, which becomes more contracted near the top. The insect in search of the honey at the bottom of the flower, inserts his proboscis between the stamens into the cavity within them. In extricating it from this situa- tion the proboscis is sometimes caught in the fis- sure, and in proportion to the efforts made by the insect to escape it becomes more closely wedged in the upper part of the slit, so that its deliverance by its own powers becomes at length impractica- ble. Musquitoes, gnats, and small flies are fre- quently found dead in this confinement. — DOG’S BANE. CAO? 453 BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Apocynum androsemifolium, Lin. Sp. pl._—Curris, Botani- cal Magazine, t. 280.—Darwin, Botanic Garden, ii. 182.—Mr- CHAUX, Flora, i i. 121.—Pursn, i. 179. MEDICAL REFERENCE. Kaun, Travels, iii, 26. PLATE XXXVI. Fig. 1. Branch of Apocynum androscemifolium. Fig. 2. Pair of follicles, — ~ ‘Fig. 3. Cone formed of the united stamens. Fig. 4. Stamen detached. Hearty Fig. 5. Side view of the calyx, nectaries ‘ond aereitsi, bs Fig. 6. Front view of the same. Fig.7. flseed. eer . me ts ae eleeee te Ge? fy ere. ee ie 22 Aes Tee 20 * $ 7t4 ea PEP PTR REE Begs FAa ete ae Y DIRCA PALUSTRIS. Leather Wood. PLATE XXXVI, Tue diversity of climate in different latitudes of the United States does not prevent this shrub from appearing in the most rigorously cold as well as in the warmest sections of the country. I have seen it growing plentifully on the banks of the Kennebec, in Maine, and Mr. Bartram found it in great vigour on the Savannah river in Georgia. It is a marshy shrub frequenting low woods and the vicinity of water, flowering in April and May. It is commonly of humble growth, though Mr. Bartram found specimens six or seven feet in height. It is remarkable for the flexibility of its wood and toughness of its bark, which are so great that it cannot be broken with- out great difficulty. The Aborigines employed PL AXLAIVET aly Nad Y DLirea foateastra : — eee ane LEATHER WOOD. 155 it for their cordage, and from its great tenacity the name of Leather wood has been applied to it in most parts of the United States. The Canadian French called it Bois de Piomb or Leaden wood from its flexibility. The generic character of Dirca consists in a tubular corolla without calyx, having its border obsoletely toothed. Stamens longer than the corol- la. Berry one-seeded. The genus contains but a single species. Class Octandria, order Monogynia. Natural orders Veprecule, Lin. Thymelea, Juss. The Direa is an irregular shrub somewhat distinguished by the horizontal tendency of its branches and leaves. ‘The branches have an in- terrupted or jointed mode of growth. ‘The leaves are scattered or alternate, with very short petioles. They are oval, entire, subacute, downy, when young, smooth and membranous when fully grown, and pale on the under side. ‘The flowers appear long before the leaves. Previously to their emerging they exist in miniature within a small hairy bud, which occupies a sheath or cavity in the end of each flowering branch. They are commonly in bunches of three together with their peduncles cohering. Each flower is about half an inch Jong, of a yellow colour and without ca- 156 DIRCA PALUSTRIS, . lyx. The corolla is. funnel-shaped, with a con- traction near the. base and another in the middle, its border dilated, and slightly and irregularly toothed. Stamens eight, much longer than. the corolla, the alternate ones longest, the filaments eapillary and inserted into the tuhe; the anthers roundish, Germ ovate placed. obliquely, the style appearing to issue from one side. The style is capillary, curved, and longer than the stamens. The fruit. is a small. oval, acute, red, one-seeded berry, 7 Chemically examined, the bark of this shrub discovers. a slightly resinous character by the pearliness which its tincture assumes on. admix- ture with water. The decoction is somewhat mucilaginous and deposits slight flocculi on the addition of alcohol. . Iron and gelatin produce no evidence of tannin or gallic acid. The distilled water has an unpleasant odour, but is void of ace rimony, . ei The bark of the Direa has a peculiar and rather unpleasant taste. When swallowed, it leaves a sensation of acrimony in the fauces which continues for some time. If taken in the quantity of six or eight grains, it produces a sense of heat in the. stomach and at length brings on LEATHER WOOD. 157 vomiting. This effect pretty certainly occurs if the bark be recent or freshly powdered. A yariety of observations on this shrub have been made by my pupil, Dr. John Locke, who first called my attention to the examination of its properties. He found on experiment that not only the distilled water, but the decoction also was void of acrimony, and that in the boiled bark this property was very much diminished, though still present. The watery extract had consider- able bitterness, but scarcely any of the peculiar acrimony of the plant. ‘Taken in doses of a drachm, it did not produce any very sensible ef- fect. Aleohol without heat acquired but slight sensible properties from the bark. Nothing came over by distillation with alcohol, but the alcohol remaining in the retort had acquired the acrimony. ‘The spirituous extract procured by evaporating this decoction was equal to one twen- ty fourth of the bark from which it was obtained. It contained the acrimony in a concentrated form, producing a more powerful effect on the’ fauces than the fresh bark. It was ew but not com- pletely soluble in water. | _ Dr. Locke gave the freshly dried root to various patients in doses of from five to ten grains, which quantity in most instances proyed powerfully 158 DIRCA PALUSTRIS. emetic, and sometimes cathartic, It was found to be deteriorated by keeping, and did not pro- duce the same effects when very old. In conse- quence of some statements which have been made in regard to its vesicating properties, Dr. Locke applied portions of the bark moistened with vinegar to the skin of his arm. In twelve hours no effect was produced, in’ twenty four some red- ness and itching took place and in thirty a com- plete vesication followed. : A The fruit of the Dirca has been suspected of narcotic properties. Dr. Perkins, of Hanover, N. H. has communicated the case of a child which had eaten these berries with effects like those produced by Stramonium, such as stupor, insensibility, and dilatation of the pupils. An emetic brought up the berries and the child grad- ‘ually recovered, A medical student who took several of the berries found that they produced nausea and giddiness. The medicinal action of the bark of the Direa probably depends on its acrid constituents, which appear to be partly of a resinous and partly of a volatile nature. Its properties appear somewhat allied to those of Polygala senega, for which it might perhaps be substituted in small quanti- ties. It is best given in substance, though on ac- LEATHER WOOD, 1459 count of the tenacity of its fibres it is difficult of subdivision, After beating ina mortar it resem- bles fine lint more than powder. Its vesicating properties appear too feeble to. —_— maoh utility. : I have introduced the Direni in ‘this alse. not so much because it has been yet applied to any medical purpose of great importance; but be- cause it would be improper, in a work like the present, to pass over unnoticed a shrub of such decided, activityecd eed evitl at to silt oA P ate BOTANICAL REFERENCES. — “ninea palustris, Li ‘dhanitides academicer, i iii. 7 1 6. _ gas Dvwamen, rb. vi. t, 212.—Pursn, i. 236,—Mrenavx, i. 268,— Bartram, Travels, 309.—Kaum, Travels, ii. 148. _ neni MEDICAL seer dcg a B.S. Barrow, Coll, 32. ere ‘PLATE XXXVI Fig. 1 1 1 branch with lowers Rirva poles, Fig. 2. A branch in Nite +O Rig, 3. Fruit. | Bigs 4. Germ and style much magnified. higei a Fig. 5. Magnified corolla, laid open. Fig. 6. Flower magnified. RUBUS VILLOSUS. Tall Blackberry. PLATE XXXVI. Tue family of shrubs comprized under the term Kubus, including the various species of Raspherry, Blackberry, Dewherry, &c. is exten- sively diffused throughout the United States. Many of them are known as troublesome bram- bles, a few are unarmed, and a certain number are nearly herbaceous. Some are distinguished. by the elegance of their flowers, and others by the deliciousness of their fruit. The Rubus vyil- losus is one of the most common and interesting species. It abounds among the brushwood of neglected fields and pastures, about fences and _ the borders of woods, from the Eastern to the Southern states. Being of rapid growth, it is frequently troublesome to the farmer by spread- PL. XXXVI TALL BLACKBERRY. 164 ing in his lands, although it offers some amends for the intrusion by the abundance and fine flavour of its fruit. It is commonly called tall or high blackberry in distinction from the R. trivia- lis or low blackberry, which it greatly resembles in the quality of its fruit. It is in flower in June and its fruit is ripe in August and September. For the generic character, it has a jive-cleft calyx ; five petals ; and a compound berry com- posed of one-seeded acini.—This species is pubes- cent, bristly and prickly, the leaves in threes or jives, leafets ovate, acuminate, serrate, pubescent, with the petioles prickly ; flowers racemed. Class Icosandria, order Polygynia ; natural or- orders Senticose, Lin. Rosacee, Juss. This shrub has a tall, branching, prickly stem, which is more or less furrowed and angu- lar. Leaves mostly in threes on a channelled, hairy petiole. A few are solitary and some qui- nate. Leafets ovate, acuminate, sharply and une- qually serrate, covered with scattered hairs above, and with a thick soft pubescence underneath. The terminal leafet is pedicelled, the two side ones sessile. The petiole and back of the mid- dle rib‘are commonly armed with short recurved prickles. The flowers grow in erect racemes with a hairy, prickly stalk. The pedicels are 21 162 RUBUS VILLOSUS. slender, an inch or two in length, covered with glandular hairs and supported by lanceolate bractes. Calyx divided into five ovate, concave, hairy segments ending in an acuminate point or a lanceolate leafet. Petals five, white, ovate or oblong, concave, contracted into a short claw at base. Stamens very numerous, with roundish anthers and slender, white filaments. Germs nu- merous, covering a conie central receptacle. Styles capillary, arising from the sides of the germs, persistent. Fruit a black, shining, com- pound berry formed of pulpy acini attached to the receptacle, each containing a single oblong seed, | | The bark of the root of this bramble is the part which has been medicinally employed. _ It is a pure and strong astringent, which property it manifests both by its sensible effects and by chemical examination. When treated with the sulphate of iron both the tineture and decoction assume a beautiful dark purple colour and. throw down a copious precipitate. A precipitate also takes place on the addition of gelatin, which is copious, white and opaque. The alcoholic solu- tion is in part decomposed by water. The sub- stance precipitated does not occasion the uniform turbidness which usually attends the separation TALL BLACKBERRY. 163 of resins, but exhibits a flocculent appearance like ‘that of | congulated mucilage. These flocculi, however, when collected and dried, exhibit the common resinous properties on exposure to heat. I subjected the dried bark to distillation, but the distilled water was nearly insipid, possessing only a very slight flavour of the root. ) The properties of this bark are those of a very powerful astringent. I have tried its operation sufficiently to become satisfied of its efficacy both internally and externally used in a variety of cases which adinit of relief from medicines of its class. It is true that our list of vegetable astringents has become very numerous and the cases which re- quire them are perhaps less frequent than was formerly imagined ; yet as we continue to im- port and consume various foreign medicines of this kind, we ought not to exclude from attention native articles of equal efficacy. Professor Chap- man, of Philadelphia, expresses a very decided opinion in regard to the powers of this substance. “ Of the vegetable astringents,” says he, “this I have reason to believe is among the most active and decidedly efficacious in certain cases. To the declining stages of dysentery after the symp- toms of active inflammation are removed, it is well suited, though I have given it, 1 think, with 164 RUBUS VILLOSUS. greater advantage under nearly similar circum- stances, in cholera infantum. ‘To check the in- ordinate evacuations which commonly attend the protracted cases of this disease, no remedy has ever done so much in my hands. Even two or three doses will sometimes so bind the bowels that purgatives became necessary. Being so powerfully astringent, this medicine ‘is useful in all excessive purgings, and especially in the di- arrhea of very old people, as well as when it oc- curs at the close of diseases. During my atten. dance in our public institutions I had abundant opportunities of testing its efficacy in these cases.” The fruit of the blackberry is among the most delicious productions of the uncultivated forest. To an agreeable combination of sweetness and acid it adds an aromatic fragrance which is surpassed by few of the lighter fruits produced among us. It differs in size and perfection in- different seasons, warm and dry summers being most favourable to its perfect maturity. Our markets, however, are rarely destitute of this fine fruit in the months of August and September. Some other species of Rubus are closely allied to this in the qualities of their fruit and bark, particularly the Rubus procumbens, commonly called low or running blackberry or dewberry. TALL BLACKBERRY. 165 The fruit of this species is usually larger but produced in smaller quantity from the inflores- cence being nearly solitary. The bark is not less astringent than in the present species. BOTANICAL REFERENCES, Rubus villosus, Arron, Kew, ii. 210.—WILLDENOW, ii. 1085, —Micuavx, i. 297.—Pursu, i. 346: MEDICAL REFERENCES, _ Crarmay, tah eon X and Mat. Med. ii. 174 Tancmen, ‘PLATE xxxvun Fig. 1 specimen of Rubus wilanys i im n Hower. Fig. 2. Stamen. Fig. 3. Pistils. Hi Fig, 4, The ripe fruit. entity CASSIA MARILANDICA. American Senna. PLATE XXXIX. Tas tall and luxuriant plant is found in rich soils in the vicinity of water from New England to Carolina, and westward to the banks of the Missouri. The most northern situation in which I have known it decidedly indigenous, is on the banks of the Quinebaug river near the southern boundary of Massachusetts. It is, however, cul- tivated in gardens for medicinal use much further to the north. It is a vigorous herbaceous peren- nial with stalks four or five feet high, haying their summits covered in July and August with brilliant yellow flowers. 3 The extensive genus Cassia has a five-leaved calya and five petals ; anthers unequal, the three uppermost barren, the three lowermost longer, PL XANGA. ARG A Annin & Smith Sf AMERICAN SENNA, 467 curved and beaked. Legume two-valved.—The species Marilandica has eight or nine pairs of leaf- ets, which are oblong-lanceolate, and mucronate ; an obovate gland on the petiole. Racemes axillary and terminal ; legumes linear and curved. Class Decandria, order Monogynia. Natural orders Lomentacee, Linn. Leguminose, Juss. The stems, which grow in bunches and often attain the height of five or six feet, are round, striated, and invested with a few scattered hairs. Petioles compressed, channelled above, bearing from eight to ten pairs of leafets, which are ob- long, smooth, somewhat hairy at the edges, pale on the under side, supported by short crooked pedicels, and mucronated with a rigid bristle at the end. On the base of the petiole is a large ovate pedicelled gland, of a shining green, ter- minating in a dark point at top, which is some- times double. Each petiole is also furnished with a pair of linear-subulate, ciliate, deciduous stip- ules, The flowers grow in axillary racemes, ex- tending quite to the top of the stem. ‘The pe- duneles are slightly furrowed, pedicels supported by bractes like the stipules, and marked with mi- nute, blackish, glandular hairs. Leaves of the « calyx yellow oval, obtuse, the lateral ones longest. Petals five, bright yellow, spatulate, concaye, very 168 - GCASSIA MARILANDICA, obtuse, three ascending and two descending. Stamens ten with yellow filaments and brown anthers. The three upper have short abortive anthers. To these succeed two pairs of deflexed linear anthers, The remaining three, or lower- most, are much longer, crooked, and taper into a sort of beak, the middle one being shortest. The anthers open by aterminal pore. Germ descend- ing with the lower stamens, hairy; style ascend- ing, stigma hairy, moist. The fruit consists of long legumes which are pendulous linear, curved, swelling at the seeds, and furnished with slight hairs. : The predominant constituents of the leaves in this plant appear to be resin extractive, and a volatile matter. The tincture is of a dark brown colour and is rendered extremely turbid by water. The infusion and decoction have a lighter colour and the peculiar taste of the plant. The dis- tilled water is nauseous. It is found that both the infusion and decoction answer for medicinal use, yet it is probable that the tincture would be more strongly operative, did not the sedative ef. fects of the aleohol prove a balance for the addi- tional parts of the medicine dissolved. The Cassia Marilandiea is related to the ori-- ental Senna in its botanical habit, and nearly re- AMERICAN SENNA. 4169 sembles it in its medicinal virtues.* . Neither of these plants is to be ranked among the most ac- tive cathartics, and they require to be taken in much larger quantities than aloes, rhubarb. or * There is no doubt that the true Alexandrian Senna is the product of the Cassia Senna of Linneus and of Willdenow. La- marck has occasioned an unnecessary confusion on this subject, and misled other botanists, by changing the Linnzan name C. senna to ~€. lanceolata ; while he has appropriated the name C. senna to’ ‘the variety 6 of Linnaeus, which is the Italian senna, since very properly named C. Italica, See Rees’ Cyclopedia, Art. Cassia, &c. The African plant is accounted the most active, although the Italian Sen- na cultivated in Jamaica, sesordlg to Dr. —— wre Telly equal to it in efficacy. awe The greater part of the Senna consumed in the United States is imported from the East Indies. Smaller quantities occasionall y reach us from different ports of the Mediterranean and Red seas. The common India senna has a lanceolate leaf narrow and acute; pe- tioles without glands, bearing from five to nine pairs of leaves; and a flat oblong curved legume. _ Medicinally considered, it is one of the most valuable sorts, operating with mildness and certainty. The facility and cheapness with which it is obtained in — has long ‘caused it to predominate in our markets. | The India senna, which I have assalante has heen very pure, consisting only of leaves of Cassia. The Egyptian has frecuently a ‘slight admixture of foreign leaves which are nauseous and bitter. The Cassia senna would doubtless succeed in our Southern states. The product, consisting of the whole leaves of the plant, must necessarily be large, and would well reward the attention of planters. Ripe seeds may probably be found among the senna of the shops which will vegetate, if not too old. According to Roxburgh and Carey, the Arabian senna cultivated at the Bengal garden is a biennial plant, _ er ae : 470 CASSIA MARILANDICA. jalap, to produce their desired effect. Hence the common form of administering senna is in in- fusion, a large portion being made to communi- cate its strength to water ata time. As far as I have been able to observe, about one third more of the Cassia marilandica is required to produce a given effect, than of the ©. senna. This objec- tion will prevent it from superseding the senna of the shops, although the facility, with which it may be raised in any part of the United States, will render it a convenient medicine where cheap- ness is an object. It is already cultivated in gardens for medicinal use, and the infusion and decoction are considerably employed ‘by families and country practitioners. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Cassia Marilandica, Lin. Sp. pl—Martryn, Cent. t. 23.— Micuavx, Flora, i. 261.—Pursu, i. 306.—Nvrratt, i, 280.— Cassia mimosz foliis, &c.—Dinentivs, t. 260, f. 839. MEDICAL REFERENCES, B. S. Barron, Coll. 32.—Tuacuzr, Disp, 178.—Cuar- MAN, Therapentics, PLATE XXXIx. Fig. 1. Cassia Marilandica. Fig. 2. The three upper stamens. Fig. 3. The fourth and fifth ditto. Fig. 4. The sixth and seventh ditto. Fig. 5. The three lowest ditto. Fig. 6. 4 legume. NICOTIANA TABACUM. Tobacco. PLATE XL. Av the time of the discovery of America the Tobacco plant was cultivated by the natives in the West India islands and in different parts of the continent, especially those bordering on the Gulf of Mexico. Whatever may have been its native climate, we need not trace it farther back than this period; and can incur but little risk in considering it as indigenous to the southern parts of the United States in their present enlarg- ed extent. [Note B.] It is an annual plant capable of perfecting its flowers and fruit in almost any part of the Union, yet seldom found growing spontaneously except in cultivated grounds or their vicinity. . 472 NICOTIANA TABACUM. . The genus Nicotiana has a funnel-shaped co- olla, with iis border somewhat plaited. Stamens — inclined ; stigma emarginate. Capsule two-celled, iwo or four-valved. The species Tabacum, re- presented in our plate, has its leaves ovate-lanceo- late, sessile, decurrent ; flowers panicled, acute. Class Pentandria, order Monogynia. Natural orders Lurid, Linn. Solanacee, Juss. The common Tobacco has a long fibrous root; a stalk five or six feet high, erect, round, hairy, and yiscid, branching at top. Leaves sessile, very large, ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, viscid, of a pale green colour. Bractes linear, acute. Flow- ers forming a panicle on the ends of the stem and branches. Calyx swelling, hairy, glutinous, half as long as the corolla, ending in five acute seg- ments, Corolla funnel-shaped, swelling toward the top, the border expanding, with five acute lobes ; the tube of a greenish white, the border red. Filaments inclined to one side, with oblon g anthers. Germ ovate, style long and slender, stigma cloven. Capsule ovate, invested with the calyx, two-celled, two-valved, but opening cross- wise at top; partition contrary to the valves. Seeds very numerous, small, somewhat reniform, attached to a fleshy receptacle. TOBACCO, 473 It is a remarkable law of the animal economy, that the power of use and habit is capable of reconciling the system to bear with impunity what in its unaccustomed state proves highly deleterious and even fatal. It isa fact that most substances in the Materia Medica lose their effect after the continuance of their use for a certain length of time, so that if we would realize their original operation, we must increase their dose in proportion as the body becomes accustomed and insensible to their stimulus. This is partic- ularly exemplified in the narcotics. Many of these substances, which at first are not only nau- seous and disgusting in their sensible qualities, but highly injurious in their influence upon health ; are so changed in their effect by habitual | use, as to become to those who employ them an innocent and indispensible comfort and a_ first rate luxury of life. : In its external and sensible ieaialiihi there is no plant which has less to recommend it than the common Tobaceo. Its taste in the green state is acrid, nauseous and repulsive, and a small quantity taken into the stomach excites violent vomiting, attended with other alarming symp- toms. Yet the first person who had courage and patience enough to persevere in its use, until hab- 174 NICOTIANA TABACUM, it had overcome his original disgust, eventually found in it a pleasing sedative, a soother of care, and. ja material addition to the pleasures of life. Its ‘use, which originated among savages, has spread into every civilized country; it has made its way against the declamations of the learned, and the prohibitions of civil and religious author- ity, and it now gives rise to an extensive branch of agriculture, or of commerce, in every part of the globe. Tobacco was in use among the aborigines of America, at the time of its dicovery. They em- ployed it as incense in their sacrificial fires, believing that the odour of it was grateful to their gods. The priests of some tribes swallowed the smoke of this plant to excite in them a spirit of divination, and this they did to a degree which threw them into a stupor of many hours continu- ance. When recovered from this fit of intoxica- tion, they asserted that they had held a confer. ence with the devil, and had learned from him the. course of future events. Their physicians also got inebriated with this smoke, and pretended that while under the influence of this intoxication they were admitted to the council of the gods, who revealed to them the event of diseases. - Hur- riot. pea BS: 5 | TOBACCO, 475 In 1559 Tobacco was sent into Spain and Por- tugal by Hernandez de Toledo, and from. thence it was carried. into France as a curiosity by Jean Nicot or Nicotius, ambassador at the court of Lis- bon, whose name is now immortalized by its application to this genus of plants. From this period the use of tobacco spread rapidly through the continent, and in half a century it was known in most countries in Europe. The rich indulged in it, as a luxury of the highest kind; and the poor gave themselves up to it, as a solace for the mis- eries of life. Its use became so general and so excessive, that in many countries, the constituted authorities, both of church and state, found it necessary to interpose, and to stop the extraya- gant indulgence in it by the severest prohibi- tions. James the First of England, besides writ- ing a book against it, called his “Counterblast to Tobacco,” gave orders that no planter in Virginia’ _ should cultivate more than one hundred pounds. Pope Urban the. Eighth published a decree of excommunication against all who took snuff in- the church. Smoking was forbidden in Russia under penalty of having the nose cut off. In- Switzerland ‘a tribunal (Chambre du tabac) was instituted for the express purpose of trying trans-— gressors in Tobacco. A Turk, who was found 476 NICOTIANA TABACUM. smoking in Constantinople, was conducted through the streets of that city with his pipe transfixed through his nose. ~ Even in this country, where the use of Tebac- co originated, we find our puritanic ancestors guarding against its abuse by salutary statutes. In the old Massachusetts colony laws is an act laying a penalty upon any one “who shall smoke tobacco within twenty poles of any house ;” or who shall “take tobacco in any inn or common victualling house, except in a private room, so as ‘that neither the master of the said house nor any other guest shall take offence thereat.’—In the earliest records of Harvard University soon after its foundation, is a regulation of this kind. “No scholar shall take tobacco, unless permitted by the president, with the consent of their parents and guardians, and on good reason first given by a physician, and then in a sober and private man- Wer2’61) ac ; | i While the legal authorities in various parts of the world took upon them to control the abuse of this fascinating weed, the literati of different countries entered warmly into the discussion of its merits and its faults. Among its advocates were Castor Duranti and Raphael Thorius, both of whom wrote Latin poems expressly in its praise. TOBACCO. , 177 The performance of. the latter is entitled. a “Hymn to Tobacco,” and is very lavish in ascrip- tions to this plant, which he styles the “gift of heaven and the ornament of earth.’ So warm, were the prejudices of its advocates, that it ob- tained the reputation of a general panacea, and the catalogue of diseases which it was announced to cure, amounted almost to a complete nosology. But the opinions of its adversaries.were not less extravagant upon the other extreme. It is remarkable that in the days of its first general in- troduction, no man spoke about it with coolness or indifference, but every one warmly espoused ‘its censure or its praise... Camden, in his. life of Queen Elizabeth, says; that.men used. Tobaceo every where, some for wantonness and some for health’s sake; and that “with insatiable desire and greediness, they sucked the, stinking smoke thereof through an earthen pipe, which, they presently blew out again at their nostrils ;—so that Knglishmen’s bodies were so delighted) with this plant, that they seemed as it were: eb ated into barbarians.” | : Dr. Venner in a work sities Via recta él nitam longam, published at London in 1638, gives a brief summary of the injuries done by Tobacco. “It drieth the brain, dimmeth the sight, vitiateth 23 478 NICOTIANA TABACUM. the smell, hurteth the stomach, destroyeth the concoction, disturbeth the humours and spirits, corrupteth the breath, induceth a trembling: of the limbs, exsiccateth the winde pipe, lungs and liver, annoyeth the milt, scorcheth the heart and eauseth the blood to be adusted. In a word, it overthroweth the spirits, perverteth the under- standing, and confoundeth the senses with sudden astonishment and stupiditie of the whole body.” _ A poetical phillippic, called “Tobacco batter- red,” was published in the reign of King James by Joshua Sylvester, in which he compares 'Tobac- eo to gunpowder, and pipes to guns ; making the mischief of the two equal. But the most cele- brated of all inyectives against Tobaceo was the * Counterblast” of King James I. | That) weak monarch gave vent to his prejudices against this herb in a publication, in which he professes to disprove all the alleged grounds for the toleration of Tobacco, and warns his subjects in a most earnest manner not to sin against God, and harm their own persons and goods, and render them- selves scorned and contemned by strangers, who should come among thems. by persevering in a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, and baneful to the brain? TOBACCO, 4179 . Such were the commotions excited by the introduction and spreading of an article, whose use has now become so common as scarcely to attract notice. This article is the product of several species of Nicotiana, but chiefly of the N. tabacum or Virginian Tobacco, and the N. rustica, sometimes called English Tobacco, and being the sort which Sir Walter Raleigh introduced at the court of Queen Elizabeth. Another species, N. fruticosa, is said to have been cultivated in the Kast prior to the discovery of America.» The Indians on the banks of the Missouri and Colum- bia rivers cultivate for use the N. quadrivalvis of Pursh and Nuttall. It has been remarked that the Tobacco of warm climates is more mild in its flavour, while that raised in colder latitudes is more strong and pungent. The Bengal Tobac- co, of which the sheroots are made, is one of the most weak and mild in its properties. After this is the West India Tobacco which affords the Ha- vanna cigars. | Next is the Tobacco of our South- ern States, and lastly the Tobacco raised in the northern parts of the Union, which is the most acrimonious, and pungent of all.* — Sever Varieties of Nicotiana Tabacum weigalpy a the United States, of which the principal are the broad leaved or sweet scented, and the narrow leaved. 180 NICOTIANA TABACUM. - An elaborate chemical analysis of Tobacco, has been published by M. Vauquelin in the Annales de Chimie. His results are, that the - broad leaved Tobacco furnishes from its juices the following constituents. 1. A large quantity of animal matter of an albuminous - nature. 2. Malate of lime with an excess of acid. 3. Ace- tic acid. 4, Nitrate and muriate of potash in observable quantities. 5. A red matter soluble in alcohol and water, which swells and boils in the fire, its nature undetermined. 6. Muriate of ‘mmonia, 7. A peculiar acrid, volatile, colour- less substance, soluble in water and alcohol, and which appears different from any thing known in the vegetable kingdom. It is this principle which gives to prepared Tobaceo its peculiar character, and it is perhaps not to be found in any other species of plant... The medicinal activity of Tobacco evidently resides in this volatile portion, for both the extract and decoction of the plant by long boiling become nearly inert, while the es? sential or the empyreumatic oil is one of -_ most: —_ poisons known. ahi ist . Among the substances ee ‘stot Mr. Brodie i in hit experiments or vegetable poisons, was the empyreumatie oil of Tobacco prepared by Mr. Brande by distilling the leaves of ‘Tobacco in a TOBACCO. 481 heat above that of boiling water.. A quantity of watery fluid came over, on the surface of which was a film of unctuous substance, which he calls the empyreumatic oil. Mr. Brodie found that two drops of this oil applied to the tongue of a young cat with an interval of fifteen minutes occasioned death. A single drop suspended in an ounce of water and. injected into the rectum of a cat, produced death in about five minutes. One drop suspended in an ounce and a half of mucilage and thrown into the rectum of a dog, produced. violent symptoms, and a repetition of © the experiment killed -him. | Tobacco has been used both as a seniac int prophylactic, and as a medicine. In the former eases it has not been taken internally, but only kept in contact with absorbing surfaces. It is well known, that to the mouth it 1s applied in substance and in smoke; and to the nose in the form of powder. The opinion which at one time prevailed of its power to prolong life and to secure immunity from diseases is now pretty fully abandoned. It has no prophylactic reputa- tion except as a preservation for the teeth, and in some degree as a protection against the conta- gion of epidemics. In both these cases it is entitled to'a certain degree of confidence, though 182 NICOTIANA TABACUM. it is probably inferior to many other ss oad for both these purposes. mit dads As, to its effeets upon longevity, the great frequeney of its use and the facts and observations of Sir John Sinclair render it. improbable that when moderately taken, it has any influence in Wearing out the constitution, or abridging the usu- al period of life. . But like all other narcotics its excessive use or abuse must impair the health and engender disease. Of the different modes of using ‘Tobacco, I imagine that smoking is the most injurious, and the most capable of abuse, since in. this process the active principles of the Tobaceo are yolatilized with the smoke, and are extensively applied to the: wes as well as the inouth and nose and fauces. As a medicine, this plant: has: ‘been cenit iain variety of ways for the alleviation and cure of diseases. Externally it has been applied with benefit in tinea’ capitis and in complaints occa- sioned by the presence of insects, In the form of a cataplasm applied to the pit'of the stomach it occasions severe vomiting, |The prostration of strength and other distressin g symptom 8 which attend this application, must prevent its general employment. Still-it may be remembered as an auxiliary in cases where other emetics have failed TOBACCO. 183 to operate. A. surgeon in the U.S. army inform- ed mé that the soldiers had an expedient to ex- empt themselves from duty, by wearing a piece of tobacco under each armpit; until the most alarming symptoms of — illness ee in the whole system..:)) §) i028) oipigvom Dr. James Currie has. sian a ease of epi- lepsy cured by the external use of Tobaeco. A : cataplasm was applied to the stomach for’ several days about half an-hour before the expected. re- turn of the paroxysm. A violent impression was produced each time upon the system, the’ parox- ysm prevented and the diseased association effectually broken up. Two cases of. obstinate and dangerous intermittent’ were cured in’ the game manner by a decoction of half a drachm of Tobacco in four ounces of water, thrown up as an estan a short, = before the time of the jee ais enema “was ar recom- wedded in colic, nepliritic complaints, Sc. Of late years it has, been. extensively employed in strangulated hernia. In eases of this complaint where the taxis has -been ineffectually attempted and the usual auxiliaries have failed, an injection made by infusing half a drachm of Tobacco in eight ounces of beiling water’ for ten minutes, is 184 NICOTIANA TABACUM. found extremely userul. If assisted by the local application of ice to the part, it frequently causes the contents of the sac to return spontaneously, . and renders the operation unnecessary, which _ would be otherwise unavoidable. It operates by its powerfully sedative and relaxing effects, as well as by its cathartic property. When the infusion is not used, an. dicaialiaee of Tobacco smoke into the reetum frequently pro- duces the same consequences. . The smoke may be made to penetrate farther than any liquid, and it is equally efficacious, from the «aetivity of the volatile parts. It was formerly much used in the restoration of persons apparently dead from drowning, but of late years it has gone more into disuse. From the sedative effect of Tobacco, the tendency to syncope and. the great: prostration of strength which it occasions in ordinary cases ; it is probable that its employment in cases of asphyxia from: drowning, must assist in. extin- oe rather than: in ———— the, mated of life. 0H fi Asa fiusatiny 5 Tobacco bie deed aiiieiined internally i in doses so small.as not to offend the stomach, with very good. effeet.. Dr. Fowler has published a collection of facts relative to its use, principally in dropsy and dysury, from which he TOBACCO. 185 _- concludes it is a safe and efficacious diuretic. In thirty one dropsical cases in which he employed it, eighteen were cured and ten relieved ; and out of eighteen cases of dysury, ten were cured and seven relieved. Dr. Ferriar and. several subse- quent: practitioners have found it a valuable diu- retic, although Cullen does not speak very en- couragingly of its use. At the present day it does not seem to be extensively in use, having passed into neglect rather because more fashiona- ble remedies have superceded it, than because it has really been weighed and found wanting. It will always deserve trial in obstinate dropsical cases (and such eases it must be confessed are not rare) in which the more common remedies have been tried without benefit. Of the various for- mulas recommended by Dr. Fowler, the Wine of “Tobacco is the only one preserved in the Edin- burgh and Massachusetts pharmacopeeias, being the one which is believed to extract most fully the virtues of the Tobacco. It is made by di- gesting for a week, an ounce of the dried Tobac- co in a pound of Spanish white wine. ‘The dose is from thirty to eighty drops. Dr. Fowler him- self however believed the most effectual mode of administering the Tobacco, was in the form of pills of a grain each. (i heqaacint 24 486 NICOTIANA TABACUM. - Tobacco has been employed with some suc- cess in the locked jaw, both of warm and cold climates. Mr. Duncan, surgeon of Grenada, has published in the Edinburgh Journal the account of a very distressing case of this kind, which was relieved and finally cured principally by enemas of Tobacco smoke. These applications generally produced syncope and deathlike sickness in the patient, but by prudent management of them, the disease was entirely overcome, and recovery took place. Dr. Holmes of Worcester county, Mass. exhibited the infusion of Tobacco, to a patient under violent tetanus, after the more common remedies had been fully tried without effect. The spasms were completely remoyed and the patient recovered. 7 This powerful medicine has been also em- ployed with some palliative effect in hydrophobia and certain other spasmodic diseases. Its in- ternal use however requires great caution, since patients have in various instances been destroyed by improper quantities administered by the hands of the unskilful or unwary. Notwithstand- ing the common use and extensive consumption of Tobacco in its various forms, it must unques- tionably be ranked among narcotic poisons of the most active class. The great prostration of TOBACCO. 187 strength, excessive giddiness, fainting, and vio- lent affections of the alimentary canal, which often attend its internal use, make it proper that so potent a drug should be resorted to by medi- cal men, only in restricted doses and on occa- sions of magnitude. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Nicotiana tabacum, Lan. sp. pl.—Arron, Kew. i. 241.— Woopvitie, Med. Bot. t. 77. BLACKWELL, ¢. 146.—Pursu, i. 141.—NuTrTaLL, i. 132. ' MEDICAL AND OTHER REFERENCES. Murray, ‘Apparatus, i. 681.—WA¥FER, Travels, 102—Har- niorr, Voyage to Virginia.—HaxteyT, 7 5.—EvERARD, de her. ba panacea, §¢. 1585.—CuRYSsosTOM Macnenvs, Exercita- tiones 14, de Tabaco.— Kine James I. Works, London, 1616— Suort, Discourses on Tea, Tobacco, §c.—BienTEMA, Tabacolo- gia in 1690.—Haun, Tabacologia, Jenc.—GERARD, Historie of Plants, 360.—V AUQUELIN, Annales de Chimie, 1809.—Edinburgh ‘Med. Comment. xl. 327.—DESGRANGES, Journal de Medicine, 1791.—CuLLen, Mat. Med.—FowLer, Med. Reports on Tobacco, Svo, Lond.—TatHam, on the Culture and Commerce of ‘Tobacco, Lond. 1800.—Med. and Phys. Journal, Vol. 24, 25, et passim.— Duncan, Repr. in N. Engl. Journal for 1814.—FERR1AR, Med. Hist. i. 75, and ii, 152.—Porr. ii. 72, 85, §c.—WATTERSTON; “amoir on the Tobacco plant, Washington, 1817. Petra ica PLATE XL. Fig. 1. Nicotiana tabacum. ee “Fig. 2. Capsule. es i Fig. 3. Ripe capsule opening at top. ‘Fig. 4. Transverse section. ge i Be 8 ‘Note A. = memoir on the cultivation and use of Asclepias Syraica, by J. A. Moller, may be found in Tilloch’s Philosophical Magazine, Vol. viii. p. 149. Its chief uses were for beds, cloth, hats and paper. It was found that from eight to nine pounds of the silk occupied a space of from five to six cubic feet, and were suffi- | cient for a bed, coverlet and two pillows.—The shortness of the fibre prevented it from being spun and woven alone. It how- ever was mixed with flax, wool, &c. in certain stuffs to advan- tage. Hats made with it were very light and soft. The stalks afforded paper in every respect resembling that obtained from rags. The plant is easily propagated by seeds or slips. A plantation containing thirty thousand plants yeilded from six seamen to — eames a of silk. 3 Mote B. _ Tobacco was discovered in Cuba, Florida and Mexico, near- ly three centuries ago, and was soon after introduced from this continent into Europe. Whether or not any species of it was cultivated in the East before the discovery of America, is a point of no consequence in regard to its American nativity. The extent of country throughout which it was used by the ab- origines of this continent, renders it probable that it must have been cultivated in various parts of America for none Coached’ previous to its discovery. NOTES. 189 The following account of the present mode of cultivating Tobacco in our Southern States is extracted from .4n Historical and Practical Essay on the Culture und Commerce of Tobacco. By William Tatham. London, 1800, «There are two distinct and separate methods of preparing the Tobacco ground: the one is applicable to the preparation of new and uncultivated lands, such as are in a state of nature, and require to be cleared of the heavy timber and other productions with which Providence has stocked them; and the other method ig designed to meliorate ‘and revive lands of good foundation, which have been heretofore cultivated, and, in some measure, exhausted by the calls of agriculture and evaporation. = sé'The process of preparing new lands begins as early in the winter as the housing and managing the antecedent crop will permit, by grubbing the under growth with a mattock ; felling the timber with a poll-axe ; lopping off the tops, and cutting the bodies into lengths of about eleven feet, which is about the cus- tomary length of an American fence rail, in what is called a worm or pannel fence. During this part of the process the ne- gro women, boys, and weaker labourers, are employed in piling or throwing the brush-wood, roots, and small wood, into heaps to be burned ; and after such logs or stocks are selected as are | gttitable to be mailed into rails, make clap-boards, or answer for other more particular occasions of the planter, the remaining logs are rolled into heaps by means of hand-spikes and skids ; but the Pennsylvania and German farmers, who are more con- versant with animal powers than the Virginians, save much of this labour by the use of a pair of horses with a half sledge, or a pair of truck wheels. The burning of this brush-wood, and the log piles, is. a business for all hands after working hours 5 and as nightly reyels are peculiar to the African constitution, this 190 7 NOTES. part of the labour proves often a very late employment, which affords many scenes of rustic mirth. _. * When this process has cleared the land of its various natu- ral incumbrances, (to attain which end. is very expensive and laborious,) the next part of the process is that of the hoe ; for the plough is an. implement which is rarely used in new lands when they are either designed for tobacco or meadow. .., © There are three kinds of the hoe which are applied to this tillage: the first is what is termed the sprouting hoe, which is a smaller species of mattock that serves to break up any particu- lar bard part of the ground, to grub up any smaller sized grubs _ which the mattock or grubbing hoe may have omitted, to remove small stones and other partial impediments to the next process. “The narrow or hilling hoe follows the operation of the sprouting hoe. It is generally from six to eight inches wide, and ten or twelve in the length of the blade, according to the strength of the person who is to use it; the blade is thin, and by means of a moveable wedge which is driven into the eye of the hoe, it can be set more or less digging (as it is termed,) that is, on a greater or less angle with the helve, at pleasure. In this respect there are few instances where the American black- smith is not employed to'alter the eye of an English-made hoe before it is fit for use; the industrious and truly useful mer- chants of Glasgow have paid more minute attention to this cir- cumstance. The use of this hoe is to break up the ground and throw it into shape ;_ which is done by chopping the clods until they are sufficiently fine, and then drawing the earth round the foot until it forms a heap round the projected leg of the labourer like a mole hill, and nearly as high as the knee ; he then draws out his foot, flattens the top of the hill by a dab with the flat part of the hoe, and advances forward to the next hill in the same manner, until the whole piece of ground is prepared. The centre of these NOTES. 194 hills are in this manner guessed by the eye; and in most instan- ces they approach near to lines of four feet one way, and three feet the other. The planter always endeavours to time this operation so as to tally with the growth of plants, so that he may be certain by this means to pitch his crop within season. © « The third kind of hoe is the broad or weeding hoe. This is made use of during the cultivation of the crop, to keep it clean from the weeds. It is wide upon the edge, say from ten inches to a foot, or more ; of thinner substance than the hilling hoe, not near so deep in the blade, and the eye is formed more bent and shelving than the latter, so that it can be set upon a more acute angle men the helve: at Sopeieod by oes the os TE: } aio ued be iBWIRY 32H) ait of the Season for Planting... 4, és ua robass a1 39irw et ee ai dw o} awit at oat ' ee ae CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. Pyrola wmbellata,— Gaultheria procumbens, Podophyllum peltatum, Ictodes foetidus, Statice Caroliniana, Asclepias tuberosa, Magnolia glauca, Cornus florida, Panax quinquefolium, Polygala senega, Liriodendron tulipifera, Juglans cinerea, — Yeratrum viride, Gentiana Catesbai, — Laurus sassafras, Apocynum androscemifolium, Dirca palustris, Rubus villosus, Cassia Marilandica, Nicotiana tabacum, Notes, Winter green, Partridge berry, May apple, Skunk cabbage, Marsh rosemary, Butterfly weed, Small magnolia, Dogwood, Ginseng, Seneca snake root, Tulip tree, Butternut, American Hellebore, Blue gentian, Sassafras, Dogsbane, Leather wood, Tall blackberry, _ American senna, Tobacco, Page. 15 QT 34 41 51 59 67 73 82 97 107 115 121 137 142 148 154 160 166 171 188