The American flora : or history of plants and wild flowers : containing their scientific and general description, natural history, chemical and medical properties, mode of culture, propagation , &c., designed as a book of reference for botanists, physicians, florists, gardeners, students, etc.

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THE

AMERICAN FLORA,

OR

HISTORY OF PLANTS AND WILD FLOWERS:

CONTAINING

THEIR SCIENTIFIC AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION,
NATURAL HISTORY,
CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PROPERTIES, MODE OF CULTURE, PROPAGATION, &C.

AS A BOOK OF REFERENCE FOR BOTANISTS, PHYSICIANS, FLORISTS, GARDENERS,
STUDENTS, ETC.

BY A. B: STRONG, M.D:
ae 5 es ORC Rea LIBRARY
NEW YOR

VOL. If. BOTANIC
IS ILLUSTRATED WITH

SIXTY-SIX BEAUTIFUL COLORED ENGRAVINGS,
TAKEN FROM NATURE.

NEW-YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HULL & SPENCER,

12 ANN STREET.
1855.

—/

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by
GREEN & SPENCER,
In the Clerk’s Office of tho District Court of the Southern District of New-York

LNa RODUC TION.

The public are now presented with the second volume of the
“ AMERICAN FiorA,” which is intended as a standard work, founded
upon the Linen System; its correctness in name, classification, de-
scription, order, character, general and specific ; medical properties
and uses of the various plants and herbs of which it treats, has re-
ceived the highest encomiums from some of our most eminent bot-
anists and physicians; and thus from the favorable reception which
it has hitherto met with, entitles the author to conclude that his
labors have not been altogether unprofitable. And in consequence
of a more than anticipated demand for the first volume, the pub-
lishers have been induced to make a large additional outlay, that
the present volume may be marked with additional embellishments,
correctly displaying the natural appearance of the plant or flower.
The whole work, when complete, will be one of the richest gems

in the cabinet of modern literature and art. It is poetically said
“there is a language in flowers.” With what delight do we listen

to the rustling of the forest trees, when moved by the gentle breeze
of the summer’s gale! With what pleasure do we inhale the varied
and sweet-scented odors of the flowers of the garden and the
fields, and with what a pure feeling of admiration does the eye
dwell upon their brilliant, soft, clear and variegated tints! In truth,
there is a language in them, that conveys to the refined and cultiva-
ted mind, a joy as uncontaminated as the source is pure and inex-
haustible. The names, history and habits of these delightful whis-

perers, is a study of the highest and most pleasing desc

iption; and
Oe :

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Vol. i —iii

lv INTRODUCTION

if we may be allowed the expression, the “ AMERICAN FLorA” is a
Biography of Nature, and that too of her most lovely works; and
the faithfulness of its records may be relied upon, It describes
minutely the peculiarities of the several classes, and their method
of propagation; it unfolds their beauties in the spring and summer
of their lives, their grandeur and magnificence in maturity, and
their innumerable capabilities of rendering pleasure, gratification,
and service to man. It is a work classic in its conception, pleasing
and instructive in detail, and scientific in conclusion. The accura-
cy of the drawings, and their brilliant and perfect coloring, is one of
its chief ornaments,—they place the reader at once in possession
of the subject of his interesting enquiry. Its descriptive matter is
plain and simple, disencumbered of all useless and unintelligible
matter, but clear and explicit—intended, without the intense labor
required on more elaborate works, to imprint on the memory an
impression as perfect, but of much easier and more lasting reten-
tion. From the practical knowledge and experience of the Author,
its pharmacological observations are both extensive and important,
and its medicinal information will insure its claim as a valuable
acquisition to the library of the practitioner. It isa work of much
care and research, where the very spirit of botanical science is ex-
tracted from its countless integral, like the essential oils by distilla-
tion from the sweet-scented leaves of the Rose or the Jassamine.
It is no ephemeral of a passing day, as we have seen some, shining
with a borrowed lustre from a sun that never intended to gild and
brighten their leaves, but which have faded when his influence was
withdrawn, and withered in the absence of his Jight.

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NAT. ORDER.
Senticose.
FRAGARIA VIRGINIANA. VIRGINIA STRAWBERRY.

Class XII. Icosanpria. Order V. Potyeynta.

Gen. Char, Calyx ten-cleft. Petals five. Acines naked, fixed on
a large, pulpy, deciduous receptacle.

Spe. Char. Leaflets broad-oval, smoothish above. Hairs of the
petiole spreading. Peduncles appressed, fructiferous. Calyx
spreading.

The strawberry has been long in cultivation, and many excellent
varieties have originated under the practical skill and care bestow-
ed on their culture. The best and most convenient season for
forming a new plantation of strawberries is the month of August,
as then the young plants produced on what is called runners from
the old stocks are fit to be separated from the parent, each having
roots of itsown. The best soil for most of the varieties is a mellow
loam, but almost any kind of garden soil in good heart is suitable.
The ground intended to receive them should be trenched or double-
digged, and the surface well enriched. The improvements which
have been made in this country, within the few years past, relative
to the cultivation of this delicious fruit, has induced many to com-
mence its culture, and it has now become one of the most valuable
and acceptable luxuries of our markets. The most recent and im-
proved method of planting is on beds of four-and-a-half feet wide,
on which four rows of plants at twelve inches in distance between
are dibbed; and at like distances between plant and plant; this will

allow a margin of three inches on each side. The Beds are sepa-
Vol. u.—5

6 NAT. ORDER.—SENTICOSA.

rated by alleys, usually about two feet wide, to allow of weeding,
watering the plants and gathering the fruit.

The strongest plants are always chosen for transplanting, and
in order to obtain them as strong as possible, a shallow trench is
made between the rows of old plants, and filled with a rich com-
post; on this the first runners are laid and fastened down by little
hooks. The runners quickly take root in this compost, and grow
strongly. To encourage them still more they should be watered
with the mother plants especially in dry weather. When the sea-
son arrives for transplanting, the young plants rise with fine roots,
and generally strong enough to promise a good crop in the follow-
ing year.

The beds are never dug between the plants, but only kept
clear of runners and weeds by the hoe. The alleys are dug every
winter, and a small portion of the fresh soil from them are thrown
over the beds as a top dressing. It is usual to lay straw, or some
kind of clean loose litter round the plants before the fruit begins to
ripen, to save them from being dashed with earth by rain or when
watered. When young plants are not wanted, the bearing ones
should be kept free from runners, otherwise they will rob the swell-
ing fruit.

This plan of keeping the mother plant distinct and separate is
most suitable for the larger sorts; the a/pines, and sometimes the
hautbois are planted individually at first, but afterwards allowed to
run all over and occupy the whole surface, in which state these
kinds will, in somewhat shady situations, do well, and continue pro-
ductive for several years. Some cultivators, instead of beds, plant
the large sorts in open order, say two feet apart every way on well
prepared ground, knowing that the more space each plant is allow-
ed the stronger it will grow and flower, and bear fruit in greater
numbers, and of greater size. Besides this, the side branches of the
mother plant (not the runners) have room to extend and yield fruit
in as great quantities as the principal crown. To understand this

NAT. ORDER.—SENTICOS 7

result rightly, it is necessary to advert to the constitutional character
of the strawberry plant. The plant is compound; that is, it is com-
posed of a principal and central division, which yields flowers and
fruit the next year after it is formed. This principal is surround-
ed by a secondary set of branches, which also in time yield flow-
ers and fruit, superseding the first, which decays and disappears
after it has ripened its fruit. The secondary set of branches, or
divisions, of the system put forth, in their turn, a tertiary birth of
branchlets, which also in time are fruitful; and these again a fourth
set of offsets, which process is continued yearly until the plants are
either destroyed by accident, or by each other. During this pro

cess, the system from this annual subdivision continues to grow
weaker, so that at last the flowers are so few and diminutive, that
the crops are unprofitable, and not worthy of a place in the garden.

The process is so well known to cultivators, that they do not
consider a strawberry plantation worth its place after the third
year, and many take only two crops from the plants, trenching
them down as soon as the crop of the second year is gathered. It
may be asked by some, how is it that plants allowed to occupy the
whole surface of the ground are suffered to be usurpers? The
answer is,—to save trouble, and as some of the runners are always
yielding fruit for the first time, these being passable as to size and
flavor, guarantee the preservation of the whole.

The most esteemed sorts of strawberries are the following,
Viz. —

The Alpine red and white are both of weakly growth, and
yield fruit from well-established plants from the end of June till No-
vember. A light chalky soil suits them best; and as they succeed
the earlier sorts, they are usually planted on north borders, in order
to prolong their fruiting season.

The Vérginian, or scarlet pine, is universally cultivated; it
requires a strong and rather rich loam; an early sort, and forces well.

The Roseberry is a variety of the preceding; very fruitful, and

8 NAT. ORDER.—SENTICOSA.

grows toa large size. This also requires a rich soil and an open
situation.

The Chili bears a large and well-flavored fruit, but without
much color. It grows strong, and is considerably cultivated.

The Keen’s seedling bears a large showy fruit, and is much
esteemed in the market as well as at table.

The Pine is a new variety, and much cultivated in the neigh-
borhood of London. It requires to be planted singly in very open
order. A loamy soil and open exposure is most suitable both to this
and the Imperial, a kindred variety also much esteemed.

The Hautbois is an old sort, valued for its high and peculiar
musky flavor, and when well grown is certainly one of the best.
There is a peculiarity in the flowers of this sort unlike its congeners ;
some of the plants being destitute of female organs—of course bar-
ren. These barren plants, however, are not without their use, for
it is found, if duly interspersed with the others which are defective
in their stamens, good and plentiful crops will be obtained. In
making a new plantation of the hautbois, both the male and female
plants should be carefully mixed in the rows to insure success. Air
and light are particularly necessary to this sort; and if the flowers
and tresses of fruit be tied up to little stakes, so that they may be
above the leaves, it matures them perfectly.

There are several other new varieties of strawberries lately
brought into cultivation; such as Knyvett’s New Pine, Grove End
Scarlet, Downtons, &c., all requiring similar management.

Soon as strawberries begin to be scented, they are eagerly prey-
ed on by snails and slugs, to the depradations of which their posi-
tion near the ground and dense covert of foliage subject the fruit.
To prevent these animals harboring about the plants, the beds or
rows should be two or three times, during the months of March and
April, well watered with lime water. This will, probably, either kill
or banish them before the fruiting season.

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NAT. ORDER.

Lomentacee.

CASSIA ELONGATA. PERUVIAN SENNA.

Class X. Decanpria. Order I. Monoaynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx four and five-cleft. Petals five. The three
superior Anthers sterile; the three inferior beaked.

Spe. Char. Leaflets from four to six pairs, sub-ovate. Petioles
without glands.

The reot is annual; the stalks are strong woody, rough, veined,
branched, erect, and rise from two to three feet in height; the
leaves are split about one-fourth of their length from the point,
and stand on long petioles, irregularly placed upon the stalk and
branches; the flowers are of a delicate changeable red, and placed
upon long peduncles; the corolla is composed of five petals, which
are roundish, long, entire, and of unequal size; the filaments are
ten; the seeds are brown, roundish, flat, and produced in a long round-
ish pod, divided by transverse partitions; the flowers appear in July
and August.

This most beautiful plant is said to be a native of Peru, where
it is cultivated chiefly for medicinal uses. Its properties are the
same as those of the Alexandria Senna, although not as powerful,
yet equally valuable as a medicine. The plants which yield senna,
belong to the genus cassia, of which a large number of species
contribute to furnish the drug as found in our shops. These were
confounded together by Linnzus as one species, which he named
Cassia Senna. Since his time the subject has been more thoroughly

investigated by able botanists, who have discovered a variety of
: Vol. ii —9

10 NAT. ORDER.—LOMENTACES.

species, many of which are imported into this country as the genu-
ine Alexandria Senna, and are but little, if any inferior in value.
Some species are natives of Egypt, some of Asia, Arabia, Africa,
France, England, and three species natives of America.

The Senna Italica, or blunt-leaved senna, is a variety of the
Alexandria species, which by its cultivation in the south of France
has been found to assume this change; it is less purgative than the
pointed-leaved senna, and requires to be given in larger doses. It
is very much used by physicians on the Island of Jamaica, as a
cathartic, where it grows on the sand banks near the sea.

Senna appears to have been cultivated in England in the time
of Parkinson, (1640,) who speaks very highly of its medicinal vir-
tues at that time; and there is no doubt, but that many portions of
the United States are equally well adapted to its culture; and
we would ask, why will not our societies of agriculturists, who
with patriotic views for the encouragement, and advancement in the
arts, offer a sufficient remuneration as a reward to those who may
succeed in the attempt, which will be ultimately accomplished ?

The leaves of senna, which are imported here for medicinal
use, have rather a disagreeable smell, and a bitter nauseous taste;
they yield their virtue both to water and rectified or proof spirits,
communicating to water and proof spirit a brownish color, more or
less deep, according to the proportions ; to rectified spirit a fine green.

Medical Properties and Uses. Senna which is now in common
use as a purgative, was first known to the Arabian physicians; and
was soon afterwards introduced into practice by the Greeks, who
made use of the fruit and not the leaves. For covering the taste of
Senna, Dr. Cullen recommends coriander seeds; but for preventing
its griping, he thinks the warmer aromatics, as cardamons or ginger,
would be more effectual. The formule given by the different Col-
leges, are those of an infusion, a powder, a tincture and an electuary.
For a cathartic, its dose in substance is from a scruple to a drachm.
Senna is very much used in connection with Spigelia for worms. —

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NAT; ,OR DER:

Sazifragee.

HYDRANGEA HORTENSIS. CHINA HYDRANGEA.

Class X. Decanpria. Order II. Dieynta.
Gen. Char. Stamens ten. Styles two. Petals fiye. Calyx five-
leaved. Capsules two-celled.

Spe. Char. Leaves large and fleshy. Stamens equal.

This shrub rises from two to three feet in height; the stems are
branched, thick, cylindrical, straight, and furnished with opposite
leaves; the deaf-stalk is short, thick, and of a light green color; the
leaves are elliptical, large, from six to eight inches in length, smooth
on both sides, glossy on the upper surface, tipped with a beautiful
green, and sometimes with a purplish red, marked with large fibres
whieh form an acute angle with the mid-rib, and deeply serrated
on the edges; the flowers are of a delicate pink color, and are pro-
duced in terminating corymbs. It is a native of China, and Japan,
and continues in blossom from June till September.

The Genus Hydrangea derived its name from udor, water, and
aggeion, a vessel. "The species which appears to be so extensively
cultivated as an ornament, is a marsh plant, and thrives best ina
moist loamy soil, that is sometimes covered with water, even some
of our garden varieties, especially those which are potted, require
from eight to ten gallons per day. The Hydrangea Hortensis, some-
times called the Changeable Hydrangea, is much admired on
account of its profusion of delicate and beautiful blossoms, which
are of a rosy hue, and destined to retain their gayest appearance

during several of the summer months, which should certainly enti-
Vol. li.—11

+

12 NAT. ORDE2.—SAXIFRAGEA.

tle it So vue attention of every practical florist. Though destitute
of any peculiar flavor, or valuable as a medicine, it has been an ob-
ject of particular attention among the Chinese; in proof of which
we find its blossoms painted upon almost every article which was
formerly imported from that country. It is said never to have been
found in its wild state by any botanist; but it is cultivated as a gar-
den ornament in almost every country.

A short description of the propagation and culture of this most
beautiful shrub, may not be uninteresting to the reader. The
Hydrangea Hortensis is very easily increased by cuttings, which
method is pretty generally diffused and understood within the Jast
few years. It thrives best in good rich loamy soil, well watered.
Various experiments have been made to introduce its culture in the
open field and by itself, the failure of which fully proves that it is
to be considered rather as a green-house plant than a hardy one;
as they will seldom if ever thrive even on the borders of the flower
garden. The flowers like those of the snowball are monstrous, and
produce no seed., It has been remarked by some florists, that if the
plant be well watered with alum water, it will produce beautiful
blue flowers the season after.

Medical Properties and Uses. This species of Hydrangea, has
never been introduced into regular practice, yet it possesses some
valuable properties, It is now considerably used in some parts of
Asia asa remedy for rheumatism. The bark of the root is the part
best adapted for medicinal purposes, and is said to contain tonic,
astringent, and emmanagogue properties. It is more valuable as an
ornamental flower than a medicine, as it is even suspected by many
to be powerfully narcotic and drastic. It yields its properties both
to water and rectified spirits.

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NAT. ORDER

Papaveracee.

P/EONIA PEREGRINA. PEONY OF THE ALPS.

Class XIIT. Potyanpria. Order IE. Dieynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx five-leaved. Petals five. Styles none. Cap-
sules many-seeded.

Spe. Char. Leaves double, pinnate, sub-lobed. Leaflets oblong,
veined underneath.

The male peony is furnished with long thick roots, which are
fleshy and of a bright yellow color; the sta/ks are upright, single,
streaked with red, and rises from two to. four feet in height; the
leaves are of a dark green, veined, and stand in pairs upon short

‘ footstalks ; the flowers are single and of a beautiful red color. The

female frequently rises to the height of six feet; the /eaves of which
are pale and narrow; the flowers are double and of a deep red; the
roots are very irregular, composed of several tuberous pieces, hang-
ing by rough filaments from one head. It is a native of the Alps,
where it is found growing in its wild state, in large quantities, pro-
ducing flowers from June till October.

This species of peony was very anciently considered as a
prominent article in the Materia Medica. Galen mentions many
very remarkable cures made by the use of this plant, but from the
accounts given by modern physicians of distinction, we are led to
believe it possesses little, if any, medicinal properties, that would
entitle it to a place in the Materia Medica, excepting its narcotic
power. Galen is probably the author of the anodine necklace, which

was composed of this plant, and so long famous for _ ee
ol. ll.

14 NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACEZ,.

virtues among the vulgar of Europe, the roots were at first directed
to be hung round the neck, and if relief did not follow, a drachm
of the dried root was to be taken two or three timesa day. The
fresh roots and seeds have a faint narcotic smell, with a slight acri-
monious and astringent taste; but when dried, loose wholly, or in a
great degree, both. Water extracts are insipid, spirituous ones bit-
ter and slightly astringent.

Medical Properties and Uses. Every physician knows that the
poppy possesses powerful narcotic properties, and this character
prevails generally in the whole order. Their seed is universally
oily and destitute of the narcotic properties which reside in flowers
and plants, the oil is obtained from the seed by expression, is per-
fectly wholesome, and very much used in France and some parts of
England for the table. It is also extensively emyloyed in the adul-
teration of olive oil, and its use was at one time prohibited in France
by decrees’issued in compliance with popular clamor. It is but lit-
tle used in the United States, although it was frequently introduced
into practice for the cure of epilepsy but never proved sufficiently
beneficial to warrant its continuance.

On cutting or breaking the stalk, a milky juice exudes, which

if exposed to the sun will attain the consistency of a gum, resem-
bling both in appearance, and medical properties, that of pure
opium, which is made from the Papaver Somniferum; the descrip
tion of which will’soon be given, and the various methods of ob-
taining, and preparing the gum.

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Lilbenece :

NAT. ORDER.

Lobeliacee.

LOBELIA INFLATA. INDIAN TOBACCO.

Class V. Pentanpria. Order I. Monoaynta.

Gen. Char. Calyz five-cleft. Corolla irregular, five-parted, cleft
on the upper side nearly to the base. Anthers united into a
tube. Stigma two-lobed. Capsule inferior, or semi-superior,
two or three-celled, two valved at the apex.

Spe. Char. Stem hairy, branched. Leaves ovate-lanceolate.
Racemes leafy, somewhat paniculate. Capsules somewhat
inflated.

“The Lobelia Inflatais a biennial, indigenous plant, usually found
growing from twelve to eighteen inches in height, with a fibrous
root; the stem is hairy, solitary, erect, angular, much branched
about two-thirds of the way, and rises considerably above the sum-
mit of the highest branches; the /eaves are sessile, acute, serrate,
oval, hairy, and much scattered ; the flowers are disposed in numer-
ous leafy terminal racemes, and supported on short foot-stalks; the
segments of the calyx are linear and pointed; the flower, which
is of a delicate bluish color, has a border labiate, the upper hp
being divided into two, and the lower into three acute segments;
the pod is an ovate, inflated capsule, crowned with the persistent
calyx, and contains in two cells numerous small brown seeds.” —
Thomson's Materia Medica.

Lobelia is a native of the United States, and is found growing
from Canada to Louisiana, by the road-sides and in stubble fields,

especially tre next season after the crop is taken off. When broken
Vol. ii.—15

16 NAT. ORDER.—LOBELIACEA.

a milky juice exudes, which is of a most penetrating diffusable
nature, and if applied to the eyelid, produces a powerful effect upon
the eye, from which circumstance it is sometimes called eyebright.
This plant being biennial, throws out the first year only a few radi-
cal roundish leaves laying close to the ground, the next year it pro-
duces the stem, branches, and seeds. ‘The leaves and roots of the
first year are as powerful as the mature plant, excepting the seeds
which are the strongest. The whole plant is acrid and nauseous,
producing salivation; whence, we suppose originated the mistaken
supposition that it causes the slavers in horses and cattle.

Medical Properties and Uses. The following is in part taken
from Howard’s Materia Medica, wherein the symptoms, and ‘its
effects are more accurately detailed than in any other medical work,
and to which we can bear testimony from experience, having ad-
ministered it in some hundreds of cases and attended on its opera-
tion, and have never experienced any bad effects from its use.
That it is a valuable remedy for some diseases, must be admitted ;
but like many other powerful medicines, in the hands of those who
are unskilled in its use, it is liable to be abused, when its effects are
alarming, and dangerous, and even fatal consequences are some-
times the result. Howard says, “the dobelia inflata is the most val-
uable emetic known; its full merits being scarcely appreciated,
even by those who are in the habit of making frequent use of it.
It also acts as a sudorific, diuretic, expectorant, and diffusable stimu-
lant; and is said by some physicians to possess powerful narcotic
properties; as an antispasmodic, and for the relief and cure of
asthma, its equal, in our opinion, has not yet come to the knowledge
of the world. As a stimulant it extends its effects to every part of
the system, removing obstructions, and restoring a healthy action,
wherever the one exists and the other is needed. Its action or
effects may often be sensibly felt or known by a pricking sensation
over the system, particularly in the fingers and toes. :

A diversity of symptoms attend the operation of lobelia

NAT. ORDER.—LOBELIACES. 17

emetics, evincing the magnitude of its power, and the surprising
energy upon the human system, which often terrify those who are
acquainted with its operation. Its effects are different on different
individuals, and upon the same individual at different times. Some-
times it produces severe pain in the stomach and bowels; strange,
agitated, and indescribable, unpleasant sensations. Convulsive mo-
tions of the lower jaw, often attended with a convulsive and rapid
respiration. General distress, or a universal sickening feeling per-
vades the whole system. Sometimes the patient is perfectly easy
and quiet, without the power to move a hand or a foot, or rolling
the eye balls in their sockets; and at other times great restlessness
and anxiety, with symptoms of a most alarming character, prevail.
In some instances the countenance becomes pale, and the skin cold,
with the appearance of approaching death; whilst in others, the
countenance assumes a florid appearance, bearing the marks of
health.

These symptoms, together with a great variety of others, which
it would be impossible for us to describe, are often attendant on
the administration of a lobelia emetic, and frequently prove very
alarming, even to those who are well acquainted with its effects.
Dr. Thomson, who claims the honor of first introducing the lobelia
into general notice, speaking of them, says, “they appear to be the
last struggle of disease, and are certain evidences of a favorable
turn of the disorder. The alarming effects of lobelia are probably
caused by the restoration of a healthy action to diseased parts, which
have long been accustomed to a morbid sensbility and a diseased
action. A healthy operation being thus suddenly restored, and the
organs not being properly prepared to receive the new impulse, an
unusual and oftentimes alarming train of symptoms are produced.”

“As an antidote to poisons of all kinds, whether animal or
vegetable, the lobelia stands unrivalled ; particularly in the cure of
hydrophobia. Several well attested cases of cures of this terrible
and fatal disease, have come to our knowledge. The lobelia is used

18 NAT. ORDER.—LOBELIACE.

in powder, infusion, or tincture of the leaves and pods, or the seeds,
either simply by itself or compounded with other articles.”—
Howard.

It should be gathered in the fall, at the time the leaves begin to
turn yellow, as the seeds are then ripe, and the whole plant valuable
for medicinal uses. This plant may be transferred and cultivated
in gardens, where it will thrive much more luxuriantly than in the
wild state. In fields where it is found growing, if some of the stalks
are left standing, it will sow itself, similar to our garden mustard,
and I see no good reason why it could not be made a source of
profit which would well repay for its cultivation, as the seed is in con-
siderable demand, always finding a ready market and commanding
a price of about one dollar per pouud. Thus, taking into con-
sideration the increased consumption of this invaluable plant,
and that too by a very limited number of physicians in this country,
the price at which it is sold, and a prospect. that our native plant,
will not even meet the wants of our shops, we cannot but express
our conviction that its cultivation might be made extremely profit-
able.

Tincture of Lobelia herb. Take of lobelia herb, either fresh or
dry, any quantity, press it close in a tin or earthen vessel, so that it
may be compact; then add proof spirit sufficient to cover the herb,
stop the vessel close, and let it stand for two or three days, then
strain and press out the liquor from the herb, flavor it with essence
of sassafras, and bottle it for use. Dose as an emetic, from two to
three tea-spoonsfull, to be repeated every ten minutes, until vom-
ing is induced. ‘This tincture is valuable not only as an emetic, but
also as an external application to wounds, bruises, inflamations, ulcers,
eruptions of the skin, and poisons of every description.

Compound tincture of Lobelia. This is the most powerful of
all other preparations, and is given only in such cases as require im-
mediate relief, such as lockjaw, fits, spasms, &c. Dose, from eight
to twerty drops, repeated according to circumstances.

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Wael: ORDER.

Holoracee.

RUMEX ACETOSA. SOUTHERN SORREL.

Class VI. Hexanpria. Order [1I, Triaynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx three-leaved. Petals, three, converging. Seed,
one, three-sided.

Spe. Char. Flowers dioecious. Leaves oblong, sagitate.

The stem is erect, striated, rises from six to twelve inches in
height, and of a purplish red color; the /eaves are oblong, ovate ar-
row-shaped, and of a bright green color; the radical ones are peti-
olate and obtuse; those of the stem without footstalks, placed alter-
nately and pointed; the flowers are dioecious, and are disposed in
terminal branched spikes, standing upon short slender peduncles;
the corolla is divided into three petals, and the calyz into three oval
segments; the filaments are short, bearing erect large anthers; the
styles are short, supporting large bearded stigmas, and proceeding
from a triangular germen. It flowers from July until October.

There are few parts of the world that do not acknowledge the
presence of some species of this plant. In Europe, Africa, North
America, and many parts of Asia, they fill the ditches, hedges and
waste grounds, and form a considerable portion of the pasturage in
poor and sandy soils. The leaves of the Southern Sorrell have an
agreeable acid taste, very much like that of Ozalis Acetosella, or
Wood Sorrel, which we have described in Vol. 1, page 176 ; the prop-
erties of both are so near alike, that they are medicinally employed
for the same purposes, and what has already been said of that plant,
will in a great measure apply to this; being easily procured, and in

great abundance, may be substituted for it.
Vol. ii.—19

20 NAT. ORDER.—HOLORACE.

Medical Properties and Uses. It is but recently that the prop-
erties of this valuable plant have been discovered, in consequence
of which we have never before been able to appreciate some of its
most beneficial and best qualities. We are informed that the In-
dians of this country, have been in the habit of using this plant from
its earliest history in the cure of cancer and all cancerous swellings,
for which purpose we consider it one of the most valuable produc-
tions of our country. The leaves have a pleasant and extremely
acid taste, and may be used in all cases where acids and antiscep-
tics are required. The leaves simply bruised have been applied to
scrofulous swellings with excellent effect, promoting supuration and
granulation in the most satisfactory manner.

The insipissated or concrete juice of this plant has, of late, be-
come somewhat celebrated as an external application for cancerous
affections. Repeated cases are reported, of cures of cancers by the
application of this simple article; and from a well attested expe-
rience in its use, we would with much confidence recommend it in
the treatment of this painful and highly dangerous affection,

A salve made from the leaves is the best method of preparing
it for cancerous affections, it is prepared in the following manner :—
Take of top and leaves, any quantity, bruise them in a mortar, and
then press out the juice, put it on plates or flat bottom dishes, and
expose it to the sun for evaporation. When it has become of prop-
er consistence to form a paste it ought to be put in earthen or glass
vessels to preserve it for use. When applied to the cancer, spread
a thin plaster on a soft piece of leather or cloth, of a size suitable
to cover the sore. These plasters must be occasionally renewed,
washing the cancer with soap suds at each renewal. Two plasters
have been known to cure a bad cancer of the female breast; and in
some instances one has been sufficient.

This remedy has been known by a few, whose names have been
celebrated in the cure of cancers, but the knowledge of it sold at
a high price.

A EF Eyed socal J

NAT. ORDER.

Lilacee.

LIBIUM PHILADELPHICUM. ORANGE OR TIGER LILY.

Class VI. WHexanpria. Order I. Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla six-petaled, bell-shaped, with a long necta-
rious line. Capsules the valves connected by cancellated hair.

Spe. Char. Leaves verticulate, linear-lanceolate. Nerves hairy be-
neath. Stem one to two flowered. Corolla erect, companuble,
spreading. Peta/s unquiculate.

The root is large, knotty, and covered with numerous small
succulent fibres; the s¢em is firm, round, upright, simple, and usually
rises from eighteen to thirty inches in height; the /eaves are numer-
ous, long, narrow, pointed, smooth, without footstalks, and irregular-
ly scattered over the stem; the flowers are large, of an orange yel-
Jow, spotted with dark red, and terminate the stem in clusters upon
short peduncles; it has no calyx ; the corolla is bell-shaped, consist-
ing of six petals, which within are of a beautiful shining white, but
without ridged, and of a less luminous appearance; the filaments
are six tapering, much shorter than the corolla, upon which are
placed transversely large orange-colored anthers ; the sty/e is longer
than the filaments, and furnished with a fleshy triangular stigma;
the germen becomes an oblong capsule, marked with six furrows,
and divided into three cells, each of which contain a number of flat-
ish, semicircular formed seeds. It flowers in June and July.

The lily has now become one of the most common ornaments of
the flower garden; the principal florists, both of this country and

England, have introduced its culture as a border plant, and it is now
Vol. ii.—21,

22 NAT. ORDER.—LILACE&.

very much admired for its sweet smell and the variegated tints of
its flowers. The Lilium Philadelphicum is a native of this country,
but is found growing in various parts of Europe, where it has been
cultivated ever since the time of Gerard.

Medical Properties and Uses. The flowers of this plant have a
sweet pleasant smell, and were formerly used in some parts of Eu-
rope for medicinal purposes; a watery distillization of them was
employed as a cosmetic, and the olewm lilirum was supposed to pos-
sess anodyne and nervine powers; but the odorous matter of these
flowers is of a very volatile kind, being totally dissipated in drying,
and entirely carried off in evaporation by rectified spirit as well as
water; and though both menstrums become strongly impregnated
with their agreeable odor by infusion or distilization, yet no essen-
tial oil can be obtained from any quantity of its flowers. It is there-
fore the roots only which are directed for use, the properties of
which are similar to those of the Nymphaaodaratas, White Pond
Lilly, and can in most cases be substituted for it. It is a valuable
medicine, for either internal or external use. Internally it is an as-
tringent tonic, and can be used in diarrhcea, dysentery and all cases
of general debility. Externally it is useful in poultices, for biles,
tumors, inflamations, ulcers, &c. The leaves are also useful for the
same purpose. The fresh juice of the roots mixed with lemon
juice, is said to be good for removing freckles, pimples and blotches
from the skin.

Sirup of Lilies. This preparation is made after the following
manner. ‘Take a single hand-full of the flowers, steep them mod-
erately ina quart of water over a slow fire, for one hour; then
strain and sweeten well with loaf sugar, grate in a little nutmeg, and
add half-a-pint of good Fr ench brandy. This is an eaters arti-
cle for children, when teething, or in bowel complaints. Mothers
will find this an excellent remedy for what is called the nursing, or
sore mouth. In the form of a poultice, prepared with slippery an,
it is excellent for swelling and to reduce inflamations. In all cases
it is an excellent sedative to ease pain.

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NAT. ORDER.

Lauraceae.

RHODODENDRON ARBOREUM. ROSE BAY.

Class LX. JFxneanpria. Order I. Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx none. Corolla calycine, six-parted. Nectary
of three two-bristled glands, surrounding the germ. Drupe
one-seeded.

Spe. Char. Leaves ovate lanceolate, perennial, shining. Flowers
placed upon short peduncles.

This beautiful shrub never rises to any great height, but usual-
ly sends off many radical shoots, oftentimes growing close and bushy;
the bark is smooth, and of a dark olive color; the /eaves are ellipti-
cal, pointed, smooth, veined, often waved at the margin, and of a
shining green color; the flowers appear in April and May, and lke
those of Laurus Sassafras, are male and female upon different plants ;
they appear single and stand upon short peduncles; the corolla di-
vides into four oval leaves, which stand nearly erect, and are of a
yellowish white color; the stamens vary in number, from seven to
thirteen; there is no calyx; the style of the female flower is very
short, and the germen becomes an oval berry, covered with a dark
green rind, and separable into two lobes or cotyledons.

This tree is a native of Italy, and other southern parts of Eu-
rope, and the first account we have of its cultivation is given by
Turner, which was in 1562, when it was introduced into. Baoland for
medical purposes. It isa Seti evergreen, and is now very com-
mon in the extensive gage shrubberies of that country. The

spicy warmth of the pet nenly, recommended them for culi-
b Vol. 11.—23

24 NAT. ORDER.—LAURACE.

nary purposes, and in this way they were very much used by the
Romans. And the leaves both of this and the common laurel were
frequently used in custards, &c., but the practice has by most been
discontinued, since the recent and fatal proof of the poisonous qual-
ities was made public. To such we would observe, that the com-
mon laurel, or Prunus lauro cerasus of Linneus, differs in every
respect, from the plant here described, both in its effects and in its
botanical characters. It may be remarked, however, that the dele-
tereous part of it is the essential oil, which requires to be separated
by distillization, in order to become an active poison.

Medical Properties and Uses. The leaves and berries possess the
same medicinal properties, both having a sweet fragrant smell, and
an aromatic astringent taste. In distillization with water the
leaves yield a small quantity of very fragrant essential oil; with
rectified spirit they afford a moderately warm pungent extract; the
berries yield a larger quantity of essential oil; they discover like-
wise a degree of unctuosity in the mouth, give out to the press an
almost insipid fluid oil, and on being boiled in water, appears on the
surface, a thick butyraceous oil, of a yellowish green color, impreg-
nated with the flavor of the berry. The oil thus obtained may be
used with safety and advantage in assisting digestion; and it has
even been thought to obviate the poisonous effects of the laurel.

The Laurus of honorary memory, the distinguished favorite of
Apollo, may be naturally supposed to possess extraordinary fame as
a medicine, but its pharmacutical uses are so limited in the pres-
ent practice, that this dignified plant is now rarely employed, except
by the way of enema, or as an external application; thus in the
London Pharmacopeeia the leaves are directed in the decotum pro
fomento, and the berries in the emplastrum cumini. The berries
however appear to possess some share of medicinal efficacy, and if
we do not allow them to be so extensively useful as represented by
S. Bauhin, Tournefort, Goeffry, and some others, yet we have no
doubt of their possessing highly valuable emmenagogue properties

NAT. ORDER.—LAURACES. 25

and have often proved serviceable in the treatment of kidney affec-
tions. Bergius and some others made great use of a tea made from
its leaves in the treatment of hysteria, but cautioned its too free use,
as it was thought to act with peculiar power on the uterine system,
proving considerably diuretic, and powerful as an emmenagogue.
An infusion of the leaves is sometimes recommended by modern
physicians; and the essential oil of the berries is given from one to
five drops on sugar, or dissolved by means of mucilages, or in spirit
of wine, this mode of administration has been urgently recommend-
ed in chronic rheumatisms, painful affections of the joints and bones,
particularly those of a syphilis nature, for which it is extensively
used in some parts of Europe even at the present day.

Dr. Koelpir, of Alten-stetin, an eminent botanist, claims to have
made some valuable discoveries in relation to this plant. He made
an infusion of it in water, kept twenty-four hours in nearly a boil-
ing heat, in the proportion of two drachms of the leaves and tops
of the plant to ten ounces of water. It was sometimes made double
this strength, and the dose was two ounces, to be repeated after a
few hours, and continued as required. Dr. Home found it an as-
tringent and powerfully sedative; he directs it in infusion, from
half-a-drachm to two drachms for a dose. When taken internally,
it produces—according to Koelpir—a feverish heat, intoxication,
sometimes a stupor, with a pricking sensation in the limbs, or other
parts of the body; but the intoxication leaves neither headache or
nausea. During the heat, the patient complains of intense thirst;
and drinking cold water 1s followed by a violent but salutary vom-
iting, especially in complaints of the bowels; and a copious sweat
on the parts affected with rheumatism or gout. In some instances
the pains grow worse at first; but this increase of disease is soon
followed by a remarkable relief: the pulse is rendered much weak-

er and slower, and in chronic rheumatism its effects are sometimes
greatly increased. The infusion at first often produces heat and
constriction in the fauces; which isa proof of some little acrimony,

26 NAT. ORDER.—LAURACE.

but this effect speedily disappears. In robust habits it usually ope-
rates quickly, and with a considerable degree of violence; in the
infirm and feeble, more slowly, so that the dose should not in any
case be hastily increased. It sometimes proves fatal, and Morgagni
has recorded the appearances on dissection of a woman who was
killed by it; though we are inclined to think that this plant was the
nerium oleander of Linneeus, sometimes called rhododendron, or the
*hododendron ferrugineum which has similar powers.

Sirup of Rose Bay. The illustrious and celebrated Parkinson
in his treatise upon the vegetable creation, has ascribed many vir-
tues to this plant. He relates many cases, where cures were per-
formed by the adminstration of this simple decoction alone, many
of which would appear almost incredible were it not froma reliable
source. He gave it in the form of asirup, prepared in the following
manner, viz. Take of the dried leaves of rhododendron arboreum,
rose bay, two ounces; berries, after being dried, one ounce; pepatica
americana, liverwort, one ounce; pulmonaria officinalis common
lungwort, one ounce; steep all these together over a slow fire in
one gallon of water down to three quarts, strain off, and add when
cold, two pounds of bee’s honey, one quart of best French brandy,
one and a half pounds loaf sugar, and flavor it with the essence of
wintergreen. This has been found highly servicable in the treat-
ment of coughs, colds, consumption, and all pulmonary diseases.
The dose is from a table-spoon full to half a wine-glass full, to be
taken three or four times a day.

i
.

NAT. ODE R.

Cinchonacee.

CINCHONA OBLONGIFOLIA. CINCHONA OF THE ANDES.

Class V. Penranprita. Order I. Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-form. Capsules inferior, two-celled,
divided, the valves parallel to the partitions, opening inwardly.

Spe. Char. Leaves ovate, lanceolate, smooth. Capsules oblong.

This elegant ¢ree rises from thirty to sixty feet in height; the
trunk is single, round, smooth, erect, and covered with a brown or
ash-colored bark; the older branches are smooth, round, and have a
rusty appearance; the younger branches are obtusely quadrangular,
leafy, and of a reddish color; the Zeaves when full-grown, are from
one to two feet long, of an oblong-oval shape, and stand opposite,
supported on semi-round petioles of a purple color; the stipules are
supra-axillary, interfoliaceous, opposite, contiguous, united at the
base, and of an obovate figure; the flowers are produced in large,
erect compound, terminal, panicles, and placed upon long, brachiated,
many-flowered peduncles ; the calyx is small, fine-toothed, and of a
purple color; the corol/a is white and odorous; the filaments are
very short and inserted into the tube of the corolla; the anthers
are oblong, bifid at the base, and situated below the middle
of the tube of the corolla; the capsules are large, oblong,
obscurely striated, somewhat curved, and crowned by the calyx.
This tree is found on the Andes, growing in woods, on the banks of
mountain streams, and particularly abundant at Chincao, Riobamba,
and Chuchero, flowering in June and July.

The entire genus of this valuable tribe of plants is indigenous to
Vol. ii.—27

28 NAT. ORDER.—CINCHONACES.

South America; growing for the most part among mountainous re-
gions, difficult of access, and in other respects affording but little en-
couragement to the scientific traveller. To this cause we may ascribe
our comparative want of information respecting one of the most
valuable remedies which the vegetable world has yet offered to
mankind. Recent events added to the valuable labors of pharma-
ceutical chemistry, and the present enterprise and improvement in
that science, will, it is hoped, soon bring us better acquainted with
the botanical characters of those of cinchona, to which medicine is
so much indebted. We believe the fact to be well established, that
there are many species of this tree, which yield a bark partaking
more or less of the properties that distinguish the peruvian bark
of commerce, although the destinctive characters of these species
are still a desideratum in our botanical works. Riz and Pavon have
described fifteen species native of Peru and Chili, and seven have
been found by Mutis, a very celebrated botanist of Cadiz, who went
to Santa Fe in 1760, as physician to the Viceroy, Don Pedro Misa
de la Cerda, which he found in the forest near Gruduas. It is now
known that very many more remain undescribed. The Edinburgh
College formerly enumerated three varieties of the Peruvian, viz.:
the common or pale bark, the red and the yellow; but it has long
since been ascertained by both Spanish and American botanists,
that these barks not only belong to distinct species, but that, prob-
ably, each of them is taken indiscriminately from several distinct
species. In the history of sciences, it often happens that the per-
son who knows how to diffuse, with a certain degree of boldness,
the discovery of another, passes for the discoverer himself, instead
of him who made the discovery.

Sensible Properties. The recent discoveries of the French
chemists, M. M. Caventou and Polletrer supersede all the previous
researches, so far as medicine is concerned, into the nature of cin-
chonas. Vanquelin ascertained that there were three, if not four, .
classes of cinchona-bark, differing essentially in their chemical con- ©

NAT. ORDER.—CINCHONACES. 29

stitution. The first class precipitates astringents, but not gelatine ;
the second precipitates gelatine, but not astringents; the third pre-
cipitates both gelatine and astringents; there are also some barks
which precipitate neither gelatine nor astringents; but they are
not considered by botanists as properly belonging to the genus cin-~
chona. Each of the three first classes are said to be capable of
curing intermittants.

It had been long a desideratum among pharmaceutical chem-
ists to discover in the barks the particular substance to which the
febrifying property might be ascribed ; and in pursuit of this object,
Laubert of Paris, Strenss of Moscow, and Gomez of Lisbon, pub-
lished, about the same time, the result of their observation; but the
French chemists were most successful; they obtained a substance,
which they recognised as that to which M. Gomez had given the
name of cinchonine, and they evidently proved more successful in
arriving at the correct properties of this most valuable plant. The
cinchonine was obtained by operating on the cinchona condamina, or
grey bark of the French botanists. The cinchona cordifolia (the cin-
chona officinalis of our Colleges, the yellow-bark of the French) was
next subject to analysis, and from this was obtained an alkali, in
many points resembling the cénchonine, but still differing in many
important ones, sufficiently to prevent their being confounded: this
alkali was called Quinine, The examination of the red-bark (cin-
chona oblongifolia) followed; and “it was an interesting question,”
says M. Magendie, “to determine whether this species, considered
by many medical men as eminently febrifuge, contained quinine cin-
chonine, or a third variety of alkali. The result was, that they ob-
tained, not only a treble quantity of cinchonine, (in all respects like
that obtained from the grey-bark) but also nearly twice as much
quinine as the same quantity of yellow bark had yielded. From
ulterior experiments, made on large masses, it appears that quinine
and cinchonine exist in all three species of bark, but the cinchonine
is in greater quantity than the quinine in the grey-bark, while in
the yellow-bark, the quinine greatly predominates.”

:
~

30 NAT. ORDER.—CINCHONACES,

The mode of obtaining the quinine and cinchonine (as given by
Magendie,) is to “boil the bark in alcohol until it loses all its bitter-
ness; evaporate the decoction to dryness in a water bath; dissolve
the extract thus obtained in boiling water, strongly acidulated with
hydrochloric acid; add an excess of calcined magnesia; which
after boiling a few minutes, fixes the red coloring matter, and leaves
the liquid clear; when cold, filtrate, and wash the magnesian pre-
cipitate with cold water, dry it on astone, separate all the bitterness
by repeated digestions in boiling alcohol, mix the alcoholic liquors,
and the cinchonine will crystalize as the fluid cools.”

The cinchonine and quinine may be obtained by one operation,
as follows. Having obtained the sulphate of quinine, by the above
process, (operating on the cinchena cordifolia) decompose, the
mother waters, and the washings of that operation, (which hold in
solution the sulphate of cinchonine) by magnesia or lime; dissolve
the quinine and cinchonine contained in these liquors, by digesting
the magnesian precipitate when washed and well dried in alcohol:
if the spirit be sufficiently charged, the cinchonine which predomi-
nates will chrystalize; if it do not, further concentration is neces-
sary. The cinchonine thus obtained, must undergo a re-chrystal-
ization to purify it; this is done by dissolving it in a sufficient quan-
tity of boiling alcohol.

Chemical Properties of Cinchonine and Quinine. Cinchonine is
white, translucent, chrystalizable in needles, and soluble only in
seven hundred parts of cold water. If dissolved in alcohol or an
acid, its taste is powerfully bitter, and resembles that of grey-bark.
It is dissolved in very small quantities of the fixed oils, and sulphu-
ric ether. With acids it forms salts which are more or less soluble.
According to the analysis of Mr. Brande, cénchonine consists of
about—Carbon 80, 20—Nitrogen 12, 65—Hydrogen 6, 85—aggre-
gate, 99 70. Quinine is white, incrystallizable; it is as little solu-
ble in water as cinchonine, much more bitter to the taste, as are also
most of its salts, which are distinguished by a pearly appearance.

; baie & ee ae eee a

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NAT. ORDER.—CINCHONACEA. 3l

It is very soluble in ether, while cinchonine is very little so; this
difference serves as well to distinguish their bases, as to separate
them when united. Quinine likewise differs from cinchonine in
containing oxygen, and that in nearly as large a proportion as hy-
drogen. According to M. Brande, its ultimate parts are nearly as
follows :—Carbon 73,80—Nitrogen 13,00—Hydrogen 7,65—Oxy-
gen 5,55—99,90. Quinine when melted becomes ido-electric, and
acquires the resinous electricity with much intensity when rubbed
with a piece of cloth.

M. Robiquet, in the Journal of Science, has given an analysis of
the two sulphates of quinine, but he found that the sub-sulphate lost
a portion of its acid during each chrystalization; he has given the
composition of this salt, both after the first and third crystalization,
as follows :—100 parts of Acid Sulphate of Quinine contain—Acid
19,1—Quinine 63,5—82,6—100 parts of Sub-Sulphate, first crystal-
ization, contain—Acid 11,3—Quinine 79,0—90,3.

The Sulphate of Quinine, when exposed to the temperature of
100° (212° Farenheit) becomes luminous, especially when subjected
to slight friction. This remarkable property was first discovered
by M. Callaud d’ Annecey, a French chemist. “M. M. Dumas and
Pelleties exposed about three ounces of the sulphate, enclosed in a
glass flask, which they kept in a sand-bath for half-an-hour, to the
temperature of boiling water, when it exhibited, on friction, a briliant
white hght. On passing through the cork of the flask a metalic rod,
ending in a point at the internal extremity, and by a ball at the op-
posite one, and applying it to the ball of the rod by a voltaic elee-
troscope, shaking the flask before each contact, these gentlemen ob-
tained the greatest separation of which the rods of the electroscope
are susceptible; the electricity was always vitreous. The Su/phate
of Cinchonine possesses the same phosphorescent property, but in
a less degree, and the electric faculty in the same ratio.”

Medical Properties and Uses of Peruvian Bark will be found
under the head of Cinchona Officinalis; we shall therefore intro-

rs

32 NAT. ORDER.—CINCHONACE

duce into notice in this place only the medical properties and for-
mularies for the exhibition of the cinchonine and quinine. M. Ma-
gendie says—* a sufficient number of cases induce me to believe
that these two alkalies (cinchonine and quinine) possess the medical
properties of the cinchonas, and may be substituted for them on all
occasions. In the twelfth volume of the Medico-Chiurgical Trans-
actions, Dr. Elliotson of London has sufficiently established the feb-
rifuge efficacy of both simple quinine, and of the sulphate, which is
further confirmed by Dr. Dickson of Clifton, in the Edinburgh Med-
ical and Surgical Journal.” For us to insist on the value of these
preparations is needless; since their introduction into some of the
ague districts of our Western States, their use has become general,
and seldom fails to effect a cure. As a general tonic, both the cin-
chonine and quinine may be successfully exhibited, in all cases where-
in the cinchona would be indicated. The sulphates are the prepa-
rations most generally employed, and are recommended from one
to eight grains to be given in twenty-four hours. Some physicians
have thought it necessary to carry the dose much higher, but in
general the result has not answered their expectation, and some pa-
tients have experienced severe symptoms, such as great agitation,
with strong cerebral excitement.

“The United States Dispensatory recommends the introduction
of this bark, occasionally, into the system by other sources than
that of the stomach, where it has been found to exercise its pecu-
har influence whenever applied. Injected into the rectum, with
opium to prevent purging; alsoin intermittants. Bark jackets, and
baths, have been found servicable. But the best preparation of
bark for external application is decidedly sulphate of quinia, which,
sprinkled upona blistered surface, denuded of the cuticle, is speed-
ily absorbed, and produces on the system effects not less decided
than those which result from its internal administration ”

NAT. ORDER.—CINCHONACEX. 33

Dr. James Osgood, of Boston, Mass., informed me that while he
was engaged in the practice of medicine in some of our Western
States, in the years 1846 and 1847, he made extensive use of the
Cinchona, in the treatment of fevers so prevalent in that portion of
the country; and in all cases where the directions had been faith-
fully attended to, the chills and fever were invariably broken up,
either on the second or third day. He advises its use in connection
with other articles, and compounded after the following manner,
viz.: Take equal parts of cinchona ruba peruvian bark, diospyros
virginiana persimmon bark, (of the root,) and corallorhiza odontor-
hiza crawley root. Let them all be finely pulverised and wel] mix-
ed together, and exhibit half an even tea-spoon full in a gill of cold
water, once an hour, for six hours. This treatment,” says Dr. Os-
good, “I have usually preceded with an emetic, and have invaria-
bly found it efficacious in removing the febrilesymptoms within the
time above specified. In very severe cases 1 have added to each
dose one or two grains of Quinine. This mode of treatment is ap-
plicable to all the fevers of the Western country, and is decidedly
the best that I have ever pursued. It produces speedy and profuse
perspiration, to which the fever shortly yields.

How far the same treatment would be applicable to the fevers
of this region, I am unable to determine, having had_ but a singie¢
opportunity to test it. That was a case of Pleurities, pleuricy, in
which it equalled my most sanguine expectations. It may be well
to remark that it would be injudicious to continue the use of the
medicine longer than about six hours, as the perspiration would
cause too much debility. In connection with the treatment it is my
uniform practice to keep the bowels open.”

TINCTURE OF QUININE.
Take of sulphate of Quinine - - 6 grs. (gr. 4. 92 troy.)
Alcohol of 34°(847) - - loz. (7dr. 52.5 gr. troy.)

We are told that the sulphate is to be preferred to the pure

quinine, in this case; because when the tincture is made by using

34 NAT. ORDER.—CINCHONACE.

alkali not saturated by an acid, a precipitate is formed on adding it
to aqueous liquors.
WINE OF QUININE.
Take of good Madeira Wine* - 1 livre (oz. 22. 104 troy.)
Sulphate of Quinine - 12 grs. (grains 9. 84 troy.)
SIRUP OF QUININE.
Take of simple sirup - - 2 pounds (31 oz. 4 dr. 2 gr. troy.)
Sulphate of Quinine 64 grains (gr. 52. 48 troy.)
M. Magendie has proposed the following formule for the exhi-
bition of Cinchonine :—
SIRUP OF CINCHONINE.
Take of simple sirup - - - - 1 pound (15 0z.6 dr.1 gr. troy.)
Sulphate of Cinchonine - 48 grains (gr. 39. 36 troy.)
TINCTURE OF CINCHONINE.

Take of sulphate of Cinchonine - 9 grains (gr. 7.383 troy.) ~

Alcohol at 34° (847) - - lounce (7 dr: 52.5 gr. troy.
WINE OF CINCHONINE.
Take of Madeira Wine - - - - 1 litre (oz. 31. 104 troy.)

Sulphate of Cinchonine - 18 grains (gr. 14. 76. troy.)
The above preparations of cinchonine may be given in equal
doses, and under the same circumstances with the preparations of
quinine.
* Any other white wine may be substituted.

; fury 7

NAT. ORDER.

Aracee.

ARUM TRIPHILLUM. WILD TURNIP—WAKE ROBIN,
Class XXI. Monascta. Order VIL. Pouyanprta.

Gen. Char. Spathe one-leated, cowled. Spadix naked above,
female below, stammeous in the middle. Berry one-celled,
many-seeded.

Spe. Char. Stemless. Leaves ternate. Leaflets ovate, acumi-
nate, entire. Spadizx clavate. Spathe ovate, acuminate, convo-
”
lute below, flat and bent above.

The voot is perennial, round, flattened, tuberous, with many
white fibres around the base; skin dark, loose, and wrinkled; the
leaves are usually three or four, growing from each root; these
are arrow-shaped, of a deep green or purplish color, beset with
many veins and dark spots, and stand upon long grooved, and
somewhat triangularly shaped footstalks; the flower-stalk is very
short and channelled ; the calyx is a sheath of one leaf, large, oval,
nerved, and enclosing the spadix, which is round, club-shaped,
fleshy, above of a purple color, below whitish, standing in the cen-
tre of the sheath, and supporting the parts necessary to fructifica-
tion: on tracing it towards the base we first discover the necta-
ries, or several oval corpuscles, which are terminated by long,
tapering points; next to these are placed the anthers, which are
quadrangular, united, and of a purple color; under these we find
again more nectaries; and lastly the germens, which are very nu-
merous, round, without styles, and crowned with small bearded
stigmas. This curious species of inflorescence displays itself

early in spring, but the berries do not ripen till late in the summer,
. Vol. ii, —35

36 NAT. ORDER.—ARACEA.

when they appear in naked clusters, of a bright scarlet color,
making a very conspicuous appearance in the swamps and damp
woods where they are most commonly found growing.

This plant is a native of North and South America, and is quite
common in almost every part of the United States, growing in
swamps, in damp woods, by the side of small streams, along ditches,
and in other moist shady places. The root is the medicinal part
of the plant, which in a recent and lactescent state is extremely
acrimonious, and upon being chewed, excites an intolerable sensa-
tion of burning and pricking in the tongue, worse than that of
Capsicum bacatum, the strongest kind of Cayenne pepper, which
continues for several hours. This active principle is a peculiar
substance, Avoine, highly volatile, having no affinity with water,
alcohol, oil or acids, and becoming an inflammable gas by heat or
distillation. When cut in slices and applied to the skin, it has
been known to produce blisters. This acrimony, however, is gra-
dually lost by drying, and may be so far dissipated by the applica-
tion of heat, as to leave the root a bland farimaceous aliment; its
medical efficacy, therefore, resides wholly in the active volatile
matter, and consequently the powdered root must lose much of its
power on being long kept. Lewis says, “the fresh and moderately
dried roots were digested in water, in wine, in proof spirit, and in
rectified spirit, with and without heat: the liquors received no
color, and but very little if any taste. In distillation, neither spirit
nor water, brought over any sensible impregnation from the a7wm.
The root nevertheless loses in those operations almost the whole
of its pungency.” Dr Cullen considers it a general stimulant, not
only exciting the activity of the digestive powers, where they hap-
pen to be languid, but stimulating the whole system; in proof of
this he observes, that it has been useful in intermittent fevers. The
ancient writers condemned its use in any form, they fancied that it
possessed poisonous properties, and was wholly incapable of being
valuable as a medicine in any complaint whatever. ,

NAT. ORDER.—ARACE. 37

Medical Properties and Uses. Arum is certainly a very pow-
erful stimulant, and by promoting the secretions may be advanta-
geously employed in cachectic and chlorotic cases, in rheumatic
affections, and in various other complaints of phlegmatic and tor-
pid constitutions; but more especially ina weakened or relaxed
state of the stomach, occasioned by the prevalence of viscid
mucus. If this root is given in powder, great care should be taken
that it be young and newly dried, when it may be used in the dose
of ascruple or more twice a day; but in rheumatisms and other
disorders requiring the full effect of this medicine, the root should
be given in a recent state, and to cover the insupportable pungen-
cy it discovers on the tongue, it may be used, in substance mixed
with milk or molasses, as it does not impart its virtues to any liquor ;
or the fresh roots may be grated, or reduced to a pulp, with three
times their weight of sugar, thus forming a conserve, the dose of
which is a teaspoon-full twice a day. Dr. Lewis advises it to be
administered in the form of emulsion, with gum arabic and sperma-
ceti, increasing the dose from ten grains to upwards of a scruple
three or four times a day; in this way, says he, “it generally oc-
casioned a sensation of sight warmth about the stomach, arid after-
wards in the remoter parts manifestly promoted perspiration, and
frequently produced a copious sweat.” It is also used for flatu-
lence, cramp in the stomach, asthmatic and consumptive affections,
and has been strongly recommended for the removal of the most
obstinate rheumatic pains. It quickens circulation, and promises
to be a useful topical stimulant when the acrid principle may be
rendered available. It has been found beneficial in lingering atro-
phy, debilitated habits, great prostration in typhoid fevers, chronic
catarrh, &c.

Bergius speaks highly of the efficacy of Arum in headachs,
which were of the most violent kind, and resisted all the means he
employed, till he used the powder of this root, which never failed
to relieve them.

38 NAT. ORDER.—ARACE.

The medical properties of this plant have of late attracted
the attention of physicians, in regard to its pectoral properties
Dr. Samuel Thompson, of Boston, says: “it has proved highly
beneficial in coughs, consumption of the lungs and asthma, for
which we have successfully used it for more than forty years.
The root should be dried, pulverized, and given in doses of three
to six grains, four times a day ; or it may be given in honey, in the
sirup of preserves, or in any other saccharine matter, or it may
be made into a paste, with honey or sirup, and used in the form of
candy, by letting the substance dissolve gradually on the tongue,
so as to diffuse its warmth through the mouth, and thus used it is
good for apthous sore mouth and throat.” The following is Dr.
Thompson’s method of making cough drops.

WAKE ROBIN COUGH DROPS.

Take six ounces of dried wake robin, well pulverized, stir it
into one pint of cold water, infuse it till the knobs, or small accu-
mulations of the powders, are well mingled with the water, then
pour on half a gallon of boiling water, and a heaped teaspoon-full
of capsicum annum, cayenne pepper, half a gallon of molasses,
half a gallon of Jamaica rum, one pint of the tincture Lobelia in-
Jflata, (common tincture of the herb,) and the juice of half a dozen
best Sicily lemons.”

This is one of Dr. Thompson’s most valuable remedies for
coughs, colds, raising of blood, croup, asthma, or any other difficul-
ty of the lungs and throat. He strongly recommends that a small
vial of these drops should be carried by those who are affected
with a cough, and about half a teaspoon-full taken at a time,
whenever there is an irritation in the throat, or an inclination to
cough. This will keep the throat and lungs under a continual
stimulation or excitement, by which means expectoration will be-
come easy. It will also relieve pain in the side and breast, cholic
pains, &c.; and is a valuable remedy for many other complaints.

a?

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Babudf lea! Dae! ‘ys eae

ltt

NAT. ORDER.
Conifere.

PINUS BALSAMEA. BALM OF GILEAD FIR.
Class XXI. Monaecta. Order VIII. Mownapevruta.

Gen. Char. Male flower in a catkin. Calyx, none. Corolla, none.
Stamens numerous, on a small stalk.

Female flower in a catkin, or cone of close, rigid, two-lipped, two-
flowered scales. Seeds, two to each scale, ringed.

Spe. Char. Leaves solitary, flat, imperfectly two-ranked. Cones
cylindrical, erect, with sharp-pointed scales. Crest of the an-
thers pointless.

This species of pine forms a very beautiful tree, varying in
height from thirty to fifty feet; the trunk, which measures from
twelve to fifteen inches in diameter, is straight, and covered with a
smooth, whitish gray bark; the /eaves are very fragrant, disposed
on either side of the branches, like the teeth of a comb; they are
solitary, flat, linear, short, not exceeding eight lines in length, and
pointed ; of a bright green on their upper surface, paler beneath,
and marked with whitish lines; the male catkins are ovate; the
crest of the anthers kidney-shaped, pointless, or furnished with
short spines, but never bifid; the females with numerous ovate,
notched, pointed bracteas; the cones, which stand erect upon the
branches, are large, nearly cylindrical, and when full grown, of a
beautiful, deep, glossy, purple color, inclining to black, and exu-
ding a great quantity of transparent resin, which gives them a
very wer appearance. Figure a represents a female catkin;
bamale catkin; cscales of a catkin; d its bracteole; e the an-

thers; f scale of a cone.
Vol. ii —39

40 NAT. ORDER.—CONIFER A.

The Pinus balsamea is a native of the coldest regions of this
continent, growing abundantly in Canada, Nova Scotia, northern
parts of New England, and other northern provinces. It has
been introduced and cultivated in some parts of England, since
the year 1698, but the climate does not appear to be congenial to
it, for although it attains a considerable height, it seldom survives
above twenty years.

The fine turpentine of the shops, or what is commonly called
Canada balsam, is yielded by this tree. It existsin great quantity,
in the vesicles between the wood and bark; being collected by
making incisions in the trunk of the tree, through which it exudes.
It is then put in casks of from one to two hundred pounds, and
shipped to most parts of the civilized globe.

Sensible and Chemical Properties, &c. Canada balsam, or tur-
pentine, has a strong, but rather agreeable odor ; its taste is some-
what bitter, and resembles the other turpentines ; its color is pale
yellow, with a greenish tinge, transparent, and has the consistence
of honey fresh from the comb.

Distilled with water, it yields a limpid, colorless, essential oil,
and leaves a solid resin, resembling the common yellow resin.
Distilled by itself, it yields, first, a clear oil, in appearance like
that obtained by distillation with water, but which gradually
changes to yellow, and then to red, and leaves a black resin.
During the operation of distillation, succinic acid also rises. It is
insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and ether, also in the vol-
atile and drying oils; it is soluble in alkaline ley, and the strong
acids; the sulphuric and nitric acids convert it into artificial tan-
nin. The essential oil, or spirit of turpentine, as it is commonly
called, has a strong penetrating odor, and a hot, pungent, bi terish
taste. It is perfectly limpid and colorless, light, volatile, inflamma-
ble, and burns with a very vivid, crackling flame. It is soluble in
six parts of sulphuric ether, very sparingly soluble in cold alcohol,
one hundred parts unite with twenty of alcohol; if the alcohol be

NAT. ORDER.—CONIFER. 41

heated, the oil readily combines with it, but will be separated again
as soon as the spirit cools. A stream of oxymuriatic gas passed
through it, converts it into a yellow resin. Distilled with four times
its volume of water, it becomes lighter and brighter.

Medical Properties and Uses. Canada balsam possesses similar
medicinal properties to the other turpentines, which are more fully
described under the head of Pinus sylvestris, Pinus abies, Pinus
picea, and Pinus larix, in the present and other vols. of this work ;
consequently, we shall only make a few observations regarding the
use of turpentine as a remedial agent, and more especially for the
expulsion of tenia. It was first recommended by Dr. Fenwick as
an anthelmintic of extraordinary powers. The Dr. prescribed it
in doses of two ounces, and repeated it in ounce doses «ntil it had
the desired effect ; purging is in general produced, and the worm
is usually evacuated lifeless. Turpentine, when given in large
doses, by acting asa cathartic, seems to prevent its absorption,
hence its action on the urinary organs becomes obviated, and
stranguary, which so frequently accompanies the internal use of
small doses of turpentine, is not to be apprehended; not only for
the expulsion of tenia, but for other worms, (especially the Zwmbrict)
it has been administered with equal success. Dr. Copeland
strongly recommends the oil in the hoemorrhagie, particularly in
atonic epistaxis, also in epilepsy, in the last stages puerperal fever,
and tn the convulsions of infants, when arising from a disordered
state of the alimentary canal. It is also a powerful emmenagogue,
thence useless in chlorosis. We are told by Dr. Copeland, cian m
BOme eaees of ovarian dropsy, its effects were such as to recommend
| ent in the incipient stages of that disease, and also in
dropsies. Externally, the ae is used with much advantage as
ap ry application to scalds and burns. Dr. Kentish was the
first who introduced its use, and subsequently his practice has been
confirmed and adopted by many surgeons of skill and eminence.
It is also topically applied asa discutient to indolent tumors, &c.

%

42 NAT. ORDER.—CONIFER.

The United States Dispensatory enumerates several varieties of
the Abies from which Canada balsam is obtained and considered
officinal. The Abies excelsa of Europe, and Abies canadensis of the
United States, have been considered as the sources respectively of
Burgundy and Canada pitch. The Abies picea of Linneus, Abies
pectinata of De Candolle, Abies taxifolia of the French Codex, Pi-
nus picea or European silver fir tree, growing in the mountainous
regions of Switzerland, Germany and Siberia, yields the Strasburg
turpentine, which is much used in some parts of Europe. The
Abies nigra, (Pinus nigra,) or black spruce of this country, yields
a product, which though not recognised by the Pharmacopeia, is
considerably employed. The substance alluded to is the essence
prepared from the young branches by boiling them in water and
evaporating the decoction. This is a thick liquid, having the color
and consistence of molasses, with a bitterish, acidulous, astringent
taste. It is much used in many parts of Germany and Europe, in
the preparation for the manufacturing of beer, which is a pleasant
and wholesome drink in summer.

As a remedy for pulmonary affections and coughs of long
standing, the balm of Gilead buds, in our opinion, stand second to
no other article in the Materia Medica. A syrup made after the
following prescription, has been successfully employed in the cure
of many very obstinate cases of coughs, where other remedies
seemed to have failed.

Cough Syrup. Take of Abies balsamea buds, (balm of Gilead
buds,) two ounces; Inula heleniam, (elecampane,) two ounces;
Symphytum officinale, (comfrey root,) three ounces ; Lobelia inflata
herb (common Indian tobacco,) one ounce; Marrubium vulgare,
(hoarhound,) one ounce. Put this in one gallon of water, boil
down to three quarts, strain off, and when cold add one quart best
honey, or Stewart’s syrup molasses, one pint best French brandy,
and one ounce essence of wintergreen: shake and mix, when it is
ready for use. Dose, one teaspoon-full three times a day.

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Chine

NAT. ORDER.

Leguminosae.

POINCIANA PULCHERRIMA. CHINA POINCINANA.

Class X. Decanpria. Order I. Monoeynia.

Gen. Char. Calyx, sepals five, unequal. Petals, five, stipitate
and deformed. Stamens, ten, longer than the petals.

Spe. Char. Leaflets prickly, ovate or obovate, notched at the end,
smooth. Petals fimbricate, longly, stipitate.

Sepals are five in number, unequal, joined at the base into a
somewhat persistent cup, the lower one arched ; the petals are five,
stipitate, having the upper one of a different form; the stamens
are ten, very long, all bearing anthers, filaments hairy at the base ;
style very long; legume flatly compressed, two-valved, somewhat
many-celled, with spongy isthmuses; the seeds are obovate, com-
pressed, having the internal integument in a gelatinous water;
cotyledons, flat and oval; the /eaves are abruptly bipinnate ; the
flowers are disposed in a corymbose panicle; pedicels long, without
bracteas at the base.

This most magnificent shrub grows to the height of ten feet
and upwards; and as the plate shows, bears panicles of the most
brilliant flowers. It is a native of the East Indies. Sigou states
that it was imported into Barbadoes from the Cape de Verd Island.
Its beauty has attracted the attention of the Chinese for some time,
and wherever they settle, they cultivate it as the crown of all
garden ornaments, and call it by the name of the peacock’s crest.
It was introduced into Holland from Amboyna about the year 1670,
where it was extensively cultivated in the Chelsea Garden by Sir

Hans Sloane, in the year 1691. The flowers are most beautiful to
Vol. ii, —43

44 NAT. ORDER.—LEGUMINOSA.

the eye, and rather sweet-scented, but the whole plant when bruis-
ed has a disagreeable odor, very much resembling that of Savine,
and is used in the West Indies by many supposing it to possess sim-
ilar properties. This plant is considered valuable in the West In-
dies (independent of its beauty) for making fences, mixed with the
Parkinsonia aculata; which, says Jaquin, forms one of the most
beautiful fences imaginable.

This delightful plant cannot be cultivated in this country, (es-
pecially in the Northern States,) without great care and nursing.
It is a stove shrub requiring astrong heat, with plenty of pot room
to grow it well. The soil should be three-fourths loam and one-
fourth well rotted dung and peat, using plenty of drainers. It is
propagated by seeds, which are occasionally received from the
East and West Indies, and tropical America. There are frequently
brought into this country different varieties, distinguished merely
by the color of the flowers.

The present drawing was made from a splendid specimen
sent to the artist by John Willmore, Esq., about two years ago,
when the plant flowered for the first time in that gentleman's col-
lection. ‘The stamens, which are always assurgent in this species,
have been represented by our artist as declinate, owing, no doubt,
to their having begun to flag before the drawing was commenced.
Its generic name is in compliment to M. de Poinci, governor of the
Antilles: pulcherrima refers to the beauty of its inflorescence.

Medical Properties and Uses. Various medical writers have
attempted to describe the specific properties of this plant, and
most of whom have fallen into a great error in supposing it to pos-
sess considerable narcotic powers. An acquaintance of mine, a
physician, who has lately come from Holland, kindly furnished
me with a small package of the leaves of this plant, which he had
brought for medical purposes; these leaves I subjected to a chem-
ical process, and found them to be destitute of any narcotic pro-
perties, but acting violently and powerfully as an emenagogue.

wR)

a

METHOD OF PREPARING EXTRACTS AND SIRUPS

From Plants and Roots, in a concentrated form, and by which they
retain all their virtues.

The question is frequently asked, “is there no way of obtain-
ing the medicinal virtues of these valuable plants in a form that
would not be objectionable to the taste, and at the same time, pre-
serve all the active properties of the whole plant ;” in answer to
which, we give the substance of a letter kindly furnished us by Dr.
James Osgood of Boston, and published in the Western Medical
Reformer, a monthly journal of medical and chirugical science :
the letter is written by J. King, M. D., of Owingsville, Ky.; with
whom the process of extracting appears to be original. We think
it a very valuable acquisition to the science of medicine, and one
that is worthy of the attention of every physician. Dr. King re-
marks that “vegetable medicines are as capable of being prepared
in diminished quantities as mineral substances, and when thus re-
duced, are much more effectual in their results. 'Phus, [ris versi-
color, (blue flag root,) contains resin and mucilage: in the former
resides the purgative and alterative properties ; in the latter, diu-
retic. ‘Then why administer the crude root in powder, in which
these properties are combined with woody fibre and other inert
substances, when a few grains of the proper constituent will
answer ! The same is the case with the Cimicifuga racemosa ; (Co-
hosh root,) its alterative, anti-scrofulous, anti-rheumatic, emmena-
gogue, and other properties for which it is generally employed,
reside in its resin. ‘Then certainly it is useless to administer it in
conjunction with tannin, galic acid, gum, &c., when a few grains
of its active principle is sufficient. The medical constituent of
a plant is all that we require. ‘True, there are some plants whose
virtues consist in tke union of these constituents, but they are

rare.
Vol. ii.—45

46 METHOD OF PREPARING EXTRACTS AND SIRUPS.

“ For the last several years I have prepared my medicines, or
rather those of which I make the most frequent use, in such a
manner, that the doses in quantity, are much smaller than usual,
and are fully as effectual in their results, if not more so, than the
same articles as generally administered. The object most desira-
ble in chronic diseases, is not to shock the system by repeated
large quantities of active medicine, as is too often the case with
practitioners, and from which cause very few real and permanent
cures are effected in chronic cases, but to give medicines in the
least possible doses that may be found necessary to keep the sys-
tem constantly under their peculiar alterative, tonic, or other
action, and always in union with the other requisites of proper
exercise, diet, cleanliness, &c.

“ My method of preparing these medicines depends upon the
required active constituent or constituents of the medicine; thus,
with the greater part of tinctures, I prepare them saturated, instead
of the common strength, which of course lessens the dose in quan-
tity. Be * = From some I obtain only the resin, by
extracting all that alcohol will take up, then filter the alcoholic
tincture, to which add an equal quantity of water, and separate the
alcohol by distillation; the resin sinks in the water. Thus, an ex-
cellent hepatic is obtamed from the Hydrastus canadensis in the
dose of from one fourth to three grains; a purgative, alterative or
emmenagogue, from the Iris versicolor, Podophyllum peltatum, San-
guinaria canadensis, Cimicifuga racemosa, Caulophyllum thalic-
troides, &c.

“ Sometimes I distil the alcoholic tincture to a certain quantity
without the addition of the water, and then evaporate the remain-
der until the residue is of the required consistence for a pilling
extract, or powder as with Sang. canad., Aletris farinosa, Peonia
officinalis, Euphorbia ipecacuanha, Apocynum canabinum, &e.

«With other ‘articles I make the alcoholic extract, as above,
then boil the roots or herbs in water till all the virtues are obtained,

Pep

METHOD OF PREPARING EXTRACTS AND SIRUPS. 47

reduce itto an xtract, and then combine the alcoholic and aque-
ous extracts together, as with Rumux crispus, Solonum dulcamara,
Leptandria virginica, Baptisia tinctoria, Inula helenium, Arctium
lappa, Aristolochia serpentaria, Berberis vulgaris, Cornus sericea, Vi-
burnum oxycoccus, Cyprepedium pubescens, Juniperus sabina, Xan-
thoxylon fraxineum, Phytollacca decandria, &c.

“ With some articles I make an alkaline extract, but with only
those which contain resin and have a drastic effect, which is made
by adding from time to time, during the evaporation of the alco-
holic tincture, and at every time when the resin begins to separate
from the liquid, small portions of pearlash, (carbonate potash, ) and
continue adding it in like manner until the extract is finished; this
renders the article less drastic, and completely prevents it from
producing any nauseous or irritating sensation, as with the Jris
versicolor, Podophyllum peltatum, &c. There are other articles,
again, where I obtain the ethereal oil or extract, and which is
bane by saturating sulphuric ether with the article, filtering, and
then allowing it to evaporate spontaneously, as with Capsicum an-
num, Secale cornutum, Cochlearia armorica, Crocus sativa, Ictodes
fetida, Lycopus virginicus, Lobelia inflata, Scutellaria lateriflora, &c.

“ By preparing medicines as above, there is no change of the
virtues of the constituent principles requisite, chemically consid-
ered, as is the case with sulphate of quinine, and some other
articles, in which there is often entire decomposition, or at least,
new combinations ; the doses are also small in quantity, and the
effect much greater upon the human system, than when combined
with inert, woody and other substances.

“In preparing medicinal sirups, the following will be found
one of the best modes: have a vessel which will hold from 40 to
50 pounds of plants, to which add two gallons of water, and if the
article contains resin, add in addition one and a half pounds of sal-
eratus, which must be dissolved in water before it is added; by a
gentle heat gradually distil off this water, returning it, as it

= Sie. mes 7
Pee eae a ee

48 METHOD OF PREPARING EXTRACTS AND SIRUPS.

passes, into the vessel by means of:a tube adapted: r that purpose.
Continue the distillation in this manner, until the herbs or roots
are allas soft as mush; then remove them from the fire, and by
means of a screw press, press out all the fluid, until the articles are
left dry in the press, remembering to add to it the two gallons
of water which had been used to soften. Place this expressed
liquor in a barrel by itself, and well closed. In like manner, obtain
the expressed liquid of each article separately. To prepare a
sirup: pour into a barrel churn the necessary quantity of each in-
gredient, together with sufficient molasses or sirup to sweeten:
churn the articles together, for half an hour, then bottle and cork
tight. The dose of any purifying sirup thus made, is one teaspoon
full, three or four times a day, and it will keep well in any cli-
mate.

“Tf, however, itis incon: enient for a physician thus to pre-
pare his sirups, he can make a very pleasant cordial, as follows:
take one pound of any mixture required, and ina coarse, bruised
state ; place it in a vessel, and add to it three pints and a half of
alcohol, place it over a fire till it boils, then cover tightly and re-
move from the fire. When cold, pour off the alcohol into a sepa-
rate vessel, and add more alcohol, merely sufficient to cover the
articles ; let this stand three days, and pour it into the same vessel
with the other. To the mixture of roots, add six pints of boiling
water, and when cold add the alcoholic tincture and six pounds of
loaf sugar. Let it stand for one week, frequently shaking it, and
it will be fit for use. Dose ; from a tablespoon half full, to a wine-
glass half full, three times a day.”

As this subject is of essential importance to the best interests
of the physician, I have not deemed the above suggestions super-
fluous or uncalled for, and trust that every practitioner and well-
wisher to the science of medicine will investigate this subject still
further.

A ee, 2 aa)
/ CHELUCOH (ji LY (AVE

er
f:

NAT. ORDER.

Vitacee.

VITIS VINIFERA. COMMON GRAPE VINE.

Class V. Penranpria. Order I. Monoaynta.

Gen. Char. Petals cohering at the apex, withering. Berry five-
seeded, superior.

Spe. Char. Leaves broad-cordate, angularly sub-three-lobed, cin-
ereous-tomentose beneath. Racemes small. Berries large.

The vine sends off numerous long, slender, climbing branches,
and is covered with rough, dark-brown bark; the /eaves are
roundish, deeply serrated, commonly divided into three lobes, and
stand alternately upon long footstalks; the flowers are small, and
produced in spikes ; the calyx is divided into five small narrow seg-
ments ; the peta/s are fine, small, oblong, whitish, withered, adherent
at their apicies, and soon fall off; the five filaments are tapering,
and furnished with simple anthers; the germen is egg-shaped,
without any style, but supplied with a cylindrical stigma; the fruit
is a large round berry, of one cell, and contains five hard seeds,
of an irregular form. ‘The flowers appear in June and July.

The vine is a native of most of the temperate parts of the four
quarters of the globe, and is successfully cultivated between the
thirtieth and fifty-first degree of latitude. Through the effects of
culture, and a difference of soil and climate, numerous varieties of
grapes are produced, differing widely in shape, color, and taste, and
affording wines which are known to be extremely various. Vine
leaves, called pampini, and the tendrils, or capreoli, have an astrin-
gent taste, and were formerly used in diarrheas, hemorrhages, and

other disorders, requiring refrigerat and styptic medicines. The
Vol. ii—49

50 NAT. ORDER.—VITACE.

Juice or sap of the vine, named ¢achryma, has been recommended in
calculous disorders, and is said to be an excelleut application to
weak eyes, and specks of the cornea. The unripe fruit has a
harsh, rough, sour taste: its expressed juice, called verjuice, was
much esteemed by the ancients, but is now superseded by the
juice of lemons; for external use, however, particulary in bruises
and sprains, verjuice is still employed and considered to be a very
useful application.

The dried fruit constitutes an article of the Materia Medica,
under the name of wva passa, of which two kinds were formerly
mentioned in our pharmacopeias ; viz., wve pass@, majores and mi-
nores, or raisins and currants ; the latter is a variety of the former,
or the fruit of the witis corinthiaca seu apyrena. ‘The manner of
preparing them is by immersing them in a solution of alkaline salt,
and soap lye, made boiling hot, to which is added some olive oil
and a small quantity of common salt, and afterwards drying them
inthe shade. These fruits are used asagreeable lubricating aces-
cent sweets, in pectoral decoctions, and for obtunding the acrimony
of other medicines, and rendering them grateful to the palate and
stomach. 'They are directed in the Decoctum hordei compositum,
Tinctura senne, and Tinctura cardamomi composita.

Wine, or the fermented juice of the grape, of which there 1s
a great variety, has by medical writers been principally confined to
four sorts, as sufficient for officinal use. These are the Vinum al-
bum hispanicum, mountain; Vinum canarium, canary or sack; Vi-
num rhenanum, rhenish; and Vinum rubrum, red port.

Medical properties and uses. New wines, when taken into the
stomach, are liable to a strong degree of acescency, and thereby
occasion much flatulency, and eructation of acid matter; heart-
burn and violent pains of the stomach from spasms are also often
produced; and the acid matter, by passing into the intestines and
mixing with the bile, is apt to occasion colics or excite diarrhceas.
Sweet wines are most likely to become acesent in the stomach.

NAT. ORDER.—VITACEA. 5]

The quantity of alcohol which they contain, is much more
than appears sensibly to the taste ; their acescency is thereby na
great measure counteracted. Red port, and most of the red
wines, have an astringent quality, by which they strengthen the
stomach, and prove useful in restraining immoderate evacuations ;
on the contrary, those which are of an acid nature, as rhenish,
pass freely off by the kidneys, and prove gently cathartic. But
this, and perhaps all the thin or weak wines, though of an agree-
able flavor, yet, as containing little alcohol, are readily disposed to
become acetous in the stomach, and thereby to aggravate all an-
thritic and calculous complaints, as well as to produce the effects of
new wine.

The general effects of wine, are, to stimulate the stomach,
exhilarate the spirits, warm the habit, quicken the circulation,
promote perspiration, and, in large quantities, to prove intoxica-
ting, and powerfully sedative.

In a great variety of diseases, wine is universally admitted to
be of important service, and especially in fevers of the typhus
kind, or of a putrid tendency, in which it is found to raise the
pulse, support the strength, promote a diaphoresis, and to resist
putrefaction ; and in many cases, it proves of more immediate ad-
vantage than the Peruvian bark. Delirium, which is the conse-
quence of excessive irritability, and a defective state of nervous
energy, is often entirely removed by the free use of wine. It is
also a well founded observation, that those who indulge in the use
of wine, are less subject to fevers, both of the malignant and inter-
mittent kind. In the putrid sore throat, in the small pox, when
attended with great debility, and symptoms of putrescency, in
gangrenes, and in raging epidemics, wine is to be considered a
principal remedy; and in almost all cases of languors, and of
great prostration of strength, wine is experienced to be a more
grateful and efficacious cordial, than can be found among the
whole class of aromatics.

ox

52 NAT. ORDER.—VITACE.

The tartar, which is thrown off from wines, to the sides and
the bottom of the cask, is also an officinal article, and consists of
the vegetable alkali, supersaturated with acid. When taken from
the cask, it is found mixed with an earthy, oily and coloring mat-
ter: that obtained from red wine, is of a deep brown color, and
commonly called red, and when it is of a paler color, white tar-
tar. It is purified by dissolving it in boiling water, and separating
the earthy part, by filtering the boiling solution. On cooling the
solution, it deposites irregular crystals, containing the coloring
matter, which is separated by boiling the mass with white clay.
The tartar, thus purified, is called cream of tartar. If this be ex-
posed to a red heat, its acid flies off, and what remains is the vege-
table alkali, or salt of tartar.

Crystals of tartar are in common use as a laxative and mild
cathartic ; they are also esteemed for their cooling and diuretic
qualities, and therefore have been much employed in dropsical and
other cases, requiring an antiphlogistic treatment. Dr. Cullen says
that “in large doses, they act like a purgative, in exciting the action
of the absorbents in every part of the system, and that more pow-
erfully, than happens from the operation of any entirely neutral
salt ;” and on this is founded their utility in the cure of dropsy. It
must be remarked, however, that they do not readily pass off by
the kidneys, unless taken with a large quantity of water; and there-
fore when intended as a diuretic, they ought to be given in a liquid
form, as Dr. Home has directed. The dose is to be regulated ac-
cording to circumstances, fromadrachm to two ounces. These
salts enter several officinal compositions.

Another article which is worthy of notice here, is vinegar,
which has been esteemed of great use in almost all inflammatory
and putrid disorders, whether internal or external. It is very effi-
cacious in counteracting the effects of vegetable poisons, espe-
cially those of the narcotic kind. Vinegar is also much employed
as a menstruum, or for extracting the virtues of other medicines.

NAT. ORDER.

Lobeliacee.

LOBELIA SURINAMENSIS. SHRUBBY LOBELIA

Ps Class XTX. Syneenesta. Order I. Potyeamta Al Quatis.

Gen. Char. Calyz, five-parted. _ Corolla, one-petaled, irregular
Capsules, inferior, two to five, three-lobed, two-valved at the
apex.

Spe. Char. Stem, fruitful. Leaves, oblong, glabrous, serrated.
Flowers, pedunculated.

The whole plant is smooth, and of a beautiful shining green
color. The stem is slender, erect, and branched, and, in good soil,
obtains the height of several feet; the deaves are linear, and re-
motely denticulate ; radical ones, spathulate ; raceme, few-flowered,
and leafy; peduncles, longer than the fruit, with two minute
bracts near the flower; the capsule is attenuate at the base ; the
blossoms are very large, of a pale red color; and its anthers, which
are sometimes mistaken for the stigma, are usually hairy. It is a
native of the West Indies.

The Lobelia surinamensis is a plant which was formerly des-
cribed by the younger Linnzus? under the name Levigata, appa-
rently from the smoothness of its flowers. In the year 1786, Mr.
Alexander Anderson, a botanist of some reputation in the West
Indies, procured this plant, and sent it to the Royal Garden at

_ Kew, where it was extensively cultivated for medical purposes;
but is now found growing spontaneously, in the woods and dry
marshes, not only here, but also at Surinam, and the country ad-
joining. Mr. Aiton has assigned to it a new specific description,

and a new trivial name, for the correctness of which, we are at
Vol ii—53

b4 NAT. ORDER.—LOBELIACE.

present unable to determine, as the plant is but very little known, and
probably has never been introduced for culture into this country.
The drawing accompanying this description was taken from a
plant which flowered in the hot house of Messrs. Grimwood &
Co., Kensington, who spared no pains or expense in procuring all
the rare and curious exotic plants for culture, and more particu-
larly, to promote the cause of botany. It begins to flower in
January and February, and continues to blossom during most of
the summer months, and is easily increased by cuttings.

Medical Properties and Uses—The medicinal properties of this
plant, but more particularly the root, are considered invaluable
by the Indians of this country. They administer it with astonish-
ing success in the treatment of cancers, ulcers, tumors, and sy phil-
itic affections, of the most virulent kind. Five or six of the
plants, including the roots, are boiled in water, and the patient
drinks as much as he can of this decoction, in the morning, and
during the day. It soon purges, and the strength of the decoction
is increased or lessened, as the patient can bear the evacuation.
If any part is sore, it is to be washed with this decoction, by which
process, in the course of two or three weeks, a perfect cure is
effected. Every part of this plant abounds with a milky juice,
and has a very disagreeable, rank smell. The root, which is the
part preferred in medicine, in taste, resembles tobacco, and
sometimes excites vomiting. A handful of it, dried, is boiled in
twelve pints of water, till they are reduced to eight; the patient
begins taking half a pint, morning and evening, then more fre-
quently, if the purgative effect is not too violent. Should it prove
so, the medicine must be omitted for three or four days, and then
again taken, till the cure is completed. The ulcers are to be
washed with a decoction of the roots, and if deep and foul,
sprinkled with the powder of the inner bark of the Ceanothus
Americanus, New Jersey Tea, or Red-root, and which is sometimes
used as a substitute. The leaves of this plant were used during

NAT. ORDER.—LOBELIACE®. 55

the revolutionary war, asa substitute for tea. It is also highly
recommended asa local application in apthous affections of the
mouth and fauces, and in the sore throat of scarlatina, and as
an internal remedy in dysentery, for which a strong decoction
should be made of the dried leaves and seeds. We owe some
portion of this description to Sir W. Johnson, who received it
from the Indians of this country

The author would also vey
leave to state a fact which has come under his own observation,
and of which he has been a daily witness, fully sustaining its high
reputation, not only for the cure of ulcers, tumors and scrofulous
affections, but in the treatment of cancers of the most obstinate
character.

In the month of March last, Miss Vanriper, from the central
part of New Jersey, called upon me for advice in regard to a can-
eer which was located upon her left breast. After making the
necessary examination, I found it to be of the scirrhus kind; the
tumor had extended over the whole breast, and was then very
painful. The puckering of the skin, the dull leaden color of the
integuments, the knotted and uneven surface, the occasional dart-
ing pains in the part, its fixed attachment to the skin above, and
muscles beneath, and in the breast, the retracted state of the
nipple, accompanied with declining health, and a peculiar sallow
complexion, formed so striking an assemblage of symptoms, that
there could not be the smallest doubt, that the tumor was a true
scirrhus.

The encouragement which I gave of effecting acure without
extirpation, was but little, nor should I have attempted it under
any circumstances, especially, at this stage of the disease, had I
not previously become acquainted with the valuable properties of
this species of lobelia, in the treatment of scrofula, tumors, cancers,
eruptions of the skin, &c. I have administered it in many cases,
and never tailed of making a cure, unless in the cancer, where it
was very far advanced, and the vital powers of life exhausted. In

56 NAT. ORDER.—LOBELIACES.

the present case, however, I ordered a tea, made from the plant and
roots, and one single handfull, to two quarts of water, boiled down
to three pints: of this, to drink a wine glass full, three or four
times a day; externally, to bathe and wash the tumor with the
same tea, two or three times a day, and apply a poultice made
with one part of the powdered leaves of the same plant, and two
parts w/mus fulva, mixed with the same tea. This poultice should
be kept on both night and day, only removing it when the part is
to be bathed ; the poultice to be renewed once in twenty-four
hours. It may be proper to remark, also, that at the time of bath-
ing, I had the parts well rubbed with the bare hand, and the wash
freely applied. Although still under simple treatment, I consider
the cancer entirely cured, as not a vestige of it now remains. This
course of treatment, with a slight*variation according to cireum-
stances, seldom fails of making cures of the most obstinate kinds.
As a remedy for cancer, it has long been used by the Indians, and
the secret sold for a high price.

For wounds, amputations, inflammations, ulcers, and other
diseases which have a tendency to terminate in mortification, this
plant proves one of the most valuable articles in the Materia Med-
ica. The author would also remark, that one of the most obsti-
nate cases of gangrene which ever appeared on record, has just
been cured by the use of this valuable herb. The person re-
ferred to, is a Mr. Smilie, a highly respectable gentleman of this
city, now living at 48 Delancy-street ; this gentleman had for the
Jast eight months been afflicted with dropsy, in the course of
which time, he had employed several eminent physicians, who
gave it as their opinion, that nothing farther could be administered
to save the life of the patient; both legs were swelled to an enor-
mous extent, and mortification had made its appearance. A strong
decoction made from the leaves of this plant, drank freely, and a
poultice prepared from the powder, mixed with elm, applied fresh
every day, effected a perfect cure.

NAT. ORDER.

Arace@.

ARUM TRILOBATUM. THREE LOBED ARUM.

Class XX. Gywnanpria. Order IT. Wexanpreta.

Gen. Char. Spathe, one leafed, cowled. Spadix, naked above ;
female below. Stamens, in the middle.

Spe. Char. Leaves, hastate, quite entire. Spadix, club-shaped.

The Arum trilobatum which our figure represents, is an exotic
plant, and by most writers said to be a native of Amboyna and
Ceylon. The root in appearance very much resembles the arum
triphyllum, and is extremely acrid: the plant is the smallest of the
tribe, and particularly distinguished by the rich brown, velvety
appearance of its flowers; the length of its tapering spadtz, espe-
cially on its lower part, is full of small cavities, and resembles in
appearance a piece of metal corroded by long exposure; and by
the insupportable smell which the whole of the flower, but more
especially the spadix, sends forth.

Mr. Miller, in his figure of this plant, to which Linneus
refers, has been more happy in his representation, than in that of
many others. Rumphius’ figure and description accord with our
plant, although some of his leaves are more perfectly three-lobed
than any we have seen here on the living plant, and to this varia-
tion he informs us they are subject. | We learn from Miller and
others, that this singular plant was first brought into notice in the
year 1752, and was discovered growing wild in the neighborhood
of Ceylon. It flowers in May and June, and is regarded by most
botanists as a hot-house plant; we have seen it succeed very well

Vol ii.—57

58 NAT. ORDER.—ARACE.

with tender treatment in the green-house, and a rapid increase by
offsets from its roots.

Medical Properties and Uses. “The acrid property which re-
sides in this, as well as all other species of arum,” says Dr. Bigelow,
“appears to depend upon a distinct vegetable principle, at present
but little understood. It is extremely volatile, and disappears al-
most entirely by heat, drying, or simple exposure to the air.” This
principle appears to possess no affinity for water, alcohol, or oil,
being volatile, and in a state of gas, inflammable. Sir John Hill,
m his English herbal, speaks very highly of this plant as being
useful in palsies ; “a piece of the fresh gathered root, bruised and
taken in milk, will sometimes restore the speech at once; and a
continued use will perfect a cure.” It is also good in scorbutic
cases, and in all inward obstructions. It is by no means incapable,
as is stated by some writers, of affecting the general circulation.
On the contrary, we have had many satisfactory evidences. In
the chronic, asthmatic affection of old people, it is a remedy of
great value. Dr. Cullen says he “has administered the root, and
witnessed its good effects in chronic catarrhs, and in phthisis pul-
monalis”” In these complaints it has now become one of the most
common remedies in domestic practice. It has also been prescribed
with advantage in rheumatism, and in apthous sore mouth. In this
latter affection, Dr. Thacher says it is a remedy of extraordinary
and approved efficacy. It has also been recommended in the
form of an ointment made of the fresh root, in tinea capitis and
tetter. Dr. Burson states that the berry of the arum is more re-
tentive of its peculiar acrimony than any other part of the plant.
The root, which is the part used for medicinal purposes, is di-
rected by physicians best acquainted with its properties, to be given
in the form of a decoction, in milk; Dr. Bigelow, however, re-
marks that the arwm triphyllum imparts none of its acrimony to
milk on boiling ; and that the best mode of administering it, would
be in the form of an emulsion with gum arabic and sugar.

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NAT. ORDER.

’ Liliacee.

ALLIUM DESCENDENS. PURPLE-HEADED GARLIC.

Class Vi. Hexanpria. Order I. Monoaynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla, six-parted, spreading. Spathe, many flow-
ered. Umbells, heaped. Capsule, superior.

Spe. Char. Umbells, rounded. Stamens, lanceolate, larger than
the corolla.

Baron Haller, in his most admirable Monographia on the plants
of this genus, published in his Opuscula Botanica, describes and.
figures this species, as a hardy perennial, a native of Switzerland,
and cultivated, according to Mr. Aiton, previous to the year 1766,
for medicinal purposes.

The root is long, fleshy, hard, and sends off near the base, small
succulent fibres ; the stem is simple, and usually rises about three
feet in height ; the /eaves are long, pointed, serrated, and placed
alternately upon the stem; the flowers, as in many other species,
grow in a capitulum, or little head, not an umbell, strictly speaking;
but as Linneeus describes it, “this head is at first covered with a
whitish membrane, wearing some resemblance to a night cap; on
the falling off of which, the whole of the capitulum is perceived
to be of a green color.” Soon after, the crown becomes of a fine
reddish purple, this color extends itself gradually downwards,
after which, we see the upper half of the head purple, the lower
half green. In this state, it has a most beautiful and pleasing ap-
pearance; the purple still extending downwards, and its whole head
finally becomes uniformly so. At this time, the flowers begin to
open, and emit an odor which is very agreeable and pleasant. On

Vol. ii,—59

?

60 NAT. ORDER.—LILIACE.

dissecting the flower, we find three of the stamens of each, longer
than the others, and bearing two little points, which proceed not
from the anthers, but from the top of the filaments; it is therefore
one of those alliums which Linneeus describes, as haying Anthere
bicornes ; the capsule is short, broad, tri-lobed, three-celled, three-
valved, and contains roundish seeds. It flowers in June and July.

This species of garlic, according to Linnzus, grows spon-
taneously in Switzerland, and some parts of Sicily, but itis not
known to be cultivated in any part of the United States. The
specific properties resemble those of the other garlics; therefore,
in describing the medicinal virtues of this species, it is applicable
to the whole family of garlics, most of which are now cultivated
in gardens, throughout the civilized world.

This species is easily increased by offsets, which should be
separated and planted in Autumn. We know not why Linneus
should give it the name of descendens, unless from its being one of
those plants whose roots, in process of time, descend deeply into
the earth.

Medical Properties and Uses. _'The whole family of garlics,
especially the root, possess a pungent, acrimonious taste, and a
peculiarly offensive strong smell. This odor is extremely pene-
trating and diffusive ; for instance, the root being taken into the
stomach, the alliaceous scent impregnates the whole system, and is
discoverable in the various excretions. This volatile matter is,
in part at least, an essential oil, which may be obtained in distilla-
tion in the ordinary manner, and, like the oils of many of the
Liliquose plants, sinks in water. Applied to the skin, garlic
produces inflammation, and frequently vesicates the part. On
drying, this root loses almost nine parts in fifteen, without suffering
any material loss, either of taste or smell; hence, six grains dried
are supposed to be equivalent to fifteen grains of the fresh root.

Garlic is generally allied tothe onion, from which it seems
only to differ in being much more powerful in its effects, and in its

NAT. ORDER.—LILIACEA. 6L

active matter, being in a more fixed state; by stimulating the
stomach they both favor digestion, and the stimulus is readily dif-
fused over the system; they may therefore be considered as use-
ful condiments with the food of phlegmatic people, or those whose
circulation is languid, and secretions interrupted ; but with those
subject to inflammatory complaints, or where great irritability
prevails, these roots, in their acrid state, may prove very hurtful.

The medicinal uses of Garlic are various. It has long been
held in high estimation as an expectorant in pituitous asthmas, and
other pulmonary affections unattended with inflammation. Its
utility as a diuretic in drepsies, is also attested by unquestionable
authorities ; and its febrifuge power has not only been experienced
in preventing the paroxysms of intermittents, but even in subduing
the most violent epidemics.

Another virtue ascribed to Garlic is that of an anthelmintic:
it has likewise been found of great advantage in scorbutic cases,
and in calculous disorders, acting in these, not only as a diuretic,
but in several instances manifesting a lithontriptic power. ‘That
the juice of alliaceous plants in general has considerable effect
upon human calculi, is to be inferred by the experiments of Lobb ;
and we are abundantly warranted in asserting, that by a decoction
of the beards of leeks, taken freely, and its use continued for a
length of time, has been found remarkably successful in calculous
and gravelly complaints. j

The Garlic was formerly used in obstinate coughs, for which
purpose it was mixed with honey, and the dose of a table-spoon-
ful taken three times a day ; or that it may be boiled in milk, a
pint of which is to be taken night and morning. A case is re-
ported to us of a boy, six or seven years old, who had for a con-
siderable time suffered by a calculous in the urimary bladder,
which had been discovered on sounding ; he had recourse to this
decoction, which very soon relieved him of pain; after which his
urine became extremely turpid, and constantly deposited a copious

§2 NAT. ORDER.——LILIACE.

clay-like sediment for several weeks, when it resumed its natural
appearance, and the boy has ever since been free from the com-
plaint. Another case similar to this has also been reported to us,
of the truth of which we have not a doubt. Garlic has also been
variously employed externally to tumors and cutaneous diseases ;
and in certain cases of deafness, a clove or small bulb of this root,
wrapped in gause or muslin, introduced into the meatus auditorius,
has been found an efficacious remedy.

For poultices, garlic stands second to no other vegetable in
the Materia Medica. That almost fatal disease, Cynanche trach-
ealis, or croup, has in almost every instance been cured where an
early application of a poultice was made to the throat and chest,
and prepared after the following manner: viz., take of Allium
descendens, or any other species of garlic, one pound; Lobelia in-
flata, the common lobelia herb, made fine, four ounces; mix intoa
paste with Oleum olive, sweet or olive oil. Apply this in the form
of a poultice, so as to entirely cover the throat and upper part of
the chest. After this is done, prepare and administer an enema
made after the following manner: viz., take one even tea-spoon-
ful of the seed of Lobelia inflata, pounded fine ; three grains Cap-
sicum bacatum, bird pepper, and steep in warm but not boiling |
water for five or ten minutes, when it is ready for use. Repeat
this by enema, (remembering to give the same quantity,) every ten
minutes, until vomiting is induced. Strictly following this rule
will invariably cure the most obstinate cases of croup. I have ad-
ministered these compounds to a large number of children, within
the last five years, in some of which, life appeared almost extinct,
and have thus far been successful in performing a perfect cure in
the short space of from one to three days.

The sirup of garlic is officinal. The dose in substance is
from half a drachm to a drachm, or even two drachms of the fresh

bulb; that of the juice is half a fluiddrachm.,

NAT. ORDER.

Liliacee

ALSTROMERIA PELEGRINA. SPOTTED ALSTRCMERIA.

“Class VI, Hexanpria. Order I. Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla, six petalled, superior, irregular. Stamens,
declinate.

Spe. Char. Stem, erect. Corolla, campanulate. Leaves, linear-
lanceolate.

This most beautiful exotic plant was presented to us by a
physician of this city, for the purpose of ascertaining its medical
properties; and in compliance with his wishes, and a desire to in-
vestigate, promulgate, and extend the science of botany, we have
thought best to give it a place in the “American Flora,” that its
beauty and elegance may be more generally known. This drawing
was made from a fine specimen now in our collection; and the
only one of the kind which is publicly known to have been
brought to this country.

One of the most celebrated ancient botanists figures and de-
scribes three species of Alstremeria, viz., Pelegrina, Ligtu and
Salsilla, common names by which they are severally distinguished
in Peru, its native country. The present species, which is highly
valued by the natives on account of its beauty, he informs us is
found growing wild on a mountain about one mile north of the city
of Lima. From Peru, and as might be expected, this plant found
its way into Spain, from whence, by the means of his most inti-
mate friend Alstreemer, Linneus first received its seeds; the

value he set upon this acquisition was great, as will evidently ap-
Vol. ii.—63

64 NAT. ORDER.—LILIACEA.

pear from the great care he took of the seedling plants, preserving
them through the winter in his bed chamber. | According to Mr.
Aiton, this species was introduced to the Royal Garden of Eng-
land by Messrs. Kennedy and Lee, as long ago as the year 1753.

This being a mountainous plant, it is found to be much more
hardy than the Ligtu, and is generally treated as a green-house
plant; it is found, however, to flower and ripenits seeds better
under the glass of a hot-bed frame, where air is freely admitted.
It flowers from June till October, and though a perennial, is gen-
erally raised from seeds, yet may sometimes be increased by part-
ing its roots, which somewhat resemble those of the Asparagus.
The seeds should be sown in spring, in a pot of light earth, on a
gentle hot-bed of rich soil.

Medical Properties and Uses. The root of this plant, which is
inodorous, and of a weak, sweetish taste, was formerly used in the
southern part of France, as a diuretic, aperient, and purifier of
the blood; and it is stated to be still employed, not only there but
in many parts of England. It is most generally given in the form
of a decoction, made in the proportion of one or two ounces of
the dried root to a quart of water. From experiments of more
modern practitioners, it appears that this medicine operates pow-
erfully on the kidneys, and in almost all cases where it has been |
administered, to increase the quantity of urine, which in some in-
stances was quintupled. The most convenient forms for exhibition
are those of sirup and extract, prepared from the roots. The
former may be givenin the dose of one or two fluid ounces, the
latter, of half a drachm oradrachm. ‘The best method of pre-
paring the sirup is by adding a sufficient quantity of sugar to the
expressed juice of the roots, previously deprived of its albumen
by exposure to heat and by filtration. |The extract is made by
evaporating the same juice to the consistence of a pibular mass.
This medicine has also been highly recommended as a remedy for
diseased heart.

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NAT. ORDER.

Orchidaceae.

DENDROBIUM FIMBRIATUM. FRINGED DENDROBIUM

Class XX. Gynanpria. Order I. Mownanprta.

Gen. Char. Sepals, membranaceous, erect, spreading. Petals,
large, membranaceous. Lip, articulated, sessile, three lobed.
Anthers, two celled. Leaves, plain and veined. Flowers, soli-
tary.

Spe. Char. Stems, terete, pendulous. Leaves, ovate-lanceolate.
Racemes, lateral, many flowered. Sepals, oblong, undulated and
spreading. Petals, larger, undulated, ciliated. Lip, undivided,
hooded and fringed.

The stem of this most beautiful plant rises from two to three
feet in height; the sepals which stand erect are membranaceous
and spreading, the lateral ones larger, oblique, and connate with
the lengthened base of the column; the petals are frequently larger
than the upper sepal, sometimes smaller, always membranaceous ;
the lip articulated or cornate with the foot of the column, always
sessile, undivided or three lobed, most commonly membranaceous,
sometimes appendiculate; the column is semiterete, with a length-
ened base; the anthers are two celled ; pollen-masses, four, collat-
eral, in pairs; epiphytic plants, sometimes caulescent, sometimes
with a creeping rhizoma, bearing pseudo buds; the deaves are
plain and most commonly veined, ovate-lanceolate, striated and bi-
farious; the flowers are solitary, fasciculated or racemose, hand-
some ; the /p is convolute, with a broad, spreading limb of an in-

tense beautiful golden color.
Vol. ii—65

66 NAT. ORDER.—ORCHIDACE.

This elegant species of dendrobium is a native of Nepal, in
the East Indies, from whence it was imported some years ago ir.to
the city of London, and is now beginning to be cultivated in many
parts of Europe. Though well known to the cultivators of or-
chidaceous plants, we think it probable that many of our readers
have never had an opportunity of seeing this, especially as it is
but very little known by the florists of this country, and on that
account we have thought best to give it a place in the “ Flora,’
hoping by this to induce some more able botanist to give a more
lengthy description, both of its history and medical properties

For cultivation it requires to be kept in a warm and humid
state while growing, but more cool and dry during the period of
rest. It should be potted in rough peat and broken pots ; it is also
increased by dividing, like many others of this tribe. The generic
name, dendrobium, is derived from the Greek, wood, in allusion to
the habit of the species growing upon trees, and thus ornamenting
with their tortuous stems and beauteous flowers the extensive for-
ests of India, where the greater portion of them are found. The
specific name, fimbriatum, has reference to the fringed margin of
the lip.

Medical Properties and Uses. We have searched in vain some
very extensive botanical libraries, for the purpose of gathering
some information in support of the medicinal virtues of this valu-
able plant ; and not being able to obtain any satisfactory evidence
on this point, will proceed to state briefly some of its most impor-
tant medical properties, and its application to use. A gentleman
who is a resident physician in Scotland, informed me that he found
this plant serviceable in all nervous diseases, and that he consid-
ered it superior to any other article in the vegetable kingdom, as a
nervine. It also possesses sudorific and diuretic properties. The
leaves are the part which are recommended for use.

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5

NAT. ORDER.

Convolvulacee.

CONVOLVULUS SCAMMONIA. SCAMMONY, OR BINDWEED

Class V. Penvanpria. Order I. Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla, bell-shaped, plaited. Stigmas, two. — Cap-
sules, two-celled, each cell containing two seeds.

Spe. Char. Leaves, sagitate, truncated on the back part. Pe-
duncles, columnar, with about three flowers.

The root is tapering, and somewhat branched towards its
lower part, and, in good soil, oftentimes grows to the length of
four or five feet, and from three to four inches in diameter; it is
covered with a bark, of a light gray color, and contains a consid-
erable quantity of milky juice; the sta/ks are numerous, slender,
twining, and proceed from the root, fifteen to twenty-five feet in
length; the /eaves are arrow-shaped, smooth, of a bright green
color, and placed upon long foot-stalks; the flowers, which stand
in pairs on the pedicles, are funnel-shaped, plaited, and of a pale
yellow color ; the calyx is double, consisting of four emarginated
leaflets in each row; the capsules are three or four-seeded, and
contain pyramidal seeds.

This is a perennial plant, and is described as being a native
of Syria; it is also found growing extensively on the chain of
mountains extending from Antioch to Mount Lebanon. Recently,
however, this valuable plant has been discovered growing wild in
this country. Inthe western part of the State of New-York, and
some parts of Ohio, we have seen the Scammony growing in
some of the most impenetrable forests; and its luxuriant foliage

Vol. ii—67

ge

68 NAT. ORDER.—CONVOLVULACE.

and rapid growth, reminded us that, if not a native of this
country, our climate and soil was equally well adapted for its
culture, as that of the older countries.

The root is the part directed for use, and was formerly kept
by the druggists, both in England and France. In the beginning
of June, the earth is removed from the upper part of the roots,
and an oblique incision is made into each, at the distance of about
two inches from where the stalk springs up; a milky juice then
flows, which is collected in convenient vessels, placed at the most
depending part. The quantity of juice thus obtained from each
root, is but a few drachms, which trickles away in about twelve
hours; the whole that is collected from the different roots, is then
transferred to one common receptacle, where, by exposure to the
air and sun, it hardens. It should be of a bright green color,
light, friable, with a fracture having a shining, irregular appear-
ance; it has an acid taste, and its smell is very peculiar, and rather
unpleasant. We often meet with this in medicine stores, of various
colors, varying from a light brown, to nearly a jet black. In its
recent and soft state, before it is imported, it is often adulterated
with starch, ashes, juices of other plants, &c., which of course
renders the article less active. We can best ascertain its value
by mixing it with water, when the pure scammony will be dis-
solved or suspended, and the impurities will subside, and may be
examined. The very best kind of scammony comes from Aleppo,
which is light and friable ; an inferior sort is imported from Ger-
many, which is heavy, compact, of a dark color, with scarcely any
smell, and is found to contain more impurities than the former.
It contains rather more than fifty per cent of resin, the rest being
extractive matter and gum. Proof spirit would be its best men-
struum ; but it is only given in the form of powder. “

Medical Properties and Uses. It israther surprising that some
authors should have doubted the purgative quality of this article,
which must be obvious to every one who gives it but a few trials

é ;

NAT. ORDER.—CONVOLVULACE. 69

it is indeed one of our most useful purgatives. The ancients em
ployed it as an external application, in the form of poultices, in
cases of Sciatica, and for the removal of indurated tumors, sca-
bies, &c.; but this practice is now wisely laid aside, to make way
for more effectual modes of treatment. It is now only employed
as an internal remedy, and as it is an article possessing powerful
purgative qualities, and one which can be relied on, it may be em-
ployed in any cases requiring such remedies. In people of indo-
lent habits, who generally have constipated bowels ; and in children
to remove any foeculent accumulations, it will be found highly ser-
viceable ; or when combined with some other active vegetable
cathartic, like the Podophyllum peltatum, (May Apple,) it relieves
that inactivity in the function of the liver, which is often connected
with worms, and which are sometimes very effectually removed.
This compound proves equally serviceable in dropsical patients,
being a powerful hydragogue. It is necessary to combine it with
some article, to prevent its griping, as aromatics, or sugar, par-
ticularly when it is administered to children. Inflammatory dis-
orders are sometimes very much increased, and irritable and ex-
citable habits occasionally injured by it. It needs no corrector ;
though for this purpose it has been exposed to the fumes of burn-
ing sulphur; but we thus only lessen its activity. When scam-
mony has undergone this operation, it is called diagrydium.
Since the time of Boerhaave, it has been considered a safe,
though stimulating cathartic, and is frequently given uncombined
with other articles, without producing tormina, or an excessive
discharge. It is certainly a brisk purge, and is usually given in
cold, phlegmatic constitutions. The dose in powder, is from eight
to twenty grains which may be given two or three timesa day.

”

NAT. ORDER.

Orchidee.

GENIPA VANILLA. COMMON GENIPA

Class XX. Gynanpria. Order I. Mownanprta.

Gen. Char. Corolla, ringent, upper lip vaulted. Lip, dilated,
with a spur beneath. Podlens, two, terminal, adnate.

Spe. Char. Lip, obovate, undivided, crenate, retuse. Petals,
straight, the lateral ones longer. Horn, clavate, shorter than
the germen. Bracts, longer than the flower. Stem, leafless.
This most beautiful shrub rises from three to eight feet in

height, sending off numerous branches; the fruit of which very
much resembles that of the Theobroma cacao, (cocoa-nut,) and is
oftentimes used for similar purposes. The perianthium is superior
and ringent; the sepals are three, usually colored, of which the
odd one is uppermost, in consequence of a twisting of the ova-
rium; the petals are three, usually colored, of which two are
uppermost, and one, called the Zip, undermost; this latter is fre-
quently lobed, of a different form from the others, and sometimes
spurred at the base; the stamens are three, united in a central
column, the two lateral abortive, the central perfect, or the central
abortive, and the two lateral perfect; the anthers are either per-
sistent, or deciduous, two, or four, or eight-celled; the pollen is
powdery, and cohering in definite or indefimite waxy masses,
either constantly adhering to a gland, or becoming loose in their
cells; the ovarium is one-celled, with three parietal placenta; the
style forms part of the column of the stamens ; the s¢?7gma presents
a viscid space in front of the column, communicating directly with
Vol. ii —70

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NAT. ORDER.—ORCHIDE. 71

the ovarium by a distinct open canal; the ¢mpregnation takes
effect by the absorption from the pollen-masses, through the gland
into the stigmatic canal; capsule inferior, bursting, with three
valves and three ribs, very rarely bacate; the seeds are parietal
and numerous ; the ¢esta is loose, reticulated, and contracted at
each end; there is no albumen ; the embryo is a solid, undivided,
fleshy mass ; the roots are fleshy and hard ; the leaves are simple,
and quite entire, and often articulated with the stem; flowers,
solitary.

We do not deem it necessary, in this place, to enter into an
historical inquiry as to the gradual alteration which has from time
to time taken place in the opinions of different botanists, with re-
gard to the structure of the gynandrous apparatus of these most
curious plants, or to explain what degree of error has heretofore
existed in the descriptions of those who mistook masses of pollen
for anthers, or a column of stamens for astyle. Such errors could
only have occurred at a period when the laws of organization
were totally unknown: but they have now been corrected, and
described in a more perfect manner, by different writers. But
long before the publication of any rational explanation of the
structure of this most beautiful family of plants, while botanists
were in utter darkness upon the subject, it was most fully inves-
‘tigated by a gentleman, unrivalled for the perfection of his micro-
Bao analysis, the beauty of his drawings, and the admirable
skill with which he folldws nature in her most secret workings; the .
sketches of which we have before us, were executed from ie year
1794 to 1807, in which, not only that which has been published
since that period is shown in the most distinct and_ satisfactory
manner, but in which more is represented than botanists are even
now aware of. By these means we hope to be able to give some
of those extraordinary productions of the pencil to the world,
in an illustration of this curious family of plants, and which is now
in preparation. If the gynandrous apparatus of an Orchideous

72 NAT. ORDER.—-ORCHIDE.

plant is examined, it will be found to consist of a fleshy body, sta-
tioned opposite the labellum, bearing a solitary anther at its apex,
and having in front a viscid cavity, upon the upper edge of which
there is often a slight callosity. This cavity is the stigma, and the
callosity is the point through which the fertilizating matter of the
pollen passes into the tissue communicating with the ovules.
Hence, such a plant would appear to be monandrous.

Plants of the order Orchidew are remarkable for the bizarre
fi
insect, sometimes a helmet with the visor up, and sometimes a

cure of their multiform flower, which sometimes represents an
grinning monkey: so various are these forms, so numerous their
colors, and so complicated their combinations, that there is
scarcely a common reptile or insect to which some of them have
not been likened. They all, however, will be found to consist of
three outer pieces belonging to the calyx, and three inner belong-
ing to the corolla; and all departures from this number, six, de-
pends upon the cohesion of contiguous parts, with the solitary
exception of Monomeria, in which the lateral petals are entirely
abortive. In nearly the whole order, the odd petal, called the
labellum, rises from the base of the column, and is opposite it.
The pollen is not less curious: now we have it in separate grains,
as in other plants, but cohering to a meshwork of cellular tissue,
which is collected into a sort of central elastic strap; the gran-
ules cohere in small, angular, indefinite masses, and the central
elastic strap becomes more apparent, and has a glandular extrem-
ity, which is often reclined in a peculiar pouch, especially destined
for its protection; again, the pollen combines into larger masses,
which are definite in number, and attached to another modification
of the elastic strap; and finally, a complete union of the pollen
takes place, in solid waxy masses, without any distinct trace of
this central elastic tissue.

Such is a part of the singularities of Orchideous plants, and
upon these the distinctions of their tribes and genera are naturally

NAT. ORDER.—ORCHIDES, 73

founded. Whoever studies them must bear in mind that their
fructification is always reducible to three sepals and three petals,
a column consisting of stamens grown firmly to one another, and
toa single style and stigma ; and, with this in view, he will have
no difficulty in understanding the organization of even the most
anomalous Cape species. For a long time it was supposed that
no deviation from the general structure existed, and that we had
not in Orchidew any very decided link between that family and
others; but the discovery of a remarkable Indian plant by Blume
and Wallick, called Apostasia by the former botanist, which with
many of the peculiarities of this order, is triandrous, with a regu-
lar corolla, and three locular fruit, seems to show that even in this
tribe there are gradations which tend to destroy the value of the
technical differences of botanists. It does not, however, appear
to me certain that this genus, although referred to by Blume as
belonging to Orchidew, is not really a different tribe.

Some species of this beautiful family of plants are to be found
in all parts of the world, except upon the very verge of the frozen
zone, and in climates remarkable for their dryness. In Europe,
Asia and North America, they are found growing in marshes, and
in meadows; in the drier parts of Africa they are either rare or
unknown; at the Cape of Good Hope they abound in similar situ-
ations as in this country; but in the hot, damp parts of the East
and West Indies, in Madagascar and the neighboring islands, in
the damp and humid forests of Brazil, and on the lower moun-
tains of Nipal, these Orchideous plants flourish in the greatest
variety and profusion, some kinds no longer seeking their nutri-
ment from the soil, but clinging to the trunks and limbs of trees,
to stones and bare rocks, where they vegetate among ferns and
other shade-loving plants, in countless thousands. Of the epiphy-
tic class, one only is found so far north as South Carolina, and
most commonly found growing with the Magnolia, if we except a
single specimen of Japan, which appears to have a climate pe-

~~

74 NAT. ORDER.—ORCHIDEX

culiar to itself, among countries in the same parallel of latitude.
The number of species of this tribe is at present unknown, but
probably is not less than 1500.

Medical Properties and Uses. It often happens that those pro-
ductions of nature which charm the eye with their beauty, and
delight the senses with their perfume, have the least relation to
the wants of mankind, while the most powerful virtues, or the
most deadly poisons are hidden beneath a mean and insignificant
exterior: thus, Orchidew, beyond their beauty, can scarcely be
said to be of known utility, with a very few exceptions. The
nutritive substance called Sa/ep, is prepared from the subterraneous
succulent roots of Orchis mascula and others; it consists almost
entirely of a chemical principle called Bassorin. The root of
Bletia verecunda is said to be stomachic; and some of the South
American species, such as the Catasetums, Cyrtipodiums, &c., con-
tain a viscid juice, which, being inspissated by boiling, becomes a
kind of vegetable glue, used for economical purposes in Brazil.
The aromatic substance called Vanilla, is the succulent fruit of a
West India plant, of which our drawing is a representation.

Throughout the whole of Holland, the fruit of this shrub is
much admired for its astringent qualities. | The inhabitants take
the unripe fruit, or the bark of the roots, which they boil or steep
until they become perfectly soft, then express and strain into a
tight vessel, adding sufficient French brandy, and sugar, for safe
keeping. The dose of this is from half to a wine-glassful two or
three times a day. This is an excellent remedy for dysentery,
and all diseases of the bowels.

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NAT. ORDER.

Campanulacea.

MICHAUXIA CAMPANULOIDES. ROUGH. MICHAUXIA,
Class VIIT. Ocranpria. Order I. Mownoaynta. '
Gen. Char. Cal fat sixteen-parted. Corolla, wheel-shaped, eight-
parted. Nectarium, eight-valved, staminate. Capsules, eight,
locular, polysperma.
Spe. Char. Leaves, alternate, simple, deeply divided: Flowers,
single, in racemes or spikes.
This is a biennial green-house plant, and of course only to be
raised from seeds. The corol/a is monopetalous, inserted into the
& top of:the ¢ usually eight-lobed, and withering on the fruit ;
the stamens are inserted into the calyx, alternately with the lobes
of the corolla, to which they are equal in number ; the anthers are

| two-celled and distinct; the pollen is spherical ; the ovarium is in- %
q ferior, with two or more polyspermous cells opposite the stamens,
or alternate with them ; the s¢y/e is simple, covered with collecting ‘

hairs; the st¢gma is naked, simple, or with as many lobes as there
are cells; the fruit is dry, crowned by the withered calyx and
corolla, dehiscing by lateral, irregular apertures, or by valves at |
the apex, always loculicidal ; the seeds are numerous, attached to
a placenta in the axis; the embryo is straight, in the axis of fleshy
albumen ; radicle, inferior ; the leaves are almost always alternate,
simple, or deeply divided, without stipule ; the flowers are single,
in racemes, spikes, or panicles, or in heads usually blue or white,
but very rarely yellow. fer

The celebrated author of the Hortus Kevensis futons us
that the plant here figured and described is a native of the Le-
p i Vel ire

76 NAT. ORDER.—CAMPANULACES.

vant, and was first introduced into England in the year 1787, by
Mons. L. Heritier, who first gave it the name of Michauzxia, and
wrote a Monographia, or particular treatise upon it. We have
frequently before observed, that when a plant has been named in
honor of any particular person, that name should, under any cir-
cumstances, be retained in all countries, however uncouth its pro-
nunciation may be. It is now generally understood by botanists,
that several varieties of this most beautiful plant are natives
of the north of Asia, Europe, and many parts of North America,
and scarcely known in the hot regions of the world. In the
meadows, fields and forests of the countries they inhabit, they con-
stitute the most striking ornament. Some curious species are
also found in the Canaries, St. Helena, and Juan Fernandez. M.
Alphonse Decandolle remarks, that “it is within the 36° and 47° N.
lat., that, in our hemisphere, the greatest number of species is
found ; the chain of the Alps, Italy, Greece, Caucasus, and the
Altai range, are their true countries. In whatever direction we
leave these limits, their number of species rapidly decreases. In
the southern hemisphere, the Cape of Good Hope, (lat. 34° S.,) is
another centre of habitation, containing not less than sixty-three
species. This locality has a climate so different from that of our
mountains, that it may be easily imagined that the species capable
of living there differ materially from those of our own hemisphere;
in fact, they belong to other genera.” Of three hundred species,
only nineteen are found within the tropics.

Medical Properties and Uses. 'The roots and young shoots of
this plant are occasionally used as an article of food. ‘The milky
juice is rather acrid, and possesses considerable diaphoretic and
expectorant properties. It is sometimes administered in coughs
and bronchial affections, but is more valued for its beauty than as
i medicine. The dose of the dried root is from twenty to forty
grains. That of the tincture, half a fluid ounce, made by adding
one ounce of the fine dried root to a pint of diluted alcohol. It
may be taken from two to three times a day.

ae ae ee Po AV ew Be a ee tee bas sn ee —_

NAT. ORDER.

Trilliacee.

TRILLIUM LATRIFOLIUM. CLOVER TREEFOIL.

Class V. Prntanpria. Order I. Monoaynta.
Gen. Char. Corolla, hirsute. Stigma, bifid. Capsule, one-celled.
Spe. Char. Leaves, ternate.

This plant is quite common in the eastern parts of Europe.
It grows in low and marshy meadows, producing its flower at the
end of a long terminal spike, which is of a very peculiar shape,
and appears in the latter part of June, and beginning of July ;
the scape or stalk rises from one to three feet in height; the petals
are sometimes entirely white, but most generally rose-colored ; the
root is perennial, creeping and jointed, sending forth many long,
slender filaments. The atrifolium is easily distinguished from the
other species of Trillium by its ternate leaves, which have been
thought to resemble those of the common garden bean; hence,
the English formerly called it the Buck Bean.

The whole plant is so extremely bitter, that in some coun-
tries it is used as a substitute for hops, in the preparation of malt
liquor; yet Linneus observes that the largest portion of the poor
people in Lapland make a bread of the powdered roots mix
with meal, but at the same time he acknowiedges that it is a very
unpalateable food.

Medical Properties and Uses. The blackness manifested by:
_ adding a solution of green vitriol to the juice, or to a strong in-
fusion of the leaves of this plant, is a sufficient test of its astrin-
gency; while a drachm of the powdered root or leaves seldom

, Vol. iit. —77

78 NAT. ORDER.—TRILLIACE.

fails to open the bowels, or produce vomiting ; so that in common
with the tonic properties of a bitter, it seems farther to possess a
considerable share of medicinal activity ; we can, therefore, more
easily credit the reports of its success in a great number
of chronic diseases mentioned by various authors, such as scurvy,
dropsy, jaundice, asthma, periodical headaches, intermittents, hy-
pochondriasis, cachexia, obstructio mensium, rheumatism, scro-
fula, worms, gout, &c. Dr. Boerhaave was relieved in the last
mentioned complaint by drinking the juice mxed with whey ; and
Dr. Alston tells us, that “this plant had remarkable effects in the
gout, in keeping off the paroxysms ;” but adds, “ though not to the
patient’s advantage.” In confirmation of the good effects of
Treefoil in dropsies, we are told from undoubted sources, that
sheep, when forced to eat it, are cured of the rot, oves tabide ; yet,
as we have but few and imperfect proofs of its diuretic powers,
this fact will be considered of little weight.

Bergius confines the uses of this plant to scorbutic and rheu-
matic affections, and this specification is still farther contracted by
later writers on the Materia Medica. In Lewis’ Mat. Med., by
‘Mr. Aikin,it is said that the leaves of Treefoil “have of late
years come into common use as an alterative and aperient, in im-
purities of the humors, and some hydropic and rheumatic cases ;”
and as an active eccoprotic bitter, we should suppose them well
adapted to supply the want of bile in prime vie, and thus infer
their use in protracted jaundice, and other biliary obstructions.
Dr. Cullen has “had several instances of their good effects in some
cutaneous diseases, of herpatic, and seemingly of the cancerous
kind.”

~ 'The leaves may be given in powder, from five to ten grains
for a dose, two or three times a day; but a strong infusion of
them is, perhaps, preferable ; and with delicate stomachs it may
be necessary to conjoin a grateful aromatic. They impart their
properties both to watery and spirituous menstrua.

x

a

NAT. ORDER.

Bromeliacee.

ae

BILLBERGIA IRIDIFOLIA. DROOPING BILLBERGIA.

Class VI. WHexanpria. Order I. Monoaynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx, three-parted, tubular, persistent, cohering
with the ovarium. Petals, three, colored, unequal. Stamens,
~ six, inserted into the base of the calyx.

Spe. Char. Leaves, long, sheathing and spiny. Scape, spicate.
Flowers, distant, solitary, sessile, inflated. Calyz, superior
Petals, \inear, obtuse, reyolute apex. Anthers, versatile.
Tue Billbergia iridifolia belongs to the Pine-apple family,

and hence, is a native of the hot and dry countries of South

America. The calyx is superior, three-parted, with a single

bractea; the petals are three, longer than the sepals, rolled up into

a tube, and having scaly appendages at the base ; the stamens are

six, free, and are inserted between ‘the scales at the base of the

sepals and petals; the ovary is three-celled, and many-seeded; the
ovules are very minute; the style is thread-shaped; the stigmas
are three, linear, and convolute: the capsule is berried ; the seeds,

(according to Martius,) are naked. Epiphytic plants, (of equi-

noctial America,) with dry leaves, covered with leprous scales;

the flowers are sessile, sometimes spiked, sometimes panicled, and

manifestly articulated with the rachis; the /eaves are from a foot

to a foot and a half long, sheathing and spiny towards the base,

the upper surface of a dark rich green, and covered beneath with

leprous scales; the scape is spicate, terminal, red, pendulous, flex-

uose, and clothed with deep red inflated bracteas; the flowers are
Vol. ii—79

80 NAT. ORDER.—BROMELIACE.

distant, solitary, sessile, and half invested by the rich, red, in-
flated bracteas; the divisions of the calyx are ovate-oblong, mem-
branaceous, of a yellowish green tipped with blue, and scarcely
half as long as the corolla; the petals are linear, of a yellowish
green, with a blue, obtuse, revolute apex, having at the base two
fimbricated, nectariferous scales; the anthers are versatile; the
ovary is inferior, smooth, three-cornered, and three-celled.

This plant, which is no less singular than beautiful in its ap-
pearance, was introduced to this country several years ago, and is
now raised in some of our principal hot-houses, as a rare ornament,
but is by no means common in collections. It is a native of Rio
Janeiro, where, like other epiphytic plants, it may be seen growing
upon the trunks and branches of trees, which, in tropical climates,
are thus frequently adorned with hues and odors not their own.
The genus Billbergia was originally founded by Thunberg, and
has been adopted by Dr. Lindley, as embracing some species for-
merly included in Bromelia, but which appears to differ from that
genus in certain peculiarities of structure.

The natural order Bromeliacee, to which Billbergia belongs,
contains altogether about twenty genera, one of which, Ananassa,
(the Pine-apple,) is remarkable for its well-known rich, fleshy
fruit. No other species can boast of the same interest. The
plants of this order are all very peculiar in their habit; many of
the species have the power of existing without water, and even
without soil; hence, it is not unusual for the inhabitants of South
America to suspend in their apartments such of the species as are
remarkable, either for the brilliancy of their colors, o the delicacy
of their fragrance; they are not only suspended in their dwellings
and chambers, but attached to the balustrades of the balconies, in
which situation they flower abundantly, filling the air with their
sweet-scented odor. The genus 7ridifolia is a stove-plant peren-
nial; it requires a strong heat to grow it fine, and should have
a rather limited supply of water during the winter months. The

NAT. ORDER.—BROMELIACE., 81

soil should be loam and sand, with plenty of drainers at the bot-
toms of the pots. It is readily increased by dividing ; the spring
is the best season for that purpose. Although this plant requires
great heat and dry situations to ensure its fine growth, it will
almost live in a warm green-house, especially if the heat is kept
even, through the different seasons. All, without any exception,
are natives of the islands of this country, whence they have mi-
grated eastward in such numbers, as to have established them-
selves in great quantities all along the west coast of Africa, and
some parts of the East Indies. r

Medical Properties and Uses. The Billbergia iridifolia has
been considered by most writers, as possessing considerable tonic,
expectorant, and slightly cathartic properties. | In many parts of
South America, the inhabitants indulge in the free use of a drink
prepared from this delicious plant; for which purpose they col-
lect both the tops and roots, and subject them to the process of
distillation, by which means the medicinal, saccharine, and stimu-
lating properties are obtained. ‘The liquid obtained by this pro-
cess resembles in appearance that of Acer saccharinum, (Sugar-
maple,) but cannot be conveniently made into sugar. It has a
somewhat cordial taste, and proves highly stimulating by its free
use. A tea made from the leaves has been considerably employed
by some physicians in pulmonary and other lung difficulties, for
which purpose it is recommended to take two ounces of the fresh

dried leaves, and steep in two quarts water, over a gentle fire, un-
til it is reduced to three pints; then add half a pint pure French
brandy, and one pound clarified sugar. Dose, from one to two
fluid ounces, (or half a wine-glassful,) three times a day. It is
more valued for its fine flavor and beautiful appearance, than for
medicinal purposes, and is at the present time but very little msed
in medicine.

~.

NAT. ORDER.

Menispermacee

COCCULUS PALMATUS. CALUMBA ROOT.”
Class XX. Diacta. Order VI. Hexanpria.

Gen. Char. Sepals and petals, arranged in a double series, very
rarely in a triple series. Stamens, six, free, opposite to the
petals. Carpels, from three to six. Fruit, drupaceous, reni-
form, rather compressed, one-seeded. Cotyledons, distant.

Spe. Char. Leaves, cordate, five to seven-lobed. Lobes, entire,
acuminate, somewhat hairy on both sides. Stem and germen,
clothed with glandular hairs.

Tus species of Cocculus is a native of the eastern part of
Southern Africa; it has been ascertained to grow naturally, and
in great abundance, from fifteen to twenty miles inland, in the
thick forests about Oibo and Mozambique, on the Zanguebar
coast. Formerly, it was erroneously supposed that the plant which
produced the calumba-root of commerce, was a native of the
island of Ceylon, and that its name was derived from Columbo, the
principal town of that island. We are indebted to M. J. F. For-
tin, a French gentleman, for the discovery of the true plant,
which produces this valuable root; who, when at Mozambique,
procured an entire offset, of a larger size than usual, from the
main root. This he brought with him to Madras, in 1805, from
which a male plant was raised in Dr. Anderson’s garden; and
from this individual, Dr. Berry’s figure and description were
made ‘The female plant had not been described at that period,
but it was ascertained to belong to the natural order, Menzsperma-

Vol. i, —S2 a P

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NAT. ORDER.—MENISPERMACES. 83

cee, 'The root is perennial, composed of a number of fasciculated,
fusiform, somewhat branched, fleshy, curved, and descending tubers,
from one to three inches in thickness, clothed with a thin, brown
epidermis, marked towards the upper part especially, with trans-
verse warts; internally they consist of a deep yellow, scentless,
very bitter flesh, filled with numerous parallel, longitudinal fibres
or vessels; the stems are annual, herbaceous, one or two proceed-
ing from the same root, about the thickness of the little finger,
twining, simple in the male plant, branched in the female, rounded,
green; in the full-grown plant, below, thickly clothed with succu-
lent, longitudinal hairs, which are tipped with a gland ; the eaves
are alternate, the younger ones thin, pellucid, bright green, gen-
erally three-lobed ; older ones remote, a span in breadth, nearly
orbicular in their circumscription, deeply cordate, five to seven-
lobed, the lobes entire, often deflexed, wavy on the surface and
margin, dark green above, paler underneath, hairy on both sides,
with prominent nerves, and supported on round, hairy footsta/ks,
about as long as the leaves.

In the male plant, the racemes are axillary, solitary, or two to-
gether, drooping, about as long as the petioles, compound, clothed
with glandular hairs, and having at the base small deciduous brac-
teas ; the calyx is smooth, consisting of six ovate, acute, nearly
equal leaves, arranged in a double series ; the corolla is pale green,
consisting of six oblong, free petals, with involute margins, and re-
curved apices, arranged round a central, orbicular disk, or gland,
in a single series ; the fi/aments are six, thick, shorter than the
petals, with terminal, truncated, four-celled anthers ; the cells
opening internally, and filled with linear, oblong grains of yellow
pollen. In the female plant, the racemes are also axillary, solitary,
simple, patent, shorter than those of the male; the pedicels are
furnished with minute, caducous bracteas ; the sepals, or leaves of
the calyx, are six, in two series, three inferior, small, ovate, acute,
subpatent, plain, glabrous; the petals are six, rarely eight, green,

84 NAT. ORDER.—MENISPERMACE.

glabrous, shorter than the germens, and recurved at the extremity ;
the pistils are three, free, of which two are generally abortive,
ovate-acuminate, glanduloso-pilose, and containing one ovule ; the
style is very short, and the stigma has several spreading points; the
fruit is drupaceous, or berried, about the size of a hazel-nut,
densely clothed with long spreading hairs, which, at their extrem-
ity, are tipped with a gland; the seed is subreniform, clothed with
a thin black shell, transversely. striated. Figure a, the pistils;
b, a female flower; c, a stamen and pistil; d, a male flower; e, a
seed. (Examine Plate.)

Calumba-root is the staple export of the Portuguese, from
Mosambique ; and, from the quantity exported, it is not at all re-
markable that its place of growth should have so long remained
unknown, or doubtful to the rest part of the world. The roots
are dug up in March; but the offsets only are taken. Soon after
they are dug up, they are cut into slices, strung on cords, and hung
up to dry in the shade. When they are sufficiently dry, they
break short, and are then deemed good; but when they are soft,
and of a dark color, their quality is considered bad, and not mar-
ketable. The dried root is brought to this country, packed
in bags or cases. It is in transverse sections, generally about
one-third of an inch in thickness, and from one to two inches in
diameter.

“'The late Sir Walter Farquhar was very anxious to intro-
duce into England the calumba-root in a living state ; and for that
purpose he desired his son, Sir Robert Farquhar, Governor of
Mauritius, Bourbon, and their dependencies, to procure the plant
from its native soil in Africa, and forward it to London. Sir Rob-
ert lost no time, after assuming his government, at the conquest of
the French Islands, in applying to the governor of Mosambique,

. for growing plants; and was repeatedly assured that these should
be sent to him at the proper season. The promises, however,
were never fulfilled, although renewed by the several succeeding

e
NAT. ORDER.—MENISPERMACE. 85

officials of the Portuguese possessions on the East coast of Africa,
ever since the year 1811. Dr. Wallick, also, took much pains for
effecting the same object, and sent to Governor Farquhar the
drawing made at Calcutta, of a male plant of the calumba-root,
which had been brought to the Botanic Garden there by Mr.
Berry. Copies of this drawing were distributed to the different
ships of war, and captains of merchant vessels, trading to the
eastern coast of Africa, that they might be enabled to distinguish
the plant, and bring it to the Mauritius, since there had evidently
been an unwillingness on the part of the Portuguese authorities
to permit this precious vegetable to be taken away in any other
state than what it bears in commerce, when deprived of vegetative
power, by passing through the oven.

“ Allthe attempts resulting from these means proved fruitless,
until Capt. William Fitzwilliam Owen, commanding the surveying
squadron of the British Navy, on the East African coast, under-
took the task. The extensive influence he had acquired by his
intercourse with the native chieftains and tribes, enabled him to
procure living plants, while his botanical knowledge secured him
against the mistakes committed by others, who had been misled by
the local settlers in their search, and imposed on by the substitution
of other species, instead of the true calumba-root. Capt. Owen,
in the year 1825, brought away, in the English ship-of-war Severn,
from Oibo, a great number of cases filled with growing roots, of
male and female plants, laid down in the sandy loam which ap-
pears to be their favorite soil. No time was lost by him in for-
warding a great portion of these to M. Telfair, at Mauritius,
planting some also at Mahe, an island in the Seychelles Archipel-
ago, and sending to Bombay several cases, in order to multiply by
dispersion, and the chances of success in naturalizing them in dif-
ferent climates.”

The roots that were brought to Mauritius were partly trans-
mitted to England, New Holland, and America; but the greater

86 NAT. ORDER.—MENISPERMACE.

number were distributed among the various districts of Mauritius
and Bourbon. Many of these plants blossomed at Mauritius, in
the course of a year, but the flowers all proved male. The roots,
however, had during that time multiplied to twenty or thirty times
the original quantity ; and thus an opportunity was given for dis-
tributing them still more extensively. The female plants flowered
at Seychelles, and Mr. G. Harrison, the government agent there,
transmitted some of these roots to Mr. Telfair, in whose garden
of Bois Cheri, in the Mauritius, they have flowered; and being
fecundated by Prof. Boyer, who touched them with the pollen of
the male blossom, they bore seeds. From these individuals, the
drawings by Prof. Boyer have been taken, which give a delineation
and dissection of every part.

Sensible and Chemical Properties. Calumba root is bitter, and
slightly aromatic ; it breaks with a starchy fracture, and is easily
pulverized ; externally of a brown, wrinkled appearance ; inter-
nally yellow. The woody part of the root should be of a light
yellow color, somewhat solid and heavy. Its smell is ‘weak, with
a slight aromatic odor. Boiling water takes up about one-third
of its weight; the infusion has the sensible qualities of the root;
it is not altered by sulphate of iron, nitrate of silver, corrosive
sublimate, nor by emetic tartar; but it is copiously precipitated
by acetate of lead, tincture of nutgalls, lime-water, and yellow
cinchona bark. It gives out its properties also to alcohol, and
proof spirit; but the latter is the best menstruum. It affords an
essential oil by repeated distillation with water ; the remaining
decoction yields malate and sulphate of lime. M. Planche ob-
tained from this root one-third its weight of starch; a yellow, bit-
ter resin; a small quantity of volatile oil; salts of lime and potass;
oxide of iron; silex; and a large proportion of a substance which
resembled animal matter. We are told that a spurious calumba
root is met with in some parts of France, which is imported from
the states of Barbary. It is known by its not containing starch ;

NAT. ORDER.—MENISPERMACE. 87

hence, it is easily detected by the agency of iodine, which does
not alter its color; by its changing black with sulphate of iron;
and by its infusion reddening turnsole paper.

Medical Properties and Uses. Calumba root is considered a
powerful antiseptic and tonic, and also possessed of some astrin-
gent properties; on which account it is highly recommended in
diarrhcea, cholera morbus, general debility, and in the last stages
of phthisis pulmonalis, and in hectic fever ; it has been found to
check colliquative diarrhcea, to allay nervous irritability, and to im-
part some degree of vigor to the stomach. It has also been con-
sidered useful in allaying the distressing nausea and vomiting
which accompany pregnancy; and in the low stage of puerperal
fever. It is also an excellent remedy in dyspepsia. Calumbaroot
may be given in powder, in doses of from fifteen to thirty grains,
and repeated once in four or six hours. It is usually, however,
taken in the form of infusion, either alone, or in combination with
neutral or alkaline salts, aromatics, or opiates, according as cir-
cumstances may indicate. By the natives of Mosambique, and
also by those at a remote distance, this root is considered almost a
specific for every disorder of long standing; but more especially
for dysenterial and venereal disorders.

The calumba root is considered a most valuable tonic, and is
most commonly prescribed in the state of infusion. ‘The dose of
the powder is from ten to thirty grains, and can be repeated three
or four timesa day. It is frequently combined with powdered
ginger, carbonate of iron, and rhubarb. ;

Inruston.— Take of cafumba root, bruised, one ounce; water,
half a pint. Macerate for six hours in a close vessel, and strain.
The dose of the infusion thus prepared is one fluid ounce. It
should be remembered that all infusions of roots prepared in wa-
ter very soon spoil: therefore, there should be added sufficient
alcohol to keep it.

NAT. ORDER

Theacee.

THEA. TEA TREE.

Class XTIT. Potyanpria. Order I. Monoaynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla, six or nine-petalled. Calyz, five or six-
leaved. Capsules, tricoccus.

Spe. Char. Leaves, elliptical, oblong, and rugose.

Turs isa small evergreen shrub, much branched, and covered
with a rough dark grey bark; the eaves are elliptical, or lanceo-
late, entire, alternate, obtusely serrated, veined, and placed on
short footstalks ; the calyx is small, smooth, persistent, and divided
into five obtuse segments ; the flowers are white, often two or three
together, on separate peduncles, and placed at the axille of the
leaves; the corolla varies in the number and size of its petals, but
most commonly six, which are of an irregular, roundish form; the
filaments are numerous, short, and inserted at the base of the co-
rolla; the anthers are large and yellow; the germen is roundish,
or rather triangular; the s¢y/e is trifid, spreading at the top, and
furnished with simple stigmas; the capsule is three-celled, and
opening ; the seeds are three, oblong and brown.

This most valuable shrub isa native of China and Japan, and,
as history informs us, was first introduced into England in 1768,
by John Ellis, Esq., who raised it from seed, and presented it to
the king’s gardener at Kew. But we are informed by other wri-
ters, that the Tea-plant which first flowered in Europe, belonged
to his grace, the duke of Northumberland, at Sion-house.

Vol ii—ss

NAT. ORDER.—THEACE. 89

All the various kinds of Tea which are imported into this
country, should come under the denomination of Bohea and
Green, as it is now generally supposed by learned botanists that
they are produced from the same species of the plant. Linneus,
however, has described them as specially different, founding the
distinction in the number of their petals. | Others have also ob-
served, that the leaves of the Tea-plants differ considerably, both
in form and color ; and this difference we have ourselves frequently
noticed in the plant, which is occasionally found in flower gardens
of this country; but whether these which the gardeners cultivate,
and sell by the name of Bohea and Green T'ea-plants, are to be re-
garded as permanent varieties, or distinct species, we have not the
means to decide. De Loureiro has described three species of
-Thea, viz.: Thea cochinchinensis, Thea cantonensis, and Thea ole-
osa. The first is a native of Cochin China, where it is cultivated,
and used medicinally in hot weather, as a sudorific and refrigerant.
The Thea oleosa grows wild in the neighborhood of Canton, where
an oil obtained from its seeds is used for various domestic purposes.
The Thea cantonensis, which Loureiro carefully examined in its
native soil, was found to bear a close resemblance to another var-
iety, called Siao chong cha, and by us Souchong. Both these are
brown, but more fragrant and valuable than the common green
Tea, which grows in the province of Fo kien. Notwithstanding
that this author has described the three species of Thea above
mentioned, he says, that on examining the dried flowers of the
green Tea, brought from the province of Kiang si, he observed a
great diversity in the number of the parts of the calyx and co-
rolla: hence, he concludes that all the various Chinese Teas are
taken from the same botanical species, and that the different flavor
and appearance of Teas depend upon the nature of the soil, the
culture, and method of preparing the leaves.

The opinion, which is founded on the sportive tendency of
the flowers of the Tea-plant, clearly shows the fallacy of distin-

aa

90 NAT. ORDER.—THEACE.

guishing the Bohea and Green Tea trees by the number of their
petals, which, even in this country, have been found to vary from
three to nine; yet this circumstance, though it proves the insufli-
ciency of the Linnean characters, by no means determines the
botanical identity of the Green and Bohea Teas; and while the
present narrow and jealous policy of the Chinese continues, many
interesting particulars respecting the natural history of ‘Tea must
still remain unknown to us: hence, we feel unauthorized to adda
specific name to the plate of the Tea-plant here annexed, which
represents the variety in the Hort. Kev., or the Thea viridis of the
London gardeners.

The various Teas imported into Europe and the United
States, are obtained both from the wild and cultivated plant. The
manner of gathering and preparing the leaves, as practised in Ja-
pan, is very fully described by Keempfer, and is, as far as our in-
formation extends, conformable to the method used by the Chi-
nese.

The first gathering of the Tea leaves, according to this
author, commences about the last of February, when the leaves
are young and expanded. The second collection is made about
the beginning of April, and the third in June. The first collec-
tion, which consists only of the fine, tender leaves, is most es-
teemed, and is called Imperial Tea. The second is called Toots-
yaa, or Chinese Tea, because it is infused and drank after the
Chinese manner. ‘The last, which is the coarsest and cheapest, is
chiefly consumed by the lower class of people. Besides the three
kinds of Tea here noticed, it may be observed, that by garbling,
or sorting these, the varieties of ‘Tea become still farther multi-
plied. As many Tea-plants grow on cliffs, and places of difficult
access, the Chinese 'T’ea-gatherers are said to have occasional re-
course to the assistance of monkeys, which are chased up the
Tea trees, and so much irritated, that in their fury they bite off
the branches, and throw them down in resentment; the branches

NAT. ORDER.—THEACE. 9]
a

are then taken up, and the leaves picked off. The leaves are not
collected from the cultivated plant till it is three years old; and
after growing seven or ten years it is cut down, in order that the
numerous young shoots may aflord a greater supply of leaves.

The leaves should be dried as soon as possible after they are
collected ; and for this purpose Keempfer relates, that public build-
ings are erected, containing from five to ten, and even twenty
small furnaces, about three feet high, each having at the top a
large iron pan. There is also a long table covered with mats, on
which the leaves are laid, and rolled by workmen who sit round it.
The iron pan being heated to a certain degree by a fire made in
the furnace beneath, a few pounds of the leaves are put upon the
pan, and continually turned and shifted by the hands, till they be-
come too hot to be endured; they are then thrown upon the mats
to be rolled, which is done between the palms of the hands, after
which they are cooled as speedily as possible.

It is desirable that all the moisture of the leaves should be
completely dissipated, and their twisted form preserved, for which
purpose the above process is repeated several times with the same
leaves, but less heat is employed than at first. The Tea thus
manufactured is afterwards sorted, according to its kinds or good-
ness. Some young, tender leaves are never rolled, and are im-
mersed in hot water before they are dried.

From this account of the Japanese method of curing their
Teas, it appears that a prompt and complete exsiccation is the
chief art employed. We suspect, however, that the Chinese are
more indebted to art than to nature for the various kinds of Tea
with which they supply this country. Many of their Teas are so
widely different in taste, odor, color, and form, that instead of ap-
pearing to be the leaves of the same species of plant, they are so
much disguised as scarcely to manifest any resemblance to each
other. It is true that some species and varieties of the Tea, as
appears by Loureiro, are naturally more odorous than others; yet

Be

92 NAT. ORDER.—THEACES.

we cannot suppose that nature ever made them totally different.
The same observation will be equally applicable to the various
flavors and colors of this exotic. We may therefore infer that the
Chinese method of curing their fine Teas is not quite so simple as
that practiced by the Japanese.

Tea was first introduced into Europe by the Dutch East
India Company, and into England about the year 1666, when it
sold for sixty English shillings per pound, and for many years its
ereat price limited its use only to the most opulent. Its use was
introduced into this country at the time of its settlement by our
forefathers, and has now become a common beverage of both the
rich and poor; and its effects have been variously represented ;—
but as to enter fully upon this subject would far exceed the limits
of this work, we shall refer the reader for a more full account to
Dr. Lettsom’s elaborate history of the Tea tree; and conclude
this article with a transcript of its medicinal powers, as given by
Dr. Cullen, whose opinion in this place cannot fail to be well re-
ceived.

“With respect to its qualities as a medicine, that is, its power
of changing the state of the human body, we might suppose it as-
certained by the experience of its daily use; but from the univer-
sality of this use in very different conditions of the plant, and in
every possible condition of the persons employing it, the conclu-
sions drawn from its effects must be very precarious and ambigu-
ous, and we must attempt by other means to ascertain its qualities
with more certainty.

“To this purpose, it appears from Dr. Smith’s experiments,
that an infusion of green Tea has the effect of destroying the sen-
sibility of the nerves, and the irritability of the muscles; and from
the experiments of Dr. Lettsom, it appears that green Tea gives
out, in distillation, an odorous water, which is powerfully narcotic.
That the recent plant contains such an odorous narcotic power, is
not to ee ale find that the Chinese take great pains

4 +

5 —_

We 5
es

NAT. ORDER.—THEACE. 93

in drying it, before they will suffer it to be brought into use ; and
that even after such preparation, they usually abstain from its use
for a year or more, that is, until its volatile parts are all completely
dissipated ; and it is said that unless they use this precaution, the
Tea, in a more recent state, manifestly shows strong narcotic
powers. Even in this country, the more odorous Teas often show
their sedative powers in weakening the nerves of the stomach, and
sometimes the whole system.”

From these considerations, we may safely conclude, that Tea
is to be considered as a narcotic and sedative substance; and that
itis powerfully such in its odorous state, and therefore less in the
Bohea than in the Green Tea, and the most so in the more odor-
ous, or what are called the finer and better sorts. Its effects, how-
ever, seem to be very different in its operation upon different con-
stitutions ; and hence so many different and contradictory accounts
that are reported of these effects. Butif we consider the differ-
ence of constitution, which occasions some difference of the
operation of the same medicine in different persons, and of which
we have a remarkable proof in the operation of opium and other
narcotics, we should not be surprised at the different operations
of Tea.

If to this we add the falicy arising from the condition of the
Tea employed, which is often so inert as to have no effects at all ;
and if we still add to this the power of habit, which can destroy
the powers of the most powerful substances, we shall not allow
the various, and even contradictory reports of its effects to alter
our judgment with respect to its qualities in affecting the human
body. Thus, from the experiments above mentioned, and from
observations with which every physician must necessarily become
more or less familiar, in witnessing its effects upon all sorts of per-
sons, we must be convinced that the quplities of Tea are narcotic
and sedative.

Tt is often contended that the bad fect imputed to Tea,are

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94 NAT. ORDER.—THEACES.

owing to the large quantity of warm or hot water which accom-
panies it; and it is possible that some bad eflects may arise from
this cause; but from attentive observation, we can assert that
whenever there are any marked effects, they are, in nine of every
ten persons, entirely from the qualities of the tea; and that any
similar effects of warm water do not occur in one of a hundred
who take in this very largely.

But while we thus endeavor to establish the poisonous nature
of Tea, we do not at the same time deny that it may sometimes
show useful qualities. It is possible, that in certain persons, taken
in moderate quantity, it may, like other narcotics, in a moderate
dose, prove exhilarating, or like these, have some effect in taking
off irritability, or in quieting some irregularities of the nervous
system. As its bad effects have been often imputed to the warm
water that accompanies it, so we have no doubt that some of its
good effects may also be ascribed to the same cause, and _ particu-
larly its being so often grateful after a full meal.

The U. 8. Dispensatory, describing the properties of Tea,
says “that it is astringent, and gently excitant, and in its finer
varieties exerts a decided influence over the nervous system.
evinced by the nervous feelings of comfort, and even exhilaration
which it produces; and the unnatural wakefulness to which it gives
rise when taken in unusual quantities; or by those unaccustomed
to its use. Its properties, however, are not of so decided a char-
acter as to render it capable of very extensive application as a
medicine ; and its almost exclusive use, as every one knows, is as
a grateful beverage at the evening meals. Taken moderately, and
by healthy individuals, it may be considered perfectly harmless.

fy le
Merzercon’

%

NAT. ORDER.

Thymelacee.

DAPHNE MEZEREUM. MEZEREON.

Class VIII. Ocrvanpria. Order I. Monoeynta.
Gen. Char. Calyx, none. Corolla, four-cleft, withering, enclosing
the stamens. Drupe, one-seeded.

Spe. Char. Flowers, sessile, in threes on the stem. Leaves, lance-
olate, deciduous.

Tue Mezereon is a hardy shrub, which usually grows to the
height of five or six feet, and sends off several branches; the ex-
terior bark is smooth, and of a gray color; the oot is of a fibrous
texture, of a pale color, and covered with smooth olive-colored
bark ; the leaves are few, tender, lance-shaped, sessile, deciduous,
and appear at the terminations of the branches, after the flowers
have expanded; the flowers surround the branches in thick clus-
ters; they are sessile, monopetalous, tubular, having the limb di-
vided into four oval, spreading segments, generally of a purple
color; the stamens are eight, alternately shorter, and concealed
within the tube of the corolla; the style is very short, the stigma
flat, and the germen, which is oval, becomes a reddish berry, con-
taining a round seed.

This shrub is a native of England, though not very common.
We are informed that it grows wild in the woods near Andover
in Hampshire, and also about Loxfield in Suffolk; but it is gene-
rally cultivated in gardens, on account of the beauty and earliness
of its flowers, which appear in February and March.

This plant is extremely acrid, especially when fresh; and if

Vol. ii.—95

96 NAT. ORDER.—THYMELACEA.

retained in the mouth, excites great and long continued heat and
inflammation, particularly of the throat and fauces. The berries
also have the same effects, and, when swallowed, prove a power-
ful corrosive poison, not only to man, but to dogs, wolves, foxes, &c.
The bark and berries of Mezereon, in different forms, have been
long externally used in obstinate ulcers and sores. In France and
some parts of England, the former is strongly recommended as an
application to the skin, which, under certain management, pro-
g, and is thus
rendered useful in many chronic diseases of a local nature,

duces a continued serous discharge, without blisterin

answering the purpose of what has been called a perpetual blister,
while it occasions less pain and inconvenience.

Medical Properties and Uses. In England and in the United
States, at the present time, Mezereon is only employed in the cure
of some syphilitic complaints, for which purpose, Dr. Donald
Monro was the first who gave testimony to its efficacy in the cure
of these loathsome diseases. A few months after this, several
cases were published by Dr. Russel, then physician to St. Thomas’
Hospital, fully establishing the utility of the cortax mezerei in ve-
nereal nodes. He says, “ The disease for which I principally re-
commend the decoction of mezereon-root as a cure, is the node
that proceeds from a thickening of the membrane of the bones,
which appear to be the cause of the greatest part of those tumors,
at least when recent. In a thickening of the periosteum from
other causes, I have seen very good effects from it.” But in the
nocturnal pains accompanying syphilis, unless occasioned by the
node itself, he found it necessary to join a solution of sublimate to
the decoction. We would also remark that Dr. R. never found
the decoction to increase any of the natural evacuations. Dr.
Cullen observes, that “Dr Home has not only found this de-
coction to cure scirrhous tumors which remain after the lues
venerea, and after the use of mercury, but that it healed, also,
some scirrhous tumors from other causes; and that he has

NAT. ORDER.—THYMELACE&. 97

employed it in several cutaneous affections, and very often with
success.” ;

The great burning and continued heat and irritation that is
produced in the — when mezereon is chewed, induced Dr.
Withering to think of giving it in a case of difficulty of swallow-
ing, seemingly occasioned by a paralytic affection. The patient
was directed to chew a thin slice of the root as often as she could
bear it, and in about a month recovered her power of swallowing.
This woman had been a great sufferer from her complaint, for
about three years, and was greatly reduced, being totally unable
to swallow solids the whole time, and liquids but very imperfectly.

Mezereon, in its recent state, is an active poison, and should
be given with great care, if given at all. A case is related to us
from undoubted authority, of a woman who gave twelve grains of
the berries to her daughter, who had the fever-ague. She vomited
blood, and died immediately. As the acrimony of these berries
is not immediately perceived upon being tasted, the ignorant and
unwary are the more easily betrayed to swallow them.

As some may wish to try this plant in their practice, whichis
as yet unknown to most physicians in this country, and promises
beneficial effects in several complaints, we shall briefly recite the
usual mode in which it has been conducted.

A square piece of the fresh-gathered bark, about the size of
a penny, macerated a little in vinegar, is applied to the skin, over
which is bound a leaf of ivy or plantain. This application is at
first renewed night and morning, till it cauterizes the part, and
brings on a serous discharge, when a renewal of the bark once in
twenty-four hours is found sufficient to continue the issue for any
length of time. By means of suitable plasters, it is thought by
some physicians, it might prove valuable if applied behind the
ears to relieve the eyes; and ona larger scale prove useful in
practice in sundry diseases. It must be observed, however, that
it sometimes produces cutaneous eruptions, which is attributed to

“>

~~ |

98 NAT. ORDER.—THYMELACE.

the absorption of the particles of the bark. We would suggest
the propriety of using it as a substitute for calomel, as it possesses
most of its valuable qualities, without any of its bad effects. The
berries of Daphne laureola are poisonous to all animals except
birds. In Jamaica a species is found which is called the Lace bark
tree, in consequence of the beautifully reticulated appearance of
the inner bark. Cordage has been manufactured from several
species. A very soft kind of paper is made from the inner bark
of Daphne cholua in Nipal. Daphne gnidium and Passerina tinc-
toria are used in the south of Europe to dye wool with, which
gives it a beautiful yellow color.

When the berries or bark are taken in over-doses, we should
exhibit diluents, emollients, and laxatives, in order to expel the
poison from the alimentary canal; and after this, if the nervous
system has been much excited, give nervines in repeated doses to
allay the irritation. If inflammation of the stomach or intestines
should follow, we must have recourse to some of the most active
vegetable emetics. |The decoction has been given in some cases,
with decided advantage in chronic rheumatism, some cutaneous
affections, &c., but it is a remedy seldom employed at the present
day, except in combination with others ; for its exhibition requires
great caution, otherwise vomiting and purging may be produced.
In some instances it acts with such violence as to occasion spitting
of blood, and fatal diarrhoea.

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NAT. ORDER.—AMARANLACES, 91

lower ones rufous liver-colored on the upper surface, bright purple
on the lower, with elevated veins—the upper ones green, with red
tips; the petioles channelled, bright purple, smooth, and edged at
the top with the decreasing leaf; the lower ones nearly their length ;
the glomerules subsessile, dark purple, on a very short, undivided
peduncle ; the calyx five leaved; the leaflets oblong, purple, mem-
braneous, ending in a dark red point. Professor Martyn observes
that this species varies in the color of their leaves: as, when grown
in the open air, they are of a dirty purple on their upper surface,
and in the younger ones green; while, in the stone, the whole
plant is of a beautiful fine purple color. It is, however, easily
distinguished in all states by its color, its leaves, its lateness of flow-
ering, &c. It is a native of Guiana and the East Indies. Mr. Mil-
ler remarks that it grows to the same height of the Tricolor, and in
the manner of its growth greatly resembles it; but the leaves have
only two colors, an obscute purple and a bright crimson, so blended
as to set off each other, making a fine appearance when the plants
are vigorous,

Amaranthus tricolor. Three-colored Amaranthus. +In this species
the stems rise from a foot and a half to two feet in height; they are
obscurely angular, smooth, and upright; the leaves blue with a red
point, smooth and waved; the younger ones yellow, with red, espe-
cially the tips; those ina more mature state coralled at the base,
violet in the middle, and green at the end; the old ones green with
a violet base ; the petioles very long, smooth, green, channelled, and
bordered; the glomerules germinate,.green, and axillary ; the calyx
three-leaved ; the leaflets oblong, acuminate, membranaceous, with
a green nerve. It varies in the color of the leaves, which are less
painted in the open air than in the stone. It has been long cultiva-
ted for the beauty of its variegated leaves, in which the colors are
elegantly mixed. When the plant is in full vigor, these are large
and closely set from the bottom to the top of the stalk. The branches
also form a sort of pyramid; so that in form, as well as the beauty

92 NAT. ORDER.—AMARANLACES.

of its flowers, there are but few plants that can vie with it in gran-
deur. It is a native of Guiana. Flowers all summer.

Amaranthus sanguincous. Spreading, or Bloody Amaranthus. In
this species the stem is upright, about four feet in height ; they are
firm, round, red, and streaked; the leaves somewhat convex, or
rather, so contracted as to possess the form of a boat, and pointed ;
the older ones rather blunt ; the upper surface is a mixture of red
and green, the lower more or less purple; the petioles are tinged
with purple, channelled, and quite rough, and winged at the top with
the leaf; the racemes are very red; the branches smooth,—-
the lower ones spreading; the calyx five-leaved ; leaflets oblong,
blunt, membraneous, and red ; the bracteas subulate-setaceous, red,
longer than the flowers, closely surrounding the glomerules.

Amaranthus caudatus. _Pendulous Amaranthus, or Love-lies-
bleeding. In this species the stem is from two to two and a half
feet in height, green, obscurely angular, grooved and streaked, smooth,
and covered at the top with thin, whitish, scattered hairs; the upper
part somewhat nodding on account of the extreme length of the

‘ racemes; the leaves are smooth, bright green, blunt, emarginate,
with an incurved transparent point; the petioles are much shorter
than the leaf; the racemes terminating, elegantly purple, very long,
cylindrical, and composed of flowers very closely glomerate ; the

, calyx is five-leaved ; the leaflets oblong, red, acuminate, membrana-

ceous ; the bracteas oblong, pointed, and scattered.

Amaranthus maximus. Tree Amaranthus. In this species the
stems rise to the height of seven or eight feet, sending off numerous
horizontal branches at every ten or twelve inches; the leaves are
green, rough, and luxuriant; the spikes are seldom half the length

ss of those of the other sorts, but are much thicker. It is said to
degenerate gradually into the smaller kind. The seed, which at
¥ first are white, also become red. It flowers in August and Septem-

, ae ber, and is a native of Persia.
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NAT. ORDER.—AMARANLACER. 93

Amaranthus cruentus. Various-leaved Amaranthus. In this
species the stem is a foot and a half or two feet in height, grooved,
green with red streaks, smooth, and slightly pubscent among the
flowers; the leaves are green, spotted with brown above, red
beneath, bluntish with a reddish short point; the petioles are red,
channelled, and smooth; the racemes red and green, with branchlets
spreading and nodding a little; the calyx five-leaved ; the leaflets
oblong, pointed, white-membraneous, with a red nerve, and a point
of the same color. It varies of a shining red color—with a red
stalk with pale leaves—with a green stalk with variegated leaves,
&c. When first cultivated in this climate, the stem is wholly red
and smooth ; the petioles, ribs, and nerves of the leaves underneath
purple; the spikes purple, much spreading, and a little nodding.
They are highly beautiful, and make a gay appearance for the first
two years; but after that time the seeds degenerate, and the plants
possess but little beauty, which is the same with some others of this
genus. It is a native of the East Indies.

Propagation and Culture. 'The propagation in most of these spe-
cies is not effected without considerable trouble, as they require the
aid of artificial heat in order to bring them forward in the greatest
perfection. There are few, however, that may be raised in the open
ground without the assistance of heat applied in the above manner.

The second and third species, being the most tender, demand
much greater attention, and more artificial heat in producing them,
than those of the fourth, fifth, and sixth kinds. And the first and
last species are capable of being raised with still less heat than those
of the above sorts, though not in the fullest perfection without a.
slight degree of it.

In all the different species the business is accomplished by sowing
the seeds annually in the early part of the spring months, say about
the last of March, or about the beginning of April, on beds of good
earth, either over heat or in the natural ground, according to the

9k NAT. ORDER.—AMARANLACEE.

nature of the plants. The earlier the sowing can be performed, the
better growth the plants will attain in the summer season.
In raising the second and third sorts in the greatest lustre and
perfection, the aid of two or three different hot-beds is necessary,
which should be covered with frames and glasses, so as to slide with
ease and convenience. The first of these hot-beds should be small
and made in the ordinary way, for the purpose of receiving the seed,
and which may likewise serve for that of other annuals of the ten-
der kind of similar growth, They should be earthed over the tops
within the frames, to the depth of five or six inches, with good light
dry mould. In this the seed should be sown in small shallow drills,
and covered over very lightly with fine sifted mould; the glasses are
then to be placed over them. In these situations the plants should
be suffered to remain till they b have attained the height of two or
three inches, air being admitted in fine days, and the glasses covered
with mats at night. When the plants are in this situation, a second
hot-bed is to be prepared in the same manner, into which the young
plants are to be pricked out to the distance of about four inches from
each other, moderate waterings being occasionally given, and the
plants well shaded from the sun until they have taken fresh root.
Air should now be admitted more freely when the weather is fine,
by raising one end of the glasses, and the night coverings be carefully
applied. After the plants have remained in these beds a month or
six weeks, and have become tolerably strong in their growth, so as
to require more space, the final hot-beds should be made ready.
These ought to be of much larger dimensions. When the frames
are placed over them, earth to the depth of four or five inches should
be laid over, and the plants, after being taken up with balls of earth
about their roots, planted in pots of good sized dimensions, water
being immediately applied in a sparing manner, and the pots plunged
in the earth of the beds, the frames being raised occasionally as the
plants advance in growth. © 'The lights are to be constantly kept on, _
but air freely admitted by raising the ends daily, and water applied .
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NAT. ORDER.—AMARANLACES. ¥ 95
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every one or two days. Towards the end of June the plants will E 3

have attained nearly their full growth, when they may be placed out
in the open air, where they are fully seen, when the weather is fine
and settled, each of them being supported by a proper stick. In
their after culture, they require to be kept constantly in the pots, and
to have water freely applied almost every day when the season is
hot. ;
All the other species are raised with much less trouble, but simi-
lar to those already described. They are of the most highly orna-
mental kind, although attended with some trouble in their culture, aes
yet they well repay for the labor. They should have rather open .
exposures, and be distributed towards the fronts, especially those
the low growing kinds. ee

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NAT. ORDER.

PRanunculacee.

ANEMONE HORTENSIS. BROAD-LEAVED GARDEN ANEMONE,
Class XTTI. Pouyanpria. Order VI. Pouyenta.

Gen Char. Involucre, three cut-leaves, distant from the flower.
Calyx of five to fifteen n petal- -like, colored sepals. Petals wanting.

Spe. Char. Leaves eres! Segments multifid. Lobules, linear,
mucronated. Zeaves of the involucrum sessile, multifid, Se-
pals six, oval.

Tue stems of this plant, when under a state of cultivation, rise
from ten to fifteen inches in height. The root-leaves appear to be of
two kinds: one very deeply gashed, so much that they have the

, appearance of being five-fingered, but are in reality three parted, the
4 side-lobes being two-parted to the very base; all the lobes are nar-
row and sharp ; the side ones deeply bifid, the middle ones trifid or
quadrifid, the extreme ones sharply lanceolate—the other kind
broad, deeply three-lobed, blunt, bluntly and shortly serrate at the
tip, with an awn standing out; the /eafon the stem, or involucre, is
ternate ; the leaflets ovate, taneeclntey the peduncle is solitary and
aaseits ered; the petals three times three (in the natural flowers),
long, elliptic, marked with lines, the outer ones subhirsute on the
outside, white at the base with green lines ; the roots consist of small
fie white fibres, which are tuberous.
o3 There are numerous varieties of this species, both with single and
double flowers: the single and double Yellow; the Purple Star

Anemone, darker and paler; Violet Purple; Purple-striped; Car-

nation; Gredeline, between a peach color and a violet; Cochenille,

of a fine reddish violet or purple ; Cardinal, of a rich crimson red ;

Blond-red, of a deeper, but not so lively a red; Crimson; Stamell,

near unto a scarlet; Incarnadine, of a fine delayed red or flesh-color ;

Vol. iv.—96.
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NAT. ORDER —RANUNCULACE. 97

Spanish Incarnate,of a lively flesh color, shadowed with yellow; Blush,
of a fair whitish red ; Nutmegge, of a dark whitish color, striped with
veins of a blush color; Monk’s-gray, pale whitish, tending to a gray ;
Great Orange Tawnie; Lesser Orange Tawnie. Of the great
double varieties there are, the great double Anemone of Constanti-
nople, or Spanish Marigold; great double Orange T'warnie; double
Anemone of Cyprus; double Persian Anemone; the common great
double Variable Anemone; common double and variegated Scarlet ;
Red and Purple; variegated of these sorts. The best Star Ane-
mones are said to come from Brittainy, where they raise yearly a
great variety of sorts.
Anemone coronaria. Narrow-leaved Garden Anemone. In this
species the flower-stems rise between the leaves immediately from
the roots, from the number of one and two to four and five from the
same root, to the height of from eight to twelve inches, having a leafy
appendage or involucrum a little above the middle; the radical
leaves are a little divided into numerous segments, which are subdi-
vided into many narrow divisions. At the top each stem is adorned
with a flower, which in the double sorts is large and very ornamen- _
tal. It isa native of the Levant, where it grows single, but has x
been rendered double by cultivation.
The varieties are very numerous; in the single sorts, the Watchet ,
or pale blue; the common Purple; the Scarlet, and many interme-
diate varieties. In the double kinds, the common Double Red and
Scarlet; the Parti-colored Crimson; the Crimson Velvet; the "
great double Blush; the White; the Lesser Blush; the Purple;
the Blue ; the Rose-colored ; the Carnation ; the Purple Velvet of m.
three colors; the double Brimstone; the Green, &c. an
Anemone nemorosa. Wood-leaved Garden Anemone. In this ic
a species the root is perennial and creeping ; the height of the whole
- plant is only from five to ten inches; the stem single, round and
pubscent ; bearing one leaf, and one flower; the leaf is doubly ter-
4 nate, each part being petioled; the petiole is flat and broad, particu-

98 NAT. ORDER.—RANUNCULACER.

‘arly at the base; each part or leaf (for some consider i as three
leaves), is trifid; each leaflet being gash-serrate, and hairy under-
neath, especially on the nerves; the peduncle is from one to two
inches long, and is only a continuation of the stem, and springs from
the centre of the leaf; the flower consists of six or seven oblong-
ovate petals, sometimes ending bluntly, sometimes emarginate, and
sometimes even gashed or lacerate. The usual color is white, but
they are often tinged with purple on the outside, particularly the
three outer ones; and sometimes they are entirely purple on both

' sides. The joint of the stem and the backs of the leaves are also
apt to be tinged with red. The varieties are: with single flowers,
with double flowers white, with single, purple flowers, with double
purple flowers, and with reddish purple flowers.

Anemone apennina. Mountain-blue Wood Anemone. In this
species the root is perennial and tuberous; the stem round, purplish,
and about a span high; the root-leaves on long petioles, ternate, and
leaflets usually three-parted ; the segments variously cut and divided,
somewhat pointed, hairy on both sides; one three-parted leaf, or
three leaves together on the stem, like the others, but on short,
sheathing petioles. From the centre of these arises the peduncle,
about six inches high, round, and purplish except near the flower,
where it is green. The stem-leaves and peduncle are slightly hairy ;
the flowers are upright, of a pale blue color, and sweet smell; the
petals oblong, from twelve to fifteen, and disposed in three rows. It
flowers in April. ‘The varieties are: with single blue flowers, with
double blue flowers, with single violet-colored flowers, and with
double violet-colored flowers.

Anemone ranunculoides. Yellow-wood Anemone. This plan
differs from the one previously described, in its having a yellow

corolla, and two petals standing alternately outer, and two inner, and

one having one side within and the other side without the next.

\ petal—whereas that has three outer and three inner petals; it differs
also in the peduncles being accompanied with two leaflets, the latter

NAT. ORDER.—MULTISILIQU&. 107

the cause of his disease ; and, to convince the company that it was
perfectly innocent, he eat freely of its leaves; but he suffered for
his imprudence, as he shortly died in great agony.

Medical Properties and Uses. This plant has been generally
prepared as an extract, or inspissated juice, after the manner di-
rected in the Edinburgh, and many of the foreign pharmacopeeias ;
and, like all virulent medicines, it should be first administered in
small doses.

Storeck recommends two grains of the extract to be rubbed
into a powder, with two drachms of sugar; and to begin with ten
grains of this powder, two or three times a day. We find, how-
ever, that the extract is often given from one grain to ten for a
dose ; and some physicians even increase from this quantity. In-
stead of the extract, a tincture may be made from the dried
leaves, macerated in six times their weight of spirits of wine,
forty drops of which may be given for a dose.

Modern experiments prove this plant to be powerfully nar-
cotic and diaphoretic ; and it is now frequently applied to cancers
and cancerous tumors, &c. But we cannot conceive that cancer
can be cured either by its internal or external administration, al-
though it has been strongly recommended in that disease. But
from the uncertainty of its strength, and its operation, we rarely
find it used at the present day, especially in the United States.
Even its external application is not unattended with danger;
therefore, if applied to cancerous sores, or other tumors, it must
be with great caution. There are other species of Aconite, which
were formerly in use, possessing similar properties to the one
here described ; but from their having fallen into disuse, it will be
unnecessary ta describe them in this place.

WAT. OR DER.

Liliacee.

ERYTHRONIUM AMERICANUM. DOG’S TOOTH VIOLET

Class VI. Hexanpria. Order I Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx,none. Corolla, inferior, six-petalled ; the three
inner petals with a callous prominence on each edge, near
the base.

Spe. Char. Leaves, lanceolate, punctate. Petals, oblong-lanceo-
late, obtuse at the point; interior ones bidentate near the
base. Style, clavate. Stigma, entire.

Tus is an indigenous, perennial, bulbous plant, sometimes
called after the European species, Dog’s Tooth Violet. The bulb,
or cormus, which is brown externally, white and solid within, sends
up a single naked flower-stem, and two smooth, lanceolate, nearly
equal leaves, sheathing at their base, with an obtuse, callous point,
and of a brownish green color, diversified by numerous irregular
spots; the flower is solitary, nodding, yellow, with oblong-lanceo-
late petals, obtuse at the point, a club-shaped, undivided style,
and a three-lobed stigma. The Erythronium grows in woods and
other shady places, throughout the Northern and Middle States.
It flowers in the latter part of April, or early in May. All parts
of it are active.

Of this genus Mr. Miller makes two species; but Linneus,
perhaps with more propriety, only one; for breadth of leaves, or
color of flowers, can hardly be considered as sufficient to consti-

tute a specific difference. It is found in some parts of Europe,

cultivated in gardens, where it produces a variety of colors :—
Vol. ii —108

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NAT. ORDER.—LILIACE. 109

some are purple, of two different tints; others are white and yel-
low. They are said to grow naturally in Hungary and Italy.
They are propagated by offsets from their roots, and thrive best
in a shady situation, and a gentle loamy soil; but should not be
too often removed. They may be transplanted any time after the
beginning of June, when their leaves will be quite decayed, till the
middle of September; but the roots should not be kept very long
out of the ground, as, if they shrink, it will often cause them to
rot. The roots of this plant should not be planted scattering
in the borders of the flower-garden, but in patches near each
other, where they will make a good appearance.—JU. S. Dispen-
satory.

Medical Properties and Uses. 'This is a very ancient medi-
cine, and was used in the time of Salmond to a considerable ex-
tent. The physicians of Europe employed it in those days for
the cure of all venereal complaints, and as a remedy for worms.
They obtained a strong decoction from the leaves and powdered
root, after the following manner: take four ounces of the leaves,
well dried; or two of the root, powdered; and add two quarts
diluted alcohol; macerate for fourteen days; filter, when it is
ready for use. The U. 8. Dispensatory recommends giving it in
doses of twenty or thirty grains, and says, “the recent bulb acts
as an emetic ; the leaves are said to be more powerful; and that
the activity of the plant is diminished very much by drying.”
So far as we at present are acquainted with the virtues and uses
of this plant, we are inclined to consider it a useless addition to
the Materia Medica. It is however adopted in the present U. 8.
Dispensatory, but not very highly recommended in practice. A
gentleman with whom I am well acquainted, informed me that he
has frequently used the Erythronium in connection with other
medicines, with decided advantage in rheumatism and gout; and
advises that it be applied externally, and well rubbed in, so as to
produce considerable friction. .

NAT. ORDER.

Trilliacee.

TRILLIUM SESSILE. VIRGINIA TURNIP.

Class VI. Hexanprta. Order ITI. Tricynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx, three-leaved. Corolla, three-petalled, Stig-
ma, sessile. Berry, superior, three-celled. Ced/s, many-
seeded.

Spe. Char. Peduncle, inclined. Flower, nodding. Petals, ovate,
acuminate, flat, spreading ; broader, and a little longer than
the calyx. Leaves, broad-rhomboid, acuminate, sessile.

Turis species of turnip has a tuberous, perennial root, which
sends up in the spring a large, colored spathe, flattened and bent
at the top, like a hood, and supported by an erect, purplish scape ;
the spathe has within it a club-shaped spadix, variegated, round at
the end; at the base it is surrounded by the stamens, the female
organs being below the male; the spathe, spadix and germs are
converted into a bunch of scarlet berries ; the Zeaves stand on long,
sheathing footstalks, and are composed of leaflets, paler beneath
than on their upper surface, and in time becoming glaucous.

Of this genus there are several species, all of which are na-
tives of North America. They have been described by Miller,
in his Gardener’s Dictionary, under the head of American Herb
Paris; but the Paris and Trillium, though somewhat similar
in the style of their foliage, are very different in their parts of
fructification. This species takes its trivial name of sessile, from
the flowers having no footstalks, but sitting, as it were, immediately
on the end of the stalk.

Vol. ii —110

NAT. ORDER.—TRILLIACE. 111

The figure here exhibited was taken from a plant which
flowered in my garden, last spring, from the roots sent me the
preceding autumn, by a practical gardener of South Carolina,
who is not only well acquainted with the medical plants of this
country, but indefatigable in discovering and collecting the more
rare species of that portion of our country, and with which the
gardens of our Northern States are likely soon to be enriched.

It grows in shady situations, m a light soil, and requires the
same treatment as the Dodecatheon, and round-leaved Cyclamen.
We have not learned, neither have we had a fair opportunity of
ascertaining whether this species will ripen its seeds with us;
though a native of South Carolina, where it has been known and
applied for medical purposes, ever since the first settlement of that
country, it has never found its way north; and hence we may
conclude that it is not very readily propagated, or more easily
destroyed.

Medical Properties and Uses. 'This, as well as all the varieties
of the Wild Turnip, in its fresh state, is a powerful stimulant and
local irritant, possessing, in a great degree, the power of stimula-
ting the secretions of the lungs and skin. It is also recommended
as valuable for pain in the bowels, and colic. Dr. Samuel Thom-
son says, “Its pectoral properties have proved highly beneficial
in coughs, consumption of the lungs, asthma, and sore throat, for
which we have used it for more than forty years. The root should
be dried, pulverized, and used as cough powders; or it may be
given in honey, in the sirup of preserves, or in any other saccha-
rine matter ; or it may be made into a paste with honey or sirup,
and used in the form of candy, by letting the substance dissolve
gradually on the tongue, so as to diffuse its warmth through the
mouth. It is also good for sore mouth and throat, canker, and
swellings about the neck, and is considered good in coughs, colds,
and catarrhal affections.

NAT. ORDER.

Magnoliacee.

MAGNOLIA YULANS. * UMBRELLA TREE.

Class XTTT. Pouyanpria. Order VI. Potyeynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx, three-leaved. Petals, six or more. Cap-
sules, two-valved, one seeded, imbricated in a cone. Seed,
berried, pendulous.

Spe. Char. Sepals, three to six, deciduous. Stamens, indefinite.
“'Tyrs is a small éree, sometimes, though rarely reaching an

elevation of thirty feet, and almost always having an inclined

trunk ; the leaves are scattered, petiolate, oval, obtuse, entire, glab-
rous, thick, opaque, yellowish-green on their upper surface, and
of a beautiful pale glaucous color beneath; the flowers are large,
terminal, solitary, cream-colored, strongly and gratefully odorous,
often scenting the air to a considerable distance; the calyz is
composed of three leaves; the petals are from eight to fourteen
in number, obovate, obtuse, concave, and contracted at the base;
the stamens are very numerous, and inserted on a conical recep-
tacle; the germs are collected into a cone, each being surmounted
by a linear, recurved style; the fruit is conical, about one inch in

Jength, consisting of numerous imbricated cells, each containing a

single scarlet seed. This escapes through a longitudinal opening

in the cell, but remains for some time suspended from the cone
by a slender thread, to which it is attached.”
“The Magnolia Yulans extends along the sea-board of fe

United States, from Cape Ann in Vee ean to the shores of

the gulf of Mexico. It is abundant in the Middle and Southern
Vol. ii —112

Magnets COE Yo,

NAT. ORDER.—MAGNOLIACE. 113

States, usually growing in swamps and morasses; and is seldom
met with in the interior of the country, west of the mountains. It
begins to flower in May, June or July, according to the latitude ;”
and if we credit the writings of some of the authors, in their de-
scriptions of this most magnificent tree, we cannot but consider it
as one of the most lovely shade trees that inhabit our country.
Wood & Bache, in their description of this tree, say: “ The med-
icinal properties which have rendered the bark of the Magnolia
officinal, are common to most, if not all of the species composing
this splendid genus.. Among the numerous trees which adorn the
American landscape, these are most conspicuous for the beautiful
richness of their foliage, and the magnificence, as well as delicious
odor of their flowers; and the Magnolia grandiflora of the South-
ern States rivals in magnitude the largest inhabitants of our for-
ests.” The focus of this order is undoubtedly North American,
where the woods, the swamps, and the sides of the hills abound
with them. Thence they straggle on the one hand into the West
India Islands, and on the other into India, through China and Ja-
pan. Mr. Brown remarks, while at Congo, that no species have
been found on the continent of Africa, or in any of the adjoining
islands. ‘Twenty-eight species are all that M. Decandolle enu-
merates. It derived its name in honor of Professor Magnol, of
Montpelier, the author of several botanical works.

Medical Properties and Uses. The general character of all
the plants pertaining to this order, is, to have a bitter, tonic taste,
and fragrant flowers. The latter produce a decided action upon
the nerves, which, according to Decandolle, induces sickness and
headache from Magnolia tripetala ; and, on the authority of Bar-
ton,is so stimulating on the part of Magnolia glauca, as to produce
paroxysms of fever, and even an attack of inflammatory gout.
The bark has been found to be destitute of tannin and gallic acid,
notwithstanding its intense bitterness. The bark of the root of
the Magnolia glauca *« an important tonic ; and the same proper-

114 NAT. ORDER.—MAGNOLIACE.

ties are found in the Liriodendron tulipifera, which has been said
to be equal to Peruvian bark. The Michelia doltsopar is one of
the finest trees in the forests of Nipal, yielding an excellent fra-
grant wood, which is much used in that country for house build-
ing. Magnolia excelsa yields a valuable timber, called Champ,
which is at first greenish, but soon changes into a pale yellow, the
texture of which is very fine. The cones of Magnolia acuminata,
of Virginia, yield a spirituous tincture, which is employed with
some success in rheumatic affections ; and, in fact, the seeds of all
the species are remarkable for their bitterness; those of the Mag-
nolia yulans are employed in various parts of China as febrifuges.
None of the species are to be considered as aromatics. It possesses
stimulant, tonic and diaphoretic properties, and has been used as a
substitute for Peruvian bark, in intermittent fevers, and has also
proved highly serviceable in chronic rheumatism, dyspepsia, and
many other complaints, in which a gentle stimulant and tonic im-
pression is desirable. The bark is often administered in connec-
tion with the bitter tonics, as a restorative bitter; and has been
found highly serviceable for weak and debilitated constitutions.
The dose of the bark in powder is from half a drachm to two
drachms. ‘The infusion and decoction are also used, but are less
efficient. ‘They may be prepared in the proportion of an ounce
of the bark to a pint of water, and given in the quantity of one
or two fluid ounces. The dose of the saturated tincture is a fluid
drachm,

™

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7

NAT. ORDER.

Dumose

Nees i, us
ILEX VOMITORIA. SOUTH SEA TEA, OR HOLLY.

Class IV. Terranpria. Order II. Trrracynta. en Chats Frm

Gen. Char. Calyx, perianthium, four-toothed, very small, perma-_
nent. Corolla, one-petalled, four-parted, wheel-shaped, divi-
sions roundish, spreading, rather large, with cohering claws.
Stamens: Filaments, four, awl-shaped, shorter than the co-
rolla. Anthers, small. Pisti/s and Germens, roundish. Style,
none. Stigmas, four, obtuse. Pericarp: Berry, roundish,
four-celled. Seed, solitary, bony, oblong, obtuse, gibbose and
cornered.

Spe. Char. Calyx, four-toothed. Corolla, wheel-shaped. Style,
none. Berry, four-seeded.

Tue /eaves of the Ilex vomitoria are alternate, distant, oblong,
bluntish, crenate-ferrate, and about the size, shape, texture and
color of the small-leaved Alaternus, but somewhat shorter, and a
little broader at the base; the flowers are produced in close whorls
at the joints of the branches; near the foot-stalks of the leaves;
they are white, and are succeeded by red berries, which continue
upon the plants most part of the winter, and, being of a bright
red color, they make a very beautiful appearance, intermixed with
the green leaves. This tree usually rises from ten to fifteen feet
in height. It is a native of West Florida.

It has been supposed by the inhabitants of the South, that
this shrub possesses poisonous properties; and if we may judge

from their continuing so long untouched by birds, in a country
Vol. ii,—115.

116 NAT. ORDER.—DUMOS&

where these animals are so numerous, we may conclude that they
have some venomous quality in them. It was sent to England,
and there cultivated, in the year 1700, and preserved in several of
the most extensive gardens near London, till the severe winter in
1739, when most of them were destroyed. But since that time
many young plants have been raised from seeds, and have resisted
the cold of that country without any covering, though they often
suffer in very cold seasons, especially where they are not very
well sheltered. The leaves of this species are not so bitter as
those of the Cassine, or Cassioberry-bush, especially when green,
and are therefore preserved for making an infusion in the manner
of Tea, whichis accounted by the Indians to be very wholesome,
and is almost all the medicine they use as a cathartic, in many
tribes. At a certain season of the year they come down in great
numbers, from a distance of some hundred miles, to the coast, for
the leaves of this tree, which is not known to grow at any consid

erable distance from the sea. They make a fire on the ground,
and, putting a large kettle of water over it, they throw in a suffi-
cient quantity of these leaves to make a strong decoction, and,
setting themselves round the fire, from a bowl that holds about a
pint, they begin drinking large draughts, which in a very short
time produces vomiting that continues for the space of two or
three days, until they have sufficiently cleansed themselves ; and
then, every one taking a quantity of the leaves to carry away
with him, they all retire to their habitations. This plant is gen-
erally supposed to be the same as that which grows in Paraguay,
where the Jesyits make a great revenue from the leaves, and of
which an account is given by Professor Frezier.

Holly makes an impenetrable fence, and bears cropping well ;
nor is its verdure, or the beauty of its scarlet berries, ever ob-
served to suffer from the severest of our winters. It would claim
the preference for this purpose, even to the Crategus, Hawthorn,
were it not for the slowness of its growth whilst young, and the

NAT. ORDER.—DUMOS&. aw ly

difficulty of transplanting it when grown toa moderate size. But
when it once takes well, the hedge may be rendered so close and
thick, as to keep out all sorts of animals.

The common Holly, being a very beautiful tree in winter, de-
serves a place in all plantations of evergreen trees and shrubs,
where its shining leaves and scarlet berries make a fine variety;
and if a few of the best variegated sorts are properly intermixed,
they will enliven the scene. The wood of this valuable tree is
the whitest of all hard woods, and is used by the inlayer, espe-
cially under thin plates of ivory. The mill-wright, turner and
engraver, prefer it to any other. It makes the very best of han-
dles and stocks for tools, and surgical instruments. We are in-
formed, also, that it is extensively used in the manufacturing of
the finer kinds of cabinet furniture, as it takes a very beautiful
polish. Sheep and deer are fed during the winter with the crop-
pings; birds eat the berries; the bark, fermented, and afterwards
washed from the woody fibres, makes a very good bird lime.

From forty to fifty varieties, depending on the variegations
of the leaves or thorns, and the color of the berries, all derived
from this one species, are raised by the nursery-gardeners, for sale,
and formerly were in great esteem, but are now less regarded,
since the old taste of filling gardens with short evergreens has
been laid aside; a few, however, of the most lively varieties
should be admitted, as they will have a good effect in the winter
season, if they are properly disposed. Of those varieties, the
Ilex ferox, or Hedge-hog Holly, is the most remarkable. Its leaves
are not so long as the common Holly, the edges armed with
stronger thorns, standing closer together; the upper surface set
very close with short prickles. This is a native of Canada.

Ilex apaca, or Carolina Holly, is a native of Carolina, and
flowers in May and June. The Mex perada, or Thick-leaved,
Smooth Holly, is a native of Madeira: it flowers in April and
May Ilex primoides, or deciduous Holly, is a native of North

118 NAT. ORDER.—DUMOS.

Carolina and Virginia: it flowers in July. vex cassine, or Dahoon
Holly, rises with an upright, branching stem, to the height of
eighteen or twenty feet. The bark of the old stems is of a brown
color, but that of the younger stems or branches is green and
smooth. ‘The leaves of this tree are more than four inches long,
and about one inch and a half broad. This is a native of South
Carolina and Florida. There are two varieties of the Dahoon
Holly ; one with broad leaves, the other with narrow leaves, with
scarcely any serratures. lex Asiatica: leaves, broad-lanceolate,
blunt, quite entire. It isa native of the East Indies. Lex cunei-
folia: leaves wedge-form, three-cusped. It is anative of South
America. lex integra: leaves oblong, obtuse, entire ; peduncles
one-flowered. Ilex rotunda: leaves rounded, acute, entire; pe-
duncles umbelliferous. Ilex crenate: leaves ovate, crenate ;
peduncles on the branches, scattered, bearing two or three flowers.
Ilex emarginate: leaves obovate, emarginate; flowers axillary,
usually in pairs. Jlex serrata : leaves ovate, acute, ciliate, serrate :
flowers axillary, solitary. It flowersin June. Ilex Japonica: leaves
opposite, sessile; flowers in terminating racemes. It flowers in
April. Ilex latifiia : leaves ovate, serrate ; flowers axillary, aggre-
gate. Ilex crocea: leaves oblong, serrate; serratures ciliate-spiny.
Native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Propagation and Culture. Holly is propagated by seeds,
which never come up the first year, but remain in the ground;
therefore the berries should be buried in a large pot or tub one
year, and then taken up and sown in the autumn upon a bed ex-
posed to the morning sun. ‘The following spring the plants will
appear, which must be kept clean from weeds; and if the spring
should prove dry, it will be of great service to the plants if they
are watered once a week; but they must not have it oftener, nor
in too great a quantity, as too much moisture is very injurious to
these plants when young. In this seed-bed the plants may remain
two years, and then should be transplanted in the autumn, into

NAT. ORDER.—DUMOS&. 119

beds, at about six inches distance each way, where they may
stand two years longer, during which time they must be kept con-
stantly clean from weeds; and if the plants have grown well, they
will be strong enough to transplant where they are designed to
remain; for when they are transplanted at that age, there will be
less danger of their failing, and they will grow to a larger size
than those which are removed when they are much larger. But
if the ground is not ready to receive them at that time, they
should be transplanted into a nursery, in rows, at about two feet
distance each way. In case they are designed to be grafted or
budded with any of the variegated kinds, that should be performed
after the plants have grown one year in this nursery; but the
plants so budded or grafted should continue two years after in the
nursery, that they may make good shoots before they are removed.

Mr. Evelyn says, that the varieties with white berries and gold
and silver leaves, may be raised from seed, sown and planted in a
gravelly soil; mixed with a portion of chalk, and pressed down
hard. Mr. Miller says, also, that he has raised the Hedge-hog
Holly from the berries, and always found the plants to continue
the same. ‘They are, however, all usually propagated in the nur-
series by budding or grafting upon the common Holly. The stocks
will be fit to be grafted or budded on at four or five years’ growth.
The grafting must be done in March, and the budding in July.

Medical Properties and Uses. 'The leaves and berries are both
used, and somewhat resemble each other in taste. They have a
pleasant, corroborant effect upon the stomach; but, when very
largely taken, will purge and vomit. The usual mode of admin-
istering it is in decoction, which is made by macerating one ounce
of the dried leaves in one quart of diluted alcohol; the dose of
which is from fifteen to forty drops, given three or four times a
day. That of the powder is from five to ten grains. It can be
tinctured, and the spirit evaporated, and thus brought into an ex-
tract, one small three grain pill of which is a dose.

NAVD) O RD Bike

Coronarie.

CONVALLARIA POLYGONATUM. SOLOMON’S SEAL.

Class VI. Hexanpria. Order I. Monoeynta.
Gen. Char. Corolla, six-cleft. Berry, spotted, three-celled.

Spe. Char. Leaves, alternate, stem-clasping Stem, ancipital.
Peduncles, axillary, generally one-flowered.

THE root is perennial, horizontal, white, fibrous, beset with
knobs, and marked with circular depressions, resembling the im-
pressions of a seal ; hence the name Solomon’s Seal; the stadk is
inclined, angular, smooth, and rises about a foot in height; the
leaves are oval, pointed, ribbed, smooth, above of a deep green
color, underneath glaucous, and at the base embrace the stem; the
flowers are long, bell-shaped, white, or tinged with red, divided at
the extremity into six short segments, and hang from the same
side of the stalk, upon slender peduncles; the jfi/aments are six,
tapering, short, and inserted in the corolla; the anthers are oblong
and erect; the style is filiform, longer than the stamens, and
crowned with a blunt, triangular stigma; the germen is round,
and when ripe becomes a black berry, divided into three cells,
each containing a single round seed. It grows in the rocky and
woody parts of nearly all the States. It is also found growing in
considerable abundance in some parts of England. It flowers in
May and June.

In many parts of New Jersey, especially on the nighlands
and mountainous regions, the Solomon’s Seal is found in great

quantities. I have at various times visited the interior sections of
Vol i.—120

vi en no SA oe? fcer Uecmenng State 3

NAT. ORDER.—CORONARIA. aly

that State, for the purpose of gathering specimens of medical
plants, and am fully convinced that many valuable hints may be
gathered, that will be of inconceivable advantage to the botanist,
and in the conducting of a medical work. Plants of which we
have but a limited history, and many which have not been de-
scribed at all, and which are of great importance in medicine,
are found promiscuously scattered over every section.

Medical Properties and Uses.. The root, which is the medici-
nal part of this plant, is generally, by writers on the Materia Med-
ica, referred to the Convallaria multiflora, of Linnzus, or the
Polygonatum latifolium vulgare, of C. Bauhin. It is of a mucil-
aginous quality, and has long been employed as a discutient
poultice to various kinds of tumors, but more particularly to
bruises, accompanied with extravasation of blood in the cellular
membrane. It is also recommended as a cosmetic; and in Galen’s
time was used by women, to prevent and remove pimples and
freckles of the skin. The berries, flowers and leaves are ex-
tremely acrid, and are said by some to be of a poisonous quality.
Modern practitioners describe the roots as being a mild, and yet
very healing restorative, and useful in all cases of female weak-
ness. It is also recommended for consumption and general de-
bility. It may be used in tea, sirup or cordial. The mucilage of
the roots is recommended to be applied to inflammations and
piles.

NAT. ORDER.

Rosacea.

ROSA SEMPERFLORENS. EVER BLOOMING ROSE

Class XII. Icosanpria. Order VI. Potyeynta.

Gen. Char. Petals, five. Calyz, pitcher-shaped, five-cleft, fleshy,
contracted at the neck. Seeds, numerous, hispid, affixed to
the inner side of the calyx.

Spe. Char. G'ermen, ovate. Peduncles, hispid, with prickles.

Tue stalks are erect, and covered with small prickles; the
foliage resembles that of the Centifolia, but the segments are less
acute; the petals are large, less numerous, spreading, and of a
deep crimson color; the fi/aments are numerous, thread-like, sup-
porting yellow anthers. The Ever Blooming Rose is a native of
China, and blossoms in every month in the year.

We are induced to consider the Rose here represented as
one of the most desirable plants in point of ornament, ever intro-
duced into this country. Its flowers, large in proportion to the
plant, are semi-double, and with great richness of color unite a
most delightful fragrance. They blossom during the whole of the
year, but rather more sparingly in the winter months. The shrub
itself is more hardy than most green-house plants, and will grow
in so small a compass of earth, that it may be reared almost in a
coffee cup. It is kept with the least possible trouble, and propa-
gated without difficulty, by cuttings or suckers.

This beautiful Rose is but little known on the Western Con-
tinent, although its cultivation begins to be more general, and will

most likely increase and become conspicuous in the collections of
Vol. ii —122.

r

NAT. ORDER.—ROSACES. 123

the principal nurserymen, and, in the course of a few years, will,
no doubt, decorate the window of every amateur. The largest
plants we have seen, have not exceeded three feet. It may, no
doubt, be cultivated so as to attain a much greater height. A va-
riety of it, much more robust, having usually several flowers on a
foot-stalk, of a pale red color, and semi-double also, has quite
lately been introduced, and, as far as we can learn, is a native of
the eastern part of Europe.

Medical Properties and Uses. The properties of the petals
are very different from those of the Centifolia; having but very
little odor, and possessing an astringent, bitter taste. ‘Tlie astrin-
gency is the greatest before the flowers are fully blown; hence,
they should always be gathered previous to the expansion of the
flower. When deprived of their calyces, it is of importance that
they be immediately and quickly dried, as exposure to the light
will impair their color, and at the same time deprive them in some
degree of their astringency. When perfectly dry, they should
be packed, and kept in a dark, dry situation. 'They impart their
virtues both to water and spirit; but the color of the infusion is
much improved by the addition of a small quantity of acid; and
the sulphuric, being the most astringent, is generally preferred.

The conserve of red Roses is a very useful palliative remedy
in allaying phthisical coughs, especially when combined with Sir.
Papar ; and this will be greatly improved by the addition of a
small quantity of Ictodes fatida, which renders it more grateful
and searching, and in this form can generally be continued for a
longer time, as it tends greatly to check nightly perspirations.
The Inf. Rose is a mild and grateful astringent and tonic, and
may often be given with advantage in cases where more powerful
tonics would be injurious, as towards the close of fevers, where
there is but slight febrile irritation remaining. In hemorrhages
of different descriptions, it is a very useful beverage ; and when
drank freely in hemoptysis and menorrhagia, will often puta stop

.

124 NAT. ORDER.—ROSACE.

to the disease. It is also a very useful gargle for sore tnroats,
both the simple and malignant.

Prof. Lindley, speaking of this class of plants, says: “No
Rosaceous plants are unwholesome ; they are chiefly remarkable
for the presence of an astringent principle, which has caused some
of them to be reckoned febrifuges. The root of Tormentilla is
used for tanning in the Faroe Isles. Potentilla anserina has been
used by tanners, and the Potentilla reptans as a febrifuge. Geum
urbanum and rivale have been compared for efficacy to Cinchona.
The petals of Rosa Damascena yield a highly fragrant essential
oil, called Otter of Roses; those of the Rosa gallica are astringent
when dried rapidly, and are sometimes found useful in cases of
debility, such as leucorrheea, diarrhoea, &c.” The root of Rubus
villosus is now becoming a very popular astringent medicine,
through almost every part of North America. Two or th-ce tea-
spoonsful of the decoction, administered three or four times a '>-,
has been found useful in cholera infantum, and seldom fails of ef-
fecting cures of the most obstinate character. One of the most
powerful anthelmintics in the world belongs to this family. It is
an Abyssinian plant, known to botanists by the name of Brayera
anthelmintica. Upon the authority of Dr. Brayer, after whom it is
named, two or three doses of the infusion are sufficient to cure

the most obstinate cases of tenia. The petals of many of the
varieties of Red Rose enter into a compound called the Bread of
Life. 'Take one ounce of the petals of red roses, finely pulver-
ized, two ounces Ulmus fulva, and four ounces each of Populu
nigra and white Havana sugar, all made fine, and mixed, by sift-
ing them together. Mix this with warm water, sufficient to make
it into the consistency of bread: roll it out into flat cakes, and
cut it into small squares, for drying. This is an excellent medi-
cine for coughs, colds, sore throat, and pains in the chest. It is
also an excellent remedy for bronchitis.

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NAT. ORDER.
Luride.

SE tags 5

NICOTIANA TABACUM. VIRGINIAN TOBACCO

Class V. Pentanpria. Order I Mownocynia.

Gen. Char. Corolla, funnel-shaped, with a plaited border. Sta-
mens, inclined. Capsule, two-valved, two-celled.

Spe. Char. Leaves, ovate-lanceolate, sessile, decurrent. /owers,
acute.

Tue Tobacco is an annual plant, and a native of South Ame-
rica, but is now cultivated in most parts of the temperate zones
of the Western Continent. The root is large and fibrous, sending
up an erect, branching stalk, four or five feet in height, round and
hairy ; the deaves are numerous, large, alternate, oblong, pointed,
entire, sessile, slightly decurrent, of a pale green color, with a
strong. midrib; the bractee are strong, linear and pointed; the
jlowers are in large terminal panicles; the calyx is hairy, and
divided into five acute segments ; the corolla is monopetalous, fun-
nel-shaped, of a purplish rose color, with a tube twice the length
of the calyx, opening like a cup, and divided into five short,
pointed segments ; the filaments are the length of the tube of the
corolla, and support oblong anthers; the germen is oval and sup-
ports a long, slender style, which terminates in a round, cleft
stigma; the capsule is divided into two cells, which contain many
small, roundish seeds. It was first brought from the Island of
Tobago, about the year 1560, and from thence called tabacum ;
from LNicot, the name of the man who first took it to France. Sir
Francis Drake first introduced its use into England, and Sir Wal-

ter Raleigh rendered it fashionable.
Vol. ii.—125.

“ie

ae te

126 NAT. ORDER.—LURID&.

The history of Tobacco is a singular one. The production
of a little island, or a small district in North America, has fascin-
ated the whole world. The Arab cultivates it in the burning
desert ; the Laplanders and Esquimaux risk their lives to procure
this delicious refreshment; the seaman endures every privation,
while he can obtain this luxury; and the financier collects from
it a copious revenue. Yet its fame has not been without occa-
sional diminution. It has been opposed by physicians, proscribed
by governments, and yet the fashion still prevails, nor until the
time arrives when men shall become more humanized by female
society, will the custom of smoking be less prevalent. We talk
of the habits of the Chinese, in their dissipation, by the extrava-
gant use of opium, and at the same time make use of a much more
loathsome and deadly narcotic, prepared and taken in all shapes
that the ingenuity of man can invent.

Medical Properties and Uses. 'The leaves have a strong, disa-
greeable smell, and a burning, acrid taste, yielding their active
parts both to spirit and water, but more perfectly to the former.
A very small proportion of its virtues, however, rise in distillation
from either; but the watery extract is less pungent than the
leaves. The American Tobacco is much stronger than that
raised in England, or any other part of Europe, and affords a
more pungent extract, though in less quantity. This plant is ev-
idently a narcotic, as is evinced by its botanical analogy, and ef-
fects. Small quantities snuffed up the nose have produced gid-
diness, stupor and vomiting; and, in larger quantities, there are
instances of its proving a poison. But, with these narcotic
qualities, it is said to stimulate, especially in the stomach and
intestines, and, in moderate doses, to prove emetic and purgative,
oceasioning extreme anxiety, vertigo, stupor, and disorders of the
senses. In proper quantities, it is, however, an effectual purgative
in clysters. By distillation it affords a very pungent essential oil,
which is a very active preparation, and, if applied to the tongue

NAT. ORDER.—LURID&. 127

of a dog, in a very small quantity, will speedily cestroy life. The
modus operandi of it is very obscure, but it appears to act in some
indirect way upon the nervous system. The chief activity of
Tobacco most probably depends on this essential oil, for, by long
boiling the decoction, it is rendered almost inert.

The medicinal properties of Tobacco are narcotic, emetic,
purgative and errhine. When the leaves are swallowed, they
occasion nausea, violent vomiting, vertigo, and relaxation of the
bowels. Similar effects have followed the snuffing of a small
quantity up the nose. From its sedative powers arise all the fas-
cination of this plant. It gives that calm serenity always occa-
sioned by the abstraction of stimuli, and, like tea, opium, and the
beetle-nut, composes the mind, under the greatest distress. _ It is
necessary, however, to examine its effects in all the varieties of
its use. By chewing, it acts upon the stomach, producing all the
inconveniences of a narcotic poisén—acidity, flatulence, indiges-
tion, depraved appetite, &c. The same symptoms follow taking
snuff, as a portion of the tobacco generally falls through the pos-
terior fauces into the stomach. The advantages of each mode are
nearly the same, as the discharge of phlegm which they produce
relieves accumulations in the head, and all the diseases depending
on them.

In smoking, the oil of the plant is separated, and rendered

-empyreumatic by heat, and of course applied to the fauces and

lungs in its most active state. Musing over a pipe, assists, it is said,
reflection—its smoke a “patient thinking,”
and added to the wisdom of the politician ; but it is now‘forbidden
in the drawing-room and parlor, and confined principally to the
ale-house, and other public drinking shops. Like other forms of
taking ‘Tobacco, smoking oceasions a tranquility, a freedom from
care, a slight and harmless intoxication, increasing, also, the dis-
charge of saliva.

a“.

128 NAT. ORDER.—LURID.

Smoking generally produces a considerable discharge of this
fluid, and from it, as well as the warmth, has been occasionally
useful in pains of the teeth, in rheumatic affections of the head

~and jaws, and in asthmas, both serous and spasmodic. _ It lessens

Sl :

the appetite, however, blackens the teeth, and renders the whole
person most indescribably offensive to those who possess the
slightest delicacy of smell, or to whom a clean appearance is
acceptable.

Another mode of using Tobacco, is that of chewing it, when
it shows its narcotic properties as strongly as in any other way of
applying it; though its nauseous taste sometimes prevents its being
carried far in this practice.

If considered as a medicine, it will be found a valuable one,
though its emetic power often defeats the benefits we expect from
it. In the form of infusion and of smoke, it is introduced into the
rectum, and is often effectual as an enema, when every thing else
has failed. Its smoke probably penetrates farther than any liquid,
and is more useful on this account, as well as from the oil acting
in its separate state. Its operation is, however, generally attend-—
ed with faintness, and therefore peculiarly useful in ileus and
hernia, less so as a means of reviving those in asphyxy, from
drowning, or any other cause. Ascarides, also, in the same form,
it certainly kills. It is seldom employed as an emetic, as its sick-
ness is peculiarly distressing; yet, in nauseating doses, we presume
from its other qualities, that it may be equally effectual, and less
dangerous than the digitalis, which is classed in the same family,
and stands very near to it in the natural systems of modern bot-
anists. Its emetic power prevents it from acting as a laxative,
except in clysters, and as a diuretic, except in the form of its al-
kali, after burning. The oil which remains adhering to the salts,
adds to the diuretic power of the alkali, and it has been supposed
useful in dropsies. Though boiling lessens this emetic property,

NAT. ORDER.—LURID&. 129

i ts not destroyed ; and, though it is nearly lost in the extract,
there is much doubt whether its virtues are diminished in the same
proportion.

The infusion of Tobacco isemployed in the form of enema with

advantage, in some cases of obstinate constipation ; but, generally
speaking, itisa dangerous remedy. As tothe propriety and safety
of employing it in strangulated hernia, there is considerable dif-
ference of opinion. By some it is considered as most unsafe, whilst
others speak of it as highly beneficial ; and it is no easy matter to
decide as to the most advisable mode of practice. We may,
however, safely say, neither of these opinions should be strictly
adhered to, for, in the first instance, this disease 1s sometimes con-
nected with such prostration of strength, that a Tobacco enema
would in all probability destroy the patient in a very short time ;
but, on the contrary, when a person isin a vigorous state of health,
pulse strong, and whose strength requires to be diminished, the
Tobacco might be advantageously employed. We should use it
with the greatest caution in every case, for there are many in-
stances on record, where it has proved destructive in this and
other diseases. An infusion of half a drachm is quite sufficient
for one clyster. As an external application, it may be dispensed
with, for when applied in that way, it is apt to occasion unpleasant
symptoms. Thus, Murray mentions a case where it was applied
to the cure of Itch, and it produced vomiting of blood, and con-
vulsions ; and there are other cases on record, of the injurious
effects of it as an externa! application.

NAT. ORDER.

Oleacee.

OLEA EUROPA, EUROPEAN OLIVE TREE.

Class IT. Dianprta. Order I. Monoaynia.

Gen. Char. Corolla, four-cleft, with sub-ovate segments. Drupe,
one-seeded.

Spe. Char. Leaves, lanceolate, quite entire.

Tus tree usually rises about twenty feet in height, and
sends off numerous long branches, covered with bark of a grayish
color; the /eaves are firm, narrow, lance-shaped, entire, on the up-
per side of a bright green, on the under whitish, and stand in
pairs, upon short footstalks ; the flowers are small, white, numerous,
and proceed in clusters near the footstalks of the leaves; the ca-
lyx is tubular, and divided at the brim into four small, erect, de-
ciduous segments; the corolla is a funnel-shaped petal, consisting
of a short tube, about the length of the calyx, and divided at the
border into four semi-ovate segments; the filaments are two, ta-
pering, opposite, and crowned with erect anthers; the germen is
round, and supports a simple. short style, furnished with a stigma,
which is cleft in two, and each division notched at the apex; the
fruit is of the drupous kind, of an oblong or oval shape, contain-
ing a nut of the same form. It is a native of the south of Europe,
and also of the north of Africa; and flowers from June till
August.

The Olive, in all ages, has been greatly celebrated, and held
in peculiar estimation, as the bounteous gift of Heaven; and in

gratitude to the Deity, it was formerly exhibited in the religious
Vol. 1i.—130.

Eutofean C2 be ay ¢ Tie

NAT. ORDER.—OLEACE.E. 131

ceremonies of the Jews. It is still considered as emblematic of
peace and plenty; and the great quantity of oil which in some
countries it produces, effectually realizes one of these blessings.
The Olive has been long cultivated iu the south part of England ;
it is mentioned in the catalogues plantarum Horti Medici Oxoni-
ensis, published in 1648 ; and when sufficiently sheltered, it bears
the cold very well, though in that country it rarely produces
flowers, and we believe never ripens its fruit.

The varieties of this tree are numerous, distinguished not
only by the form of their leaves, as already noticed, but also by
the shape, size and color of the fruit; as the large Spanish Olive,
the small, oblong, Province Olive, the oblong, dark green Olive,
the small, roundish, white Olive; Aglandau, the large, fleshy, or
Royal Olive; the large, round Olive ; Ampoulan, the small, round,
reddish black Olive, and the small, fragrant, or Luca Olive. Of
these, the first two sorts, when pickled, are well known to us by
the names of Spanish and French Olives, which to many are ex-
tremely grateful, and have been supposed to excite appetite, and
to promote digestion. Pickled Olives are prepared from the green,
unripe fruit, which is repeatedly steeped in water, to which some
add alkaline salt, or quick-lime, in order to shorten the operation ;
for when macerated in water only, the Olives require a long time
before their bitterness is sufficiently extracted. After this they
are washed, and preserved in a pickle of common salt and water,
to which an aromatic is sometimes added.

The principal consumption of Olives is in the preparation of
the common salad oil, or Oleum Olivarum of the pharmacopeeias,
which is obtained by grinding and pressing them when thoroughly
ripe. The finer and purer oil issues first by gentle pressure, and
inferior sorts on heating the residuum, and pressing it more strongly.
The best Olive-oil is of a bright, pale amber color, bland to the
taste, and without any smell. It becomes rancid by age, and the
sooner, if kept in a warm situation. By cold, at the 38th degree

132 NAT. ORDER.—OLEACE.

of Fahrenheit, it congeals, and does not become rancid if kept in
a degree of cold equal to the freezing point of water. All the
mild expressed oils of vegetables are nearly of the same nature ;
a preference, however, in the opinion of Dr. Cullen, should be
given to the most fluid ; and hence the oil of Olives, and that of
Almonds, are most commonly directed for internal use. Oil, in
some shape, forms a considerable part of our food, both animal and
vegetable, and affords much nourishment: with some, however,
oily substances do not unite with the contents of the stomach, and
are frequently brought up by eructation. This happens more es-
pecially to those whose stomachs abound with acid to an uncom-
mon degree.

Medical Properties and Uses. Oil, considered as a medicine,
is supposed to correct acrimony, and to lubricate and relax the
fibres, and has been recommended internally, therefore, to obviate
the effects of various stimuli, which produce irritation, and con-
sequent inflammation. On this ground it has generally been pre-
scribed in coughs, catarrhal affections, and erosions. This oil has
likewise been successfully used in worm cases, and in nephritic
pains, spasms, colics, constipations of the bowels, &c. Externally,
it has been found a useful application to bites and stings of various
poisonous animals, burns, tumors, and other affections, both by it-
self, or as mixed in liniments or poultices. Oil rubbed over the
body has been found by many of great service in dropsies, partic-
ularly in ascites. In regard to the general effects of oil, taken in-
ternally, we may remark, that though its effects as a medicine
extend over the prime viz, yet it may be very rationally doubted
if it produces any medicinal e‘fect after passing into the sanguite-
rous system. This oil also enters several officinal compositions ;
and when united with water, by the intervention of alkali, is
usually given in coughs and hoarseness, &c.

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NAT. ORDER.

Papaveracee.

PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM. WHITE POPPY:

Class XTTI. Pouyanpria. Order I. Monocynia.

Gen. Char Corolla, four-petalled. Calyx, two-leaved. Capsule,
one-celled, opening by pores, under the persistent stigma.

Spe. Char. Calyces and Capsules, smooth. Leaves, incised, and
embracing the stem.

Tue root is annual, tapering and branched ; the stalk is round,
smooth, erect, often branched, of a glaucous green color, and rises
two or three feet in height; the /eaves are alternate, large, ovate,
lobed, smooth, deeply cut into various segments, and closely em-
brace the stalk; the flowers are very large, terminal, and usually
white or purplish; the calyx consists of two leaves, which are
ovate, smooth, concave, bifid, and fall off on the opening of the
flower; the corolla consists of four petals, which are large, round-
ish, entire, undulated ; the filaments are numerous, slender, much
shorter than the corolla, and furnished with oblong, erect, com-
pressed anthers; the germen is large, globular, and upon it is
placed the stigma, which is large, flat, radiated, and forms a kind
of crown; the capsule is one-celled, smooth, divided half way into
many cells, which open by several apertures beneath the crown,
and contain a very large number of small white seeds. It is a
native of Asia, and is found wild in the south of Europe, where
the seed had probably been accidentally scattered. It is also cul-
tivated in many parts of England.

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Vel. in.—133
£

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134 NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACES.

This species is said to have been named White Poppy from
the whiteness of its seeds; a variety of it, however, is well known
to produce black seeds. The double-flowered White Poppy is
also another variety; but for medicinal purposes, any of these
may be employed indiscriminately, as it is not possible to discover
the least difference in their sensible qualities or effects.

The seeds, according to some authors, possess a narcotic
power, which we are inclined to think is very limited, and we can
see no good foundation for this opinion. They consist of a simple
farinaceous matter, united with a bland oil, and in many countries
are eaten as food. As a medicine, they have usually been given
in the form of emulsion, in catarrhs, stranguaries, &c.

The heads, or capsules of the Poppy, which are directed for
use in the Pharmacopeeias, like the stalks and leaves, have an un-
pleasant smell, somewhat like that of opium, and an acrid, bitter
taste. Both the smell and the taste reside in a milky juice, which
is more abundant in the cortical part of the capsules, and in its
concrete state constitutes the officinal opium. These capsules are
powerfully narcotic, or anodyne ; boiled in water, they impart to
the menstruum their narcotic juice, together with the other juices
which they have in common with vegetable matter in general.
The liquor, strongly pressed out, suffered to settle, clarified with
whites of eggs, and evaporated to a due consistence, yields an ex-
tract which is about one-fifth or one-sixth of the weight of the
heads. This possesses the virtues of opium, but requires to be
given in double its dose, to answer the same intention, which it is
said to perform without occasioning a nausea and giddiness, the
usual effects of opium. This extract was first recommended by
Mr. Arnot; and a similar one is now received in both the Edin-
burgh and United States Pharmacopeeias. It is found very con-
venient to prepare the sirup from this extract, by dissolving one
drachm in two pounds and a half of simple sirup. The Sirupus
papaveris albi, as directed by both colleges, is a useful anodyne,

A ee

NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACES. 135
and often succeeds in producing sleep, where opium fails. It is
more especially adapted to children. White Poppy heads are
also used externally, in fomentations, either alone, or more fre-
quently added to the decoctum pro fomento.

Opium, as we have already observed, is obtained from the
heads or capsules of this species of Poppy, and is imported into
Europe and the United States from Persia, Arabia, and other warm
regions of Asia. 'The manner in which it is collected has been de-
scribed long ago by Keempfer and others; but the most circum-
stantial detail of the culture of the Poppy, and the method of
procuring the opium from it, is that given by Mr. Kerr, as practised
in the province of Bahar. He says:—*“'The field being well pre-
pared by the plough and harrow, and reduced to an exact level
superfice, it is then divided into quadrangular areas of seven feet
long, and five feet in breadth, leaving two feet of interval, whieh
is raised five or six inches, and excavated into an aqueduct, for
conveying water to every part, for which purpose they have a well
in every cultivated field. The seeds are sown in October or No-
vember. The plants are allowed to grow six or eight inches dis-
tant from each other, and are plentifully supplied with water.
When the young plants are six or eight inches high, they are
watered more sparingly ; but the cultivator strews all over the
areas a nutrient compost of ashes, and nitrous earth, scraped from
the highways, and old mud walls. When the plants are near
flowering, they are watered profusely, to increase the juice. When
the capsules are half grown, no more water is given, and they be-
gin to collect the opium.

At sunset they make two longitudinal double incisions with a
fine-pointed knife upon each half-ripe capsule, passing from below
upwards, and taking care not to penetrate the internal cavity of
the capsule. The incisions are repeated every evening, until each
capsule has received six or eight wounds. They are then allowed
to ripen their seeds. | The ripe capsules afford little or no juice.

136 NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACE.

If the wound was made in the heat of the day, a cicatrix would
be too soon formed. The night-dews, by their moisture, favor the
exstillation of the juice.

Early in the morning, old women, boys, and girls, collect the
juice, by scraping it off the wounds with a small iron scoop, and
deposit the whole in an earthen pot, where it is worked by
the hand, in the open sunshine, until it becomes of a considerable
mass. It is then formed into cakes of a globular shape, and about
four pounds in weight, and laid into little earthen basins, to be
further exsiccated. These cakes are covered over with the
Poppy or tobaceo leaves, and dried, until they are fit for sale.
Opium is frequently adulterated with cow-dung, the extract of
the Poppy-plant, procured by boiling, and various other substances,
which they keepin secrecy.” Opium is here a considerable branch
of commerce. ‘There is from 600,000 to 800,000 pounds of it an-
nually exported from the Ganges.

It appears to us highly probable, that the White Poppy might
be cultivated for the purpose of obtaining opium to great advan-
tage in this country. Alston says, “ The milky juice, drawn by
icision from the Poppy heads, and thickened either in the sun or
shade, even in this country, has all the characters of good opium;
its color, consistence, taste, smeli, faculties, phenomena, are all the
same; only, if carefully collected, it is more pure, and more free
of feculencies.”

Similar remarks have also been made by others, to which we
may add those of our own; for during the last summer we at dif-
ferent times made incisions in the green capsules of the White
Poppy (growing in our garden), from which we collected the
juice, which soon acquired a due consistence, and was found, both
by its sensible qualities and effects, to be of the first quality of
opium. ;

Opium, called Opium Thebaicum, from being anciently pre-
pared chiefly at Thebes, has been a celebrated medicine from the

NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACEA. 13

remotest times. It differs from the Meconium, which by the
ancients was made of the expressed juice or decoction of the
Poppies.

Opium is imported into this country in flat cakes, coverea
with leaves, to prevent their sticking together ; it has a reddish
brown color, and a strong, peculiar smell ; its taste at first is nau-
seous and bitter, but soon becomes acrid, and produces a slight
warmth in the mouth. <A watery tincture of it forms an ink, with
a chalybeate solution. According to recent experiments, it ap-
pears to consist of about five parts in twelve of gummy matter,
four of resinous matter, and three of earthy, or other indissoluble
impurities. For further particulars regarding the properties and
their proportions, we would refer to the United States Dispen-
sacory.

The use of this celebrated medicine, though not known to
Hippocrates, can be clearly traced back to Diagoras, who was
nearly his cotemporary; and its importance has ever since been
gradually advanced by succeeding physicians of different nations.
{ts extensive practical utility, however, has not been long well un-
derstood ; and in this country perhaps may be dated from the
time of Sydenham. Opium is the chief narcotic now employed :
it acts directly upon the nervous power, diminishing the sensibility,
irritability, and mobility of the system; and, according to a late
ingenious author, in & certain manner suspending the motion of
the nervous fluid, to and from the brain, and thereby inducing
sleep, one of its principal effects. From this sedative power of
Opium, by which it allays pain, inordinate action, and restlessness,

it naturally follows, that it may be employed with advantage in a

great variety of diseases. Indeed, there is scarcely any disease
in which, under some circumstances, its use is not found proper ;
and though in many cases it fails of producing sleep, yet if taken
in a full dose, it oceasions a pleasant tranquillity of mind, and a
drowsiness, which approaches to sleep, and which always refreshes

138 NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACE.

the patient. Besides the sedative power of Opium, it is known to
act more or less as a stimulant, exciting the motion of the blood ;
but this increased action has been ingeniously, and, as we think,
rationally ascribed to that general law of the animal economy, by
which any noxious influence is resisted by a consequent re-action
of the system. By a certain conjoined effort of this sedative and
stimulant effect, Opium has been thought to produce intoxication,
a quality for which it is very much used in some of the eastern
countries.

We shall now proceed to consider the use of Opium in par-
ticular diseases, beginning with fevers.

In most continued fevers of this climate, though originating
from contagion, or certain corruptions of human effluvia, &c.,
there is at the beginning more or less of inflammatory diathesis :
and while this continues, Opium would generally aggravate the
symptoms, and prove dangerous. Its use is likewise forbidden in
the more advanced stage of this fever, whenever topical inflamma-
tion of the brain is ascertained, which sometimes exists, and pro-
duces delirium, though other symptoms of the nervous and putrid
kind prevail. But when irritation upon the brain is not of the
inflammatory kind, and debility has made much progress; or
where delirium is accompanied with spasmodic affections, Opium
is a sovereign remedy, and may be employed in large doses
every eight hours, unless a remission of the symptoms, and sleep
take place.

In intermittent fevers, Opium, in combination with other med-
icines, was much used by the ancients; but since the introduction
of the Peruvian bark, Opium is seldom trusted to for the cure of
these disorders. . This medicine, however, has been strongly re-
commended as an effectual means of stopping the recurrence of
the febrile paroxysms; and has been given before the fit, in the
cold stage, in the hot stage, and during the interval, with the best
effects, producing immediate relief, and in a short time curing the

NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACE. 139

patient, without leaving those abdominal obstructions which have
been ascribed to the bark. But in these fevers we think the
best practice is to unite Opium with the bark, which enables the
stomach to bear the latter in larger doses, and adds considerably
to its efficacy.

In inflammatory diseases, the use of Opium has been much
condemned ; and by some has been established as a general rule,
that Opium is improper in all those diseases in which bleeding has
been thought necessary: this, however, has been much disputed ;
and there are certainly numerous exceptions to it, which we will
recite in the words of Dr. Cullen. “Such are those cases in which
the inflammatory state arises from irritation in a particular part,
producing spasm, and supervening inflammation. Thus, in cases
of jaundice, I have found a biliary stone, in passing the biliary
ducts, give such an irritation, as to produce a considerable inflam-
matory state in the system ; and though I have found it necessary,
for moderating this, to employ blood-letting, yet, as I considered
the passage of the stone to be chiefly interrupted by a spasmodic
constriction of the ducts, [have employed Opium for taking off
this, with great advantage. Similar circumstances have frequently
occurred in the case of urinary calculi passing the urelers,
in which I have found it necessary to employ Opium, and suitable
medicines for equalizing the blood, at the same time.

In like manner as Opium is useful in moderating excretions,
so when the irritation occasions an increase of these excretions,
which is attended with affections which irritate the whole system,
Opium becomes especially useful. Hence it becomes so geuerally
useful in catarrhal affections, and the cough attending them; and
probably it is this analogy that has brought the use of Opium to
be frequently employed in pneumonic inflammations. It is possi-
ble that there may be cases of such inflammations wherein the
Opium may be more useful in taking off the cough, than hurtful
by aggravating the inflammatory state of the system; but I have

2 :
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140 NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACE.

nardly met with such cases; and even in the recent state of ca-
tarrhs from cold, I have found the early use of Opium hurtful ;
and in cases of pnemonic inflammation, I have always found it to
be very much so, if exhibited before the violence of the disease
had been moderated by repeated doses of a medicine of a nutral-
izing quality. When that indeed has been done, I have found the
Opium very useful in quieting the cough, and I have hardly ever
found it hurtful by stopping the expectoration. It may suspend
this for some hours; but if the glands of the bronchia have been
duly relaxed by suitable applications, the expectoration, after the
use of opiates, always returns with more advantage than before.
The mucus which had issued before, had been poured out from
tne follicles in an acrid state; but, by being made to stagnate, it
becomes milder, and is discharged in what the ancients called a
concocted state, with more relief to the lungs.”

When Opium is so managed as to procure sweat, it will tend
to remove an inflammatory state of the system, and *may prove
generally useful. A notable instance of this may be observed in
the cure of acute rheumatism, by means of Dover's powder.

In the small-pox, Opium, since the time of Sydenham, has
been generally and successfully prescribed, especially afier the
fifth day of the disease ; but, during the first stage of the eruptive
fever, we are told that it always does harm; an opinion which
our experience in the treatment of small-pox in this city warrants
us to contradict; for even at that period of the disorder, we often
find the pulse languid, and the countenance pale, though pains in
the lois and head are at the same time very severe. These
symptoms, with restlessness, and other signs of irritability, which
appear for some days after the attack of the disease, are con-
siderably relieved by Opium; taking care always to keep the
bowels sufficiently open, by a free use of the Podophyllum pel-
tatum.

In heemorrhagic disorders, the use of Opium is inferred from

a
‘

NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACE. 141

its known effects in restraining all the excretions, except that of
sweat; but unless the hemorrhages be of the passive kind, or ex-
cited by irritation, unattended with inflammation, Opium may pro-
duce considerable mischief, and therefore its use in these com-
plaints requires great caution and judgment.

In dysentery, Opium, though not to be considered as a rem-
edy, may, however, be occasionally employed to moderate the
violence of the symptoms.

In diarrhcea, especially when the acrimony has been carried
off by a continuance of the disease, Opium is a certain and eflica-
cious remedy. In cholera and pyrosis, Opium is the remedy
chiefly trusted to.

In colic it is employed with laxatives; and no doubt often
prevents ileus and inflammation, by relieving the spasm. Even in
ileus and in incarcerated hernia, it is often found to allay the vom-
iting, the spasms, the pain, and sometimes to diminish the inflam-
mation, and prevent the gangrene of the strangulated gut

Opium has been recommended for the cure of venereal; and
instances are related where it proved successful, where mercury
failed ; yet few practitioners, we apprehend, will trust to either
one alone in these complaints. Its use in preventing and stopping
the progress of gangrene is well established.

Opium i is ace shally used in different species of tetanus, and
affords relief to various spasmodic and convulsive symptoms oc-
curring in several diseases, which it would exceed our limits to
describe particularly. Of these we may mention asthma, epilep-

ay dy spepsia, hy pochondriasis, rabies canina, chorea sancti viti,

“mania, &c.

Respecting the external application of Opium, authors seem
not sufficiently agreed. Some contend that when applied to the
skin it allays pain and spasm, procures sleep, and produces all the
salutary or dangerous effects which result from its internal use;
while others assert that thus applied it has little or no effect

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142 NAT. ORDER.—PAPAVERACE.

whatever. But there is no doubt, that, when mixed with caustic,
it diminishes the pain which would otherwise ensue, probably by
decreasing the sensibility of the part. Injected up the rectum, it
has all the effects of Opium taken into the stomach ; but to answer
this purpose, double the quantity is to be employed. Applied to
the naked nerves of animals, it produces immediate torpor, and
loss of power in all the muscles with which the nerves communi-
cate. Opium, taken into the stomach, in an immoderate dose,
proves a narcotic poison, producing vertigo, tremors, convulsions,
delirium, stupor, stertor, and finally, fatal apoplexy.

The officinal preparations of this drug are Opium purifi-
catum, pilule ex opio, pulvis opiatus, tinctura opii, and tinctura opit
camphorata : it also enters the pulvis sudorificus, balsamum anody-
num, electuarium japonicum, pulvis e creta composita, &c.

The requisite dose of Opium varies in different persons, and
in different states of the same person. A quarter of a grain will
in one adult produce effects which ten times the quantity will not
do in another; and a dose that might prove fatal in cholera or
colic, would not be perceptible in many cases of tetanus or mania.
The smallest fatal dose, to those unaccustomed to take it, seems
to be about four grains ; but a dangerous dose is so apt to produce
vomiting, that it has seldom time to produce death. When given
in too small a dose, it often produces disturbed sleep, and other
disagreeable consequences ; and in some cases it seems impossible
to be made to agree in any dose or form. Often, on the other
hand, from a small dose sound sleep and alleviation of pain will be
produced, while a larger one occasions vertigo and delirium. Some
prefer the repetition of small doses; others the giving a full dose
at once, when its operation lasts about eight hours.

It is well known, that by the continued use of Opium, the
dose requires to be increased, to produce the effect desired; and
we are told of some instances in which it was increased to ten
drachms a day : —*

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NAT. ORDER.

Artocarpee.

ARTOCARPUS INCISA. BREAD-FRUIT TREE

Class XXJI. Mownazcia. Order I. Monanprta.

Gen. Char. Flowers, moncecios, in heads or catkins. Calya,
with an uncertain number of divisions.

Spe. Char. Male Calyx, two-valved. Corolla, wanting. ‘Style,
one. Drupe, many-celled.

Tue Bread-fruit, Artocarpus incisa, grows on a tree about
thirty feet in height; the /eaves are large, being from eighteen to
twenty inches wide, and from two to three feet long, pinnatified,
and deeply gashed; the fruit is about the shape and size of a
child’s head, with a rough and net-like surface; the skim is thin,
and it has a small core at the centre, which is nearly as white as
snow, and somewhat of the consistence of new bread

Though this tree has been mentioned by many voyagers, and
particularly by Dampier, Rumphius, and Lord Anson, yet very
little notice seems to have been taken of it, until the return of
Capt Wallis from the South Seas; and since that time by others
who have touched at Otaheite,and some other countries in the
East Indies. Capt. Dampier relates, that in Guam, one of the
Ladrone Islands, “ there is a certain fruit called the Bread-fruit,
growing on a tree, which is about the size of our apple-trees,
with large dark leaves. The fruit is round, and grows on the
boughs like apples, and is of the size of a small loaf of bread;

when ripe it turns yellow, soft, and sweet ; but the natives take it
Vol. ii.—143.
*.

.

144 NAT. ORDER.—ARTOCARPEA.

green, and bake it in an oven, until the rind is black; this they
scrape off; and eat the inside, which is soft and white, like the
inside of new baked bread, having neither seed nor stone ; but if
it is kept above twenty-four hours it is harsh. As this fruit is in
season eight months in the year, the natives feed upon no other
sort of bread during that time,” of which we are informed the
Uadrone Islands produce large quantities.

We have also been informed by captains of vessels, and sea-
nen, who have spent years in the countries where the Bread-fruit
s most plenty, that the fruit is shaped like a heart, and increases
vo the size of a child’s head. Its surface, or rind, is thick, green,
and covered everywhere with warts, of a quadragonal or hexago-
nal figure, like cut diamonds, but without points. The more flat
and smooth these warts are, the less number of seeds are contained
in the fruit, and the greater is the quantity of pith, and that of a
more glutinous nature. The internal part of the rind, or peel,
consists of a fleshy substance, full of twisted fibres, which have
the appearance of fine wool. These adhere to, and in some
measure form it. The fleshy part of the fruit becomes softer to-
wards the middle, where there is a small cavity formed, without
any nuts or seeds, except in one species, which has but a small
number; and this sort is not considered good, unless it is baked,
or prepared in some other way: but, if the outward rind be taken
off, and the fibrous flesh dried, and afterwards boiled with meat,
as we do cabbage, it has then the taste of Cynara, artichoke
bottoms. The inhabitants of Amboyna dress it in the liquor of
cocoa-nuts ; but they prefer it roasted on coals, till the outward
part, or peel, is burnt. They afterwards cut it into pieces, and
eat it with the milk of the cocoa-nut. Some people make fritters
of it, or fry it in oil; and others, as the Sumatrians, dry the inter-
nal soft part, and keep it to use as bread, with other food. It af-
fords a great quantity of nourishment, and is very satisfying; and

NAT. ORDER.—ARTOCARPE. 145

has been considered very proper for hard working people. It is
of a gentle astringent quality ; and is good for persons of a laxa-
tive habit.

This fruit is more nourishing boiled after our manner, with
fat meat, than roasted on coals. The milky juice which exudes
from the trunk, boiled with the cocoa-nut oil, makes a very strong
bird-lime. This tree is found on the eastern parts of Sumatra,
and in the Malay language is called Soccus, and Soccum capus. It
grows likewise on the Island of Java, in the towns of Bantum,
Ballega, and Madura, and is there called Soccum.

Capt. Cook, in his voyage, observes, that this fruit not only
serves as a substitute for bread among the inhabitants of Otaheite,
and the neighboring islands, but, also, variously dressed, composes
the principal part of their food. Of the Bread-fruit the natives
make four dishes, by putting either water, or the milk of the cocoa-
nut to it; then beating it to a paste with a stone pestel; and after-
wards mixing it with ripe plantains, bananas, or the sour paste
which they call mahie.

The mahie, which is made to serve as succedaneum for ripe
Bread-fruit, before the season comes on, is made by gathering the
fruit of the Bread-tree, just before it is perfectly ripe; and then
laid in heaps, closely covered with leaves. In this state it under-
goes a fermentation, and becomes disagreeably sweet. The core
is then taken out entire, which is done by gently pulling out the
stalk ; and the rest of the fruit is thrown into a hole which is dug
for that purpose, generally in the houses; and neatly lined on the
bottom and sides with grass. The whole is then covered with
leaves, and heavy stones laid upon them. In this state it undergoes
a second fermentation, and becomes sour, after which it will suffer
no change for many months. It is taken out of the hole as it is
wanted for use; and, being made into balls, it is wrapped up into
leaves, and baked. After it is dressed, it will keep five or six
weeks. It is eaten both cold and hot; and the natives seldom

146 NAT. ORDER.—ARTOCARPES.

make a meal without it, though to us the taste is as disagreeable
as that of a pickled olive, the first time it is eaten. The truit
continues good for eight months in the year, and the mahie sup-
plies the inhabitants during the other four.

To procure this most bounteous gift of the Creator, which is
the principal article of their food, these happy people have no
other trouble or labor, except climbing up the tree which produ-
ces the Bread-fruit, and plucking it fromthe stems. It is said that
this tree does not grow spontaneously ; but, as an ancient author
has remarked, “if a man plants ten of these trees in his life time,
which he can do in about one hour, he will as completely fulfil
his duty to his own and future generations, as the native of our
less temperate climate can do, by ploughing in the cold of winter,
and reaping in the summer’s heat, as often as these seasons return.

There are two species of Artocarpus—the incisus, with gashed
leaves; and the integrifolia, with entire leaves. There is also
said to be another distinction, into that which bears fruit with
stones, or seeds, and that in which the fruit has none. The parts
of fructification of that tree which bears the fruit without stones,
are defective. The amentum, or catkin, which contains the male
parts, never expands. The style, or female part of the fruit, is
hkewise deficient; from which it follows, that there can be no
stones or seeds; and, therefore, this tree can be propagated only
by suckers or layers; although it is abundantly evident that it
must originally have proceeded from the seed-bearing Bread-fruit
tree. Instances of this kind we sometimes find in both European
and American fruits, such as the barberry, and the Corinthian
grape from Zante, sometimes called currants. Dr. Scholander was
assured by the oldest inhabitants of Otaheite, and the adjoining
islands, that they well remember that there was formerly plenty
of the seed-bearing Bread-fruit, but they had been neglected on
account of the preference given to the bread-fruit without seeds,

am |

which they propagate by suckers. :

NAT. ORDER.

Malvacee.

ALTHAHA OFFICINALIS. MARSH-MALLOW OF SURINAM.

Class XVI. Monaveuputa. Order VIII. Potryanpria.

Gen. Char. Calyx, double ; the exterior, six or nine-cleft. Cap-
sules, numerous, one-seeded.
Spe. Char. Leaves, simple, downy.

Tue root is perennial, long, tough, white, and fibrous; the
stalk is upright, firm, wooley, somewhat branched towards the top,
and rises from three to six feet in height; the deaves are somewhat
oval, or heart-shaped, commonly with a lobe on each side, pointed,
irregularly serrated, covered with a soft down, and stand upon
long, round footstalks ; the stipule are two, narrow, and placed at
the base of each leaf-stalk; the flowers are large, and consist of
five petals, inversely heart-shaped, indented at the apex, and of a
pale purple color ; the calyx is double, the exterior consisting of
nine, and the interior of five narrow, pointed segments; the sta-
mens are numerous, united at the base, and terminated by kidney-
shaped anthers; the germen is orbicular; the style is cylindrical,
and furnished with many long, bristling stigmas; the seeds are
kidney-shaped, numerous, placed in a circle, and covered with an
arillus. It is a native of Surinam; but is found growing in many
parts of England, and throughout the United States, near the sea
shore, or about salt marshes. It flowers in August.

The Althea seems to have been favorably known to the an-
cients, and has continued in general use by practitioners in every
country where the science of medicine is regularly cultivated. At

Surinam this plant is called okkerum, and is considered the most
. Vol. ii.—147.

148 NAT. ORDER.—MALVACE.

elegant species of the Marsh-mallow. There are also several
other species of the Althea, which somewhat resemble each
other, especially in the appearance of their flowers; and possess
similar properties. The Althea vulgaris, or common Marsh-mallow
isa native of England, and has a perennial root, and an annual
stalk, which perishes every autumn. The Althea hirsuta, or hairy
Marsh-mallow, is a native of Spain and Portugal. It isa low
plant, usually found trailing on the ground, unless supported by
stakes. The Althea cannabina, or shrubby Marsh-mallow, is a
native of Hungary and Austria. It has a woody stem, and rises
tu the height of four or five feet, with numerous branches.

Though this variety of the Althza is found naturally growing
in salt marshes, yet it will thrive when transplanted in any soil, or
in any situation, but will always grow larger in a moist than a dry
soil. It may be propagated by parting the roots in autumn, when
the stalks decay, or by sowing the seeds in the spring.

Medical Uvoperties and Uses. The dry roots of this plant,
boiled in water, give out half their weight of a gummy matter,
which, on evaporating the aqueous fluid, forms a flavorless, yellow
mucilage. The leaves afford scarcely one-fourth of their weight;
and the flowers and seeds still less. This glutinous or mucilaginous
matter, with which the Althea abounds, is the medicinal part of
the plant, and is commonly employed for its emollient and demul-
cent qualities. Its use is recommended where the natural mucus
of membranes becomes acrid or abraded; for obtunding and in-
crassating acrimonious, thin fluids ; in tickling coughs, from an ir-
ritable state of the fauces and lungs; in hoarseness, erosions of
the stomach and intestines; strangury; and for lubricating and
relaxing the passages in nephritic and calculous complaints. The
root is sometimes employed externally for softening and maturing
hard tumors. The principle use of the root is that of a poultice ;
and its use in sirup. In France the powdered root is used in the
preparation of pills and electuaries.

NAT. ORDER.
Tridee.

IRIS SAMBUCINA. YELLOW OR PURPLE WATER-FLAG.

Class ITT. Trianpria. Order I. Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla, six-petalled, unequal. Petals, alternate,
jointed, and spreading. Stigmas, petal-form, cowled, two-
lipped.

Spe. Char. Corolla, beardless. Interior Petals, less than the stig-
mas. Leaves, ensiform.

Tue root is perennial, about half an inch in thickness, of an
irregular shape, horizontal, on the outside blackish, covered with
ridged fibres, and puts forth many long, whitish, perpendicular,
slender roots, which within are spongy, and of a yellowish red
color; the deaves which grow from the root are uprighi, broad,
sword-shaped, and at the bottom riding or closely embracing each
other ; those on the stalk are short, alternate, and sheathe the joints
of the stem; the stalk is upright, round, smooth, alternately in-
clined from joint to joint; the flowers are large, showy, of a pur-
ple or yellow color, and stand upon short branches, which proceed
from the joints of the stem; the corolla divides into six segments
or petals; of these the three inner ones are small and erect; the
three outside are large, of a roundish, oval shape, turning back,
and painted near the base with reddish lines ; the calyx is a sheath,
or spathe, of two, three, or four valves, according to the number
of the flowers; the filaments are flat and tapering; the anthers
are oblong, yellowish at the edges, purplish, and bent down by

the stigmas; the germen is triangular, and placed below the co-
Vol. i149.

er oe re SS

150 NAT. ORDER.—IRIDE®

rolla; the style is short and slender ; the stigma divides into three
petalous expansions, of a yellow color; these are oblong, bent
down and outwards, and irregularly serrated at the extremity ;
the capsule is triangular, and divided into three cells, which contain
numerous flat seeds of a yellow color.

This plant is common in marshes, and on the banks of rivers ;
and is rendered quite conspicuous by its large and beautiful
flowers, which appear in the beginning of July. It is said to be a
native of the eastern parts of Europe ;. but is found in most parts
of the United States. It formerly had a place in the London
Pharmacopeeia, under the name of Gladeolus luteus.

Medical Properties and Uses. The root, which is the part
usually employed in medicine, is without smell, but has an acrid,
stiptic taste; and its juice, on being snuffed up the nostrils, pro-
duces a burning heat in the nose and mouth, accompanied with a
copius discharge from those organs: hence, it is recommended
both as an errhine and sialagogue. This root is such a powerful
astringent, that it has been used instead of galls, in the making of
ink, and also for the purpose of dying black ; and from this quality
it has been successfully employed as a medicine, for the cure of
diarrhceas. When given with this intention, however, the root is
to be well dried ; for the fresh root and the juice are strongly ca-
thartic ; so much so, that eighty drops of the latter produced re-
peated evacuations, after jalap, gamboge, aloes, &c., had failed ;
and by continuing its use in an increased dose, it cured a most
obstinate case of dropsy. Dr. Rutherford mentions a case where
he had used the most powerful cathartics, such as jalap, gamboge,
calomel, &c., all proving ineffectual ; after which he ordered eighty
drops of the Succus radicis, Iridis palustris, to be given every hour
or two, in a little sirup of buckthorn, which had very immediate
effects, making him pass several pints of water by stool, that very
night. The expressed juice is likewise said to be a useful appli-
cation to serpiginous eruptions, and scrofulous tumors.

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NAT. ORDER.

Solanacee.

DATURA STRAMONIUM. COMMON | THORN-APPLE

Class V. Prentanpria. Order I. Monoaynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla, funnel-form, plaited. Calyx, tubular, angu-
lar, deciduous. Capsules, four-valved.

Spe. Char. Pericarp, spinous, erect, ovate. Leaves, ovate,
smooth.

Tue root is large, annual, white, divided, and fibrous; the
stalk is thick, erect, round, smooth, shining, below simple, above
dicholomous, and rises from two to four feet in height; the leaves
are alternate, large, broad towards the base, pointed at the ex-
tremity, indented, and formed into several obtuse angles, smooth,
dark green, and stand upon strong, round, short foot-stalks; the
flowers are solitary, large, white, ta placed on short, erect pedun-
cles, at the junction of the branches; the calyx is composed of
one leaf, tubular, pentangular, and divided at the brim into five
teeth; the corolla is white, monopetalous, funnel-shaped, plicated,
cut at the margin into five teeth, and furnished with a long, cylin-
drical tube ; the five filaments are tapering, about the lewath of the
calyx, adhering to the tube, and supplied with oblong, flat anthers ;
the germen is oblong, and placed above the insertion of the co-
rolla; the style is filiform, equal in length to the filaments, and ter-
minated by a thick, blunt stigma; the capsule is large, oval, fleshy,
beset with spines, divided into three cells, and four valves, which
contain numerous kidney-shaped seeds. It grows wild in most
parts of the United States, in waste places, gardens, and by the

road-side ; and flowers in July.
Vol. ii,—151

a 4 =

152 NAT. ORDER.—SOLANACE.

This plant has been long known as a powerful narcotic
poison. Its congener, Datura metel, is thought by Theophrastus
and Dioscorides to be superior, and was therefore the species re-
ceived by Linneus into the Materia Medica. The Stramonium,
in its recent state, has a bitterish taste, and a smell somewhat re-
sembling that of poppies, or, as called by an ancient author, nar-
cotic, especially if the leaves be rubbed between the fingers. By
holding the plant to the nose for some time, or sleeping in a bed
where the leaves are strewed, giddiness of the head, and stupor,
are said to be produced.

Instances of the deleterious effects of this plant are numerous,
especially of the seeds, some of which we shall relate, for the
purpose of conveying to the reader some idea of the symptoms
which they produce. A man, aged sixty-nine, laboring under a
calculous complaint, by mistake boiled the capsules of the Stra-
monium in milk, and, in consequence of drinking of this decoc-
tion, was affected with vertigo, dryness of the fauces, anxiety, fol-
lowed by loss of voice and sense: the pulse became small and
quick, the extremities cold, the limbs paralytic, the features distor~
ted, accompanied by violent delirium, continual watchfulness, and
a total suppression of all the evacuations; but in a few hours he
was restored to perfect health. Many circumstances of a similar
character have come under our observation, showing in every in-
stance that this plant is a most deadly narcotic, and should be used
with great caution. We lately saw several children poisoned with
the roots of the Aconite, or monk’s-hood, thrown into the street, in
the suburbs of the city; also with the seed of the Stramonium, or
Thorn-apple ; both at the same time. Those that partook of the
former were seized with very violent complaints of vomiting, an
alarming pain in the head, stomach and bowels; the latter with
blindness, and a kind ef madness—biting, scratching, shrieking,
laughing and crying, in a frightful manner. Many of them were
very dangerously affected, and escaped very narrowly with life.

NAT. ORDER.—SOLANACES. 153

These, and all other poisonous plants, taken out of gardens, should
be carefully buried or burned.

Medical Properties and Uses. Every part of this plant appears
to possess a narcotic power; but the seeds are the only parts of
whose fatal effects we find instances recorded. Their soporiferous
and intoxicating qualities are well known in some parts of Europe ;
and, if we can credit the accounts of some authors, have been
converted into purposes the most licentious and dishonorable.
The internal use of Stramonium, as well as that of several other
deleterious plants which we have had occasion to notice, was first
ventured upon and recommended by Baron Stoerck, who gave an
extract prepared of the expressed juice of this plant, with advan-
tage, in cases of mania, epilepsy, and some other convulsive aflec-
tions. But as the success of this plant, even in the hands of the
Baron, was not remarkable enough to claim any extraordinary
praise, his account of the efficacy of the Stramonium probably
would not have procured it a place in the Materia Medica, had its
character rested solely upon its representation. Odhelius, a cele-
brated ancient physician, says “ that of fourteen patients suffering
under epileptic and convulsive affections, to whom he gave the
Stramonium, in a hospital, eight were completely cured ; five were
relieved ; and only one received no benefit.” Wedenberg also
relates his experience, where he cured four girls, affected with
convulsive complaints, by the use of this medicine. Other instances
of the kind might be added. Greding, however, who made many
experiments, with a view to ascertain the efficacy of this plant,
was not so successful; for out of the great number of cases in
which he employed the Stramonium, it was only in one instance
that it effected acure; and he objected to the cases stated by Dr.
Odhelius, on the ground that the patients were dismissed before
sufficient time was allowed to know whether the disease would
Teturn again or not.

In this country we are not acquainted with any 7 practitioners

154 NAT. ORDER.—SOLANACEA.

whose experience would throw any light on the medical charac-
ter of this plant. It appears to us, however, that its effects as a
medicine are to be referred to no other power than that of a nar-
cotic. Dr. Cullen, speaking on this subject, says, “I have no doubt
that narcotics may be a remedy in certain cases of mania and ep-
ilepsy ; but I have not, and I doubt if any other person has learned
to distinguish the cases to which such remedies are properly
adapted. It is, therefore, that we find the other narcotics, as well
as the Stramonium, to fail in the same hands in which they had in
other cases seemed to succeed. It is this consideration that has
occasioned my neglecting the use of Stramonium, and therefore
prevented me from speaking more precisely from my own ex-
perience on this subject.”

The extract of this plant has been the preparation usually
employed, and given in the quantity of from one to ten grains a
day ; but the powdered leaves may be given in the quantity of
two to six grains, according to circumstances. In procuring the
extract, which is usually found for sale at the botanical and Sha-
ker shops in this city, we find it to vary exceedingly in strength ;
on which account but little reliance can be placed upon it.

Externally, the Stramonium is used with great advantage, es-
pecially in the treatment of old sores and ulcers. It is also quite
extensively used for the piles, for which it has of late gained con-
siderable celebrity.

Unguentum Stramonii; Stramonium Ointment. “Take of
fresh Stramonium leaves, cut into pieces, and bruised with the
pestle, a pound ; lard, three pounds; yellow wax, half a pound.
Boil the Stramonium leaves in the lard, until they become friable ;
then strain through linen: lastly, add the wax, previously melted,
and stir them until they are cold.”—-U. S. Dispensatory.

Tinctura Stramonii; Tincture of Stramonium. “Take of
Stramonium seed, bruised, four ounces ; diluted alcohol, two pints.
Macerate for fourteen days: express; and filter through paper.”

NAT. ORDER.

Geraniacea.

PELARGONIUM QUERCIFOLIUM. GATH’S PERFECTION.

Class XV\. Monaveveuta. Order Il. Hepranpreta.

Gen. Char. Calyx, five-parted. Corolla, five-petalled, iaregular,
Filaments, ten, unequal.

Spe. Char. Petals, tricolor. Styles, five, filiform.

Tue root is long, slender, knotty and fibrous; the /eaves are
deeply serrated, and are placed upon long, slender footstalks,
which stand in pairs; sepals five, persistent, more or less unequal ;
with an imbricated estivation; petals five, seldom four, in conse-
quence of one being abortive ; the stamens usually monadelphous,
hypogynous, two or three times as large as the petals, some occa-
sionally abortive ; ovarium composed of five pieces placed round
an elevated axis, each one-celled, one-seeded ; ovula pendulous ;
styles five, cohering round the elongated axis; fruit formed of five
pieces, cohering round alengthened, indurated axis; each piece con-
sisting of one cell, containing one seed, having a membranous per-
icarpium, and terminated by an indurated style, which finally curls
back from the base upwards, carrying the pericarpium along with
it; the seeds are solitary, pendulous, and without albumen; the
embryo.is somewhat.curved ; the radicle is usually found pointing
to the base of the cell; the cotyledons are foliaceous, convolute,
and plaited ; stems turned, and separate at the joints; /eaves either
opposite or alternate ; in the latter case opposite the peduncles.

For this beautiful species of the Geranium tribe, we are

indebted .to Mr. Carter, an artist of great merit. His spe-
Vol. u.—155.

156 NAT. ORDER.—GERANIACE.

cimens of drawings, taken from nature, which we have seen
are truly the richest productions that have graced the floral cata-
logue ; and on which account the proprietor of this publication
has at a great expense secured his services; hence, our readers
may in future expect original likenesses of many rare native plants,
which have never been introduced into any work whatever. The
Pelargonium quercifolium, in point of beauty, is thought to eclipse
all that have hitherto been introduced into this country. Its blos-
soms are certainly the most showy—in a collection of plants, they
are the first to attract the eye: the peculiarity of color, joined to
their form, has induced some to fancy a resemblance between its
flowers and those of the Heart’s-ease. To the blossoms of the
Lathyrus articulatus, in point of color, they bear a distant resem-
biance.

In our eagerness to lay before the public this striking novelty,
we may possibly omit some circumstacce relative to its history and
treatment, which future experience may develope. They will
not, however, we trust, be very material. The plants which we
have had an opportunity of seeing, have scarcely exceeded two
feet in height, growing up with a shrubby stem, and expanding
widely into numerous flowering branches. They are unusually
disposed to produce flowers ina constant succession, so that during
most of the summer months the plant is loaded with a profusion of
bloom. These flowers, for the most part, go off without being
_ followed by any seed; and when any seed is produced, of which
we have seen a few instances, there is generally one perfect and
four abortive; and frequently all of them fail. The blossoms
vary in the number of their stamens. In many of the varieties,
four are most generally apparent, three superior, and that very
constantly, one inferior, and often two. We have never observed
seven, the proper number of fertile stamens in a Pelargonium.
In most of the sorts, the whole plant is covered with short, white
hairs, which give to the foliage a somewhat silvery appearance.

NAT. ORDER.—GERANIACEA, Lot

In many of these plants, instances have occurred, in which
one or more of the white petals have had a stripe of red in them ;
and we have observed that the dark color at the base of the upper-
most petals, is, in a certain degree, soluble in water; for, on the

a

plants being watered, the white petals have here and there become
stained by the coloring matter proceeding from it, and which, ina
diluted state, is of a purplish tint. As the flowers decay, this
apparently black part, distinguished by the roughness of its sur-
face, arising from prominent lucid points, and which essentially
distinguish the species, is sometimes perforated with numerous
small holes. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope; and the
various varieties comprise the great majority of the entire Natural
Order of this class of plants.

Propagation and Culture. Numerous varieties of the Gera-
nium have been introduced into this country; and such attention
bestowed upon their culture, that they have now become a common
ornament in almost every parlor; the accumulation of which, if
placed in a tight room, is certainly very injurious to health. The
following remarks upon the cultivation of this beautiful plant, are
from the pen of Mr. Carter. He says: “ This plant is increased
by cuttings, and sometimes by seeds. To propagate them by cut-
tings, take, after the plant has done flowering, a strong shoot of
new wood ; and after cutting off the top, leaving not more than
three buds, taking care to cut the bottom off at the eye or bud;
and plant it, one bud in the ground, and two out. Let the soil be
of a light, rich loam—if convenient, after the following :—a rich,
light soil, as mixture of loam and peat, with one-third decayed
leaves; drain well with charcoal, and be sure to keep them from
the frost, as very little chill will destroy them.”

The cultivation and raising of plants, is becoming an object
worthy the attention of every admirer and lover of nature’s best
gifts. The figure of the plant here described, was taken from
the garden of the celebrated florist, Mr. Gath, of Providence ;
hence, by Mr. Carter, to whom we are indebted for its likeness, it

»
7" "
. EN a /

158 NAT. ORDER.—GERANIACEA.

1s sometimes called Gath’s Perfection. There is a) ianumerable
number of plants comprising this order; most of which possess
similar properties; and many are highly celebrated for their
beautiful appearance, as may be found in the various greenhouses
throughout the country. Some of the most prominent and invi-
ting are such as the Pelargonium echinatum, Prickly-stalked Gera-
nium ; Pelargonium bicolor, Two-colored Crane’s-bill ; Pelargonium
acetosum, Sorrel Crane’s-bill; Pelargonium tetragonum, Square-
stalked Geranium ; Pelargonium glutinosum, Clammy Crane’s-bill;
Pelargonium cordifolium, Birch-leaved Crane’s-bill ; Pelargonium
betulinum, Heart-leaved Geranium; Pelargonium tricolor, Three-
colored Crane’s-bill. These, with many other varieties, are very
generally cultivated by ladies in this and other cities, not only as
an ornament, but as rendering great assistance in the study of
Botany. :

Medical Properties and Uses. Most of the plants of this
family are powerful astringents, and may be employed for all
purposes for which astringents are applicable. The Geranium
maculatum, Common Crane’s-bill, is most generally preferred for
medicinal purposes. Wood & Bache, in their U.S. Dispensatory,
say: “The absence of unpleasant taste,and all other offensive
qualities, renders it peculiarly serviceable in the cases of infants
or of persons with very delicate stomachs. Diarrhcea, chronic
dysentery, cholera infantum in the latter stages, and the various
hemorrhages, are the forms of disease in which it is most com-
monly used, and with greatest advantage ; but care should be ta-
ken before it is administered, that the condition of the system,
and of the part affected, is such as not to contraindicate the use
of astringents. As an application to indolent uleers—an injection
in gleet'and leucorrhea; a gargle in relaxation of the ovula, and
apthous ulcerations of the throat, it answers the same purpose with
kino, catechu, and other foreign remedies of similar character.”
The dose of the powder is twenty or thirty grains—the decoction,
one to two fluid ounces.

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NAT. ORDER.

Rosacee.

HIBISCUS ROSA SINENSIS. CHINA-ROSE.

Class XVI. Monaverputra. Order V. Poryannrtia.

Gen. Char. Jalyx double, outer many-leaved. Capsules, five-
celled, with many seeds.

Spe. Char. Leaves, sub-peltate, cordate, seven-angled, serrate.

Stem, hisped.

Tuis is an evergreen shrub, and usually attains the height of
four to six feet. Its appearance very much resembles the hazel-
nut. The sepals are five, more or less united at the base with a
valyate estivation, often bearing external bracteas, forming an in-
volucrum ; petals of the same number as the sepals, hypogynous,
with a twisted estivation, either distinct, or adhering to the tube
of the stamens; stamens indefinite, of the same number as the
petals; filaments monadelphous ; anthers one-celled, reniform,
bursting transversely ; ovartwm formed by the union of several
carpella round a common axis, which is distinct; the styles are the
same number as the carpella, either united or distinct; stigmas
variable ; fruit either capsular or baccate, its carpella being mon-
ospermous, and united in one; seeds hairy; albumen none, or in
small quantity ; embryo curved, with twisted and double cotyledons ;
leaves alternate, more or less divided ; peduncles axillary.

Rumphius, in his Herbarium Amboinense, gives an excellent
account of this beautiful native of the East Indies, accompanied
by a representation of it, with double flowers, in which state it is
more particularly cultivated in all the gardens in India, as well as

China; and, according to his account, it grows to the full size of
Vol. ii—159

.

NAT. ORDER.—ROSACE&. 160

our hazel, and that it varies with white flowers. It is well known
that the inhabitants of India are extremely partial to whatever is
red—they consider it as a color which tends to exhilarate; and
hence they not only cultivate this plant universally, but use its
flowers on all occasions of festivity ; and even in their sepulchral
rites. There are also many other purposes to which these flowers
are applied, and which, however, is little consistent with their ele-
gance and beauty—that of blacking shoes, whence their name of
Rose calceolaria : the shoes, after the color is imparted to them,
are rubbed with the hand, to give them a gloss, and which there-
by gives them a bluish tinge, to discharge which, they have recourse
to lemon juice.

With us, in this country, it flourishes only as a greenhouse
plant, and biossoms very freely, during most of the summer
months. The single blossoms last but a short time, yet their su-
periority, arising from the curious and beautiful structure of the
interior parts of the flowers, compensates well for the shortness of
their duration.

Medical Properties and Uses. The seeds have been considered
stimulant and anti-spasmodic ; but are now used only in perfumery.
The Arabs flavor their coffee with them. They have also been
used to a considerable extent in the adulteration of musk. There
is another species, the Hibiscus esculentus, or Abelmoschus esculentus,
which is cultivated under the name of okra, bendee, or gombo, in
various parts of Europe, principally for its fruit, which abounds in
mucilage, and is much employed for thickening soup. The leaves
are sometimes employed for preparing emollient poultices. This
plant has also obtained considerable celebrity as a remedy for
croup, taken internally in the form of decoction, and externally
applied as a poultice. The decoction is prepared by adding one
ounce of the dried leaves to one quart of diluted alcohol: let it
stand for fourteen days: then filter. Dose, from two drachms, to
half a fluid ounce: Cuesta the powder, from five to ten grains.

NAT. ORD ER.
Tridee.

GLADEOLUS TRISTIS. SQUARE-LEAVED CORN-FLAG.

Class IIT. 'Trtanpria. Order I. Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla, six-parted. Stamens, ascending. Anthers,
turned outwards.

Spe. Char. Calyx and Corolla, superior. Stamens, three. Stig-
mas, five. Style, one.

Linnazus gave to this species of Gladeolus the name of tristis,
from the color of its flowers. The root is long, knotty, white, and
fibrous; the sta/k is upright, square, bearded, and rises from three
to six feet in height; the calyx and corolla are both superior, and
their divisions partly cohering, but are sometimes entirely separate,
and very irregular; the petals are very short; the stamens are
three, and arise from the base of the sepals; the filaments are dis-
tinct or cornate ; anthers bursting externally, lengthwise, fixed by
their base, and two-celled ; the ovarium is three-celled, and the
cells many-seeded ; style, one; the stigmas are five in number,
which are often petaoloid, and sometimes two-lipped; the capsule
is three-celled, three-valved, with a loculicidal dehiscence; the
seeds are attached to the inner angle of the cell, or to a central
column, which becomes loose ; the albumen is corneous, or densely
fleshy ; the embryo is enclosed within it. It flowers in April and
May, and gives forth a most agreeable fragrance. This species is
a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and other parts of Africa,
but is cultivated in many parts of England.

The leaves, which so characteristically distinguish this spe-
cies, are highly deserving of notice. Instances of ne rarely oc-

cur, as the bulbs produce numerous offsets, and the plant is pro-
Vol.ii. —161.

P —
-
=z ’ m aa :

162 NAT. ORDER.—IRIDEM

pagated by them without difficulty, requiring about the same
treatment as other plants of a similar character. Some authors
describe the flowers as being painted in the most gay and lively
colors ; but in all the specimens which we have seen, the blossoms
have been of a pale, or faded, yellowish color, shaded in particu-
lar parts with very fine pencillings, especially on the under side.
Most authors describe the flowering-stems as producing only two
flowers. Linneus has observed that they ‘sometimes produce
many; and we have seen them do so, where the plant has grown
in perfection.

Medical Properties and Uses. Most of the plants comprising
this order are more remarkable for their beautiful fugitive flowers
than for utihty. A few are stimulating ; some diuretic ; and quite
a number purgative. The Gladeolus tristisis a powerful cathartic,
and has been used as such for many years in all the eastern coun-
tries. In-the United States, its use is but little known, and re-
quires to ‘be further investigated, and its properties more :particu-
larly defined, ‘before it is brought into general practice. By some
this plant -has been considered as a powerful emmenagogue, and
has been used for particular purposes, for which that class of
plants ‘areso notorious.

The establishment of this'class has occasioned considerable
hypercriticism; yet, as pointing out a change to be produced, it is
equally proper withemetics or cathartics; nor is it an objection,
that we must produce the change through some medium, and not
by any direct-action omthe vessels themselves. All emmenagogues
are ‘generally or partially stirnulants, tonics, or anti-spasmodies ;
and hence have a direct action upon those organs which are eal-
culated ‘to promote hemorrhage. The dose of the extract is from
two to five grains, which ‘may safely be.given three times a day
That of the decoction is from:half to a whole fluid ounce. Both
‘the extradt‘and decoction are prepared after the manner of other

‘similar preparations.

/). ) 3 G ae
Ueenee Doce q

NAT. ORDER.

Pomacee
PYRUS CYDONA. COMMON QUINCE TREE.
Class XII. Icosanprta. Order IV. PEnNTAGYNIA.

Gen. Char. Calyx, five-cleft. Petals, five. Pome, inferior, five-
celled, many seeded.
Spe. Char. Leaves, purplish, entire. Flowers, solitary.

THe Quince tree seldom rises very high, and is generally crooked
and very much distorted; it sends off numerous branches, and is
covered with a brown bark; the leaves are simple, roundish or oval,
entire, on the upper side of a dusky green color, on the under whit-
ish, and stand upon short footstalks ; the flowers are large, solitary,
of a pale red or white color, and placed close to the axille of the
leaves; the calyx is composed of one leaf, and divided into five
spreading oval notched segments ; the corolla consists of five petals ;
these are large, convex, roundish, and notched at their extremities ;
the filaments are about twenty, tapering, shorter than the corolla,
inserted into the calyx, and furnished with simple anthers; the
germen is orbicular ; the styles are five, slender, nearly of the length
of the filaments, and supplied with simple stigmas; the fruit is of the
apple kind, and divided at the centre into five membraneous
cells, containing the seeds, which are oblong, angular, pointed at
one end, obtuse at the other, on one side compressed, on the other
flat, and covered with a brownish pellicle. It is a native of Austria,
and flowers in May and June.

It appears from Pliny, that the malus Cydonia of the Greeks was,
originally, brought from Cydon, in Crete; hence the name Cydona.
At present, the Quince tree is known to grow wild on the banks of
the Danube, though in a much less luxuriant state than when culti-

vated in our gardens, as may be found in almost every section of
Vol. I1.—163

164 NAT, ORDER.—POMACEA.

the United States. The form of the fruit approaches to that of the
pear or apple, according to the different varieties of the species of
tree from which it is produced, and which we have already no-
ticed.

Medical Properties and Uses. The Quince has a very pleasant
odor, and quite an austere taste; its expressed juice, repeatedly
taken in small quantities, is said to be cooling, astringent, and
stomachic, and may be considered very useful in nausea, yomiting,
nidorous eructations, and some kinds of alvine fluxes. Formerly,
this juice was ordered in the Lond. Pharm.to be made into a sirup ;
but the only preparation of the Quince which is now directed,
is a mucilage of the seeds, made by boiling a drachm of the seeds
in eight ounces of water until it acquires a proper consistence.
This has been recommended in apthous affections, and excoriations
of the mouth and fauces. It may be a more pleasant mucilage, but
is certainly a much less efficacious one, than that of simple gums.

Decoctum Cydonia. Lond. Decoction of Quince seeds. Take of
Quince seeds, two drachms; distilled water a pint. Boil over a slow
fire for ten minutes ; then strain, or filter through paper. This de-
coction is viscid, nearly colorless, insipid, and inodorous, and con-
sists chiefly of the mucilaginous principle of the Quince seeds dis-
solved in water. The decoction is only employed externally, as it
speedily undergoes decomposition, and it should be used immedi-
ately after being prepared.

The cultivation of the Quince has been, within the last few cen-
turies, extended to almost every part of the civilized Globe. Among
the farmers, both in Europe and the United States, the Quince is
universally planted in their gardens, and considered as the most de-
licious luxury of the fruit kind. The most important purposes for
which they were employed was that of making Quince sauce. This
was done by quartering and coreing the fruit, and gently stewing it
in sugar and molasses. The Quince is found in all the markets,
where they command a ready sale, averaging from 75 cents to $1 50
per hundred in number.

fies

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Py
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Cafice = pars

NAT.ORDER.

Capparidee.

CAPPARIS SPINOSA. COMMON CAPER-BUSH.

Class XH. Potyanpria. Order I. Monocynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx, four-leaved, coriaceous. Petals four. Stamens
long. Berry corticose, one-celled, pedicelled.

Spe. Char. Peduncles one-flowered, solitary. Stipules spiny,
Leaves, annual. Capsules, oval.

Tue root of this shrub is woody and crooked ; the stem is trail-
ing, round, and smooth; the branches are alternate, spreading, often
downy, leafy, and many-flowered ; the leaves are alternate, spread-
ing, oval, or roundish, and stand on short footstalks, in the wild
plant often terminated by a little sharp point, which disappears by
culture, entire, veiny, succulent, bright green,deciduous ; Stipule
none ; but in their place are two spines at the base of the footstalks
which are acute, somewhat recurved, yellowish, and nearly obliter-
ated in the cultivated plant ; the flowers are numerous, axillary, sol-
itary, placed on short footstalks, without bracteas, large, handsome
and inodorous ; the flower-stalks are round and longer than the leaves ;
the calyx consists of four unequal concave leaves, tipped with pur-
ple; the petals are much larger than the calyx, spreading, obovate,
waved, white, and sometimes are found with a faint tincture of red;
the stamens are very numerous, the length of the petals, spreading,
slender in the upper part, and of a pale purple like the anthers ; the
germen is oval, small, green, and stands on a round purplish footstalk,
which is longer than the stamens ; the stigma is small and blunt ; the
capsule is oblong, oval, and coriaceous. Itis a native of the south
of France, Italy, and the Levant.

166 NAT. ORDER.—CAPPARIDEX.

Dr. Smith, of whose figure and description of the caper-bush we
have here availed ourselves, says, “it is surprising that this beau-
tiful shrub, which is as common in the South of France as the bram-
ble is with us, and which grows luxuriantly in the open air, when
trained against a wall, even at Paris, should be almost unknown in
the English and American gardens, where it can scarcely be made
to flower, except in the greenhouse, and even then with all possible
care.”

Medical Properties and Uses. 'The buds or unexpanded flowers
of this plant, have been used for a long time as a common pickle ,
and for this purpose the smaller or younger buds are preferred,
they being the most tender, and better calculated for such purposes.
This grateful pickle has the character of an antiscorbutic, and of
removing hepatic and other visceral obstructions; but the part of
the plant which has been chiefly recommended for medicinal pur-
poses, is the bark of the root. 'This is of a considerable thickness,
externally of an ash color, and transversely wrinkled; on drying, it
rolls up into quills of about one-third of an inch in diameter ; its
taste is somewhat aromatic, bitterish, and acrid.

By Discorides, and other ancient writers, it was not thought of
great efficacy as a deobstruent, and was generally employed in ob-
structions of the hver and spleen, menstrual suppressions, and scia-
tica; in this view it has been used by Forestus and Sennertus; and
on the preservation of its deobstruent power, it was reckoned one
of the five less aperient roots; at present, however, it is discarded
from practice, and is but little known in medicine. We may further
remark, that this is the only plant in the natural order which has
ever been considered medicinal. The dose of the bark prescribed
is from four to ten grains; that of the decoction, from two drachms
to a fluid ounce. The decoction is made in proportions of one
ounce of the bark of the root to one pint diluted alcohol, well mac-
erated and filtered.

=<

NAT. ORDER.
Scabride.

HUMULUS LUPULUS. THE COMMON HOP.

Class XXII. Dtactra. Order V. Penranpria.

Gen. Char. Male: Calyx fiye-leaved. Corolla, none. Styles two.
Seed, one, with a leafed calyx.

Spe. char. none.

Tue Hop is an indigenous, perennial plant, growing in hedges,
flowering in June and July, and ripening its seeds in September.
Sir J. E. Smith considers the hop as truly wild in England, notwith-
standing the old distich—that

“Turkeys, carp, hops, pickerel, and beer,
Came into England all in one year.”

This is supposed to have been in Henry VIII’s reign, when per-
haps, hops were first used for making beer, and, (as has been the
case with many other plants), might be imported from abroad,
though really wild at home. The female plants are very extensive-
ly cultivated at the present time both in England and the United
States, principally for the use of brewers, who consume large quan-
tities of the strobiles in the brewing of malt liquors.

There is but one species of the genus Humulus, the male and
female flowers are on separate plants. The roots are branching,
from which arise many long, twining, rough, angular, flexible stems,
which support themselves by twining round bodies that may be
placed near them; the /eaves are opposite, in pairs, petiolate, cor-
date, or entire, serrated, of a dark green on the upper disc, paler
beneath; both the leaves and petioles are scabrous, with minute
prickles ; and at the base of each leaf-stalk are two interfoliaceous,
entire, reflected, smooth, stipules ; the flowers are axillary or termi-

168 NAT. ORDER.—SCABRIDE.

nal, and furnished with bracteas ; the males are in drooping panicles
of a pale, greenish-yellow color; the calyx consists of five, oblong
‘concave, minutely serrated leaflets ; the filaments are five, capillary,
and supporting oblong anthers, which open at the apex by two pores ;
the female flowers are in solitary, pendlous, ovate cones or strobiles,
composed of membranous scales of a pale greenish color ; tubular,
from being rolled in at the base, and containing the germen which is
small, supporting two short, subulate styles, tipped with awl-shaped,
downy stigmas ; the seed, which is enclosed in the tubular part of
the scale, is round, flattish, truncated, and of a bay brown color.

The hop is not confined to England and America, but has been
introduced into many other parts of the world. The culture of this
plant was introduced into England from Flanders, about the year
1524. From England into America at the time of its settlement.
The strobiles were first used for preserving malt liquors in the lat-
ter part of the reign of Henry VIII. ; but the prejudice against them
continued for a long time, as the citizens of London, a century af-
terwards, petitioned Parliament to prevent their use.

At the season when the strobiles are sufficiently ripe, the plants
are cut a foot or two from the ground, and the poles on which they
are supported, pulled up. ‘The strobiles are then carefully picked
off, care being taken to separate those that are defective from those
that are sound; both kinds are carried to the kiln, for the purpose
of drying as soon as possible after they are gathered. The heat
of the kiln requires to be regulated with great nicety, to prevent
their being dried too rapidly—to obviate this occurrence many kilns
have two floors, on the upper one the greener hops are laid, and
gradually dried, before being brought to support the heat of the
lower floor. Charcoal is usually employed, as the other kinds of
fuel are said to injure the flavor of the hops. The strobiles are
considered sufficiently dried when they become crisp; but they re-
quire some degree of tenacity and toughness, from lying in heaps
on the floors of the store-houses, previous to their being bagged.

NAT. ORDER.—SCABRID®. 169

Sensible and Chemical Properties—The dried strobites have
a peculiar fragrant odor, and a very bitter, somewhat aromatic, and
a slightly astringent taste. New hops are of a pale, greenish-
yellow hue, and appear like thin, transparent leaves; by long
keeping their color changes to a yellowish-brown. ‘The watery
infusion has a pale straw color, is rendered muddy by the mineral
acids; alkalies deepen its color; it strikes an olive with sulphate
of iron; is precipitated by solutions of nitrate of silver, tartarized
antimony, superacetate of lead, and alcohol: and when rubbed
with magnesia, or lime, a rod dipped in muriatic acid discovers the
presence of ammonia. By distillation in water, an essential oil is
obtained. ‘The virtues of hops are extracted by alcohol, ether, and
boiling water ; by long boiling the aromatic properties are dissipated.

From the experiments of Dr. Ives of New York, it appears, that
the active properties of hops reside in a powder, which may be rea-
dily separated from the strobiles, by merely sifting in a fine sieve.
This substance forms about one-sixth part of their weight, and to it
Dr. Ives has given the name lupulin. According to Dr. Ives’ analy-
sis, 120 grains of lupulin contain about—of tannin 5 grains, extrac-
tive matter 10, bitter principle 11, wax 12, resin 36, lignum 46.—
The extractive matter is soluble in water only ; the bitter principle
is soluble in water and alcohol; the wax is soluble only in alkalies
and boiling ether; the resin is soluble in ether and alcohol; the
aromatic and bitter properties of the lupulin are more readily and
completely imbibed by alcohol than water, and much sooner by both
when hot than when cold; about five-eighths of lupulin are soluble
in water, alcohol and ether, three-eighths being vegetable fibrous
matter. M. Payerand A. Chevalier have confirmed Dr. Ives’ opin-
ion, that the properties of the hop reside in the lupulin, or the yel-
iow grains which are scattered over the membranous scales of the
strobiles. ‘They also discovered a volatile oil in lupulin, which is
similar in odor to the hop, but much more penetrating. The fol-
lowing process has been practised by M. Planche, for purifying
jupulin.

170 NAT. ORDER.—SCABRID&.

“'To separate the sand from the lupulin—put it into water, shake
it for a few minutes, decant that which is held in solution by the
water, and a dark colored sand is deposited: repeat the process
several times, and spread the lupulin which is insoluble in water, on
bibulous paper; let it drain and then dry it in the air, neither ex-
posed to the sun, nor to a temperature above 76° Fahrenheit. It
should be prepared yearly, and this cleansing process must be quickly
conducted, or it will undergo a change.”

Medical Properties and Uses—Hops are narcotic, tonic, and
diuretic. Weare told by Dr. Maton, that, besides allaying pain and
producing sleep, the preparations of hops reduce the frequency of
the pulse, and increase its firmness in a very decided manner. One
drachm of the tincture, and four grains of the extract, given once in
six hours, reduced the pulsation from ninety-six to sixty in twenty-
four hours. He found the extract very efficacious in allaying the
pain in articular rheumatism, in which disease we have frequently
administered both the tincture and the extract with much benefit to
the patient. Asa narcotic it is very inferior to opium; but under
certain circumstances, where opium disagrees, (which is not unfre-
quently the case,) it will generally procure undisturbed and refresh-
ing sleep. Dr. Ives observes, ‘“ with regard to the medicinal efficacy
of hops, every accurate observer must acknowledge, that they pos-
sess little merit ifadministered according to the directions given in
our pharmacopeeras. ‘The quantity of proof spirit which enters into
the tincture would produce stimulating effects, independent of any
properties which it imbibes from the hops ; and although its action
may be modified by their combined agency, so as, in some measure,
to increase the cordial and invigorating influence of the alcohol, it is
difficult to conceive, that the tonic or narcotic virtues of the hop
should be sufficiently concentrated to produce much remedial be-
nefit. It is otherwise with the pharmaceutical preparations of the
lupulin which we have been accustomed to prescribe.

From extensive observation and experience, I am confirmed in
my opinion, that diseases which are the consequence of exhausted

NAT. ORDER.—SCABRID#. 171

excitability, or, more directly, of a deranged state of the stomach
and bowels, are certainly much relicved by this medicine. It fre-
quently induces sleep, and quiets nervous irritation, without causing
costiveness, or imparing, like opium, the tone of the stomach, and
merely increasing primary disease. The preparation most common-
ly used in this city, is the tincture prepared from the lupulin. In-
quietude and watchfulness, connected with excessive irritability in
all its gradations, from the restlessness consequent upon exhaustion
and fatigue, to the most uncontrollable paroxysm of delirium tre-
mens, are more frequently allayed by this remedy than any otherin
ordinary use. Another eligible mode of exhibiting the lupulin, is in
pills. From two to four pills, each containing three grains of the
powder, may be given at a dose. Dr. Desroches, who published a
dissertation on the hop in 1803, supposed that its narcotic principle
resided in the essential oil; but is it not more than probable that
this was a conjecture, arising from the imaginary soporific virtues
of the hop-pillow? It requires much experience, and accurate ob-
servation to speak confidently upon this subject; but, from having
frequently used the lupulin collected from old hops, in which little
aroma seemed to remain, and also the extracts prepared by decoc-
tions, by which process the essential oil is chiefly dissipated. I am
still of opinion, that its narcotic properties reside in the resinous ex-
tract: externally, an ointment compounded with the powder of the
hop, and lard is recommended by Mr. Freake as an anodyne
application to cancerous sores, and a decoction, used as a fo-
mentation, affords much relief in painful tumefactions. A cata-
plasm, made of an infusion of the strobiles, has been applied with
decided benefit to the bowels, for inflammation, ague in the face,
swellings of all kinds, bilious colic, and ill-conditioned ulcers.

Mode of Employing Lupulin. Lupulin may be administered in
form of extract, tincture, pills, powder, or sirup. The extract may
be prepared either with the aqueous infusion, or with the de-
coction; when prepared with the latter, it is equally bitter, but less
aromatic. Dose, from five to ten grains.

NATORDER.

Rotacee.

CISTUS LADANIFERUS. GUM CISTUS.

Class XIII. Potyvanprta. Order I. MonoGynta.

Gen. Char. Corolla, five-petaled. Calyz, five-leaved, with two, and
sometimes three of the leaflets smaller.
Spe. Char. Leaves, ovate, nerveless, rugged. Calyx, lanceolate.

Tuts rare and beautiful plant, has seldom been known to exceed
five feet in height ; its trunk and branches are covered with a dark,
or brownish-colored bark ; the branches are simple ; the leaves are
oblong, somewhat pointed, veined, viscous, valved, somewhat twisted,
and stand in pairs upon short foot stalks, which embrace the stem ;
the flowers are produced in succession at the extremities of the
branches ; they are large, of a purple red color, and marked with
dark spots near the base of the petals ; the calyx is divided into five
large, crab-pointed, persistent segments ; the corolla is composed of
five petals, which are large, roundish, spreading, and readily fall off
on being touched ; the filaments are very numerous, short, slender,
and supplied with simple anthers of an orange color; the germen
is oval, and supports a short style, which is furnished witha flat,
circular stigma; the capsule is round, and contains a numerous
quantity of small round seeds.

Prof. Miller, who was much admired as a distinguished bota-
nist, speaking of this plant, says, “ Itis one of the most ornamental
and hardy shrubs that we possess; at once pleasing to the eye, and
grateful to the smell. The whole plant in warm weather exudes a
sweet glutinous substance, which has avery strong balsamic scent,
so as to perfume the air to a great distance from the plant.” Its
blossoms, which appear in June and July in great profusion, exhibit

NAT. ORDER.—ROTACE®. abe

a remarkable instance of quickly-fading beauty, opening and ex-
panding to the morning sun, and before night strewing the ground
with their elegant remains; as each succeeding day produces new
blossoms, this deciduous disposition of the petals, common to the
genus, is the less to be regretted. It is a native of Spain and Por-
tugal, and prefers a dry soil and warm situation, and in very severe
seasons requires some kind of covering. It is readily increased by
cuttings; but Miller remarks that the best plants are raised from
the seeds.

One or two varieties have been found with varied leaves, and
having petals without a dark spot at the base. This is not the plant
from whence the officinal Ladanum of the shops is procured, though
affording in warmer countries than this a similar gum, hence its
name, laden era. ‘This plant grows most plentifully on or near the
sea shore, and consequently sand is occasionally mixed with the
gum. ‘The best sort is in dark colored black masses, of the consis-
tence of a plaster, which grows still softer when handled: the other
is in long rolls curled up, harder than the former, but of a paler
color and of less value.

Medical Properties and Uses—TIn general this gum agrees in
virtue with the balsam of Peru; but it is rarely used except in
external applications. It has an agreeable smell, and a light, pun-
gent, bitterish taste. Rectified spirit of wine dissolves nearly the
whole of the gum; and water takes up the most of its smell and
taste. By distillation with water an essential oil arises, leaving
behind a brittle resin.

Heat quickly destroys the specific iO of this gum, which was
formerly given as a pectoral and astringent in catarrhal affections
and dysenteries ; but it is now confined to external use, in the form
of a plaster. The plaster is made by taking, Pinus abies resina,
Burgundy pitch, one pound; Cistus ladaniferus resina, gum of the
Cistus, one pound; beeswax half a pound; melt these together.
This is an excellent compound for a plaster, and will be found valu-
able where plasters are necessary.

NAT. ORDER.

Composite.

TUSSILAGO FARFARA. COMMON COLTS-FOOT.

Class XIX. SyNGENESIA. Order II. Surerryva.
Gen. Char. Receptacle, naked. Papus, simple. Calyx, scales equal,
as long as the disk, somewhat membranaceous.

Spe. Char. Scape, one flowered, imbricate. Leaves, subcordate,
angular and toothed.

Tue root is long, round, tapering, creeping, and sends off many
small short fibres; the stalks are furrowed, downy, simple, six or
eight inches high, beset with several scaly leaves, of a brownish
pink color, and closely embracing the stem; the leaves are obtusely
heart-shaped, angular, irregularly indented, above of a bright, green
color, beneath white, downy, and stand upon long roundish radical
footstalks ; the flowers are compound, large and yellow; the florets
in the disc are hermaphrodite, tubular, the limb is cut into five acute
segments, which curl outwardly; the anthers, by uniting, form a
tube, but their apices are separate and pointed; the germen is short;
the style is filiform and longer than the anthers ; the stigma is round ;
the /llorets at the circumference are female, tubular at their bases,
and the limb is long and linear; the germen is oblong ; the stigma
bifid; the seed is oblong, and of a pale brown color, crowned with
simple down; the calyx is cylindrical; the Jeaflets are oblong,
pointed, and alternately narrower. It is found most common in
moist, clayey places, and the flowers appear sometimes before the
leaves, which usually takes place in March and April.

Medical Properties and Uses.—The sensible qualities of colts-

‘ foot at the present time, are not considered as being of much im-
portance in the practice of medicine; it has a rough mucilaginous

oie’ _>. +

NAT. ORDER.—COMPOSIT 2. T15

taste, but no remarkable smell. The leaves have always been of
great fame, as possessing demulcent and pectoral virtues ; of course
it is esteemed useful in pulmonary consumption, coughs, asthmas,
and in various catarrhal affections. Fuller recommends Colts-foot
as a valuable medicine in scrofula ; and Dr. Cullen, who does not
allow it any powers as a demulcent and expectorant, found it ser-
viceable in some strumous affections. It may be used as tea, or
given in the way of infusion, to which liquorice root or honey may
be added.

We might, without exception, cite every writer of the Materia
Medica, as speaking in favor, except Dr. Cullen, who suspects that
this plant has little virtue, as he has often employed it, but never
found it either eminently demulcent or expectorant. Some ounces
of the expressed juice of the fresh leaves were taken every day, and
seemed to assist the healing of scrofulous sores ; even a strong de-
coction of the dried leaves, employed as Fuller proposes, has seemed
to answer the same purpose; but both have occasionally failed.

The leaves and flowers were smoked by the ancients for pulmo-
nary complaints, and in some parts of Germany, this habit is still
kept up, and by some used as a substitute for tobacco. The usual
form of administration is that of decoction. An ounce or two of
dried leaves may be boiled in two pints of water to a pint, of which
a teacup-full may be given several times a day. The root of this
plant is used for many other purposes ; on account of its agreeable
odor and spicy taste, many people have been in the habit of carry-
ing small pieces of the roots in their pockets for the purpose of
chewing; and it is reported by numbers who have used it in this
way, that they have been relieved of dyspepsia, and weaknesses of
the stomach. It has also been found useful, (after beng reduced to
powder, ) as an addition to the catarrh snuff, rendering it more plea-
sant, active, and agreeable to take.

anee

NACE. 10RD ERs
Cephelidce.

CEPHLALIS IPECACUANHA. IPECACUAN.

Class V. PENTANDRIA. Order I. Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx, superior, quinquefied. Flowers in an involucred
head. Corolla tubular. Stigma two-parted. Berry two-seeded.
Receptacle chatty.

Spe. Char. Stem simple, ascending, somewhat shrubby, sarmentose

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, somewhat pubescent. Head of

Flowers terminal, pedunculated, solitary. Corolla five-cleft, -

chaffy. Bracteas large. Involucre tetraphyllous.

Tue Cephelis Ipecacuanha is a perenniel plant, a native of Brazil,
and in moist situations inthe provinces of Rio Janeiro, Mariannia,
Pernambuqua, Bahia, etc., inhabiting the woods, and flowering from
December to March. The root is simple, or somewhat branched,
and furnished with a few short radicles ; it is roundish, three or four
inches in length and two or three lines in thickness, irregularly bent,
externally of a brown color, and annulated with numerous promi-
nent, unequal rings; the stem is procumbent at the base, rising
from five to nine inches in height, round, the thickness of a hen’s
quill; smooth, leafless, of a brownish color, knotted at the lower
part, and leafy towards the upper: after the first year it throws out
a few knotty runners, from which, about six inches apart, new stems
arise ; the inferior leaves are caduous, so that not more than eight
generally remain at the summit of each stem, where it flowers: they
are nearly sessile, opposite, spreading, ovate, pointed at both ends,
three or four inches long and less than two broad; of a bright
green on the upper surface, beneath of a whitish green color, pu-

bescent, varied; at the base of each pair of leaves, is a pair of
a 4

wv:

NAT. ORDER.—CEPH ©LID&. 177

short, fimbricated, withering stipules, embracing the stem; the
flowers are aggregated in a solitary head, on a round, downy /oot-
stalk, terminating the stem; somewhat drooping and encompassed
by a four-leaved involucre; the florets are sessile, from fifteen to
twenty-four in number, interspersed with little bracteas; the calyx
is very small, five-toothed, superior, persistent ; the corolla is mono-
petalous, the border shorter than the tube ; woolly about the throat,
swelling upwards, and divided into five, ovate, acute, spreading
segments; the filaments are short, capillary, inserted into the upper
part of the tube, surrounded at their base with a short nectariferous
rim, and bearing oblong, linear, erect anthers ; the germen is ornate,
surmounted by a thread-shaped style, as long as the tube, and ter-
minated by two obtuse stigmas which are the length of the anthers ;
the fruit isa one-celled berry, of a reddish-purple color, becoming
wrinkled and black, and containing two smooth, oval seeds. a

Brown ipecacuan was first introduced into Europe about the
middle of the last century; but it is impossible to ascertain at what
period this root was first made known for its emetic effects in this
country. Piso published an account of it in 1618. Although the
root of this plant has long been employed as an emetic, and as other-
wise forming a valuable remedial agent in our list of materia medica ;
yet the botanical characters of the plant itself were unknown, till
Professor Brotero of Coimbra determined the genus to which it
ought to be referred. According to Decandole, the term Tpecacu-
anha, in South America, implies vomiting-root, and therefore it is
implied to the roots of very different plants, such as the Asclepias
currassavica, Cynanchum Ipecacuanha, Viola Parviflora, Viola Ipe-
cacuanha, Viola calceoiaria, and Cynanchum tormentosum: and some-
times to the Dorstenia brasiliensis, Dorstenia arifolia, and to the Eu-
phorbia ipecacuanha. 'Two varieties of the root are brought to this
country, packed in bales from Rio Janeiro, the brown and the white,
but whether they be the roots of one and the same plant, or other-
wise, does not appear to be exactly determined. According to
Mutis, the former is the root of the Cephelis, and the latter, on the

f
; : oe

| a : 3} . B.

17

@

NAT. ORDER.—CEPHZLID&.

authority of M. Gomez, we must suppose to be yielded by the
Richardsonia Brasiliensis. 'There is also a third variety, called black
Ipecacuan, which is a native of Peru, and is exported from Cartha-
genia to Cadiz. It is the root of the Psychotria emetica. It is fusi-
form, striated, articulated, but not annulated. White Ipecacuan is
externally of a dirty white color, and turns brownish by drying, is
simple, or little blanched, five or six lines thick, three inches long
or upwards, attenuated at the extremities, variously contorted, with
transverse annular rugosities, but larger than those of the brown
ipecacuan, its back is thick, white, internally softer than the brown,
the woody part white, hard and fine as a thread. ‘The brown ipe-
cacuan is characterized by being contorted, wrinkled, and unequal
in thickness, having a thick, black, deeply fissured, transversely
covering a very small, central, woody part, so as to give the idea of
a number of rings strung upon a thread. Its color varies with dif-
ferent shades of brown and grey. In St. Domingo several species
of Ruellia are denominated false yeeacuan.

Sensible and Chemical Properties—The root of Ipecacuan is
inodorous, unless when reduced to powder, in which state it has a
faint and somewhat unpleasant smell. The taste is nauseous, bitter,
and slightly acrid. Boiling water takes up eight parts in twenty,
proof spirit about six and a half, and alcohol four parts. Various
experiments have been instituted by chemists to detect the particu-
lar constituent to which Ipecacuanha owes its emetic quality. Ac-
cording to the analysis of M. M. Pelleties and Magendie, the
components of Ipecacuanha, are: Oil, 2: Wax, 6: Gum, 10:
Emetine, 16; Starch, 40: Wood, 20: Loss, 6 in 100. They also
found that the cephaelis Ipecacuanha, Viola emetica, and Psychotira
emetica contain a common principle which they named emetine ; to
obtain, they digested the powdered root in double its weight in
ether, in order to separate any fatty matter; the remainder was
heated with four times its weight of highly rectified alcohol, until it
ceased to become colored, even when aided by heat. The solution
was evaporated to dryness and re-dissolved in water, acetate of lead

WAT. ORDER,—RUTACE. 179

Lastly, I would mention that the Bucku of our Pharmacopzias,
which has lately obtained so much celebrity as a sudorific, diuretic,
and tonic; such at least as Ihave examined and prescribed from our
druggists, undoubtedly belongs to the present species. Hence, though
others of the Diosma groupe may contain similar preperties, abound-
ing, as they all do, ina strong aromatic odor, and glands filled with
essential oil, yet by the Hottentots and those who gather Buckw for the
European and American markets, preference is given to our Barosma
crenulata. 'The scent seems to me to be as powerful as that of any
‘other of the tribe, but at the same time much more agreeable, and
more resembling that of some mints.

Barosma pulchella. Neat Barosma. This shrub grows from one
io three feet in height; leaves crowded, ovate, quite smooth, with
thickened, crenate-glandular margins; peduncles axillary, usually soli-
tary, exceeding the leaves; flowers pale-red. ‘The Hottentots use
the leaves of this plant, dried and powdered, under the name of
Buchu, to mix with the greese with which they anoint themselves.
it gives them so rank an odor, that 'Thunberg says he could not bear
the smell of the men who drove his waggon. It is a native of the
Cape of Good Hope, and flowers from September till February.

Propagation and Culture. ‘This is a genus of pretty little shrubs,
which thrive best in a mixture of sand, peat, and a little turfy loam;
and cuttings taken from ripened wood, and planted in a pot of
sand, with a bell-glass placed over them, will strike root readily and
thrive well. ;

NAT. (O-R DER:

Cactee.

OPUNTIA BRASILIENSIS. BRAZILIAN PRICKIL Y-PEAR.

Class XI. Icosanpria. Order I. Monoeynta.

Gen. Char. Sepals, numerous. Stamens, numerous, shorter than
the petals. Style, cylindrical. Stigmas, many.

Spe. Char. Berry, ovate. Petals, conivant. Flowers, red. Joints,
obovate.

Tue peculiar habit and mode of growth at once distinguish this
species. It rises with a perfectly straight, erect, slender, but fiim
and stiff, round stem, to a height of from ten to twenty, or even thirty
feet, very gradually tapering to a point from a diameter of two to
six inches at the base, and furnished all the way up with short,
mostly horizontal or declining branches, spreading round on all sides,
and gradually becoming shorter upwards ; the whole p/ant resembles
a straight taper; pole, artificially dressed up with branches ; main
stem perfectly round, continuous and straight throughout; branches
horizontal, or declining, short; the ultimate joints are obovate, and
resemble leaves in appearance and thickness, more than in any other
described species of Opuntia; being only about twice as thick as
those of Cereus phyllanthus, or phyllanthoides, but stiffer ; the whole
plant is a bright green inclining to yellow, especially in young or
sickly plants; the lower part of the stem only is brownish ash-color-
ed; the flowers open in long succession, being abundantly produced
all over the plant from the prominent parts of the edges of the ter-
minal joints ; they are bright lemon-yellow, middle-sized ; when ex-

panded, from an inch to an inch and-a-half in diameter; and without
Vol iv.—180, ‘

Ca
*

ce ee eS

eras bie >

»

_ * ,

NAT. ORDER.—CACTES. 181

tube ; petals imbricated, sub-patent; the outer ones short, thick, and
fleshy, the inner from half an inch to an inch long; style, longer than
the stamens, pale-yellow, thickish, swollen downwards, solid, or with
only a thread-like, central hollow towards the top ; stigma of gener-
ally five, sometimes four, pale-yellow, finally ferruginous bordered,
erect, subconnivant, ovate lobes ; filaments and anthers pale; germen
half or three quarters of an inch long, cup-shaped at top, uneven,
bearing a minute, fleshy, ovate-globose, yellowish, deciduous leaf at
the summit of each irregular tubercle, inside of which is a fascicle of
short, minute, chestnut bristles; a vertical section discovers the cen-
tral, subtriangular, cell-like ovarium, containing from one to five
ovules ; fruit subglobose, approaching to oval more or less, with the
cup-shaped hollow at the top obsolete, so as to be often truncate,
from an inch to an inch and-a-half in diameter, the color of a Mag-
num-bonum Plum; perfectly even, but furnished with short, dense
fascicles, tufts, or branches, of rich chestnut-colored bristles, contras-
ting beautifully with the delicate transparent yellow of the thin,
smooth skin; a few of these are twice as long as the rest; all are
extremely deciduous, brittle, and acute, so as to render the exami-
nation of the fruit more than ordinarily troublesome. It is hardly
possible to touch the plant when in fructification without getting
the skin or closes full of these bristles ;. inside of the fruzt pale. yel-
lowish-white, containing in the middle from one to four, much flat-
tened, rather large round seeds, three or four lines in diameter, en-
veloped in a singular, dense, cottony mass of fibres ; the fruit is rather
agreeable, juicy, with a fine acid, somewhat resembling an indiffer-
ent, hard-fleshed, or unripe Plum, with a smell and slight flavor
like the leaf-stalks of garden Rhubarb. Its principal flowering sea-
son is May and June.

NAT. ORDER.

y . + .
Saxifragee.

SAXIFRAGA LIGULATA. FRINGE!) SAXIFRAGE.

Class X. Decanpria. Order IZ. Diaynta.

Gen. Char. Calyx, five, parted. Petals, five, on short claws. Sta-
mens, ten. Capsules, adnate to the calyx. Szeds, numerous.

Spe. Char. Leaves, obovate, subcordate. Flowers, pale-red, almost
white.

Tus plant has a thick woody root, bearing several large spread-
ing, bright-green, broadly ovate leaves, beautifully ciliated at the
margin, and frequently waved there also; the petiole is short, thick,
bearing a long, erect, ciliated sheath or ligule (whence the specific
name) just above where it is set on the stem; sca/es five or six inches
long, with one or two bracteas, and terminated by a cymose panicle
of large, handsome, white flowers, frequently tinged with rose-color ;
calyx obtuse and red at the base, and greener upwards, and five-cleft ;
corolla of five, obovate petals, with short claws; stamens ten; fila-
ments erect, alternately shorter, rose-colored ; anthers reddish pur-
ple; germen free; styles long, erect ; st?tgmas obtuse.

Saxifraga petrea. Rock Saxifraga. This plant grows almost
flat upon the ground, only rising from three to six inches in height;
the leaves are radical and palmately five-lobed ; cauline ones tripar-
tite and cut; peduncles are very long, one-flowered ; calycine seg-
ments linear, acute; petals obovate, truncate at the apex and emar-
ginate, twice the length of the calyx; the plant is diffusely branched,
and furnished with glanduliferious hairs; stems erect, branched at

the base; branches elongated fastigiate ; radical leaves on long peti-
Vol. iv.—182,

NAT. ORDER.— SAXIFRAGES. 183

oles, somewhat reniform at the base; lobes obtuse; cauline leaves
all petiolate; upper cauline leaves undivided, acute at both ends;
peduncles and calyxes clothed with viscid down; flowers white,
much larger than those in many of the other species; petals tripple
nerved; nerves simple. Itis a native of Mount Baldo, among bro-
ken rocks, and of the Alps of Corinthia; also of North America, in
alpine rivulets on the Rocky Mountains. It flowers in April and
May.

Sazifraga hyponoides. Hypnum Saxifrage. This plant rises on-
ly from three to eight inches high, gemmiferous ; surculi very long,
procumbent; radical leaves five or three parted; surculine leaves
simple, linear, stiff, ciliated, mucronately awned, furnished with
ovate, acute, buds inthe axils; calycine segments triangularly ovate,
awned; petals roundish, obovate, white, tripple-nerved, rose-colored
on the outside at the apex; nerves simple; the herb is densely tuft-
ed before flowering, quite glabrous, but afterwards becoming loose,
surculose, and villous ; from two to four flowered. This is a native
of the Alps of Switzerland, Austria, and Pyrenees. In Britain, in
the north of England, Scotland, and North Wales, in both the Upper
and Lower Canadas, on high rocky mountains ; as well as on lime-
stone rocks, walls, and roofs in less elevated situations, abundantly.
It flowers in April.

Medical properties and Uses. Vinnzus describes the taste of this
plant to be acrid and pungent, which we have not been able to dis-
cover; neither the tubercles of the root, nor the leaves manifest to
the organs of taste any quality likely to be of medicinal use, and
therefore, though these species of Saxifrage has been long employed
as a popular remedy in nephritic and gravelly disorders, yet we do
not find either from its sensible qualities, or from any published
instances of its efficacy, that it deserves a place in the Materia
Medica.

The superstitious doctrine of Signatures suggested the use of the
root, whick is a good example of what Linnezus has termed radix

184 NAT. ORDER.—SAXIFRAGEE.

granulata. The bulbs or tubercles of such roots answer an impor-
tant purpose in vegetation, by supplying the plants with nourish-
ment and moisture, and thereby enabling them to resist the effects
of that drought to which the dry soils they inhabit peculiarly ex-
pose them.

Sedum Telephium, one of the species, is admitted in the Materia
Medica in the foreign pharmacopeias ; it has not the acrid characters
of the various species here figured, but on the contrary is bland and
mucilaginous. It is said to be diuretic, and, according to Dr. With-
ering, is used with success to cure the piles. Simpervivum tectorum
(common house-leek) which is nearly allied to the Zelephiwm in bo-
tanical affinity, likewise abounds with a mucilaginous juice, said to
be an useful application to burns, creeping ulcers, and in apthous
cases. Cactus Opuntia (common Indian fig) and Portulaca oberacea
(garden purslane) both of this natural order, afford a simular juice,
which also has been applied to medical purposes.

Propagation and Culture. Sazifraga is a most extensive genus of
pretty alpine plants, the greater part of which are well adapted for
rock-work, or to be grown on the sides of naked banks to hide the
surface. Many of the more rare and tender kinds require to be
grown in pots, in light sandy soil, and placed among other alpine
plants, so that they may be protected by a frame in winter. The
species belonging to sections Micranthes and Hirculus grow best in
a peat soil, which should be kept rather moist. The species be-
longing to the section Porphyreon are so very pretty little plants as
to be worth growing in pots for ornaments, being clothed with ele-
gant little red flowers early in the spring. A mixture of peat and
sand suits them well. The varieties are all well suited to ornament
the borders of flower-gardens.

ete

A

NAT. QRDER.

Liliacee.

TULIPA SYLVESTRIS. TURK’S-CAP, OR WILD TULIP

Class VI. WHexanpria. Order I. Monoaynia.
Gen. Char. Petals, six. Stamens, six. Stigma, three-lobed.
Spe. Char. Stem, one-flowered. Leaves, tapering to a point.

Tus beautiful exotic plant rises about two feet in height ; its
flowers are large, yellow, roundish, and very beautiful to the eye ;
the stalks, or stems, are generally one, and one-flowered ;_ the petals
are six in number, of a whitish color, but tipped with yellow ; the
stamens are six,—three longer, and three shorter; the st7gma@ is
three-lobed ; the /eaves are inserted at the base, sword-like, fleshy,
and firmly ribbed. It increases by throwing out a long fibre, at
the extremity of which a bulb is produced, which shoots- forth a
new plant the next season. It is said to be a native of Holland,
where it has been cultivated for four centuries.

The name Tulip, originated from the Turkish word, Tulipan,
which is the name the Turks give their Head-tyres, or caps; and
we in English, in conformity with this name, call it the Tulip,
which somewhat resembles the Turk’s cap. By modern writers
upon the subject of Botany, but little can be gathered respecting
the history and origin of this rare plant, although it is well
known to have been cultivated for more than four hundred
years; yet, from a want of knowledge, or from some other
unknown cause, this family of plants has been most wonder-
fully neglected. Salmond, an ancient, but distinguished botanist,
in his Herbal, describes three hundred and sixty-one different

varieties of the Tulip Tribe, most of which were extensively
Vol. ii.—187

188 NAT. ORDER.—-LILIACE.

cultivated in various parts of Greece, both as ornaments, and
for medicinal purposes.

Propagation and Culture. 'To raise these plants from seed,
great caution is necessary, that we select the best flowers—
cick as have become fully grown, and well ripened, as some-
times the roots lose their fibres, and the stalks dry before
the seed is half ripe. This seed is generally ready for gather-
ing about the middle of July, or later, if the season proves
backward, which can be known by the dryness of the stalks,
or opening of the seed-vessels. The whole plant should be
taken with the roots, letting the seed remain in the pods till
the first of October. It may then be taken out, and cleansed
from the chaff, and sown in beds of fine sifted earth, care being
taken that the seed is covered about half an inch in depth.
About the end of June, the second year after sowing, they
should be taken up, and the small roots cleansed, and set again
in rows, at a wider distance, and so continued every other year,
until they bear flowers, but altering the ground with fresh earth.

Medical Properties and Uses. The root is the part directed
for medicine; and if we are to give credit to the writings of
the ancients, in regard to its effects, we shall describe it as
possessing extraordinary properties for the removal of all pul-

monary complaints. By the ancients, it was extensively used,

in coughs, catarrhs, consumptions, and more particularly as a
generator of blood. |The expressed juice of the plant was for-
merly used, in doses of from one to three fluidrachms, taken
every morning, and on going to bed. In this form it was given
by them, as a tonic, acting chiefly on the urinary organs, both
stimulating and exciting; and was often administered for inflam-

mation of the k'dneys, bladder and spleen. ae
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4

LATIN NAMES.

Aconitum napellus

Alium descendens
Alstremeria pelegrina
Althea officinalis
Artocarpus incisa

Arum triphillum

Arum trilobatum
Billbergia iridifolia :
Capparis spinosa

Cassia elongata . :
Cephaelis tpecacuanha .
Cinchona oblongifolia.
Cistus ladaniferus :
Cocculus palmatus .
Convallaria polygonatum
Convolvulus scammonia
Cypripedium album
Daphne mczerewm
Datura Stramonium
Dendrobium fimbriatum
Erythronium Americanum
Fragraria Virginiana
Genipa vanilla. A
Gladeolus tristis .

Tumulus lupucus .« ‘
Fibiscus rosa sinensis «
Iiydrangea hortensis A
Tiex vomitoria-

COMMON NAMES.

Wolf’s-bane, or Monk’s-hood

Purple-headed Garlic
Alstroemeria, Spotted

Marsh-Mallow of Surinam .

Bread-fruit Tree

Wild Turnip—-Wake-RoBin

Arum, Three-lobed
Billbergia, Drooping .
Caper-bush, Common .
Peruvian Senna .
Ipecacuan

Cinchona of the dele
Gum Cistus . 5 :
Calumba-Root . ;
Solomon’s Seal 5 5

Scammony, or Bindweed
White Lady’s-Slipper
Mezereon, Common
Common Thorn Apple
Dendrobium, Fringed
Dog’s-tooth Violet
Virginian Strawberry
Common Genipa
Square-leaved Corn- Flag
The Common Hop
China Rose, . e
China Hydrangea.

. South Sea Tea, or Holly

190

LATIN NAMES.

Tris sambucina

Lilium candidum

Lilium Philadelphicum
Lobelia inflata

Lobelia Surinamensis «
Magnolia yulans
Michauria campanuloides
Nicotiana tabacum .«

Olea Europea

Paonia peregrina
Papaver somniferum
Pelargonium quercifolium
Pinus balsamea é *

Piper cubeba

Poinciana pulcherrima

Pyrus cydona
Rhododendron arboreum .
Rosa Semperflorens
Rumevx acetosa

Thea. é
Trillium ee foline G
Trillium sessile

Tulipa sylvestris
Tussilago farfara .«

Vitis vinifera. f

COMMON NAMES.

Alstremeria, Spotted .
Arum, Three-lobed
Balm of Gilead Fir .«
Billbergia, Drooping
ead-fruit Tree 2
Calumba-Root =
Caper-bush, Common .

~Cinchona of the Andes

INDEX.

COMMON NAMES.

Yellow or Purple Water-flag

Common White Lily .
Orange, or Tiger Lily
Indian Tobacco . ;
Shrubby Lobelia. ,
Umbrella Tree

Rough Michauxia . :
Virginia Tobacco
European Olive Tree
Peona of the Alps
White Poppy .

Gath’s Perfection

Balm of Gilead Fir
Cubebs, or Java Pepper
China Poinciana
Common Quince Tree
Rose Bay
Ever-blooming Rose
Southern Sorrel . ;
Tea Tree

Clover T reefoil
Virginia Turnip

Turk’s-Cap, or Wild Tulip .

Common Colt’s-foot
Common Grape-Vine

LATIN NAMES.

. Alstroemeria pelegrina

Arum trilobatum. :
Pinus balsamea .
Billbergia iridifolia .
Artocarpus incisa
Cocculus palmatus . 5
Capparis spinosa
Cinchona oblongifolia

a

149

112

125
130

133
155

184

163

122

143

165

INDEX. 191

COMMON NAMES. LATIN NAMES.
China Hydrangea. . - Hydrangea hortensis . eS;
China Poinciana . 5 4 Poinciana pulcherrima . . 43
China Rose : : ; - Hibiscus rosa sinensis . : 159

Clover Treefoil . F A Trillium latrifolium 4 - 77
Colt’s-foot, Common . “ - Tussilago farfara , 4 . 174
Corn-flag, Square-leaved Gladeolus tristis ; . 161
Cubebs, or Java Pepper. Piper cubeba . 4 . - 184

Dendrobium, Fringed . Dendrobium fimbriatum . 65
Dog’s-tooth Violet. . - Erythronium Americanum . - 108
Garlic, Purple-headed . é Alium descendens . b : 57
Gath’s Perfection A c - Pelargonium quercifolium . » 45
Genipa, Common . : ° Genipa vanilla : : : 70
Grape-Vine .« : Sef Vitis vinifera. : . 49

Gum Cistus 5 C ‘ Cistus ladaniferus . : 172
Hops, ‘Common , 3 : Humulus lupulus : 2 « 167

Ipecacuan . : . . . Cephaelis ipecacuanha . : 176
Lady’s-Slipper, White . . Cypripedium album . . - 101
Lily, White, or Common . » Lilitumcandidum . é : 99
Lily, Orange or Tiger . ; Lilium Philadelphicum : ge

Lobelia, Shrubby . ° - Lobelia Surinamensis . . 53
Marsh-Mallow of Surinam . Althea officinalis. ° - 147
Mezereon, Common - , Daphne mezereum. ; ey
Michauria, Rough . : . Michauxia campanuloides’ . 75
Olive Tree, European . ; Olea Europea . ‘ . > 130
Peona of the Alps c : . Peonia peregrina . : : 13
Poppy, White 5 ° : Papaver somniferum . 4 - 133
Quince Tree. : : - Pyrus cydona A : . 163
Rose-Bay .. F ° : Rhododendron arboreum_. - 23

Rose, Ever-blooming . : - Rosa semperflorens : : 122 ‘
Scammony, or Bindweed . ° Convolvulus scammonia - . 167
Senna, Peruvian 5 A . Cassia elongata .. Fs ; 9

Solomon's Seal. . . Convallaria polygonatum . . 120
South Sea Tea, or Holly . - Ilex vomitoria . : * 115 pp
Sorrel, Southern ~. ; . Rumex acetosa .
Strawberry, Virginia. : . Fragaria Virginiana

ate *

192 INDEX.

COMMON NAMES. LATIN NAMES.
Yea Tree . sroshisexarneeec Gre
Thorn-Apple, Gases ° - Datura stramonium
Tobacco, Indian . A 3 Lobelia inflata . :
Tobacco, Virginia . - Nicotiana tabacum .
Turk’s-Cap, or Wild Tulip . Tulipa sylvestris
Turnip, Virginia . - Trillium latrifolium .
Turnip, Wild—Wale-Robin 4 Arum triphillum
Umbrella Tree . . - Magnolia yulans.
Water-flag, Yellow or Pueils Iris sambucina . “

Wolf’s-bane, or Monk’s-hood . Aconitum napellus

88
151

14
125
187
110

35
112
149
104

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