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StjF  E  1.  Itll  ffiibrara 

Nortli  (Carolina  ^tatP 
llmuFraitg 

Special 
Collection 

v,2 


This  book  was  presented  by 

Monroe  Gardner 


/:)v'?i..  <=^  v-^v-^  v.^-% 


THIS  BOOK  MUST  NOT  BE  TAKEN 
FROM  THE  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 


AMEBICAN 

MEDICAL  BOTANY. 


VOLUME  II.— PART  I.  » 


AMEBIC  AN 

MEDICAL  BOTANY, 

BEIXG  A  COLLECTION 

OF  TUB 

NATIVE  MEDICINAL  PLANTS 

OP  THE 

UNITED  STATES, 

CONTAIJTIIfG  THEIK 

BOTANICAL  HISTORY  AND  CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS, 

AND  PROrERTIES  AND  USES 

IN 

MEDICINE,  DIET  AND  THE  ARTS, 

WITH 

COLOURED  ENGRAVINGS. 

BY  JACOB  BIGELOW,  M.  D. 

RUMFORD  PROFESSOR  ANP  LECTURF.R  ON  -MATERIA  MEOICA  AND  BOTANY 
IN  HARVARD  TJNITERSITT. 

YOL.  II. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  CUMMINGS  AND  HILLIARD,  AT  THE 
BOSTON  BOOKSTORE,  NO.  1  CORNHILL. 

CMVERSITY   PRESS. ...HILLIAHO  AND  METCALF. 

1818. 


DISTRICT  OF  MASSACHUSETTS,  TO  WIT : 

District  Clerk's  Office. 

BE  it  remembered,  that  on  the  twentj'  elp^htli  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1818,  and  in  the  forty  third 
year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  Jacob  Bif^low,  M.  D.  of  the  said  dis- 
trict, has  deposited  in  thb  office  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  author,  in  the 
uordsfoUoAviiig,  viz. 

"  American  Medical  Botany,  being  a  collection  of  the  native  medicinal  plants  of  the  United  States, 
coiitaining  their  botanical  history  ai:d  chemical  analysis,  and  properties  and  uses  in  medicine,  diet 
and  the  arts,  with  coloured  enpva\ing-s.  By  Jacob  Bigeiow,  M.  D.  Rumfoi-d  Professor  and  Lec- 
turer oil  Materia  Medica  and  Botany  in  Harvard  University,    Vol.  II." 

In  confbrmiij  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled  "  An  Act  for  the  en- 
couragement of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts  and  books,  to  the  authors  and 
proprietors  of  such  copi.  s,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned  :"  and  also  to  an  act  entitled,  "  An 
act  sup])!ementary  to  an  act  entitled,  an  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the 
copies  of  maps,  charts  an,l  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times 
therein  mentioned ;  and  extending  tie  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving  and 
etching  historical  aud  otbcr  prints. 

JOHN  W  DAVIS  i  ^''''■^'  "f'^'^  District 
JOHN  W.  DAV1!>,  ^   ^j.  Massachusetts. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

Upon  presenting  to  the  public  the  portion  of  this  work,  whicli 
completes  one  half  of  his  labours,  the  author  of  the  American 
Medical  Botany  feels  himself  bound  to  offer  some  report  of  the 
progress  and  prospects  of  his  undertaking. 

The  plan  of  this  work  was  formed  and  announced  at  a  time 
when  such  a  subject  was  wholly  novel,  and  when  coloured  bo- 
tanical engravings,  from  the  difficulty  and  expense  of  their  exe- 
cution, were  almost  unknown  in  this  country.  It  was  endeav- 
oured that  the  plan  should  be  such  as  in  some  degree  to  insure, 
what  both  authors  and  their  friends  should  desire,  extensive  cir- 
culation and  permanent  utility.  An  edition  of  a  thousand  copies 
was  printed,  and  that  the  work  might  be  generally  accessible, 
the  price  was  fixed  at  a  lower  rate,  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  plates,  than  works  of  the  kind  have  ever  been  placed  at  in  this 
country ;  a  rate  whicli  the  probable  sale  of  the  whole  edition 
could  alone  justify.  As  permanent  utility  was  esteemed  of  more 
importance  than  ephemeral  success,  the  work  has  not  been  hur- 
ried in  any  stage  of  its  execution,  even  though  some  temporary 
advantages  might  have  been  obtained  by  its  earlier  appearance. 
The  autlior  has  not  willingly  adopted  the  opinions  of  others  in  bot- 
any or  medicine  without  examination,  and  has  thought  no  delay  in- 
jurious which  might  lead  to  the  establishment  of  truth  or  the  de- 
tection of  error.  He  has  been  desirous,  in  adding  the  results  of 
his  own  experience,  that  the  book  should  have,  in  some  degree  at 


Yl  ADVERTISEMENT. 

least,  the  character  of  an  original  work,  rather  tlian  of  a  compi- 
lation ,•  at  the  same  time  that  it  should  present  a  fair  view  of 
what  is  known  on  the  subjects  of  which  it  treats.  The  figures  of 
the  plants  have,  in  every  instance,  been  made  from  original 
drawings,  which  were  executed  by  himself,  with  the  exception  of 
two  or  three  presented  by  his  friends.  The  style  of  engraving 
is  wholly  new  in  tliis  country,  and  is  one  which  has  been  suc- 
cessfully attempted  only  by  the  first  artists  in  France. 

It  gives  him  pleasure  to  state,  that  the  reception  of  the  work, 
in  all  parts  of  tlie  United  States,  has  exceeded  his  anticipations, 
that  the  subscription  is  already  more  than  sufficient  to  defray 
the  expense  of  publishing,  and  tliat  its  regular  increase  renders 
it  probable  that  the  whole  edition  will  be  taken  up  at  an  early 
period. 

He  avails  himself  of  this  occasion  to  return  his  acknowledg- 
ments to  those  correspondents  who  have  obligingly  assisted  him 
by  the  communication  of  specimens  for  the  work,  and  of  the  re- 
sults of  their  own  researches  and  experience.  Particularly  he 
would  express  this  remembrance  to  Zaccheus  Collins  Esq.  of 
Philadelphia,  a  gentleman  whose  active  kindness  has  repeatedly 
supplied  his  botanical  necessities  j  and  whose  extensive  erudition 
has  enabled  him  to  afford  counsel,  which  would  not  have  been 
sought  at  a  less  respectable  source.  To  Professor  Ives  of  New 
Haven,  a  zealous  and  intelligent  cultivator  of  the  American  Ma- 
teria Medica,  he  would  express  the  obligations  derived  from  his 
communications  and  correspondence.  It  would  be  unjust  to  for- 
get that  many  medicinal  plants  of  the  Southern  States,  with  ob- 
servations on  their  properties,  were  furnished  expressly  for  this 
work,  by  the  late  Dr.  James  Macbride  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  a 


ADVERTISE3IENT.  VU 

j)hysician  and  a  botanist,  whose  premature  deatli  lias  terminated  a 

career  of  honourable  usefulness  and  of  active,  liberal  and  eflicient 

prosecution  of  science.     His  friends  cannot  remember  without  I'e- 

gret  a  man,  who  had  the  rare  quality  of  being  learned  without 

ostentation,  who  was  ambitious  of  uscfuhiess  more  than  of  fame, 

and  who  sought  rather  to  be  valuable  to  others  than  just  to  him- 
self. 


As  the  materials  for  the  rest  of  the  American  Medical  Bota- 
>iy  are  now  principally  collected,  and  most  of  the  drawings 
finished ;  the  remaining  numbers  will  be  issued  with  as  much 
promptness  and  regularity,  as  is  consistent  M'ith  their  faitliful 
execution. 


PREFACE 

TO   THE    SECOND   VOLUME. 

As  frequent  use  is  made  in  tliesc  pages  of 
observations  drawn  from  the  auxiliary  sciences,  as 
affording  some  light  on  the  medicinal  properties  of 
plants,  it  may  be  proper  to  examine  how  ftir  tes- 
timony of  this  kind  is  entitled  to  receive  credit  in 
our  inquiries  and  examinations. 

There  can  be  no  question,  that  the  actual  op- 
eration of  medicines  upon  the  human  system, 
gathered  from  positive  experience,  is,  in  the  pres- 
ent state  of  our  knowledge,  the  only  criterion  by 
which  we  can  pronounce,  with  universal  certainty, 
on  their  properties.  There  are  nevertheless 
many  things  to  be  learnt  from  chemical  analysis, 
sensible  qualities,  and  botanical  affinity,  which 
may  afford  us,  in  some  instances  certainty,  and  in 
most  others  presumptive  evidence  of  the  medicinal 
characters  of  vegetables.  The  correspondence 
in  these  respects  is  frequently  so  striking,  that 
we  can  hardly  resist  the  belief,  that  an  entire  har- 
mony of  properties  exists,  which,  if  we  are  unable 
3 


X  PREFACE. 

fully  to  comprehend,  it  is  rather  owing  to  the  im- 
perfection  of  science,  than  to  the  irregularity  of 
nature. 

A  few  illustrations  of  this  point,  taken  from 
generul  facts  already  ascertained,  will  place  the 
subject  in  a  clearer  light. 

The  chemical  substances,  known  by  the  names 
of  Gum  Mucus  and  Fcecula,  are  constantly  emol- 
lient, demulcent,  and  nutritious.  They  manifest 
these  qualities  even  when  extracted  from  acrid 
and  poisonous  vegetables,  as  in  Arum,  Calla,  and 
Jatropha. 

Sugar  is  nutritious  and  demulcent.  When 
subjected  to  a  spontaneous  chemical  change  by 
the  vinous  fermentation,  it  is  universally  a  strong 
diffusible  stimulus. 

Flawed  oils  are  emollient  and  laxative.  Also 
nutritious. 

Volatile  oils  on  the  contrary  are  acrid,  stimu- 
lating, heating,  and  antispasmodic. 

Tannin  and  the  Gallic  acid  are  uniformly  an- 
tiseptic and  powerfully  astringent. 

The  Acetous,  Citric,  Tartaric  and  similar  veg- 
etable acids  are  refrigerant  and  antiseptic. 

Bitter  Ejotractive  substances  are  usually  tonic. 

Resins,  which  are  bitter  and  acrid,  are  com- 
monly cathartic. 


PREFACE.  XI 

Emetine,  as  separated  by  Pelletier  and  Magen- 
die,  is  powerfully  emetic. 

Morphium,  obtained  by  Serturner,  is  a  very 
strong'  narcotic. 

The  foregoing  are  some  of  the  examples,  which 
the  present  state  of  Chemistry  allows  us  to  ob- 
serve of  affinity  between  chemical  and  medicinal 
characters.  With  a  few  exceptions  they  will  be 
found  to  be  strictly  true.  Yet  the  analysis  of  vege- 
tables is  at  present  but  imperfectly  known,  and  an 
extended  investigation  is  continually  bringing  new 
principles  to  light.  We  can  hardly  expect  that  the 
business  of  generalization  should  be  attempted 
with  complete  success,  until  the  constituent  facts 
are  better  understood.  From  what  we  already 
know,  however,  it  is  not  chimerical  to  pi  edict, 
that  if  the  chemistry  of  vegetables  were  as  per- 
fectly knoAvn  in  all  its  parts,  as  in  those  which  we 
have  detailed ;  tlieir  medicinal  properties  might 
be  inferred,  with  at  least  as  great  certainty,  as 
that  which  now  attends  most  inferences  in  the 
conjectural  science  of  medicine. 

In  regard  to  the  botanical  affinities  of  plants, 
as  affi)rding  evidence  of  their  medicinal  powers, 
much  has  been  said  and  written.  Petiver,  Hoff- 
man, Linnseus,  Hasselquist,  and  recently  the 
learned  Professor  Decandolle  have  bestowed  much 


XU  PREFACE. 

investigation  on  this  subject.  It  is  regarded  as  a 
desideratum  by  all,  and  as  the  consummation  of 
botanical  science  by  many,  that  plants  should  be 
so  arranged,  as  that  then*  assemblages  should 
agree,  not  only  in  external  forms,  but  in  internal 
qualities  and  operative  powers.  Certain  general 
agreements  of  this  kind  evidently  prevail  through- 
out nature  ;  yet  they  are  so  varied,  and  subject  to 
so  many  exceptions,  that  it  is  difficult  to  establish 
them  by  general  scientific  descriptions,  and  when 
they  are  rendered  too  minute  they  seem  to  lose 
much  of  their  importance.  It  is  perhaps  as  easy 
to  know  the  properties  of  plants  from  their  exter- 
nal habit,  as  to  understand  the  characters  of  man- 
kind from  their  physiognomy.  Accurate  obser- 
vers know  more  than  they  can  communicate  the 
means  of  knowing  to  others,  yet  the  most  accu- 
rate are  liable  to  be  mistaken.  Many  vegetables 
of  the  closest  affinity  and  resemblance,  even  spe- 
cies of  the  same  genus,  differ  wholly  from  each 
other  in  their  effects.  AVitness  the  species  of 
Cucumis,  Convolvulus,  antl  Solanum,  some  of 
wliich  are  salutary,  and  others  higbly  deleteri- 
ous. Nevertheless  there  are  many  general  truths, 
or  at  least  general  probabilities,  by  which  every 
one  would  be  influenced,  and  which  have  so  much 
importance,  that  they   will  never  be   forgotten. 


PREFACE.  XIU 

No  botanist,  even  if  in  danger  of  starving  in  a 
wilderness,  would  indulge  his  hunger  on  a  root  or 
fruit  taken  from  an  unknown  plant  of  the  nat- 
ural order  Luridce,  of  the  Miiltisiliquw,  or  the  um- 
belliferous aquatics.  On  the  contrary,  he  would 
not  feel  a  moment's  hesitation  in  regard  to  any  of 
the  Gramina,  the  fruit  of  the  Pomacew,  and  several 
other  natural  families  of  plants,  which  are  known 
to  be  uniformly  innocent  in  their  effects. 

The  sensible  properties  of  plants  afford  another 
clue  to  their  influence  on  the  human  system.  It 
is  true,  that  observations  derived  from  tliis  source 
will  not  serve  us  in  forming  very  minute  distinc- 
tions. They  are,  however,  almost  always  adequate 
in  vegetable  productions,  to  enable  us  to  distin- 
guish what  is  innocent  and  salubrious,  from  what 
is  noxious  and  virulent.  The  brute  creation  de- 
pend wholly  upon  the  powers  of  sense  in  selecting 
their  food,  and  this  reliance  does  not  often  betray 
them.  In  regard  to  mankind  it  almost  uniformly 
happens,  that  what  is  sweet,  delicious,  or  aromat- 
ic, proves  nutritive  or  salutary ;  while  on  the  oth^ 
er  hand,  vegetable  poisons  are  nauseous,  acrid, 
and  disgusting.  It  has  been  observed,  that  it 
would  have  been  a  sort  of  treachery  in  nature  to 
have  made  it  otherwise.  Considering  the  univer- 
sal  dissemination   of  poisonous   plants,  and  the 


XVI  PREFACE. 

number  of  them,  which  frequent  the  vicinity  of 
human  habitations,  this  arrangement  of  Provi- 
dence, by  making  ungrateful  what  is  dangerous, 
has  furnished  ahnost  the  only  safeguard  from 
harm,  to  the  inexperienced  and  unwary. 

These  remarks  have  been  offered  on  account 
of  an  impression  which  many  persons  entertain, 
that  collateral  evidences  of  the  characters  of  plants 
are  worthless  and  undeserving  of  attention.  Even 
if  the  community  were  composed  exclusively  of 
physicians,  such  an  opinion  could  not  be  wholly 
correct.  Every  one  may  be  called  on  to  form 
hasty  decisions  on  subjects  where  his  experience 
is  deficient,  and  where  an  acquaintance  with  aux- 
iliary facts  might  lead  him  to  a  correct  issue.  It 
is  not  only  curious  and  instructive  to  perceive  the 
harmonies  of  nature,  but  to  every  inquirer  among 
her  works  it  must  be  practically  useful.  It  can 
no  where  be  more  useful,  or  more  deserving  of 
study,  than  in  a  new  country,  where  the  face  of 
nature  presents  an  ungathered  harvest,  and  where 
every  clue  to  useful  discovery  derives  importance 
from  its  influence  and  tendency. 


2X1 


3  4^  3  G  7 


a      9 


JO  '   Jl    JZ      23 


AMERICAN 

MEDICAL  BOTANY. 

PYROLA  UMBELLATA. 

Winter  Green, 

PLATE  XXL 

JL  HIS  most  beautiful  of  the  species  of  Pyrola 
is  extensively  diffused  throughout  the  northern 
hemisphere.  It  inhabits  all  latitudes  in  the  Unit- 
ed States,  and  extends  across  the  continent  to  the 
shores  of  the  Pacific  ocean.  It  is  also  found  in  the 
forests  of  Siberia,  and  in  several  of  the  northern 
and  temperate  countries  of  Europe.  It  only 
grows  in  shady  woods,  where  it  is  protected  from 
the  sun,  and  nourished  by  the  peculiar  soil  formed 
from  the  decomposition  of  leaves  and  wood.  The 
most  common  appellations,  by  which  it  is  known 
in  the  United  States,  are  Winter  green  and  Pipsis- 
sewa.  It  flowers  in  June  and  July,  being  some- 
what later  than  most  of  the  other  species  of  its 
family. 


•16  flllULA  LxMBELLATA. 

J3y  rursli  and  some  other  American  botanists, 
this  species  and  one  other  have  been  separated 
from  the  genus  Pyrola,  to  constitute  a  new  family 
by  tlie  name  of  Chimaphila.  As  the  grounds  of 
distinction,  however,  between  them  are  not  suffi- 
cient to  render  it  certain  tliat  this  genus  will  ul- 
timately stand ;  I  have  preferred  retaining  the 
original  Linnsean  name.* 

*  It  is  somewhat  remarkable,  that  the  genus  Chimaphila  was  first 
established  upon  characters,  which  hardly  exist  in  either  of  the  plants 
it  is  intended  to  comprehend.  The  principal  grounds  of  distinction, 
suggested  by  Michaux  and  adopted  by  Pursh,  seem  to  consist  in  a 
sessile  stigma,  and  anthers  opening  by  a  subbivalve  foramen.  Now 
the  stigma  is  not  sessile,  since  that  term  implies  the  absence  of  a  style, 
and  the  anthers  do  not  open  by  any  subbivalve  foramen,  differing 
from  {he  rest,  but  by  two  tubular  pores,  precisely  as  in  the  other  spe- 
cies of  Pyrola.  ]Mr.  Nuttall,  in  his  interesting  work  on  North  Ameri- 
can gelnera,  has  amended  the  character  of  Chimaphila,  by  bringing 
into  view  the  calyx,  filaments,  &c.  while  he  has  added  to  the  char- 
acteristics of  Pyrola,  a  downy  connexion  of  the  valves  of  the  cap- 
sule. In  the  calyx,  however,  the  two  species  of  Chimaphila  are  at 
different  extremes  from  each  other ;  one  of  them  having  a  five  leaved 
calyx,  the  leaves  overlaying  each  other  at  base ;  the  other  having  a 
five  toothed  calyx  only,  while  the  remaining  species  of  Pyrola,  being 
five  parted,  come  between  them.  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  the 
tomentum  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Nuttall,  in  all  the  spiked  species,  and  par- 
ticularly in  P.  secunda. 

If  the  genus  Pyrola  were  ever  to  be  dismembered,  it  should  be 
into  at  least  four  distinct  genera,  as  follows  j 
1.  Style  declined,  stigma  annulate. 
P.  rotundifolia,  P.  asarifolia,  &,c. 


WINTER  GREEN.  17 

The   genus  Pyrola  belongs   to  the  class  Be- 
candria,  and  order  MonogynicL     It  ranks  among 

2.  Style  straight^  stigma  peltate. 
P.  secunda,  P.  uniflora,  &c, 
S.  Style  incrassaied,  calyx  Jive  leaved, 

P.  maculata. 
4.  Style  immersed,  calyx  five  toothed, 
P.  umbellata. 

If  we  go  farther  and  take  into  view  the  direction  and  form  of  the 
filaments,  and  the  other  parts  of  flower  and  fruit,  with  their  various 
combinations ;  we  shall  have  nearly  as  many  genera  as  there  are  now 
species,  since  it  is  well  known  that  many  of  the  most  important  spe- 
cific distinctions  in  this  genus  are  taken  from  the  fructification. 

On  these  accounts  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  genus  Pyrola 
had  better  remain  entire.  In  habit  it  is  certainly  one  of  the  most 
natural  genera  we  possess.  All  the  species  are  humble  evergreens, 
growing  in  woods,  with  creeping  roots,  ascending  stems,  and  nodding 
flowers.  All  of  them  have  their  leaves  in  irregular  whorls,  flower  with 
reversed  anthers,  and  retain  their  style  until  the  fruit  is  ripe.  In 
inflorescence,  one  is  solitary,  two  somewhat  corymbed,  and  the  rest 
spiked.  The  leaves  of  P.  secunda,  umbellata  and  maculata  are  usu- 
ally in  two  or  more  whorls ;  those  of  most  others  in  one  radical 
whorl  or  aggregate.     One  species  is  said  to  be  leafless. 

In  the  dissections  accompanying  the  figure  of  P.  umbellata  I  have 
endeavoured  to  represent  the  evident  gradation  of  the  style  from  the 
species  in  which  it  is  longest,  to  that  in  which  it  is  shortest.  In  the 
same  plate  are  added  some  of  the  varieties  of  the  calyx  and  stamens. 

The  following  remark  of  Sir  James  Edward  Smith,  the  learned 
president  of  the  Linnaean  society,  is  from  Rees'  Cyclopedia,  ,3rt. 
Pyrola.  "  We  can  by  no  means  assent  to  the  establishment  of  that 
able  writer's  (Tursh's)  Genus  Chimaphila,  there  being  surely  no  di- 
versity of  habit  to  support  it,  nor  any  character  but  a  difference  ia 
the  length  of  the  style  ;  which  the  other  species  of  Pyrola  shew  to  af- 
ford admirable  specific,  but  no  generic  distinctions. 

3 


iS  PYROLA  UMBELLATA. 

the  Bicornes  of  Linnseus  and  the  Ericce  of  Jus- 
sieu. 

The  generic  character  is   as  follows.     Calyx 
mostly  jive  parted ;  petals  jive  ;  anthers  inverted^ 
opening  by  two  tubular  pores  ;  capsule  jive  celled, 
jive  valved. 

The  species  umbellata  has  its  leaves  wedge 
shaped  and  toothed,  jiowers  somewhat  iimbelled, 
calyx  jive  toothed,  and  style  immersed. 

Its  more  minute  description  is  as  follows  : 

Koot  woody,  creeping,  sending  up  stems  at 
various  distances.  The  stems  are  ascending, 
somewhat  angular,  and  marked  with  the  scars  of 
the  former  leaves  The  leaves  grow  in  irregular 
whorls,  of  which  there  are  from  one  to  four.  They 
are  evergreen,  coriaceous,  on  very  short  petioles, 
wedge  shaped,  subacute,  serrate,  smooth,  shin- 
ing, the  lower  surface  somewhat  paler.  The 
flowers  grow  in  a  small  corymb,  on  nodding  pe- 
duncles, which  are  furnished  with  linear  bractes 
about  their  middle.  Calyx  of  five  roundish  suba- 
cute teeth  or  segments,  much  shorter  than  the 
corolla.  Petals  five,  roundish,  concave,  spreading, 
cream  coloured,  with  a  tinge  of  purple  at  base. 
Stamens  ten.  Filaments  sigmoid,  the  lower  half 
flesliy,  triangular,  dilated,  and  slightly  pubescent 
at  the  edges  ;  the  upper  half  filiform.     Anthers 


WINTER  GREEN.  19 

two  celled,  each  cell  opening  by  a  short,  round, 
tubular  orifice,  which  points  downward  in  the  bud, 
but  upward  in  the  flower.  Pollen  white.  Germ 
roundish, depressed,  furrowed,  obscurely  five  lobed, 
with  a  funnel  shaped  cavity  at  top.  Style  straight, 
half  as  long  as  the  germ,  inversely  conical,  insert- 
ed in  the  cavity  of  the  germ,  and  concealed  by  the 
stigma.  Stigma  large  peltate,  convex,  moist,  ob- 
scurely five  ra^ed.  Capsules  erect,  depressed,  five 
celled,  five  valved,  the  partitions  from  the  middle 
of  the  valves.  Seeds  linear,  chaffy,  very  numerous 
and  minute. 

This  plant,  like  the  other  species  of  Pyrola,  is 
very  difficult  to  cultivate,  when  transplanted  from 
its  native  soil ;  although  it  thrives  luxuriantly  in 
the  shade  and  rich  mould  of  the  forests  where  it 
originates. 

The  leaves  of  Pyrola  umbellata,  when  chewed, 
communicate  to  the  mouth  a  taste  which  partakes 
of  both  sweet  and  bitter.  The  stalk  and  roots 
possess  the  same  taste,  combined  with  a  moderate 
degree  of  pungency.  A  Dissertation  "  De  Pyrola 
umbellata,"  published  at  Gottingen,  by  Dr.  Wolf, 
in  1817,  contains  an  elaborate  chemical  examina- 
tion of  this  plant.  As  the  result  of  his  trials,  tliis 
author  concludes,  that  100  parts  of  Pyrola  umbel- 
lata contain  about  18  of  a  bitter  extractive  princi- 


aO  PYROLA  TJMBELLATA 

pie,  S.04  of  resin,  1.38  of  tannin,  a  slight  portion 
of  gum,  and  the  rest  of  fibrin  a  and  earthy  salts. 
The  resin  is  adhesive,  brownish,  readily  soluble  ia 
ether  and  alkalis,  burning  with  flame  and  a  res- 
inous odour,  and  leaving  a  white  cinder. 

From  my  own  trials  the  quantity  of  resin  in 
this  plant  appears  to  be  very  small.  A  saturated 
tincture  of  a  deep  brown  colour  does  not  give  a 
precipitate  on  the  first  addition  of  water.  It  is 
only  after  some  time  standing,  and  partly  perhaps 
from  the  evaporation  of  the  alcohol,  that  a  turbid- 
ness  begins  to  appear  in  the  solution.  It  is  prob- 
able that  spirit  is  a  better  menstruum  than  water 
for  the  soluble  portions  of  this  plant,  although  the 
latter  is  capable  of  extracting  the  greater  part  of 
its  virtue. 

The  Pyrola  umhellata,  though  scarcely  known 
as  a  medicine  until  within  a  few  years  past,  has 
at  the  present  day  acquired  a  reputation  of  con- 
siderable extent  in  the  treatment  of  various  dis- 
eases. Its  popular  celebrity  seems  to  have  origi- 
nated in  its  application  to  the  treatment  of  fever 
and  rheumatism  ;  but  the  attention  of  physicians 
has  been  chiefly  drawn  towards  its  use  in  otlier 
complaints.  The  instances  in  which  this  plant 
hay  received  favourable  testimonies  on  medical 
authority,  of  its   successful  use,  both  in  America 


WINTER  GREEN.  2i 

and  Europe,  arc  principally  tlie  following.  1.  As 
a  palliative  in  strangury  and  nephritis.  2.  As  a 
diuretic  in  dropsy.  3.  As  an  external  stimulant, 
susceptible  of  useful  application  to  various  cases. 
In  the  first  of  these  cases,  the  Pyrola  is  entitled 
to  attention  and  confidence.  Some  practitioners 
in  this  country  have  employed  it  with  advantag*e 
in  the  same  cases,  in  which  the  Arbutus  Uva  ursi 
is  recommended*.  Dr.  Wolf,  the  German  writer 
lately  cited,  has  reported  a  number  of  cases  of 
ischuria  and  dysuria,  arising  from  various  causes, 
in  which  the  Pyrola,  given  in  infusion,  produced 
the  most  evident  relief,  and  took  precedence  of  a 
variety  of  remedies  which  had  been  tried.  His 
method  of  administering  it  was  to  give  a  table 
spoonful  of  a  strong  infusion,  with  a  little  syrup, 
every  hour.  In  all  tlie  cases  he  has  detailed, 
small  as  the  dose  was,  it  gave  relief  in  a  very  short 
time.  In  one  case  its  effect  was  so  distinctly 
marked,  that  the  disease  returned  whenever  the 
medicine  was  omitted  and  was  removed  on  re- 
suming its  use.  A  tonic  operation  attended  its 
other  effects,  so  that  the  appetite  was  improved 
and  digestion  promoted  during  the  period  of  its 
employment. 

*  See  Dr.  Mitchell's  Inaugural  Dissertation.   Philailelphia,  1803. 


%&  PYROLA  UMBELLATA. 

The  diuretic  properties  of  the  Pyrola  umbel- 
lata,  seem  to  have  been  fully  illustrated  by  Dr. 
W.  Somerville  in  a  paper  on  this  vegetable,  pub- 
lished in  the  5th  volume  of  the  London  Medico- 
Chirurgical  transactions.  The  facts  presented 
by  this  physician  afford  satisfactory  evidence  of 
the  power  of  this  medicine  to  promote  the  renal 
excretion,  and  to  afford  relief  to  patients  afflicted 
with  dropsy  in  its  various  forms.  The  most  dis- 
tinguished case  presented  by  him,  is  that  of  Sir 
James  Craig,  the  British  governour  in  Canada, 
who  was  labouring  under  a  general  dropsy,  which 
in  its  progress  had  assumed  the  forms  of  hydro- 
thorax,  anasarca  and  ascites,  and  which  was  com- 
bined with  different  organic  diseases,  especially  of 
the  liver.  After  having  tried  with  little  or  tempora- 
ry success,  almost  every  variety  of  diuretic  and  ca- 
thartic medicines,  and  submitted  twice  to  the 
operation  of  tapping,  the  patient  had  recourse  to 
a  strong  infusion  of  the  Pyrola,  in  the  quantity  of  a 
pint  every  twenty  four  hours.  Although  the  case 
was  altogether  an  unpromising  one,  yet  the  plant 
gave  relief,  not  only  in  the  first,  but  in  the  sub- 
sequent instances  of  its  use.  It  increased  the 
urinal  discharge,  and  at  the  same  time  produced 
an  augmentation  of  strength  and  an  invigorated 
appetite. 


WINTER  GREEN.  83 

Several  other  cases  of  dropsy  are  detailed  in 
Dr.  Somerville's  paper,  in  which  tlie  Pyrola  was 
administered  hy  himself  and  by  other  practioners 
with  decided  advantage.  Dr.  Satterly  and  Dr. 
Marcet  are  among  those  who  have  added  their 
observations  to  the  testimonies  in  its  favour.  Dr. 
Somerville  found  his  patients  to  remark,  that  an 
agreeable  sensation  was  perceived  in  the  stomach 
soon  after  taking  the  Pyrola,  and  that  this  was 
followed  in  some  instances  by  an  extraordinary 
increase  of  appetite.  He  considers  it  as  having 
in  this  respect  a  great  advantage  over  other  diu- 
retics, none  of  which  are  agreeable  to  the  stomach, 
and  most  of  them  very  offensive  to  it.  He  fur- 
ther states,  that  no  circumstance  had  occurred 
within  his  own  experience  or  information,  to  for- 
bid its  use  in  any  form,  or  to  limit  the  dose. 

Dr.  Wolf  has  given  one  very  satisfactory  case 
of  the  utility  of  our  plant  in  ascites.  He  also 
found  it  to  alleviate  altogether  the  ardor  urinse 
attendant  on  gonorrhea. 

Such  are  the  most  important  facts  wliich  to  my 
knowledge  have  been  published  respecting  the 
internal  use  of  the  Pyrola  umbellata.  I  have 
administered  this  plant  on  various  occasions,  and 
attended  to  its  mode  of  operation.  In  a  number 
of  dropsical  cases,  when  first  given,  it  made  a  dis- 


84  PYROLA  UMBELLATA. 

tinct  and  evident  impression  on  the  disease,  com- 
municating an  increased  activity  to  the  absorbents, 
followed  by  a  great  augmentation  of  the  excretion 
from  the  kidnies.     The  benefit,  however,  with  me 
has  been  in  most  instances  temporary,  and  it  was 
found  better  to  omit  the  medicine  for  a  time  and 
to  resume  it  afresh,  than  to  continue  it  until  the 
system   had  become   insensible  to   its  stimulus. 
After  suspending  it  for  a  week  or  two,  the  same 
distinct  operation  took   place  on  returning  to  its 
use,  as  had  been  manifested  in  the  first  instance. 
It  proved  in  almost  every  instance,  a  very  accep- 
table medicine  to  the  patient,  and  was   preferred 
both  for  its  sensible  qualities  and  its  effects  on  the 
stomach,  to  other  diuretics  and  alteratives  which 
had  been  prescribed. 

The  Pyrola  has  been  considerably  employed 
as  an  external  application  in  tumours  and  ulcers 
of  various  descriptions.  It  first  acquired  notice 
in  consequence  of  some  newspaper  attestatioiis  of 
its  efficacy  in  the  cure  of  cancer.  Those  persons 
who  know  how  seldom  genuine  cancers  occur  in 
comparison  with  reputed  ones,  will  be  more  ready 
to  allow  it  the  character  of  curing  ulcerous,  than 
really  cancerous  affections.  There  are  undoubt- 
edly many  ulcers,  and  those  frequently  of  a  malig- 
nant  kind,  which  are  benefitted  by   antiseptic 


WINTER  GREEN.  25 

Stimulants  ;  and  to  such  the  Pyrola  may  be  useful. 
But  of  its  efficacy  in  real  cancer  we  requu'e 
more  evidence  than  is  at  present  possessed,  before 
we  ascribe  to  it  the  power  of  controlling'  so  for- 
midable a  malady. 

Dr.  Miller  of  Franklin  informs  me  that  he  has 
used  a  decoction  and  cataplasm  of  this  plant  with 
apparent  success  in  various  chronic  indurated 
swellings.  It  acts  as  a  topical  stimulant,  and 
when  long  continued,  not  unfrequently  vesicates. 
Tumours  of  long  standing  have  in  several  in- 
stances disappeared  under  its  use. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Pyrola  umbellata,  LiPf.  Sp.  pi.  GxYIeliiv,  Flora  Sihirica. 
Roth,  Flora  Germanica. — But.  Mag.  t.  7TS. — Michaux,  Flora 
Americana,  i.  251.— Pyrola  fruticans,  Paekinson,  Theatrumf 
509. — J.  Bauhin,  Hist,  plant,  iii.  5S6, — Chiniaphila  corymbosa, 
PuRSH,  i.  300. — NuTTAii.,  Genera,  i.  274. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Mitchell,  Inangural  Dissertation. — Somerville,  Medico- 
Chirurgical  Transactions,  vol.  v. — Wolf,  Dissertatio  Inaugnralis. 

PLATE  XXI. 

Fig.    1.  Fyrola  umbellata. 
Fig.    2.  Pistil  of  Pyrola  rotundifolia. 
Fig.    3.  Pistil  of  Pyrola  secunda. 
Fig.    4.  Pistil  of  Pyrola  unrjiora. 
Fig.    5.  Pistil  of  Pyrola  maculata. 
4 


26  PYROLA  UMBELLATA. 

Fig.    6.  Pistil  flfPyrola  umhellata. 

Fig.    7.  Section  of  the  same,  shelving  the  length  of  the  style. 

Fig.    8.  Five  toothed  calyx  of  P.  umhellata. 

Fig.    9.  Five  leaved  calyx  and  incrassated  pedicel  of  P.  ma- 

cnlata. 
Fig.  10.  Anther  magnified  of  P.  secunda. 
Fig.  11.  Ditto  of  P.  rotundifolia. 
Fig.  12.  Stamen  magnified  of  P.  umhellata. 
Fig.  13.  Ditto  of  P.  maculata. 


:c£iz 


i    f    « 


3^5 


% 


lJ 


(l^///uA<f/^/  ///'V////^A'/A/. 


GAULTHEEIA  PROCUMBENS. 


Partridge  Berry, 


PLATE  XXIL 


T 


HERE  is  no  soil  so  inhospitable,  that  it  does 
not  afford  the  means  of  sustenance  and  growth  to 
some  vegetable  tenant.  The  most  arid  and  penu- 
rious spots  of  earth  not  only  give  support  to  a 
variety  of  plants,  but  they  are  even  selected  by 
certain  species,  which  make  them  their  perma- 
nent residence,  and  thrive  better  in  tlie  midst  of 
poverty  and  drought  than  they  could  in  the  most 
fertile  and  luxuriant  situations.  The  Gaultberia 
procumbens  is  one  of  those  hardy  and  abstemious 
plants,  wbich  are  better  satisfied  with  the  clear  air 
of  the  mountains,  than  with  a  deep  or  mellow 
soil.  It  is  found  growing  in  large  beds  under  the 
shade  of  shrubs  and  trees  upon  elevated  tracts  of 
ground,  or  upon  the  sand  and  gravel  of  the  driest 
forests.     Its  bright  evergreen  leaves  seem  adapt- 


28  GAULTHERIA  PROCUMBENS. 

eel  for  ready  absorption  and  slow  perspiration,  so 
that  it  derives  from  the  dews  and  rain,  what  the 
earth  ftiils  to  siipplj  it. 

The  Gaultheria  procumbens  is  remarkable  for 
the  different  periods  of  producing  its  flowers  and 
fruit.  It  is  found  in  blossom  not  only  in  the 
early  part  of  spring,  but  in  the  last  weeks  of  sum- 
mer, and  the  fruit  is  found  ripe  at  corresponding 
periods.  Whether  this  appearance  is  the  product 
of  different  shoots,  or  whether  the  same  stems 
blossom  twice  in  a  year,  I  am  unable  to  say.  I 
liave,  however,  met  with  beds  of  the  Gaultheria 
in  full  flower  in  August  and  September,  quite  as 
frequently  as  in  May.  1  have  also  seen  the  fruit 
in  the  market  at  various  periods  of  the  summer, 
fall,  and  spring. 

The  plant  takes  its  vulgar  names  from  the 
fruit,  and  is  denominated  in  different  parts  of  the 
United  States,  Partridge  herry,  Chequer  berry, 
Box  berry,  t^c.  Its  domestic  use  has  also  given 
it  the  name  of  Mountain  tea. 

The  genus  Gaultheria  is  beautifully  singular 
and  distinct  in  its  character,  derived  from  the 
form  of  its  fruit.  The  calyx  is  jive  cleft,  caly- 
culateil,  or  bihracteate  at  base.  Corolla  ovate. 
Capsule  five  celled,  invested  with  the  baccated 
calyx. 


PARTRIDGE  BERRY.  89 

The  species  procumhens  has  a  prostrate  stem 
with  ascending  branches.  Leaves  in  a  terminal 
tuft,  obovate  with  a  few  ciliate  serratnres.  Flowers 
axillary. 

Class  JDecandria,  order  Monogynia,  Natural 
orders  Bicornes  Linn.     Ericce  Juss, 

The  stem,  or  as  it  might  he  called  root  of  this 
plant  is  horizontal,  woody,  often  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  in  thickness.  The  branches  ai*e  ascending, 
but  a  few  inches  high,  round  and  somewhat 
downy.  Leaves  scattered,  near  the  extremities  of 
the  branches,  evergreen,  coriaceous,  shining,  oval 
or  obovate,  acute  at  both  ends,  revolute  at  the 
edge,  and  furnished  with  a  few  small  serratures, 
each  terminating  in  a  bristle.  Flowers  axillary, 
drooping,  on  round  downy  stalks.  Outer  calyx  of 
two  concave,  heart  shaped  leafets,  which  may  with 
perhaps  more  propriety  be  called  bractes.  Inner 
calyx  monophyllous,  white,  cleft  into  five  roundish 
subacute  segments.  Corolla  white,  urceolate,  five 
angled,  contracted  at  the  mouth,  the  border  divid- 
ed into  five  short,  reflexed  segments.  Filaments 
white,  hairy,  bent  in  a  semicircular  manner  to  ac- 
commodate themselves  to  the  cavity  between  the 
corolla  and  germ.  Anthers  oblong,  orange  col- 
oured, ending  in  two  double  horns,  bursting  out- 
wardly, for  their  whole  length  above  the  filamentS; 


30  GAULTHERIA  PROCUMBENS. 

and  not  openin^^  hy  pores  as  in  Pyrola.  Pollen 
white.  Germ  roundish,  depressed,  five  angled, 
resting  on  a  reddish,  ten  toothed,  glandular  ring. 
Style  erect,  straight.  Stigma  simple,  moist.  The 
fruit  is  a  small,  five  celled  capsule,  invested  with 
the  calyx,  which  becomes  large,  round,  and  fleshy, 
having  the  appearance  of  a  bright  scarlet  berry. 

If  the  aroma  or  odour  and  also  the  taste  of 
plants  were  susceptible  of  description  in  as  defi- 
nite language  as  tlieir  proportions  and  form,  the 
sensible  qualities  of  many  vegetables  might  afibrd 
new  grounds  for  generalizing  and  combining  them 
too-ether.  The  aromatic  flavour  of  the  Partridije 
berry,  which  cannot  easily  be  mistaken  by  those 
who  have  once  tasted  it,  may  be  recognised  in  a 
variety  of  other  plants,  whose  botanical  habits  arc 
very  dissimilar.  It  exists  very  exactly  in  some 
of  the  other  species  of  the  same  genus,  particu- 
larly in  Gaiiltheria  hispidula ;  also  in  Spirwa  ulma- 
ria  and  the  root  of  Spircea  lobata.  It  is  particu- 
larly distinct  in  the  bark  of  the  Sweet  birch, 
Betula  lenta,  one  of  our  most  useful  and  interest- 
ing trees. 

This  taste  and  odour  reside  in  a  volatile  oil, 
which  is  easily  separated  by  distillation.  The 
essential  oil  of  Gaultheria,  which  is  often  kept  in 
our  druggists'  shops,  is  of  a  pale  or  greenish  white 


PARTRIDGE  BERRY.  31 

colour  ami  perfectly  transparent.  It  is  one  of  the 
heaviest  of  the  volatile  oils,  and  sinks  rapidly  in 
water  if  a  sufficient  quantity  be  added  to  overcome 
the  repulsion  of  two  heterogeneous  fluids.  Its 
taste  is  aromatic,  sweet  and  highly  pungent. 

The  oil  appears  to  contain  the  chief  medicinal 
virtue  of  the  plant,  since  I  know  of  no  case  in 
which  the  leaves,  deprived  of  their  aroma,  have 
been  employed  for  any  purpose.  They  are  nev- 
ertheless considerably  astringent,  and  exhibit  the 
usual  evidences  of  this  property  when  combined 
with  preparations  of  iron. 

The  berries,  or  berry-like  calyces,  have  a  pulpy 
but  rather  dry  consistence,  and  a  strong  flavour 
of  the  plant.  They  are  esteemed  by  some  persons, 
but  are  hardly  palatable  enough  to  be  considered 
esculent.  In  the  colder  seasons  they  afford  food 
to  the  partridges  and  some  other  wild  animals. 

The  leaves,  the  essence  and  the  oil  of  this 
plant  are  kept  for  use  in  the  apotliecaries'  shops. 
An  infusion  of  the  leaves  has  been  used  to  com- 
municate an  agreeable  flavour  to  tea,  also  as  a 
substitute  for  that  article  by  people  in  the  country. 
Some  physicians  have  prescribed  it  medicinally  as 
an  emmenagogue,  with  success  in  cases  attended 
with  debility.  The  oil,  though  somewhat  less  pun- 
gent than  those  of  peppermint  and  origanum,  is 


3S  GAULTHERIA  PROCUMBENS. 

employed  for  the  same  purposes.  It  shai^es  with 
them  the  property  of  diminishing  the  sensihility 
of  the  nerve  exposed  hy  a  carious  tooth,  when 
repeatedly  applied.  The  essence,  consisting  of 
the  volatile  oil  dissolved  in  alcohol  or  proof  spirit, 
is  antispasmodic  and  diaphoretic,  and  may  be 
applied  in  all  cases  where  warm  or  cordial  stimu- 
lants are  indicated.  A  tincture,  formed  by  digest- 
ing the  leaves  in  spirit,  possesses  the  astringency 
as  well  as  warmth  of  the  plant,  and  has  been  use- 
fully employed  in  diarrhoea. 

A  respectable  physician  of  Boston  informs  me, 
that  he  has  in  various  instances  found  the  infu- 
sion of  this  plant  very  effectual  in  promoting  the 
mammary  secretion,  when  deficient ;  and  even  in 
restoring  that  important  function  after  it  had  been, 
for  some  time  suspended.  Whether  the  medi- 
cine has  any  specific  influence  of  this  sort,  inde- 
pendent of  the  general  state  of  the  patient's  health, 
I  am  not  prepared  to  say. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Gaultheria  procumbens,  Linn.  Sp,  pi. — Michaux,  Flor,  i.  p. 
249. — PuRSH,  i.  283. — Nuttall,  Gen.  i.  263. — Andrews,  Bot, 
Repository f  t.  116. — "Wllld.  drb.  123.— Vitis  Idsea  Canadensis 
Pyrolse  folio,  Tournefort,  InsU  608. — Anonyma  pedunculis 
arcuatis,  Golden,  JVoveb,  98. 


PARTRIDGE  BERRY.  33 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 
KjilM,  Jimoenitates  Academicce,  iii.  14. — Bart.  Coll.  i.  19. 

PLATE  XXir. 

Fig.  1.  Gaultheria  procumbens. 

Fig.  2.  The  trades  or  outer  calyx. 

Fig.  3.  The  true  calyx. 

Fig,  4.  Stamen  of  the  natural  size. 

Fig.  5.  .Anther  magnified,  the  dark  places  shelving  the  mode  of 

opening. 
Fig.  6.  Calyx  and  pistil. 
Fig.  7,  Fruit. 

Fig.  8.  Longitudinal  section  of  the  fruit. 
Fig.  9.  Transverse  section  of  the  capsule. 


PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM. 


May  Apple, 


PLATE  XXIU, 


T 


HE  Podophyllum  peltatiim  or  May  apple, 
otherwise  called  Mandrake  in  this  country,  in- 
habits low  shadj  situations  from  New  England  to 
Geoi'gia.  On  the  Atlantic  coast  I  have  never 
met  with  it  farther  north  than  Boston,  yet  in  the 
interior  of  the  country  it  has  a  more  extensive 
range.  From  its  large  creeping  roots,  it  has  a 
great  tendency  to  multiply,  and  is  always  found 
in  beds  of  greater  or  less  extent.  Its  flowering 
time  is  from  IMarch  to  May. 

This  plant  is  one  of  the  Baimnculacem  of  Jus- 
sieu  and  Mhoeades  of  Linnjeus  ;  and  is  in  the  first 
order  of  the  Class  Polyandria. 

Its  generic  character  consists  in  a  calya?  of 
three  leaves ;  from  siVi?  to  nine  petals ;  and  a  one-cel- 
led berry  croivned  with  the  stigma.     Only  one  spe- 


ri.j.riJi 


■"^f^^^ 


r* 


MAY  APPLE.  35 

cies  is  at  present  known  which  strictly  hclongs  to 
the  genus. 

The  May  apple  has  a  jointed  running  root 
about  half  the  size  of  the  finger,  hy  which  it 
spreads  extensively  in  rich  grounds,  where  it  gets 
introduced.  The  stem  is  about  a  foot  in  height,  and 
invested  at  its  base  by  the  sheaths  which  covered 
it  when  in  bud.  It  is  smooth,  round  and  erect, 
dividing  at  top  into  two  round  petioles  from  three 
to  six  inches  long.  Each  petiole  supports  a  large 
peltate,  palmate  leaf,  smooth  above,  slightly  pu- 
bescent beneath,  deeply  divided  into  about  seven 
lobes,  which  are  wedge  shaped,  two  parted  and 
toothed  at  the  extremity.  On  the  inside  the  leaf  is 
cleft  almost  to  the  petiole.  In  barren  stems  which 
support  but  one  leaf  this  does  not  take  place,  and 
the  leaf  is  very  perfectly  peltate.  In  the  fork  of 
the  stem  is  a  solitary  flower  on  a  round  nodding 
peduncle  one  or  two  inches  long.  Calyx  of  three 
oval,  obtuse,  concave  leaves,  cohering  in  the  bud 
by  their  scarious  margins,  and  breaking  off  at 
base  when  the  flower  expands.  Petals  from  six 
to  nine.  Linnaeus  makes  them  nine  in  his  gene- 
ric character,  but  in  this  climate  I  have  found 
them  more  frequently  seven  even  in  laxuriant 
specimens  growing  in  very  rich  soil.  They  are 
obovate,  obtuse,  concave,  smooth,  white  with  slight 


36  PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM. 

transparent  veins.  Stamens  shorter  than  the  pe*- 
tals,  curving  up^vards  ;  the  anthers  ohlong,  twice 
as  long  as  their  filaments.  Germ  oval,  compress- 
ed, obscm'ely  ang'ular.  Stigma  nearly  sessile, 
convex,  its  surface  rendered  irregular  hy  nume- 
rous convolutions  and  folds.  The  flower  is  suc- 
ceeded by  a  large  ovate  yellowish  fruit,  which  is 
one  ceiled,  many  seeded  and  crowned  with  the 
stigma.  Its  early  period  of  ripening  has  given 
rise  to  the  trivial  name  of  May  apple. 

The  dried  root  of  the  May  apple  is  fragile  and 
easily  reduced  to  powder.  It  has  a  peculiar  and 
ratlier  unpleasant  taste,  but  without  much  acri- 
mony. When  chewed  for  some  time,  it  manifests 
a  strong  bitter  taste.  Both  the  tincture  and  de- 
coction are  intensely  bitter.  When  water  is  add- 
ed to  the  alcoholic  solution  the  mixture  becomes 
very  gradually  turbid,  and  at  length  opaque.  On 
the  other  hand,  alcohol  disturbs  both  the  infusion 
and  decoction,  especially  the  latter,  in  which  it 
produces,  after  some  time,  a  pearly  whiteness. 
The  tj'ials  I  have  made  with  it  lead  me  to  con- 
clude that  it  contains  a  resin,  a  bitter  extractive 
matter,  ftecuia  and  a  slight  proportion  of  a  gummy 
substance. 

The  medicinal  properties  of  the  Podophyllum 
peltalum  are  those  of  a  sure  and  active  cathartic. 


MAY  APPLE.  37 

in  which  character  it  deserves  a  high  rank  among 
our  indigenous  productions.  We  hH\e  liardly  any 
native  plant  which  answers  hetter  the  common 
purposes  of  jalap,  aloes  and  rhuharb,  and  which 
is  more  safe  and  mild  in  its  operation.  Tlie  root 
is  the  part  to  be  employed,  and  should  be  given 
in  substance  in  fine  powder.  I  have  commonly 
found  twenty  grains  to  operate  with  efficacy,  and 
not  to  be  attended  with  pain  or  inconvenience. 
In  irritable  stomachs  it  sometimes  occasions  nau- 
sea and  vomiting,  but  this  effect,  as  is  well  known, 
may  ensue  from  any  cathartic  medicine.  The  late 
Professor  Barton  informs  us,  that  although  the 
root  is  an  excellent  cathartic,  the  leaves  are  poi- 
sonous, and  the  whole  plant  has  something  of  a 
narcotic  quality.  Its  botanical  affinities  would 
justify,  a  priori,  a  suspicion  of  this  kind.  In  the 
various  trials  which  I  have  made  with  it,  I  have 
not  observed  any  such  property  in  the  root.  The 
leaves  I  have  never  subjected  to  experiment  for 
any  purpose. 

The  fruit  is  acid  and  agreeable  to  the  taste  of 
many  persons.  It  is  sometimes  called  wild  lem- 
ons, and  is  eaten  with  impunity. 

The  root  is  said  by  some  physicians  to  be  a 
medicine  particularly  suited  to  dropsy.     It  has 


38  PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM. 

also  had  the  character  in  the  Southern  States  of 
curing  intermittent  fever. 

A  physician  in  Albany  informs  me  that  the 
Shakers  at  Lebanon,  N.  Y.  prepare  an  extract  of 
the  PodophyUum,  which  is  much  esteemed  by 
medical  practitioners  as  a  mild  cathartic.  These 
people  are  well  known  to  our  druggists  by  the 
care  and  neatness  with  which  they  prepare  a  va- 
riety of  medicines  from  native  and  naturalized 
pharmaceutical  plants. 

For  medicinal  use  the  root  of  the  May  apple 
is  advised  to  be  dug  in  the  cold  season,  w  hen  veg- 
etation is  not  active,  viz.  in  the  autumn  and  win- 
ter. At  this  part  of  the  year  the  secretions  of 
perennial  plants  are  concentrated  in  their  roots, 
and  the  same  weight  of  their  substance  is  less  di- 
luted with  the  watery  or  ascending  sap,  than  it 
is  at  any  other  period.  This  constitutes  a  rea- 
son why  the  roots  of  all  perennial  plants  should, 
as  far  as  practicable,  be  taken  up  during  the  cold 
season.  But  from  what  I  have  been  able  to  ob- 
serve, the  difference  of  their  virtue  in  different 
months  is  much  less  than  is  commonly  supposed. 
I  never  knew  a  medicinal  plant  whose  efficacy 
was  destroyed  in  consequence  of  being  taken  up 
even  at  midsummer,  although  it  may  be  in  some 
degree  lessened.     It  is  probable  that  those  roots 


MAY  APPLE.  30 

which  constitute  staple  articles  of  commerce,  as 
ipecac,  gentian,  rhuharh,  §c.  are  gathered  indis- 
criminately for  exportation  at  all  seasons  when 
they  are  to  be  found.  Being  collected  by  savages 
or  by  ignorant  persons,  who  seek  for  them  in  their 
native  wilds,  and  who  are  not  much  interested  in 
their  future  efficacy ;  it  is  probable  they  would  be 
gathered  in  greatest  quantities  when  their  vege- 
tation was  most  luxuriant,  because  at  this  time 
their  shoots  and  tops  would  be  most  conspicuous. 
We  know  this  to  be  the  case  with  our  Ginseng, 
Spigelia,  Snake  root,  ^c.  which  form  considerable 
articles  of  exportation,  and  which  it  would  be  dif- 
ficult to  find  at  any  other  than  the  vegetating  sea- 
son.* 

*  Annual  plants  should  be  gathered  at  the  time  when  their  veg- 
etation is  most  vigorous,  which  is  generally  from  the  time  they  begin 
to  flower,  until  the  leaves  begin  to  change.  The  leaves  contain  the 
greatest  activity  in  most  annual  plants  employed  for  medicine,  while 
the  root  is  a  comparatively  insignificant  part,  being  small,  woody  and 
fibrous.  Thus  the  leaves  of  Stramonium  and  Tobacco  are  much  more 
active  than  the  root. 

Biennial  jjlayits  shovild,  in  most  instances,  be  gathered  in  the 
second  season  of  their  growth,  and  about  the  time  of  flowering.  The 
leaves  of  these  plants  also  contain  their  medicinal  activity,  as  in  Hem- 
lock and  Henbane.  The  roots  are  medicinal,  but  usually  in  a  less 
degree.  In  some  aromatic  Wennials,  the  seeds  are  the  most  impor- 
tant part  of  the  plant. 


40  PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Podophyllum  peltatura,  Listn.  Sp.  pi. — Michaux,  Flora,  i. 
309. — PuRSH,  ii.  366. — Lamarck,  Illust.  geiu — Trew,  Ehret.  t, 
29. — Anapodophyllura  Canadense,  Catesbt,  Car.  i.  24. — Aco- 
nitifoliiis  humilis  &c.  Meistz.  pug,  t.  11. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHoePF,  86 — B.  S.  Barton,  edit,  of  Cullen,  375. — Thach- 
EE,  Disp.  307. — Chapman,  Mat.  Med.  209. 

PLATE  XXIII. 

Fig.  1.  PodophAjllum  peltatnm. 

Fig.  2.  Caltjx, 

Fig.  3.  Stamens, 

Fig.  4.  Germ  and  stigma. 

Fig.  5,  Fruit. 


^wif^- 


S^S} 


vj 


a         V 


-^2^. 


>(H^^'' 


<■  /ri^a^      /ar/^?/^('.j 


ICTODES  FCETIDUS. 


Skunh  Cabbage. 


PLJITE  xxir. 


JLhis  is  one  of  our  most  noticeable  plants, 
both  from  the  frequency  of  its  occurrence  and  the 
peculiarity  of  its  sensible  properties.  Scarcely  a 
swamp  or  meadow  is  found  in  the  middle  and 
northern  parts  of  the  United  States  in  which  this 
vegetable  may  not  be  discovered  at  a  distance,  es- 
pecially in  the  spring  season,  by  its  large  tufts  of 
rank,  crowded  leaves.  Its  singular  flowers  are 
among  the  first  which  break  from  the  ground, 
after  the  rigours  of  winter,  appearing  in  diiferent 
latitudes,  from  February  to  April.  The  vegeta- 
tion is  rapid,  so  that  in  most  instances  the  fruit  is 
ripe  and  the  leaves  wholly  decayed  before  the  end 
of  xVugust.  From  this  precocity  of  the  plant  to- 
gether with  the  depth  to  w  hich  the  roots  pene- 
trate the  earth,  it  seems  calculated  to  bear  the 
6 


42  ICTODES  FtETIDtS. 

cold  of  high  latitudes.  I  have  found  the  flowers  a 
second  time  formed,  and  shooting  from  the  ground 
in  November.  The  strong  and  unpleasant  odour 
which  ever  J  part  of  the  plant  emits  on  being 
broken,  and  which  is  precisely  similar  to  that  of 
the  Viverra  mephitis ;  has  given  it  by  an  almost 
common  consent,  in  every  part  of  the  country,  the 
appellations  of  Skunk  weed  and  Skunk  cabbage. 
The  structure  of  this  singular  vegetable  has 
caused  it  successively  to  be  assigned  to  the  gene- 
ra Arum,  Bracontium  and  Pothos,  with  none  of 
w  hich  it  fully  agrees.  Of  the  Aroidese,  to  which 
it  is  related,  it  approaches  most  nearly  in  its  flow- 
er to  Pothos ;  while  its  fruit  has  more  aflinity  to 
Orontium.  The  Tie  v.  Dr.  Cutler  many  years  ago, 
in  the  Transactions  of  the  American  Academy, 
pointed  out  the  distinctive  characters  of  this  plant, 
and  pronounced  it  a  new  genus.  No  name,  how- 
ever, substantiated  by  a  character,  has  to  my  know  1- 
edgc  been  given  it,  in  any  botanical  work,  except 
the  name  of  Sijmplo carpus,  a  term  lately  adopted 
by  some  xlmerican  botanists  on  the  alleged  au- 
thority of  Mr.  Salisbury.  As  this  name  by  its  ety- 
iiiolojicy  implies  a  resemblance  of  the  fruit  to 
Symplocos,  a  genus  with  which  the  plant  has  not 
the  least  affinity  ;  it  appears  to  me  inadmissible. 
Although  I  am  averse  to  multiply  the  confusion 


SKUNK  CABBAGE.  43 

of  synonyms,  with  which  our  science  is  already 
too  much  burdened,  yet  in  the  present  instance 
an  appropriate  name,  which  shouhl  not  he  at  va- 
riance with  the  character  of  the  plant,  appeared  to 
be  required.  With  the  advice  of  the  venerable  Dr. 
Cutler,  I  have  translated,  as  nearly  as  possible, 
the  common  English  appellation  for  the  plant. 
The  name  Ictodes  from  tfcrig,  viverra,  and  c^o, 
oleo  ;  is  sufficiently  expressive  of  the  property 
from  which  its  common  name  is  derived. 

The  genus  Ictodes  has  for  its  character  a 
hooded  spathe,  spadicc  covered  with  perfect  Jfow- 
ers,  calya?  tviih  four  segments,  petals  none,  style 
pyramidal,  seeds  immersed  in  the  spadi^r.  Only 
the  present  plant  can  be  assigned  to  this  genus. 
It  belongs  to  Tetrandria,  monogijnia ;  and  is  found 
among  the  Piperita  of  Linnaeus  and  Aroidece  of 
Jussieu.  The  root  is  large  and  abrupt,  with  nu- 
merous, croAvded,  fleshy  fibres.  The  spathe  which 
emerges  from  the  ground  some  time  before  the 
leaves,  is  ovate,  swelling,  various  in  width,  cucul- 
late,  spotted  and  sometimes  nearly  covered  with 
dull  brownish  purple,  the  top  acuminate  and  in- 
curved, the  edges  infolded,  auriculate  at  base,  and 
at  length  coalescing.  Within  this  is  the  oval 
spadix,  on  a  short  peduncle,  covered  with  perfect 
tetrandrous  flowers,  and  of  the  same  colour  ^vitli 


44;  ICTODES  FCETIDUS. 

the   spathe.      Calyx  leaves   four,  fleshy,   wedge 
shaped,  truncate,  the  top  and  edges  inflected,  the 
whole  crowded  together  so  as  to  form  a  compact 
covering  for  the  spadix.     Stamens  four,  opposite 
the  calyx  leaves,  with  subulate  filaments  equal  in 
length  to  the  calyx,  and  oblong  four  celled  anthers. 
Style  four  sided,  tapering  ;  stigma  minute,  pubes- 
cent ;  germ  roundish,  concealed  within  the  spadix. 
After  the  spathe  decays,  the  spadix  continues  to 
grow,  and  with  it  every  part  of  the  flowers  except 
the  anthers.     When  the  fruit  is  ripe,  the  spadix 
has  attained  many  times  its   original  dimensions, 
while  the  calyx,  filaments   and   style   are  larger, 
very  prominent  and  separated  from   each  other. 
Within  the  spadix  at  the  base  of  each  style  is   a 
round,  fleshy  seed,  as  large  as  a  pea,  white,  tinged 
with  green  and  purple,  invested  with  a  separate 
membranous  coat,  and  with  a  prominent  corcu- 
lum  situated  in  a  depression  at  top. 

The  leaves  which  spring  up  some  time  after 
the  flowers  are  numerous,  large  and  crowded,  ob- 
long heart  shaped,  acute,  smootli,  with  numerous 
fleshy  veins  of  a  paler  colour.  They  spring  from 
the  root  on  long  petioles,  hollowed  in  front,  and 
furnished  with  large  oblong  slieaths.  They  con- 
tinue to  increase  in  size  for  a  month  or  two  after 
the  flowering  period  is  past. 


SKUNK  CABBAGE.  45 

3Ir.  Nuttall,  who  lias  observed  the  germination 
of  this  plant,  informs  us  that  the  seed  does  not  ap- 
pear to  possesss  any  other  cotyledon,  than  a 
sheathing  stipule,  similar  to  that  whieh  is  after- 
wards produced  in  the  plant.  The  principle  hulk 
of  the  seed  is  formed  hy  >vhat  he  considers  a 
vitellus,  having  the  emhryo  exactly  resembling 
the  future  plant,  situated  in  an  umbilical  depres- 
sion at  its  top.  The  attachment  of  this  body  to 
the  embryo  is  at  first  by  a  minute  funiculus, 
which  enlarges  and  becomes  more  distinct  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  germination  ;  but  the  most  sin- 
gular cu'cumstance  respecting  it  is  tlie  length  of 
time  for  which  it  continues  attached  to  tlie  grow- 
ing plant,  apparently  inert  at  the  base  of  the  can- 
dex  for  twelve  or  even  eighteen  months. 

The  oifensive  and  powerful  odour  which  char- 
acterizes this  plant  is  not  peculiar  to  it.  The 
fruit  of  some  of  the  ^orth  American  currants,  and 
particularly  Bihes  rigens  of  Michaux,  a  species 
often  met  with  on  the  high  mountains  of  the  East- 
ern States  ;  emits  when  bruised  a  scent  exactly 
similar  to  this  vegetable. 

The  odour  of  the  Ictodes  resides  in  a  princi- 
ple which  is  extremely  volatile.  I  have  not  been 
able  to  separate  it  by  distillation  from  any  part  of 
the  plant,  the  decoction  and  the  distilled  water  be- 


46  ICTODES  FCETIDUS. 

ing  in  my  experiments  but  slightly  impregnated 
with  its  sensible  character.  Alcohol,  digested  on 
the  plant,  retains  its  odour  for  a  time,  but  this  is 
soon  dissipated  by  exposure  to  the  air. 

An  acrid  principle  exists  in  the  root  even 
when  perfectly  dry,  producing  an  effect  like  that 
of  the  Arum  and  Ranunculi.  When  chewed  in 
the  mouth,  the  root  is  slow  in  manifesting  its  pe- 
culiar taste  ;  but  after  some  moments,  a  pricking 
sensation  is  felt,  which  soon  amounts  to  a  disa- 
greeable smarting,  and  continues  for  some  time. 
This  acrimony  is  readily  dissipated  by  heat. 
The  decoction  retains  none  of  it.  The  distilled 
water  is  impregnated  with  it,  if  the  process  be 
carefully  conducted,  but  loses  it  on  standing  a 
short  time. 

A  resinous  substance  is  dislodged  from  the 
alcoholic  solution  of  the  root  by  the  addition  of 
water,  the  solution  becoming  moderately  turbid. 
A  gummy  or  mucous  principle  is  also  present, 
and  fills  the  mouth  with  mucilage  when  the  root 
is  chewed.  It  is  separated  from  the  decoction  in 
small /loccuii  wlien  alcohol  is  added. 

The  spadix  consists  of  a  fleshy  cellular  sub- 
stance, which  shrinks  very  much  in  drying.  The 
seeds  when  dry  are  reduced  to  half  their  former 
size,  and  in  this  state  they  have  a  tough  waxy 


SKUNK  CABBAGE.  47 

Consistence  and  an  animal  odour.  They  contain 
fixed  oil  in  abundance,  which  is  easily  forced  out 
from  them  by  expression.  Their  principal  bulk 
appears  to  be  alhumen,  and  when  reduced  to 
powder  they  are  less  easily  soluble  in  boiling 
water,  than  grains  which  are  less  oleaginous. 
They  burn  with  an  oily  smoke,  leaving  behind  a 
large  coal. 

The  sensible  properties  of  the  Ictodes  having 
a  strong  affinity  with  those  of  assafcetida  and  the 
other  foetid  gums,  practitioners  have  been  led  to 
expect  from  it  a  similar  antispasmodic  power. 
Experience  has  justified  these  expectations  in  a 
variety  of  disorders  of  the  spasmodic  and  nervous 
kind.  The  Eev.  Dr.  Cutler  of  Massachusetts 
was  the  first  who  recommended  its  use  in  asth- 
matic cases.  In  his  account  of  indigenous  Amer- 
ican vegetables,  he  tells  us  that  the  roots  dried 
and  powdered  form  an  excellent  remedy  in  asthma, 
and  often  give  relief  when  other  means  prove  in- 
effectual. It  may  be  given,  he  says,  with  safety 
to  children  as  well  as  adults  ;  to  the  former  in  dos- 
es of  four,  five  or  six  grains,  and  to  the  latter  in 
doses  of  twenty  grains  and  upward.  In  a  private 
letter  he  states,  that  he  made  use  of  it  in  his  own 
case  of  asthma  for  several  years,  and  generally 
found  relief     In  the  winter  he  used  the  dried 


48  ICTODES  FCETIDUS.  ^ 

root  in  powder,  and  in  summer,  the  fresh  grated 
root.  It  continued  to  afford  more  reUef  than  any 
other  remedy,  so  long  as  the  paroxysms  remain- 
ed under  the  influence  of  any  medicine.  Since 
the  recommendation  of  Dr.  Cutler,  many  country 
physicians  have  employed  the  root  in  asthma, 
catarrh  and  chronic  coughs,  with  evident  benefit. 
A  number  of  cases  have  fallen  under  my  own  ob- 
servation of  the  catarrh  affections  of  old  people,  in 
which  a  syrup  prepared  from  the  root  in  substance 
has  alleviated  and  removed  the  complaint.  Dr. 
Thachcr  informs  us  on  various  authorities,  that 
the  powdered  root  has  given  immediate  relief  in 
hysteric  paroxysm,  that  it  has  afl'ected  the  cure  of 
dropsy,  and  that  rheumatic  patients  have  found 
great  benefit  from  its  use.  Its  strong  and  pene- 
trating acrimony  would  lead  us,  a  priori^  to  ex- 
pect advantage  from  it  in  these  complaints.  Even 
in  the  more  formidable  disease  of  epilepsy,  it  has 
appeared  to  do  good. 

Some  caution,  hoAveyer,  is  requisite  in  its  man- 
agement, as  serious  inconvenience  may  ensue 
from  an  over  dose.  In  delicate  stomachs  I  have 
found  it  frequently  to  occasion  vomiting  even  in 
a  small  quantity.  In  several  cases  of  gastrodynia 
Avhere  it  was  given  with  a  view  to  its  antispas- 
modic  eflect,  it  was  ejected  from   the  stomach 


SKUNK  CABBAGE.  49 

more  speedily  than  common  cathartic  medicines. 
I  have  known  it  in  a  dose  of  thirty  grains  to  hring 
on  not  only  vomiting,  but  headach,  vertigo  and 
temporary  blindness.  Other  practitioners  have 
given  it  in  larger  quantities  without  any  evil  of 
this  kind,  but  I  think  such  an  exemption  must 
be  attributed  to  the  age  and  deteriorated  quality 
of  the  root.  Its  active  ingredients  being  more  or 
less  volatile,  it  must  necessarily  be  impaired  in 
strength  by  long  keeping,  especially  in  a  pulveriz- 
ed state. 

To  insure  a  tolerably  uniform  activity  of  this 
medicine,  the  root  should  be  kept  in  dried  slices 
and  not  reduced  to  powder  until  it  is  wanted  for 
use.  It  may  then  be  taken  in  pills  or  mixed  with 
syrup  in  doses  of  from  ten  to  twenty  grains. 
These  may  in  most  instances  be  repeated  three 
times  a  day. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Arum  Americanum,  Catesby,  Car.  ii.  t.  71. — Dracontium 
loetidum,  Lin.  Syst.  pi. — W111.D.  ii.  288. — Pothos  foetida,  Mi- 
CHAUX,  Amer.  ii.  186. — Pursh,  ii.  398. — Bot.  Mag.  836. — Sym- 
plocarpus  foetida,  Nuttalx,  genera,  i.  105. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Cutler,  Trans.  Amer,  Acad.  i.  407.  Thacher,  Dispensa- 
tory,  150, 

7 


50  ICTODES  PCETIDTJS. 

PLATE  XXIV. 

Fig.  1.  Idodes  fxtidus  inflow er,  the  spathe  inclosing  the  spadicc. 

Fig.  2.  The  spadix  taken  out  of  the  spatke. 

Fig.  3.  The  leaves,  stalks,  ^c. 

Fig.  4.  The  spadix  in  Jridt,  one  quarter  being  ciit  away  to  shffw 

the  seeds. 
Fig.  5.  A  flower  magnified. 
Fig.  6.  The  same  opened. 
Fig.  7.  Petal  and  Stamen. 
Fig.  8.  Style, 
Fig.  9,  10.  Seeds, 


"^ 


///<r///f 


STATICE  CAROLINIANA. 


Marsh  Mosemary. 


FLdTE  XXV. 


T 


HE  class  of  vegetables,  denominated  mari- 
time, or  sea  sliore  plants,  are  constituted  to  occupy 
extensive  tracts  of  ground,  which,  from  their  im- 
pregnation with  sea  salt,  are  incapable  of  sustain- 
ing the  life  and  growth  of  other  species.  The  mu- 
riate of  soda,  if  poured  at  the  roots  of  the  most  vigo- 
rous plants  belonging  to  a  fresh  soil,  will  often  de- 
stroy them  in  a  short  time.  Few  forest  trees  of  the 
temperate  zones  can  grow  in  marshes  where  their 
roots  are  wholly  exposed  to  the  access  of  salt  wa- 
ter. Yet  such  is  the  wise  arrangement  of  nature, 
that  this  substance,  which  proves  a  poison  to  most 
vegetables,  is  converted  into  the  food  and  necessa- 
ry stimulus  of  the  rest.  Maritime  plants  flourish 
alike  in  places  visited  by  the  tide,  and  those  im- 


5a  STATICE  CAUOLINIANA. 

pregnated  by  the  salt  springs  of  the  interior.  The 
degree  in  which  they  require  the  presence  of  the 
mineral  is  various,  some  growing  upon  the  beach, 
where  the  earth  is  saturated  with  salt,  and  others 
at  the  extreme  edge  of  marshes,  where  the  impreg- 
nation is  much  less  powerful.  With  a  few  excep- 
tions, they  cannot  long  be  cultivated  in  fresh  earth, 
but  soon  decay  when  removed  from  their  native 
marshes. 

Maritime  plants  derive  a  peculiar  character 
from  their  place  of  growth,  which  distinguishes 
them  even  when  dry  from  other  vegetables.  The 
salt  with  which  they  are  impregnated  crystallizes 
on  their  surface  in  dry  weather ;  and  deliquesces 
so  as  to  render  them  damp  and  supple,  when  the 
atmosphere  is  moist.  These  plants  are  trouble- 
some in  an  herbarium  from  the  facility  with  which 
they  contract  moistiu'e  from  the  atmosphere,  and 
communicate  it  to  the  adjacent  papers.  The  hay 
cut  upon  salt  marshes  often  becomes  extremely 
damp,  and  would  be  entirely  spoiled,  were  it  not 
for  the  antiseptic  and  preservative  quality  of  the 
salt.  The  barilla  of  commerce  is  obtained  by  the 
combustion  of  maritime  vegetables. 

Many  of  these  plants  are  thick  and  fleshy  in  their 
mode  of  growth,  and  differ  remarkably  in  this  res- 
pect from  their  co-species  on  dry  ground.     This  is 


MARSH  "ROSEMARY.  tJS 

particularly  seen  in  Arenai-ia,  Gerardia,  Chenopo- 
diuin,  ^c. 

Tlie  vegetable  which  is  the  subject  of  this  ar- 
ticle is  exclusively  a  maritime  plant.  It  is  one  of 
the  few  ornamental  species  in  our  salt  marshes-, 
and  is  very  conspicuous  for  its  purple  tops  ap- 
pearing among  the  grass  in  all  the  summer 
months.  It  varies  from  a  few  inches,  to  a  foot  and 
more  in  height. 

This  species  lias  generally  been  considered  a 
variety  of  the  Statice  limonium,  which  is  a  com- 
mon plant  in  the  salt  marshes  of  Europe.  In- 
deed, several  of  the  maritime  species  of  this  genus 
approach  each  other  so  closely  in  their  characters, 
that  they  have  been  considered  the  same  by  able 
botanists.  Tbe  American  plant,  to  which  the 
name  of  Caroliniana  was  given  by  AV alter  in  his 
Flora  of  Carolina,  is  distinguished  from  the  Eu- 
ropean principally  by  its  smaller  flowers  and  plain 
or  flat  leaves.  From  the  Statice  Gmellni^  an 
Asiatic  species,  it  differs  apparently  still  less  in  its 
general  form. 

The  genus  Statice  belongs  to  the  class  Fentan- 
dria  and  order  Pentagynia,  Its  natural  orders 
are  Aggregatw  of  Linnseus  and  Plumhagines  of 
Jussieu.  It  is  characterized  by  a  calycv  mono- 
phyUous^  plaited  and  scavioiis.     Petals  Jive  ivith 


54i  STATlCE  CAROLINIANA. 

the  Stamens  inserted  in  their  claws.  Seed  one,  in- 
vested with  the  calyx.  The  species  Caroliniana 
has  its  scape  round  and  panicled ;  its  leaves  oho- 
vate-lanceolate,  smooth,  obtuse,  mucronated,  and 
flat  on  the  margin. 

The  root  of  this  plant  is  perennial,  large, 
fleshy,  fusiform  or  branched.  Several  tufts  of 
leaves  and  scapes  are  often  produced  from  the 
same  root.  The  leaves  are  narrow-ob ovate,  sup- 
ported by  long  petioles,  smooth,  veinless,  obtuse, 
mucronated  by  the  prolongation  of  the  middle 
rib,  level  and  flat  on  the  margin,  in  which  respect 
they  differ  from  S.  limonium,  which  is  undulated. 
Scape  round,  smooth,  furnished  with  a  few  scales, 
flexuous  at  top,  giving  off  numerous  branches, 
which  end  in  spikes  of  flowers  ;  the  whole  form- 
ing a  large  panicle.  The  base  of  each  branch  and 
flower  is  supported  by  an  ovate,  mucronated  scale. 
The  flowers  are  alternate,  erect,  consequently  one 
sided  in  the  horizontal  branches  ;  mostly  in  pairs, 
but  appearing  single  from  one  expanding  before 
the  other.  They  grow  on  a  short,  forked  pedun- 
cle, which  is  concealed  by  several  sheathing  scales, 
part  of  which  are  common  to  the  two,  and  part 
peculiar  to  the  upper  one.  The  calyx  is  funnel 
shaped,  five  angled,  the  angles  ciliate  and  end- 
ing in  long  acute  teeth  with  sometimes,  not  al- 


MARSH  UOSEMARY.  55 

ways,  minute  intermediate  teeth.  Tlie  upper 
part  of  the  calyx  is  scarious  and.  of  a  pink  coh>ur. 
Petals  spatulate,  ohtuse,  longer  than  the  calyx, 
pale  bluish  purple.  Stamens  inserted  in  the 
claws  of  the  petals,  anthers  heart  shaped.  Germ 
small,  ohovate,  with  five  ascending  styles  shorter 
than  the  stamens.  Seed  oblong,  invested  with 
the  persistent  calyx. 

The  root,  which  is  the  officinal  part  of  the 
Marsh  Rosemary,  is  one  of  the  most  intense  and 
powerful  astringents  in  the  vegetable  materia 
medica.  It  communicates  to  the  mouth  an  high- 
ly austere  and  astringent  taste,  combined  with  a 
good  deal  of  bitterness.  Few  vegetable  substan- 
ces, when  chemically  treated,  give  more  distinct 
and  copious  evidence  of  the  presence  of  both 
tannin  and  gallic  acid.  The  sulphate  of  iron 
strikes  a  fine  purple  colour  with  the  solution, 
and  soon  deposits  a  precipitate,  which,  on  expo- 
sure to  the  air,  becomes  of  an  inky  blackness. 
Gelatin  also  throws  down  a  copious,  whitish,  in- 
soluble precipitate.  Eesin  hardly  exists  in  this 
root,  nor  any  thing  else  exclusively  soluble  in  al- 
cohol. The  impregnation  with  sea  salt  is  readily 
made  obvious. 

Dr.  Mott,  Professor  of  Surgery  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  New  York,  has  published  an  interesting 


56  STATICE  CAROLINIANA. 

and  valuable  investigation  of  the  properties  of  this 
plant  in  1806.  He  informs  us  that  the  astringen- 
cy,  indicated  by  the  sulphate  of  iron,  was  greater 
in  the  tincture  than  in  the  infusion  under  experi- 
ments precisely  similar ;  from  which  it  may  be 
inferred,  that  alcohol  is  a  better  solvent  for  this 
root  than  water.  He  also  found  the  cold  infusion 
more  powerful  than  the  hot,  a  circumstance  prob- 
ably to  be  accounted  for  by  the  escape  of  a  part 
of  the  gallic  acid  by  evaporation.  The  astringen- 
cy  w  as  found  fully  equal  to  that  of  galls,  and  ink 
made  from  equal  quantities  of  the  two,  similarly 
treated,  was  equal  in  blackness. 

The  Statice  Caroliniana  possesses  much  me- 
dicinal reputation  as  an  astringent,  and  large 
quantities  of  it  are  annually  consumed  in  different 
parts  of  the  United  States.  In  Boston  it  is  reg- 
ularly kept  by  the  druggists,  and  larger  quantities 
are  sold,  than  of  almost  any  indigenous  article. 
It  is  principally  sought  for  as  a  topical  remedy 
in  aphthse  and  other  ulcerative  affections  of  the 
mouth  and  fauces.  From  its  astringent  and  an- 
tiseptic quality,  it  is  peculiarly  suited  to  correct 
tlie  state  of  these  local  maladies,  and  its  applica- 
tion is  commonly  follow  ed  with  success.  It  is 
much  better  suited  to  such  complaints  than  the 
Coptis  trifolia  or  gold  thread,  with  which  it  is 


MARSH  ROSEMARY.  57 

frequently   combined,  and  which  is  only  a  tonic 
bitter  without  astringeney. 

Dr.  Baylies  of  Dighton,  Mass.  employed  a  de- 
coction of  the  root,  both  internally  and  externally, 
in  the  Cynanche  maligna,  a  disease  which  has  at 
times  been  epidemic  and  very  destructive  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  our  country.  It  proved  very  suc- 
cessful not  only  under  his  own  observation,  but 
under  that  of  other  physicians  in  this  dangerous 
complaint. 

Br.  3Iott  informs  us,  that  in  the  chronic  stages 
of  dysentery,  after  tlie  inflammatory  diathesis, 
great  tenesmus,  ^c.  are  removed  ;  a  strong  de- 
coction of  the  root  has  restored  patients  to  health, 
after  various  tonics  and  astringents  had  been  used 
to  no  effect. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Statice  Caroliniana,  Waiter,  Flora  Car.  1 1 8. — Pursh,  i. 
j212. — NuTTAii,  i.  206. — Statice  limonium,  Muhlenberg,  Cat- 
aloguCf  S3. — Elliott,  Carolinaf  i.  374. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

MoTT,  Inaugural  Dissertation. — Thacher,  Disp.  345. — Bay- 
lies., Papers  of  the  Mass.  J)Ied.  Society,  vol.  i, 
8 


58  STATICE  CAROLINIANA, 

PLATE  XXY. 

Fig.  1,  Statice  Caroliniana, 
Fig.  2.  A  Jlower  magnijied. 
Fig.  3.  Calyx  ditto. 

Fig.  4.  A  petal  and  stamen  ditto. 
Fig.  5,  Germ  and  styles  ditto. 


I'-HT 


ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA. 


Butterjly  Weed, 


PLATE  XXVI, 


F 


EW  genera  are  more  curious  and  intricate 
in  their  structure,  than  that  to  which  our  present 
article  belongs.  The  plants  which  constitute  tlie 
family  of  Asclepias  are  so  peculiar  in  their  habit, 
that  they  are  easily  recognized  even  by  the  inex- 
perienced botanist,  while  their  minute  structure 
is  so  complicated,  as  to  require  not  a  little  atten- 
tion for  its  perfect  development.  This  fine  race 
of  plants  are  so  abundant  in  the  United  States, 
that  every  month  of  the  summer  season  presents 
us  a  number  of  beautiful  species.  By  far  the 
most  rich  and  gaudy  of  these  in  appearance  is  tbe 
Asclepias  tuberosa,  known  by  the  vulgar  names 
of  Butterjly  weed  and  Pleurisy  root,  and  found  in 
dry,  sandy  soils,  pine  woods,  ^c.  from  Massachu- 


60  ASCLEPIAS  TURBEllOSA. 

setts  to  Georgia.     It  is  the  Asclepias  decumbens 
of  Walter. 

This  genus  has  a  jive  parted  calya^ ;  a  five  parU 
ed  rejiexed  corolla  ;  a  nectary  of  five  erect,  cucul- 
late  leaves,  each  producing  an  brflected  horn  from 
its  cavity  ;  stamens  united,  with  ten  pollen  masses 
hanging  by  pairs  in  their  cavities.  The  species 
tuberosais  ha'ry,  its  leaves  alternate,  oblong-lance- 
olate ;  its  branches  cymose. 

Class  Pentandria,  order  Digynia,  Natural  or- 
ders Contortw,  L.  Apocinece,  Juss. 

The  root  of  tliis  plant  is  large,  fleshy,  brancii- 
ing,  and  often  somewhat  fusiform.     It  is  only  by 
comparison  with  the  other  species  tisat  it  can  be 
called  tuberous.     The  stems  are  numerous,  grow- 
ing in  bunches  from  the  root.      They  are  erect, 
ascending  or  procumbent,  round,  hairy,  green  or 
red.     Leaves  scattered,  the  lower  ones  peduncu- 
lated, the  upper  ones  sessile.     They  are  narrow, 
oblong,  hairy,  obtuse  at  base,  waved  on  the  edge, 
and  in  the  old  plants  sometimes  revolute.     The 
stem  usually  divides  at  top  mto  from  two  to  four 
brandies,  which   give  off  crowded  umbels  from 
their  npper  side.     The  involucrum  consists  of  nu- 
merous, short,  subulate  leafets.     Flowers  nume- 
rous, erect,  of  a  beautifully  bright  orange  colour. 
Calyx  much  smaller  than  the  corolla,  live  parted, 


BUTTERFLY  WEED.  61 

the  segments  subulate,  reflexed  and  concealed  by 
the  corolla.     Corolla  five  parted,  reflexed,  the  seg- 
ments oblong.     The  nectary  or  stamineal  crown 
is  formed  of  five  erect,  cucullate  leaves  or  cups, 
with  an  oblique  mouth,  having  a  small,  incurved, 
acute  horn  proceeding  from  the  base  of  the  cavity 
of  each  and  meethig  at  the  centre  of  the  flower. 
The  mass  of  stamens  is  a  tough,  horny,  somewhat 
pyramidal  substance,  separable  into  five  anthers. 
Each  of  these  is  bordered  by  membranous,  reflect- 
ed edges  contiguous  to  those  of  the  next,  and  ter- 
minated by  a  membranous,  reflected  summit.    In- 
ternally they  have  two  cells.      The  pollen  forms 
ten  distinct,  yellowish,  transparent  bodies,  of  aflat 
and  spatulate   form,  ending  in  curved  filaments, 
which  unite  them  by  pairs  to  a  minute  dark  tuber- 
cle at  top.     Each  pair  is  suspended  in  the  cells  of 
two  adjoining   anthers,  so  that  if  a  needle  be  in- 
serted between  the  membranous  edges  of  two  an- 
thers and  forced  out  at  top,  it  carries  with  it  a  pair 
of  the  pollen  masses.     Pistils  two,  completely  con- 
cealed within  the  mass  of  anthers.     Germs  ovate, 
with  erect  styles.     The  fruit,  as  ^in    other   spe- 
cies, is  an  erect  lanceolate  follicle  on  a  sigmoid  pe- 
duncle.    In  this  it  is  green,  with  a  reddish  tinge 
and  downy.     Seeds  ovate,  flat,  margined,  connect- 
ed to  the  receptacle  by  long  silken  hairs,     liecep- 
taclc  longitudinal,  loose,  chaflTy. 


63  ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA. 

The  down  or  silk  of  the  seeds,  in  this  and  oth- 
er species,  furnishes  an  admirable  mechanism  for 
their  dissemination.  When  the  seeds  are  liberat- 
ed by  the  bursting  of  the  follicle  which  contains 
them,  the  silken  fibres  immediately  expand  so  as 
to  form  a  sort- of  globe  of  branching  and  highly 
attenuated  rays,  with  the  seed  suspended  at  its  cen- 
tre. In  this  state  they  are  elevated  by  the  wind 
to  an  indefinite  height,  and  carried  forward  with 
a  voyage  like  that  of  a  balloon,  until  some  obstacle 
intercepts  their  flight,  or  rain  precipitates  them  to 
the  ground. 

The  down  of  different  species  of  Asclepias  is 
susceptible  of  application  to  various  useful  and  or- 
namental purposes.  If  the  fibre  were  sufficiently 
long  to  admit  of  its  being  woven  or  spun,  it  would  ap- 
proach more  closely  to  silk  in  its  gloss  and  texture, 
than  any  vegetable  product  we  possess.  As  it  is, 
it  has  been  substituted  for  fur,  in  the  manufacture 
of  hats,  and  for  feathers  in  beds  and  cushions. 
When  attached  by  its  ends  to  any  woven  fabric, 
this  down  forms  a  beautiful  imitation  of  the  finest 
and  softest  fur  skins,  and  is  applicable  to  various 
purposes  of  dress.  The  Asclepias  Syriaca,  from 
its  frequency  and  the  large  size  of  its  pods,  has 
been  most  frequently  employed  for  the  foregoing 
purposes.     [JSTote  A.] 


BUTTERFLY  WEED.  63 

TJie  root  of  the  Butterfly  ^vecd  when  dry  is 
brittle  and  easily  reduced  to  powder.  Its  taste  is 
moderately  bitter,  but  not  otherwise  unpleasant. 
Its  most  abundant  solul)le  portions  are  a  bitter  ex- 
tractive matter  and  fa?cula.  ^No  evidence  of  as- 
tringency  is  afforded  on  adding  solutions  of  isin- 
glass or  copperas,  and  hardly  any  traces  of  resin 
on  adding  water  to  alcohol  digested  on  the  root. 
The  decoction  afforded  a  flaky  precipitate  to  alco- 
hol, when  tlie  infusion  did  not.  Boiling  water 
may  be  considered  the  proper  menstruum  for  this 
plant. 

This  fine  vegetable  is  eminently  intitled  to  the 
attention  of  physicians  as  an  expectorant  and  dia- 
phoretic.    It  produces  effects  of  this   kind  with 
great  gentleness,  and  without  the  heating  tenden- 
cy which  accompanies  many  vegetable  sudorifics. 
It  has  been  long  employed  by  practitioners  in  the 
Southern  States  in  pulmonary  complaints,  particur 
larly  in  catarrh,  pneumonia  and  pleurisy,  and  has 
acquired  much  confidence  for  the   relief  of  these 
maladies.     It  appears  to  be  an  expectorant  pecu- 
liarly suited  to  the  advanced  stages  of  pulmonary 
inflammation,  after  depletion  has  been   carried  to 
the  requisite  extent.     Dr.  Parker  of  Virginia,   as 
cited  by  Dr.  Thacher,  having  been  in  the  habit  of 
employing  this  root  for  twenty  five  years,  consid- 


64  ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA. 

ers  it  as  possessing  a  peculiar  and  almost  specific 
quality  of  acting  upon  the  organs  of  respiration, 
promoting  suppressed  expectoration,  and  relieving 
the  breathing  of  pleuritic  patients  in  the  most  ad- 
vanced stage  of  the  disease. 

Dr.  Chapman,  Professor  of  medicine  in  Phil- 
adelphia, informs  us  that  his  experience  with  this 
medicine  is  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  speak  with 
confidence  of  its  powers.  As  a  diaphoretic  he 
thinks  it  is  distinguished  by  great  certainty  and 
permanency  of  operation,  and  has  this  estimable 
property,  that  it  produces  its  effects  without  in- 
creasing much  the  force  of  the  circulation,  raising 
the  temperature  of  the  surface,  or  creating  inqui- 
etude and  restlessness.  On  these  accounts  it  is 
well  suited  to  excite  perspiration  in  the  forming 
states  of  most  of  the  inflammatory  diseases  of 
winter,  and  is  not  less  useful  in  the  same  cases  at 
a  more  advanced  period,  after  the  reduction  of  ac- 
tion by  bleeding,  ^c.  The  common  notion  of  its 
having  a  peculiar  efficacy  in  pleurisy,  he  is  inclin- 
ed to  think  is  not  without  foundation.  Certain  it 
is,  says  he,  that  it  very  much  relieves  the  oppres- 
sion of  the  chest  in  recent  catarrh,  and  is  unques- 
tionably an  expectorant  in  the  protracted  pneu- 
monies. 


BUTTERFLY  WEED.  65 

As  far  as  my  own  observation  with  this  plant 
extends,  I  am  persuaded  of  its   usefulness  in  va- 
rious complaints.     It  appears  to  exert  a  mild  ton- 
ic effect,  as  well  as  a   stimulant  power  on  the  ex- 
cretorics.     Like  other  vegetable  bitters,  if  given 
in  large  quantities,  especially  in  infusion  and  de- 
coction,  it   operates    on    the    alimentary   canal, 
though   its  efiicacy   in   this  respect  is  not  suffi- 
cient to  entitle  it  to  rank  among  active  cathartics. 
I  am  satisfied  of  its  utility  as  an  expectorant  med- 
icine,   and   have   seen   no  inconsiderable  benefit 
arise  from  its  use  as  a  palliative  in  phthisis  pul- 
monalis.     Among  other  instances  may  be  cited 
that  of  a  young  physician  in  this  town,  who  died 
two  years  since  of  pulmonary  consumption.     He 
made  great  use  of  the  decoction  of  this  root,  and 
persevered  in  it  a  long  time  from  choice,  finding 
that  it  facilitated  expectoration  and  relieved  the 
dyspnoea  and  pain  in  the  chest,  more  than  any 
other  medicine. 

The  best  mode  of  administering  the  Asclepias 
is  in  decoction  or  in  substance.  A  teacup  full 
of  the  strong  decoction,  or  from  twenty  to  thirty 
grains  of  the  powder,  may  be  given  in  pulmonary 
complaints  several  times  in  a  day.  In  most  cases 
after  the  inflammatory  diathesis  is  in  some  degree 
subsided,  it  may  be  freely  repeated  as  long  as  it 
agrees  with  the  stomach  and  bowels. 
9 


66  ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA. 

BOTANICAL  BEFERENCES. 

Asclepias  tuberosa,  Lin.  Sp.  pL — Pursh,  i.  183. — Michaux, 
i.  117. — Elliott,  Car.  i.  325. — Asclepias  decumbens,  a  variety, 
Lin.  Pursh,  &c. — Apocynum  Novje  Anglise  birsutum  radice 
tuberosa,  floribus  aurantiacis,  Herman,  Hort.  646.  t.  647. — DuL- 
lENlus,  EltJu  35,  t.  30,  /.  34. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

B.  S.  Barton,  CoUedionSf  48. — Thacher,  Disp,  154.— 
Chapman,  Therapeutics  and  Mat.  Med.  i.  346. 

PLATE  XXVI. 

Fig.  1.  Asclepias  tuberosa. 

Fig.  2.  Jl  Jloiver, 

Fig.  3,  Jl  Jlower  dissected,  showing  the  mass  of  anthers,  and  one 

nectary  tvith  its  horn. 
Fig.  4.  Magnified  section  of  the  mass  of  anthers,  showing  the  sit- 

itation  of  the  pistils  inside,  ^x.    A  pflir  of  pollen  masses 

is  drawn  out  at  the  top. 
Fig.  5.  Pistils  magnijied,  and  calyx. 


A'A-V7/ 


MAGNOLIA  GLAUCA. 


Small  Magnolia, 


PLATE  XXFII. 

vf  F  the  splendid  family  of  trees  known  by 
the  name  of  Magnolia,  the  American  continent 
has  many  species.  Taken  collectively  they  fur- 
nish perhaps  the  most  elegant  assemblage  produc- 
ed in  the  forests  of  the  temperate  zone.  They 
are  distinguished  by  their  rich,  smooth  foliage, 
large  fragrant  flowers,  and  aromatic  bark.  Some 
of  them  are  trees  of  very  exalted  stature,  taking 
rank  with  the  highest  tenants  of  the  woods.  The 
present  species  is  more  humble  than  the  rest  in 
its  growth,  yet  more  interesting  in  some  of  its  oth- 
er properties. 

The  Magnolia  glauca  has  the  most  extensive 
range,  especially  near  tlie  sea  board,  of  any  of  the 
species  of  its  family.     Its  most  northern  bounda- 


08  DIAGNOLIA  GLAUCA. 

rj  appears  to  be  in  a  sheltered  swamp  in  Man- 
chester, Cape  Ann,  about  thirty  miles  north  of 
Boston.  It  here  attains  to  but  small  size,  and  is 
frequently  killed  to  the  ground  by  severe  winters. 
It  is  common  in  the  Middle  and  Southern  States, 
and  Michaux  informs  us,  that  it  is  one  of  the  most 
abundant  trees  in  the  morasses  of  Florida  and 
Lower  Louisiana.  According  to  this  author  how- 
ever, it  is  not  usually  met  with  liar  in  the  interior, 
or  to  the  west  of  the  mountains.  Its  common 
names  are  various,  and  change  with  almost  every 
district.  In  Massachusetts  it  has  no  other  name 
than  Magnolia ;  in  the  Middle  States  it  is  called 
Swamp  sassafras  and  Beaver  tree  ;  while  in  the 
Southern  States  it  is  denominated  Sweet  bay  and 
White  bay.  It  is  naturally  a  tenant  of  deep  boggy 
swamps,  and  is  somewhat  irregular  in  its  growth. 
It  acquires  more  symmetry  of  form  when  cultivat- 
ed in  an  upland  soil,  although  its  transplantation 
is  difficult.  To  insure  it  sussessful  cultivation  in 
a  dry  soil,  the  tree  shonld  be  raised  from  the  seed. 
This  tree  begins  to  flower  in  different  parts  of 
the  United  States  in  May,  June  and  July,  '^l  he 
flowers  are  highly  fragrant,  and  may  be  perceived 
by  their  peHume  at  a  considerable  distance.  A 
few  of  them  shut  up  in  a  room  over  night  commu- 
nicate to  the  air  a  heavy  and  almost  insupportable 
odour. 


SMALL  MAGNOLIA.  69 

The  Magnolias  are  found  in  the  class  Folyan- 
firm  and  order  Folygynia  ;  the  Coadanatcc  of  Lin- 
naius  and  Maguolice  of  Jussieu. 

This  genus  has  a  cahjcc  of  three  leaves,  a  co- 
rolla pf  SUV  petals  or  more  ;  capsules  two-valved, 
imbricated,  forming  a  cone ;  seeds  berried,  pendu- 
lous. 

The  present  species  has  oval  leaves,  glaucous 
underneath  ;  and  obovate  petals,  narrowed  at  base. 

The  bark  of  tlie  young  twigs  is  of  a  bright, 
smooth  green,  with  rings  at  the  insertion  and  scars 
of  the  leaves.  The  leaves  are  scattered,  petioled, 
regularly  elliptical,  entire,  and  glabrous.  Their 
under  side,  except  the  midrib,  is  of  a  beautifully 
pale,  glaucous  colour,  by  which  the  tree  may  be 
distinguished  at  a  distance.  When  young,  this 
surface  is  covered  with  a  silken  pubescence.  Flow- 
ers solitary,  terminal,  on  a  short,  incrassated  pe- 
duncle. Calyx  of  three  spatulate,  obtuse,  concave 
sescments.  Corolla  of  from  ei«:ht  to  fourteen  obo- 
vate,  obtuse,  concave  petals,  contracted  at  then* 
base.  The  stamens  are  very  numerous  and  in- 
serted in  common  witli  the  petals  on  the  sides  of 
a  conical  receptacle.  Filaments  very  short ;  an- 
thers linear,  mucronated,  two-celled,  opening  in- 
wardly. Germs  oval,  collected  into  a  cone,  each 
one  divided  by  a  furrow  and  tipt  with  a  brownish, 


70  MAGNOLIA  GLAUCA. 

linear,  recurved  style.  The  fruit  is  a  cone,  con- 
sisting of  imbricated  cells,  which  open  longitudi- 
nally for  the  escape  of  the  seed.  The  seeds  are 
obovate,  scarlet,  connected  to  the  cone  by  a  thread, 
which  suspends  them  some  time  after  they  have 
fallen  out. 

The  bark  of  the  Magnolia  glauca  has  a  bit- 
ter taste,  combined  with  a  strong  aromatic  pun- 
gency, which  approaches  that  of  Sassafras  and  of 
the  Acorns  calamus.  The  aroma  resides  in  a  vol- 
atile portion,  which  is  probably  an  essential  oil,  or 
a  variety  of  camphor.  It  is  lost  from  the  bark  in 
the  dry  state,  after  it  has  been  kept  some  time. 
Water  distilled  from  the  green  bark  has  its  pecu- 
liar flavour  with  an  empyreumatic  smell.  No  oil 
appears  on  the  surface,  when  the  experiment  is 
conducted  in  the  small  way.  The  dried  bark  af- 
fords a  little  resin,  and  more  of  a  bitter  extractive 
substance.  Chalybeate  tests  produce  a  very  slight 
darkening  of  the  green  colour  of  the  decoction, 
but  gelatin  occasions  no  change.  This  might  be 
anticipated  from  the  little  taste  of  astringency  in 
the  bark. 

As  a  medicinal  ai*ticle,  the  3Iagnolia  is  to  be 
considered  an  aromatic  tonic,  approaching  in  its 
charactertoCascarilla,  Canella,  and  articles  of  their 
class.     Considered  simply  in  regard  to  its  tonic 


SMALL    MAGNOLIA.  71 

powers,  it  is  probably  of  a  secondary  order,  though 
from  the  additional  properties  which  it  possesses 
of  a  warm  stimulant  and  diaphoretic  is  found  use- 
ful in  certain  disorders.  Chronic  rheumatism  is 
one  of  the  diseases  in  which  it  exhibits  most  effi- 
cacy. Xot  only  the  bark,  but  the  seeds  and  cones 
which  are  strongly  imbued  with  the  sensible  qual- 
ities of  the  tree,  are  employed  in  tincture  with 
very  good  success  in  this  disease. 

In  intermittent  and  remittent  fevers  the  Mag- 
nolia is  one  of  the  many  tonics  which  have  been 
resorted  to  for  cure  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
marshy  countries  where  they  prevail.  Sufiicient 
testimony  has  been  given  in  favour  of  the  bai'k  of 
this  tree,  to  warrant  a  belief  that  it  is  fully  ade- 
quate to  the  removal  of  fever  and  ague,  when  ad- 
ministered like  tlie  Cinchona,  in  liberal  quantities 
between  the  paroxysms.  In  the  more  continuous 
forms  of  fever  of  the  typhoid  type,  it  has  also  re- 
ceived tlie  commendations  of  physicians. 

Several  other  species  of  Magnolia  resemble  the 
present  very  closely  in  their  sensible  properties, 
and  as  far  as  experiments  have  been  tried,  they 
are  similar  in  their  medicinal  effects.  In  order 
to  secure  tlie  whole  efficacy  residing  in  these 
trees,  a  tincture  should  be  made  from  the  bark  or 
cones  while  green  or  very  recently  dried,  before 
their  more  volatile  parts  have  escaped. 


72  ]>IAGNOLIA  GLAUCA. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 
Magnolia  gtauca,  Lint.  'Sp.  pi. — Michaux,  i.  523. — Pursh, 
ii.  381. — MicHAUx,  fil.  ^rb.  forest,  iii.  77. — Magnolia  lauri 
folio  subtus  albicante.  Catesby,  Car.  i.  t.  39. — Trew,  sel.  t.  9. 
— DiLLENius,  Hort,  207. 1. 168,  /.  205. — Lauras  tulipifera  &c. — 
Uaius,  hist.  1690. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 
Kalm,  TravelSf  i.  205. — Marshall,  Arbustuiiif  83. — ^Hum- 
phries, Jf/fd.  Commentaries i  vol.  xviii. — Bart.  Coll.  46. — Price, 
Inaugural  Diss.  Philad.  1812. 

PLATE  XXVII. 

Fig.  1.  Jl  jlotvenng  hranch  of  Magnolia  glauca. 
Fig.  2.  The  fruit  and  seeds. 
Fig.  3.  Stamen  magnijied. 
Fig.  4.  .i  germ  and  style  ditto. 


rijjnu 


CORNUS  FLORIDA. 


Dogwood, 


PLATE  XXVIIL 


T 


HE  family  of  Cornels,  if  surveyed  by  oth- 
er eyes  than  those  of  botanists,  is  remarkable 
for  the  difference  of  growth  and  appearance  of  its 
various  species.  Many  of  them  are  shrubs  ;  a  few 
attain  to  the  stature  of  trees,  while  some  are  so 
humble  in  their  growth  as  to  be  deemed  hardly 
more  than  herbaceous.  A  part  have  their  flowers 
surrounded  with  a  fine  white  involucrum,  many 
times  exceeding  the  whole  bunch  in  magnitude  ; 
while  others  present  their  naked  cymes  unadorn- 
ed by  any  investment.  To  the  botanical  observer 
they  all  exhibit  a  close  affinity  and  resemblance  to 
each  other ;  which  is  seen  in  the  form  and  anatom- 
ical texture  of  their  leaves,  the  structure  of  their 
flowers  and  the  appearance  of  their  fruit. 
10 


74  CORNUS  FLORIDA. 

The  Cornus  jlorida,  or  flo^vering  Dogwood,  is 
the  largest  and  most  splendid  of  its  genus,  and  is 
one  of  the  chief  ornaments  of  our  forests.  As  a  tree 
it  is  rather  below  the  middle  stature,  not  usually 
reaching  the  height  of  more  than  twenty  or  thirty 
feet.  It  is  however  among  the  most  conspicuous 
objects  in  the  forests,  in  the  months  of  April,  May 
and  June,  according  to  its  latitude,  being  then 
covered  with  a  profusion  of  its  large  and  ele- 
gant flowers.  In  Massachusetts,  especially  about 
Boston,  it  is  not  a  common  tree,  only  scatter- 
ed individuals  appearing  here  and  there  in  the 
w  oods.  In  the  Middle  States  it  is  extremely  com- 
mon, especially  in  moist  woods.  Michaux  informs 
us,  that  in  the  Carolinas,  Georgia  and  the  Floridas 
it  is  found  only  on  the  borders  of  swamps,  and 
never  in  the  pine  barrens,  where  the  soil  is  too 
dry  and  sandy  to  sustain  its  vegetation.  It  is  al- 
so not  very  common  in  the  most  fertile  parts  of 
the  Western  States,  being  chiefly  found  where  the 
soil  is  of  secondary  quality.* 

*  Mr.  William  Bartram,  in  his  travels  in  Georgia  and  Floridajgives 
the  following  account  of  the  appearance  of  this  tree  near  the  banks  of 
the  Alabama  river.  "  We  now  entered  a  very  remarkable  grove  of 
Dogwood  trees,  ( Cornus  jiorida,)  which  continued  nine  or  ten  miles 
unalterable,  except  here  and  there  a  towering  Magnolia  grandiflora. 
The  land  on  which  thej  stand  is  an  exact  level ;  the  surface  a  shallow, 
loose,  black  mould,  on  a  stratum  of  stiff,  yellowish  clay.    These  trees 


DOGWOOD.  75 

The  genus  Corniis  is  chai'acterized  by  the  fol- 
lowing marks.  Petals  four,  superior ;  involucrum 
of  four  leaves,  or  wanting ;  drupe  with  a  two-cell- 
ed nnt.  The  species /loric/a  is  arboreous,  with  its 
flowers  in  heads  surrounded  by  an  involucrum  of 
obovate  leaves  with  recurved  points. 

Class  Tetandria,  order  Monogynia,  natural  or- 
der Stellatoe,  Lin.  Caprifolia.  Juss. 

The  Cornus  florida  is  of  slow  growth,  and  pos- 
sesses a  very  compact  wood,  covered  with  a  rough, 
broken  bark.  The  branches  are  smooth,  covered 
with  a  reddish  bark,  marked  with  rings  at  the 
place  of  the  former  leaves.  The  leaves,  which 
are  small  at  the  flowering  time,  are  opposite,  peti- 
oled,  oval,  acute,  entire,  nearly  smooth,  paler  he- 
were  about  twelve  feet  high,  spreading  horizontally,  their  limbs,  meet- 
ing and  interlocking  with  each  other,  formed  one  vast,  shady,  cool 
grove,  so  dense  and  humid  as  to  exclude  the  sun-beams,  and  prevent 
the  intrusion  of  almost  every  other  vegetable,  affording  us  a  most  de- 
sirable shelter  from  the  fervid  sun-beams  at  noon  day.  This  admi- 
rable grove  has  by  way  of  eminence  acquired  the  name  of  Dog  woods. 
During  a  progress  of  near  seventy  miles  through  this  high  forest, 
there  constantly  presented  to  view,  on  one  hand  or  the  other,  spa- 
cious groves  of  this  fine  flowering  tree,  which  must  in  the  spring  sea- 
son, when  covered  with  blossoms,  present  a  most  pleasing  spectacle, 
when  at  tlie  same  time  a  variety  of  other  sweet  shruljs  display 
their  beauty ;  as  the  Halesia,  Stewartia,  iEsculus,  Azalea,  &c.  en- 
tangled with  garlands  of  Bignonia,  Glycine,  Lonicera,  &c.  &c.  at  the 
same  time  the  superb  Magnolia  grandiflora  standing  in  front  of  the 
dark  groves,  towering  far  above  the  common  level.-'    Travels,  p.  399. 


76  CORNUS  FLORIDA. 

neath,  and  marked,  as  in  others  of  the  genus,  with 
strong  parallel  veins.  The  flowers,  which  are 
very  small,  grow  in  heads  or  sessile  umbels,  upon 
peduncles  an  inch  or  more  in  length.  At  the 
base  of  each  bunch  is  the  large  spreading  involu- 
crum,  constituting  the  chief  beauty  of  the  tree  when 
in  flower.  This  involucrum  is  composed  of  four 
white,  nerved,  obovate  leaves,  having  their  point 
turned  abruptly  down  or  up,  so  as  to  give  them  an 
obcordate  appearance.  This  point  has  frequently 
a  reddish  tinge.  Calyx  superior,  somewhat  bell- 
shaped,  ending  in  four  obtuse  spreading  teeth. 
Petals  four,  oblong,  obtuse,  reflexed.  Stamens 
four,  erect,  the  anthers  oblong  with  the  filaments 
inserted  in  their  middle.  Style  erect,  shorter 
than  the  stamens,  with  an  obtuse  stigma.  The 
fruit  is  an  oval  drupe  of  a  glossy  scarlet  colour, 
containing  a  nucleus  with  two  cells  and  two  seeds. 
The  bark  of  the  Cornus  florida  is  a  powerful 
bitter,  possessing  also  an  astringent  and  somewhat 
aromatic  taste.  Both  tannin  and  the  gallic  acid 
are  abundantly  developed  in  its  solutions  by  their 
proper  tests.  In  my  experiments  with  the  bark 
of  young  twigs,  but  a  small  quantity  of  pure  resin 
was  made  manifest.  It  would  seem  that  the  prin- 
cipal seat  of  the  bitterness  is  in  a  variety  of  ex- 
tractive matter. 


DOGWOOD.  77 

In  a  valuable  inaugural  dissertation  on  the 
Cornus  florida  and  Cornus  sericea  by  Dr.  Walker 
of  Virginia,  much  attention  appears  to  have  been 
bestowed  on  the  chemical  properties  of  their  bark. 
He  found  that  water  distilled  from  the  bark  in 
powder  had  a  transparent,  whitish  appearance, 
with  a  slight  aromatic  odour,  and  no  perceptible 
taste.  When  the  heat  was  increased,  the  fluid 
had  a  lemon  colour,  with  an  unpleasant  smell  and 
an  acerb  taste.  These  effects  were  probably  pro- 
duced by  the  volatilization  and  partial  decompo- 
sition of  portions  of  the  bark  in  consequence  of 
the  heat  being  continued  until  the  mixture  was 
evaporated  nearly  to  dryness. 

With  a  view  to  ascertain  the  effect  of  different 
menstrua,  Dr.  Walker  subjected  to  experiment  the 
residual  mass  furnished  by  evaporating  a  decoc- 
tion of  the  root  of  Cornus  florida.  Two  drachms 
of  this  residuum,  which  had  been  furnished  by 
seven  and  an  half  ounces  of  the  decoction,  were 
macerated  in  successive  quantities  of  the  best  al- 
cohol, until  the  last  portion  ceased  to  be  changed 
in  colour  and  taste.  The  part,  which  remained 
undissolved,  weighed  only  half  a  drachm.  When 
redissolved  it  was  destitute  of  taste,  and  underwent 
no  change  of  colour  on  adding  the  test  of  iron. 
The  alcohol,  which  had  been  employed  in  the  ex- 


78  GORNUS  FLORroA. 

periment,  was  found  to  possess  an  intensely  bitter 
taste  with  astringency,  of  a  clear  red  colour,  and 
turning  to  a  deep  black  on  the  addition  of  iron. 
On  evaporation,  it  yielded  a  drachm  and  an  half  of 
residuum. — Dr.  Walker  attempted  to  ascertain  the 
quantity  of  resin  by  macerating  the  alcoholic  ex- 
tract in  repeated  portions  of  sulphuric  ether. 
The  ether  acquired  a  dark  colour  and  a  bitter 
taste,  and  was  found  to  have  dissolved  three  quar- 
ters of  the  extract.  When  tested  with  iron,  it  was 
found  that  the  remaining  quarter  only  was  chang- 
ed to  a  black  colour. 

The  Cornus  florida  is  one  of  the  many  vege- 
tables which,  by  the  union  of  their  gallic  acid  with 
the  salts  of  iron,  form  a  black  compound,  applica- 
ble to  the  purposes  of  ink.  The  constancy  of 
the  black  colour  thus  produced  varies  greatly,  ac- 
cording to  the  substance  from  which  the  gallic 
acid  is  derived.  It  is  often  extremely  fugacious, 
sometimes  fading  in  a  few  days,  and  at  others  be- 
coming indistinct  after  some  weeks  or  months. 
Considering  the  very  great  importance  of  the  pur- 
poses for  which  ink  is  employed,  and  the  immense 
evils  which  may  result  from  its  obliteration  in  writ- 
ings intended  for  permanency  ;  it  is  with  extreme 
caution  that  we  should  recommend  the  introduction 
of  any  change  in  the  mode  of  its  formation.     The 


DOGWOOD.  79 

oak  gall  has  had  the  experience  of  ages  in  favour 
of  its  permanence  and  immutability.  It  is  not 
until  some  indigenous  article,  producing  an  equal 
intensity  of  colour,  has  undergone  a  series  of  tri- 
als from  time  and  exposure,  sufficient  to  establish 
beyond  a  doubt  its  durability,  that  its  substitution 
in  the  manufacture  of  ink  should  be  considered 
expedient  or  even  justifiable. 

Upon  the  human  body  the  bark  of  the  Cornus 
florida  acts  as  a  tonic,  an  astringent  and  an  anti- 
septic, approaching  in  its  general  effects  to  the 
character  of  the  Peruvian  bark.  From  a  variety 
of  experiments  made  by  Dr.  Walker  upon  the 
healthy  system,  it  was  found  that  this  medicine 
uniformly  increased  the  force  and  frequency  of 
the  pulse,  and  augmented  the  heat  of  the  body. 
Collateral  experiments  were  made  at  the  same 
time  with  the  Peruvian  bark,  witli  which  the  Cor- 
nus appeared  to  agree  both  in  its  internal  and  ex- 
ternal effiicts. 

In  disease  it  has  been  principally  employed  in 
the  same  cases  for  which  the  cinchona  is  resorted 
to,  particularly  intermittent  and  remittent  fever. 
IJr.  Gregg  of  Pennsylvania,  cited  by  Dr.  Walker, 
states,  that  after  employing  the  Cornus  florida  ha- 
bitually for  twenty  three  years  in  the  treatment  of 
intermittents,  he  was  satisfied  that  it  was  not  in- 


so  CORNUS  PLOllIDA. 

ferior  to  tlie  Peruvian  bark  as  a  means  of  cure  in 
such  cases.  Among  the  number  of  cures  by  this 
medicine,  was  that  of  his  own  case.  He  observ- 
ed that  in  its  recent  state  it  sometimes  disagreed 
with  the  stomach  and  bowels,  but  that  this  ten- 
dency in  the  article  was  corrected  by  age.  He 
recommends  the  bark  as  being  in  the  best  state 
after  it  has  been  dried  a  year. 

Other  medical  men  have  employed  the  bark 
of  this  tree  with  advantage  in  intermittents,  and 
also  in  continued  fevers  of  the  typhoid  type.  Its 
tonic  operation  in  these  cases  appears  very  analo- 
gous to  that  of  the  Peruvian  bark. 

I  have  employed  the  tincture  of  Cornus  flori- 
da  as  a  stomachic  in  various  instances  of  loss  of 
appetite  and  indigestion.  The  report  of  those 
who  have  taken  it  has  perhaps  been  as  frequently 
in  favour  of  its  effects,  as  of  gentian,  columbo,  and 
the  other  imported  tonics  of  the  shops,  though 
perhaps  it  is  somewhat  more  liable  to  offend  the 
stomach  in  large  doses.  In  the  Southern  States 
a  decoction  of  the  buds  and  twigs  has  been  thought 
to  agree  better  with  weak  stomachs,  than  the  oth- 
er preparations. 

Some  other  species  of  this  family  resemble  the 
present  tree  in  the  bitterness  and  tonic  power  of 
their  bark,  particularly  the  Cornus  circinata  and 
C.  sericea. 


DOGWOOD.  81 

The  wood  of  the  Corniis  florida  is  hard,  Iicavy 
and  fine  grained,  and  susceptible  of  a  good  pol- 
ish. It  is  employed  for  various  purposes  where 
strength  and  solidity  are  required,  although  its. 
small  size  does  not  permit  it  to  he  used  for  oh- 
jects  of  much  magnitude.  From  its  hardness  it 
is  found  peculiarly  useful  for  handles  of  instru- 
ments, the  teeth  of  wheels,  and  the  smaller  parts 
of  wooden  machinery. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Coriius  florida,  hiN.  Sp.pl. — Gronovius,  J^irg.  17. — Kalm, 
travels,  ii.  321. — Wangenheim,  .^mer.  p,  51,  t.  17. — L'IIeri- 
TiER,  Corn.  n.  3. — Schmidt,  Arh.  t.  62 — Botanical  Mag.  t.  526. 
— PuRSH,  i.  108. — MicHAux,  FLL.  ArbresforesHers,  iii.  138,  trans- 
lated, i.  255. — Elliott,  Car.  i.  207. — Cornus  mas  Virginiana, 
kc. — 'Plukexet,  Mm.  120,  t.  2,/.  3. — Catesby,  Car.  t.  27. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Walker,  Inaugural  Dissertation,  Pliilad.  1803. — Bart.  Coll. 
1 2. — Thacher,  Disp.  203. — Elliott,  ut  supra. 

PLATE  XXVIII. 

Fig.  1.  Cornus  Jlorida,  a  branch  withfiowers.  and  one  with  leaves. 
Fig.  2.  Fruit. 
Fig.  3.  .1  Jower. 


PANAX  QUINQUEFOLIUM. 


Ginseng, 


PLATE  XXIX. 

An  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century 
some  accounts  were  sent  to  Europe  hy  travellers 
and  missionaries,  of  a  root  growing  in  Chinese 
Tartary,  known  hy  the  name  of  Ginseng,  upon 
which  a  high  value  was  set  hy  the  eastern  Asiat- 
ics, and  which  was  sold  in  the  cities  of  China  at  an 
enormous  price.  Father  Jartoux,  a  missionary  at 
Pekin,  who  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the 
collection  and  use  of  this  root,  made  a  drawing  of 
the  plant,  accompanied  with  a  particular  descrip- 
tion, and  an  account  of  its  uses,  and  the  cause  of 
its  high  estimation  and  demand  among  tlie  Chi- 
nese. While  on  a  journey  among  the  mountains 
of  Tartary,  performed  under  the  sanction  of  the 
emperor  of  China,  he  met  in  various  instances 


Annin    &.  ■onti<^'>   J  > 


GINSENG.  83 

with  the  plant,  and  witli  people  employed  in  col- 
lecting it.  He  states  that  the  root  is  found  prin- 
cipally between  the  39th  and  47th  degree  of  north 
latitude,  in  thick  forests,  upon  the  declivities  of 
mountains,  on  the  banks  of  torrents,  and  about 
the  roots  of  trees.  It  never  grows  in  the  open 
plains  or  vallies,  but  always  in  dark,  shady  situa- 
tions, remote  from  the  sun's  rays. 

As  the  right  of  gathering  this  root  is  monop- 
olized by  the  emperor  of  China,  the  most  exten- 
sive precautions  are  taken  by  him  to  prevent  an 
encroachment  on  tliis  privilege.  The  places 
where  the  Ginseng  is  known  to  grow  are  guarded 
with  great  vigilance,  and  a  whole  province,  that 
of  Quantong,  bordering  on  the  desert,  is  surround- 
ed by  a  barrier  of  wooden  stakes,  about  which 
guards  continually  patrole,  to  keep  the  inhabitants 
within  bounds,  and  prevent  them  from  making 
excursions  into  the  woods,  in  search  of  the  pro- 
hibited drug.  N^otwithstanding  this  vigilance, 
their  eagerness  after  gain  incites  the  Chinese  to 
wander  by  stealth  in  the  desert,  sometimes  to  the 
number  of  two  or  three  thousand,  in  search  of  the 
root,  at  the  hazard  of  losing  their  liberty,  and  all 
the  fruits  of  their  labour,  if  they  are  taken.  The 
emperor  employs  his  own  servants  for  the  pur- 
pose of  collection,  and  in  the  year  1709,  had  ten 


84  PANAX  QUINQUEFOLIUM. 

thousand  Tartars  engaged  in  scouring  the  woods 
in  pursuit  of  the  phint.  Each  man  so  employed 
was  obligated  to  present  his  mnjesty  two  ounces 
of  the  best  he  should  collect,  and  to  sell  him  tlie 
rest  for  its  weight  in  pure  silver.  At  this  rate  it 
was  computed  that  the  emperor  would  get  in  a 
year,  about  20,000  Chinese  pounds,  which  would 
cost  him  not  above  one  quarter  of  its  value,  at  the 
common  rate  of  selling  it. 

The  collectors  of  the  Ginseng  carry  with  them 
neither  tents  nor  beds,  every  one  being  sufficient- 
ly loaded  with  his  provision,  which  is  only  parch- 
ed millet,  on  which  he  is  obliged  to  subsist  during 
tlie  whole  journey.  The  mandarins  send  them 
from  time  to  time  some  pieces  of  beef,  with  such 
game  as  they  happen  to  take,  which  they  eat  very 
greedily,  and  almost  raw.  They  are  accustomed 
to  sleep  on  the  ground,  and  notwithstanding  six 
months  are  passed  in  this  way,  they  continue  lus- 
ty and  in  perfect  health. 

The  army  of  herbalists,  in  order  to  scour  the 
country  effectuall},  divide  themselves  into  compa- 
nies of  one  hundred  each,  which  proceed  forward 
in  direct  line,  every  ten  of  them  keeping  at  a  dis- 
tance from  tlie  rest.  In  this  way  they  overrun  an 
extensive  wilderness  in  a  short  space  of  time. 


GINSENG.  85 

If  any  one  of  the  company  was  wantin^^,  as  it 
often  happened,  either  hy  having  wandered  out  of 
the  way,  or  being  attacked  hy  wild  heasts,  the 
party  devoted  a  day  or  two  to  search  for  him,  and 
then  returned  to  their  labour. 

The  root  of  the  Ginseng  is  the  only  part  pre- 
served. The  collectors  bury  in  the  ground  every 
ten  or  fifteen  days  all  that  they  have  procured. 
In  order  to  prepare  it  for  use,  they  dip  it  in  scald- 
ing water,  and  scour  it  with  a  brush.  The  roots 
are  then  prepared  with  the  fumes  of  a  species  of 
millet,  to  give  them  a  yellow  colour.  The  millet 
is  put  in  a  vessel  with  a  little  water  and  boiled 
over  a  gentle  fire.  The  roots  are  placed  over  the 
vessel  upon  transverse  pieces  of  wood,  being  first 
covered  with  a  linen  cloth  or  anotlier  vessel. 
When  treated  in  this  way  they  assume  upon  dry- 
ing a  horny  or  semi-trans parant  appearance. 

The  roots  may  also  be  dried  in  the  sun,  or  by 
the  fire,  and  retain  their  qualities  perfectly.  In 
this  case,  however,  they  have  not  that  yellow  col- 
our, which  the  Chinese  so  much  admire. 

The  Chinese  consider  the  Ginseng  as  possessing 
unequalled  medicinal  powers,  and  their  physicians 
have  written  many  volumes  upon  the  qualities  of 
the  plant.     It  is  made  an  ingredient  in  almost  all 
the  remedies  which  they  .s;ive  to  their  nobility,  its 


86  PANAX  QUINQUEFOLIUM. 

price  beinj^  too  expensive  for  the  common  people. 
The  sick  take  it  to  recover  health,  and  the  healthy 
to  make  themselves  stronger  and  more  vigorous. 
They  affirm  that  it  removes  all  fatigue,  either  of 
body  or  mind,  dissolves  humours,  cures  pulmona- 
ry diseases,  strengthens  the  stomach,  increases 
the  vital  spirits,  and  prolongs  life  to  old  age.  Its 
price  at  Pekin,  according  to  travellers,  has  been 
eight  or  nine  times  its  weight  in  silver,  and  even 
more. 

Father  Jartoux  became  so  far  a  convert  to  the 
virtues  of  the  plant,  that  he  tells  us  that  after  hav- 
ing taken  half  of  a  root,  he  found  his  pulse  quick- 
er and  fuller,  his  appetite  improved,  and  his 
strength  increased  so  as  to  bear  labour  better 
than  before.  On  another  occasion,  finding  him- 
self so  fatigued  and  wearied  as  to  be  scarce  able 
to  sit  on  horseback,  a  mandarin  in  company  per- 
ceiving his  distress,  gave  one  of  the  roots.  He 
took  half  of  it,  and  in  an  hour  was  not  sensible 
of  any  weariness.  "I  have  observed,"  says  he, 
"  that  the  green  leaves,  especially  the  fibrous  part 
of  them,  when  chewed,  would  produce  nearly  the 
same  effect.  The  Tartars  often  bring  us  the 
leaves  of  Ginseng  instead  of  tea,  and  I  always 
find  myself  so  well  afterwards,  that  I  should  read- 
ily prefer  them  before  the  best  tea.     Their  de- 


GINSENG.  87 

coction  is  of  a  grateful  colour,  and  when  one  has 
taken  it  twice  or  tlu'ice,  its  taste  and  smell  be- 
come very  pleasant.'' 

The  Chinese  use  a  decoction  of  the  root,  for 
ivhich  they  employ  about  a  fifth  part  of  an  ounce 
at  a  time.  This  they  boil  in  a  covered  vessel 
with  two  successive  portions  of  water,  in  order  to 
extract  all  its  virtue. 

The  following  is  the  substance  of  Jartoux's  de- 
scription of  the  Asiatic  plant.  The  root  is  wliit- 
ish,  rugged  and  uneven.  The  stalk  is  round,  and 
shaded  with  red ;  it  terminates  in  a  knot  or  joint 
at  top,  from  which  proceed  four  equal  branches. 
Each  branch  produces  five  leaves,  which  are  equi- 
distant from  each  other,  and  from  the  ground. 
The  leaves  are  unusually  thin  and  fine,  with  their 
fibres  ver}^  distinguishable,  and  a  few  whitish  hairs 
on  the  upper  side.  Their  colour  is  dark  green 
above,  and  a  pale,  shining  green  underneath.  All 
the  leaves  are  serrated  or  finely  indented  on  the 
edge. — From  the  centre  of  the  branches  rises  a 
second  stalk  which  is  very  straight  and  smooth, 
and  whitish  from  bottom  to  top,  bearing  a  bunch 
of  round  fruit,  of  a  beautiful  red  colour,  composed 
of  twenty  four  red  berries.  The  red  skin  of  the 
berrv  is  thin  and  smooth,  and  contains  a  white 
pulp.     As  these  berries  were  double,  (for  they 


88  PANAX  QUINquiJFOLIUai. 

are  sometimes  found  single,)  each  of  them  had 
two  rough  stones,  separated  from  each  other,  of 
nearly  the  size  and  figure  of  common  lentils. 
The  herries  were  supported  on  small  sprigs, 
which  rose  from  a  common  centre  like  the  rays  of 
a  sphere.  The  fruit  is  not  good  to  eat.  The  ber- 
ries are  not  round  hut  a  little  flat  on  each  side. 
"When  they  are  dou])le  there  is  a  depression  or 
hollow  place  in  the  middle  where  the  two  parts 
unite.  Each  berry  has  a  small  beard  at  top  dia- 
metrically opposite  to  the  sprig  on  which  it  hangs. 
When  the  berry  is  dry  there  remains  only  a  shrivel- 
led skin,  adhering  close  to  the  stones,  of  a  dark 
red,  or  black  colour. 

The  plant  dies  away  and  springs  up  again 
every  year.  The  number  of  years  may  be  known 
by  the  number  of  stalks  it  has  shot  fortb,  of  which 
there  always  remains  a  mark  or  scar  on  the  up- 
per part  of  the  root. 

"As  to  the  flower,''  says  he,  "  not  having  seen 
it,  I  can  give  no  description  of  it.  Some  say  it  is 
white  and  very  small ;  others  have  assured  me 
that  the  plant  has  none,  and  that  nobody  ever  saw 
it.  I  rather  believe  that  it  is  so  small  and  so  little 
remarkable,  that  none  of  tliem  ever  took  notice 
of  it. 


GINSENG.  Sd 

"  There  are  some  plants,  which,  hesides  the 
bunch  of  berries,  have  one  or  two  berries  like  the 
former,  phiced  an  inch  or  an  inch  and  an  half  be- 
low the  bunch.  And  when  this  happens,  they 
say  if  any  one  takes  notice  of  the  point  of  compass 
to  which  these  berries  direct,  he  will  not  fail  to 
find  more  of  the  plant." 

The  foregoing  description  of  Jartoux  is  intro- 
duced as  being  a  very  intelligible  description  of 
a  plant,  in  language  not  the  most  botanical.  The 
drawing,  which  accompanies  the  description,  is 
very  satisfactory. 

The  report  of  the  high  value  of  the  Ginseng  at 
Pekin  led  to  an  inquiry  among  Europeans,  wheth- 
er the  plant  was  not  to  be  found  in  parallel  lati- 
tudes, in  the  forests  of  North  America.  Father 
Lafiteau,  a  Jesuit,  missionary  among  the  Iroquois, 
after  much  search,  found  a  plant  in  Canada  an- 
swering the  description,  and  sent  it  to  France. 
In  1718,  M.  Sarrasin  published  in  the  Memoirs  of 
the  Academy  an  account  of  the  American  Gin- 
seng; which,  together  with  one  published  by  Laf- 
iteau the  same  year,  seemed  to  put  its  identity 
with  the  Chinese  vegetable  beyond  a  doubt. 

Soon  after  this   the  French  commenced   the 
collection  of  the  root  in  Canada  for  exportation. 
For  this  purpose  they  employed  the  Indians,  \a  ho 
12 


90  PANAX  QUINQUEFOLIUM. 

brought  it  to  the  merchants  for  a  certam  com- 
pensatioa.  At  one  period  the  Indians  about  Que- 
bec and  Montreal  were  so  wholly  taken  up  in  the 
search  for  Ginseng,  tliat  their  services  could  not 
be  engaged  for  any  other  purpose.  The  Ameri- 
can English  engaged  in  the  same  traffic,  and  al- 
though the  plant  is  a  rare  one  in  the  woods,  yet 
very  large  quantities  of  the  root  were  collected. 
In  1748,  Kalm  tells  us  the  common  price  of  the 
root  at  Quebec  was  from  five  to  six  livres  a  pound. 
The  first  shipments  to  China  proved  extremely 
profitable  to  those  concerned,  especially  to  the 
French.  In  a  short  time,  however,  the  amount 
exported  overstocked  the  market,  the  Chinese  be- 
gan to  think  the  American  Ginseng  inferior  to 
the  Tartai'ian,  and  its  value  depreciated,  so  that  it 
ceased  to  be  an  object  of  profitable  commerce. 
Its  demand  has  not  materially  risen  at  any  subse- 
quent period,  although  it  is  still  occasionally  ex- 
ported. The  Chinese  most  readily  purchase  the 
forked  or  branching  roots  ;  and  those  exporters 
have  been  most  successful,  who  have  prepared 
their  Ginseng  by  clarifying  it  after  the  Chinese 
manner. 

The  American  Ginseng  is  thinly  scattered 
throughout  the  mountainous  regions  of  the  North- 
ern and  Middle  States.     Kalm  informs  us,  that  it 


GINSENG.  91 

is  seldom  found  north  of  Montreal.  Miclianx 
states  that  it  inhabits  mountains  and  rich,  shady 
woods  from  Canada  to  Tennessee.  I  have  princi- 
pally met  with  this  plant  in  the  western  parts  of 
Massachusetts,  and  in  A'ermont,  especially  on  the 
sides  of  the  Ascutney  mountain.  Bartram  found 
it  near  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware. 

Linn?eus  has  given  to  the  genus  of  plants, 
which  includes  the  Ginseng,  the  name  of  Vanacc^ 
a  Greek  word,  intended  to  express  the  reputed 
character  of  the  Chinese  panacea. 

The  character  of  this  genus  consists  in  ft  sim- 
ple umbel;  corolla  Jive  petalled;  berry  inferior, 
two  or  three  seeded ;  plants  polygamous. 

The  species  quinqiiefolinm  has  three  quinate 
leaves. 

The  root  of  this  plant  consists  of  one  or  more 
fleshy,  oblong  and  somewhat  fusiform  portions,  of 
a  whitish  colour,  transversely  wrinkled,  and  ter- 
minating in  various  radicles.  Its  upper  portion 
is  slender  and  marked  with  the  scars  of  the  former 
shoots.  Stem  smooth,  round,  green,  with  often  a 
tinge  of  red,  regularly  divided  at  top  into  three 
petioles,  witli  a  flower-stalk  at  their  centre.  Peti- 
oles round,  smooth,  swelling  at  base.  Leaves 
three,  compound,  containing  five,  rarely  three  or 
seven  leafets.     The  partial  leaf-stalks   are   given 


92  PANAX  qUINQUEPOLIUM. 

off  in   a  digitate   manner,  and  are  smooth,  com- 
pressed and  furrowed  above.     Leafets  oblong,  ob- 
ovate,  sharply  serrate,  acuminate,  smooth  on  both 
sides,  with  scattered  bristles  on  the  veins  above. 
The   flowers,  which  are  small,  grow  in  a  simple 
umbel  on  a  round,  slender  peduncle,  longer  than 
the  petioles..    The  involucrum  consists  of  a  mul- 
titude of  short  subulate  leafets,  interspersed  with 
the   flower-stalks.     These  stalks  or   rays   are   so 
short  as  to  give   the  appearance  of  a  head,  rath- 
er tJian  umbel.     In  the  perfect  flowers  the  calyx 
has  five  small  acute  teeth  ;  the  corolla  five  petals, 
which   are   oval,  reflexed    and    deciduous.       Sta- 
mens five,  with  oblong  anthers.     Styles   two,  re- 
flexed,    persistent ;    germ  lai'ge,    inferior,   ovate- 
heart  shaped,  compressed.     The  berries  are  kid- 
ney shaped,  retuse  at  both  ends,  compressed,  of  a 
bright  scarlet  colour,  crowned  with  the  calyx  and 
styles,   and   containing  two   semi-circular  seeds. 
In  most  umbels  there  are   flowers  with  only  one 
style,  in  which  case  the  berry  has  a  semi-cordate 
form,  as  represented  in  fig.  3.     Sometimes  there 
tire  three  styles  and  three  seeds.     The  outermost 
flowers  ripen  first,  and  their  berries  often  obtain 
their  full  size  before  the  central  ones  are  expand- 
ed.    The  middle  flowers  are  frequently  abortive. 


GINSENG.  ga 

There  are  also  barren  flowers,  on  separate 
plants,  which  botanists  describe  as  having  larger 
petals,  and  an  entire  calyx.  I  have  not  met  with 
plants  of  this  description  in  flower. 

The  foregoing  character  leaves  little  doubt 
that  the  American  plant  is  precisely  the  same 
with  the  Asiatic,  although  Loureiro  and  some  oth- 
ers have  disputed  their  identity.  The  description 
of  Jartoux,  which  has  been  given,  as  well  as  his 
drawing  of  the  plant,  agrees  in  every  respect,  ex- 
cept that  his  plant  had  four  branches  or  leaves, 
instead  of  three.  This  is  accounted  for  by  sup- 
posing he  had  chosen  a  luxuriant  specimen. — It 
is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  names  of  the 
Chinese,  and  of  the  North  American  Indians, 
should  signify  the  same  thing  in  their  respective 
languages,  viz.  a  resemblance  to  the  figure  of  a 
man.  This  resemblance,  however,  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, even  in  the  branching  roots,  is  rather  of  a 
humble  kind. 

The  genus  Panax  was  placed  by  Linnaeus  in 
his  class  Polygamia,  and  by  late  writers  in  Pen- 
tandria,  Digynia.  The  plants  of  this  family  were 
also  referred  by  Linnaeus  to  his  natural  order 
Hederacece,  or  somewhat  heterogeneous  assem- 
blage of  vegetables  ;  and  by  Jussieu  to  his  Jlralice, 
Later  botanists  have  placed  them  among  the  Urn- 


94  PANAX  qUINQUEFOLIUM. 

helUferoiis  vegetables,  from  which  they  differ  in 
their  berried  fruit.  The  genus  most  near  to  Pa- 
nax is  unquestionably  Aralia,  which  differs  only 
in  the  number  of  styles,  a  eharacter  extremely  va- 
riable in  the  Ginsengs.* 

The  root  of  the  Ginseng  has  an  agreeable 
taste,  consisting  of  a  mixture  of  sweet  and  bitter, 
with  some  aromatic  pungency.  Water,  both  cold 
and  hot,  receives  a  gummy  mucus,  which  is  pre- 
cipitated by  alcohol.  The  watery  extract  has  the 
taste  and  smell  of  the  root  in  a  strong  degree. 
The  distilled  water  gives  evidence  of  a  volatile  oil, 
and  has  the  aroma,  without  the  sweetness  of  the 
root.  The  common  tests  indicate  the  presence 
of  but  little  resin,  and  no  tannin. 

As  far  as  Ginseng  has  been  tried  medicinally 
in  this  country,  and  in  Europe,  its  virtues  do  not 
appear,  by  any  means,  to  justify  tlie  high  estima- 
tion of  it  by  the  Chinese.  That  it  is  not  a  very 
active  substance,  is  proved  by  the  fact,  that  a 
whole  root  may  be  eaten  without  inconvenience. 
Its  place  in  the  materia  mcdica  is  among  demul- 
cents. It  approaches  more  nearly  to  liquorice, 
than  to  any  other  medicine  in  its  taste  and  exter- 

*  Panaoc  trifolium,  a  beautiful  little  plant,  with  nearly  the  herb  of 
Anemone  nemorosa,  has  always  three  styles  and  a  tricoccous  ber- 
ry. P.  quinquefolium  varies  from  one  to  three  styles,  though  the 
usual  number  is  two. 


GINSENG.  95 

nal  qualities.  Its  extract  forms  a  very  neat  pre- 
paration, and  is  by  no  means  unpleasant  to  the 
taste.  Dr.  Fotliergill  tells  us,  that  "  in  tedious 
chronic  coughs,  incident  to  people  in  years,  a  de- 
coction of  it  has  been  of  service.  It  consists  of  a 
lubricating  mucilage  combined  >vith  some  degree 
of  aromatic  warmth.'' 

Ginseng  is  principally  sold  by  our  druggists 
as  a  masticatory,  many  people  having  acquired  an 
habitual  fondness  for  chewing  it.  It  is  certainly 
one  of  the  most  innocent  articles  for  this  purpose. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Panax  quinqiicfolium,  Lin.  sp.  pi. — Michaux,  Flora,  ii.  256. 
— ^PuRSH,  i.  191. — WooDviLLE,  Mctl,  BoL  i.  t.  58. — Botanical 
Mag.  t.  1023. — Aureliana  Canadensis,  Catesby,  Car.  Suppl.  t, 
16.— Bretnius  in  Prod.  rar.  p,  52. — Araliastrum  foliis  ternis 
quinquepartitis.  Ginseng  sen  Ninsin  officinariim. — Trew,  Ehr, 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

BouRDELiN ,  Hist,  de  I'Jcad.  1797. — Jartoux,  tr.  in  Phil,  Trans, 
xxviii.  237. — Lafiteau,  Jlemoires  concernant  la  precieuse  plant& 
de  Ginseng.  Paris,  1718. — Sarrasin,  Hist.  Acad.  1718. — Kalm, 
travels f  tr.  iii.  114. — Osbeck,  China,  p.  145. — Heberdex,  Med. 
Trans,  iii.  34. — Fotuergill,  Gent,  Mag,  xxiii.  209. — Cuilex, 
Mat,  Mai.  Vol.  ii,  kc. 


96  PANAX  qUINqUEFOLIUM. 

PLATE  XXIX. 

Fig.  1.  Panax  quinquefolium. 

Fig.  2.  A  Jlower  magnified. 

Fig.  3.  Umbel  in  Jlower,  the  external  fruit  nearly  grown. 

Fig.  4.  Germ,  calyx  and  styles  magnified. 

Fig.  5.  Root. 


0^  m 


Jy'f>€^/jMr.rf/fnt        o^<f -?/?/yw 


POLYGALA  SENEGA 


Seneca  Snake  root. 


PLATE  XXX, 

HE  Seneca  snake  root  has  attracted  so  gen- 
eral an  attention  from  the  medical  public,  as  to 
have  become  an  article  of  exportation  to  Europe, 
and  one  which  holds  a  regular  place  in  the  drug- 
gist stores.  The  plant  which  produces  it  has 
nothing  to  boast  on  the  score  of  elegance,  and 
little  to  attract  attention  independent  of  its  me- 
dicinal virtues.  It  grows  in  most  latitudes  of  tlie 
United  States,  especially  in  the  mountainous  tracts. 
The  specimen,  from  which  our  drawing  was  taken, 
was  gathered  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Champlain. 
The  genus  Polygala  has  a  five  leaved  calycc, 
two  of  the  leaves  wing  like,  and  coloured.  Capsule 
nhcordate.  two  celled,  and  two  valved. 
13 


1)8 


rOLYCALA    SENEGA. 


The  species  Senega  has  erect^  smooth^  simple 
stems,  with  alternate,  lanceolate  leaves,  broadest  at 
base.     Flowers  slightly  crested. 

Class  Biadelphia,  order  Octandria ;  natural 
orders  Lomeniacece,  Limi.  Pediculares,  Juss. 

The  Poljgala  senega  has  a  firm,  hard,  hranch- 
ing  perennial  root,  consisting  of  a  moderately  solid 
wood,  and  a  thick  hark.  This  root  sends  up  a 
numher  of  annual  stems,  which  are  simple,  smooth, 
occasionally  tinned  with  red.  The  leaves  are 
scattered,  nearly  or  quite  sessile,  lanceolate,  with 
a  subacute  point,  smooth,  paler  underneath.  Flow- 
ers wliite,  in  a  close  terminal  spike.  1  he  caljx, 
which  in  this  genus  is  the  most  conspicuous  part 
of  the  flower,  consists  of  five  leafets,  the  two  larg- 
est of  which,  or  wings,  are  roundish-ovate,  white, 
and  slightly  veined.  Corolla  small,  closed,  having 
two  obtuse  lateral  segments,  and  a  short  crested 
extremity.  Capsules  obcordate,  invested  by  the 
persistent  calyx,  compressed,  two  celled,  two 
valved.  Seeds  two  oblong-obovate,  acute  at  one 
end,  slightly  hairy,  curved,  blackish,  with  a  longi- 
tudinal, bifid,  white  appendage  on  the  concave  side. 
The  spike  opens  gradually,  so  that  the  lower  flow- 
ers are  in  fruit  while  the  upper  ones  are  in  blos- 
som. 


SENECA    SNAKE    ROOT.  99 

The  rose  coloured  variety  of  this  plant,  as  it 
has  been  considered  by  Micliaux,  proves  to  be  a 
distinct  species.  Some  species  wliich  I  possess 
from  Carolina  have  branching,  pubescent  stems, 
and  very  long,  loose  spikes.  The  flowers  are  sev- 
eral times  larger  than  tliose  of  P.  senega. 

The  root  of  the  Polygala  senega  has  an  un- 
pleasant and  somewhat  acid  taste.  After  chewino*. 
it  leaves  a  sensation  of  acrimony  in  tlie  mouth, 
and  still  more  in  the  fauces,  if  it  has  been  swal- 
lowed. These  properties  it  communicates  fully 
to  water  upon  boiling.  The  process  of  decoction 
does  not  appear  to  dissipate  any  of  its  power,  since 
the  distilled  water  is  destitute  of  the  taste  and 
smell  of  the  plant.  Alcohol  dissolves  a  substance, 
apparently  of  the  resinous  kind,  giving  a  precipi- 
tate when  water  is  added.  Iron  produces  little 
change  in  solutions  of  this  root,  and  gelatin  oc- 
casions no  alteration  whatever. 

Medicinally  administered,  the  Seneca  snake 
root  is  sudorific  and  expectorant  in  small  doses, 
and  emetic  and  cathartic  in  large  ones.  Its  most 
usual  mode  of  exhibition  is  in  decoction,  which 
may  be  made  of  suitable  strength  by  boiling  an 
ounce  of  the  root  in  a  pint  and  an  half  of  water, 
till  it  is  reduced  to  a  pint.    This  preparation  may 


100  POLYGALA    SENEGA. 

in  most  cases  be  given  in  doses  of  a  table  spoonful 
and  upward  without  disturbing  the  stomach. 

Tile  first  reputation  of  the  Seneca  root  was  one 
which  it  divides  with  a  multitude  of  other  plants, 
that  of  curing  the  bite  of  the  Rattlesnake.  A  re- 
ward was  given  by  the  legislature  of  Pennsylva- 
nia to  Dr.  Tennent  for  the  promulgation  of  this 
supposed  property.  When,  however,  we  consider 
the  number  of  cases  of  recovery  from  the  bite  of 
this  serpent,  under  every  variety  of  treatment,  we 
cannot  avoid  the  conclusion,  that  these  injuries 
are  not  necessarily  dangerous,  and  that  spontane- 
ous recoveries  are  perhaps  as  frequent  as  those 
which  are  promoted  by  medicine. 

3Iore  certain  success  attends  the  use  of  the 
Seneca  in  pneumonia  and  some  diseases  related  to 
it.  In  the  advanced  stages  of  pneumonic  inflam- 
mation, after  venesection  and  the  other  usual  rem- 
edies have  b^en  carried  to  their  proper  extent ;  and 
the  cough  still  remains  dry  and  painful,  while  the 
debility  of  the  patient  forbids  further  depletion  ; 
in  these  cases,  I  have  often  found  a  decoction  of 
the  Seneca  root  to  afford  very  marked  relief  by 
promoting  expectoration,  and  relieving  the  tight- 
ness and  oppression  of  the  chest.  Various  medi- 
cal writers  have  spoken  favourably  of  its  employ- 


SENECA    SNAKE    ROOT.  101 

mentin  these  cases,  among  whom  are  Lemery  ami 
others,  in  the  3Iemoirs  of  the  French  Academy. 
It  has  been  found  injm'ious,  from  its  stimulating 
properties,  when  given  at  too  early  a  stage,  or 
during  the  prevalence  of  much  acute  inflamma- 
tion. 

Benefit  has  been  derived  in  asthma  from  the 
use  of  this  plant.  The  following  is  Dr.  Bree's 
opinion,  quoted  from  his  treatise  on  that  disease. 
"  Decoction  of  seneka  is  eminently  useful  in  the 
first  species,  administered  to  old  people,  but  in  the 
paroxysm  of  young  persons,  I  have  found  it  too 
irritating.  This  distinction  applies  to  convulsive 
asthma  purely  uncomplicated,  but  the  disease  is 
frequently  observed  in  middle  aged  and  elderly 
persons,  to  take  the  character  of  peripneumonia 
notha  in  the  w  inter  and  spring,  and  seneka  is  then 
the  most  useful  medicine  that  I  have  tried.  In 
such  cases,  it  should  be  united  with  acetated  am- 
monia, during  the  febrile  state,  and  as  tliis  state 
gives  way,  tlie  addition  of  squill,  and  camphorated 
tincture  of  opium,  will  be  found  to  promote  ex- 
pectoration, perspiration,  and  urine  in  a  most 
powerful  manner." 

In  croup,  this  medicine  was  introduced  into 
notice  by  Dr.  Archer  of  Maryland.  He  speaks 
with  much  confidence  of  its  utility  in  that  disease, 


103  POLYGALA    SENEGA. 

particularly  in  promoting  the  separation  and  dis- 
charge of  the  membrane  formed  in  the  trachea  of 
patients  affected  by  it.  Such  a  membrane,  how- 
ever, does  not  exist  in  all  cases  of  croup.  And 
in  the  early  part  of  the  complaint  it  may  be  ques- 
tioned, how  far  a  medicine,  which  acts  as  a  stimu- 
lant to  the  fauces  and  neighbouiing  organs,  is  en- 
titled to  reliance,  in  a  local  inflammation  of  the 
trachea.  It  ought  not  from  such  a  reliance  to 
exclude  more  active  remedies,  especiuliy  ven:*- 
section.  Dr.  Archer's  mode  of  administering  It 
is  to  give  a  tea-spoonful  of  a  strong  decoction 
every  liour  or  half  hour,  according  to  the  urgency 
of  tlie  symptoms,  and  during  tlie  intervals,  a  few 
drops  occasionally,  to  keep  up  a  sensible  action  of 
the  medicine  upon  tlie  mouth  and  throat,  until  it 
acts  as  an  emetic  or  cathartic. 

In  various  forms  of  dropsy,  the  Seneca  root 
has  been  resorted  to  with  advantage,  and  has  re- 
ceived the  commendations  of  Percival,  Millman, 
and  some  others.  Its  cathartic  and  diuretic  effects 
are  very  considerable,  when  regularly  persevered 
in,  in  quantities  as  large  as  will  set  easily  on  the 
stomach  ;  and  have  in  various  instances  effected 
the  dissipation  of  dropsical  swellings. 

In  chronic  rheumatism,  this  root  sometimes 
does  good  by  its  universally  stimulant  and  diapho- 


SENECA    SNAKE    ROOT.  103 

retic  effects.  The  following  ease  occurred  to  me 
some  time  since  in  practice.  A  man  labouring 
under  severe  rheumatism  was  ordered  to  take  at 
intervals  a  wine  glass  full  of  a  strong  decoction 
of  the  Senega  made  from  an  ounce  of  the  root  in 
a  pint  of  water.  The  patient,  from  a  desire  to 
expedite  the  cure,  thought  proper  to  drink  the 
whole  quantity  at  once.  The  consequence  was 
the  most  violent  vomiting  and  purging,  which 
lasted  the  whole  night,  accompanied  with  profuse 
diaphoresis.  Tlie  patient,  as  might  have  been 
hoped  from  the  violence  of  the  operation,  was  rad- 
ically relieved  of  his  disorder. 

In  uterine  complaints,  particularly  amenorrhea, 
the  Polygala  senega  has  been  found  of  decided 
efficacy.  Dr.  Chapman  of  Philadelphia  is  one  of 
the  authorities  for  its  use  in  these  cases.  It  must 
be  given  largely,  and  continued  for  some  time. 

The  most  common  mode  of  exhibition  of  this 
root  is  in  decoction,  as  already  mentioned.  It  is 
also  given  in  powder  in  doses  of  twenty  or  thirty 
grains.  Dr.  Tenncnt  likewise  employed  a  wine 
of  Senega  made  by  digesting  four  ounces  of  tJie 
root  in  a  pound  of  wine,  of  which  three  spoonfuls 
were  given  at  a  dose. 


104  POLY  GALA    SENEGA. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Polygala  senega,  Lin.  Sp.  pi.  Walter,  Car.  178. — Wood- 
ViiLE,  ii.  t,  93. — Bot.Mug.  t.  1051. — Michaux,  ii.  53. — Pursh, 
ii.464. — Polygala  caule  simplici  erccto,  &c.  Gronovius,  Virg.  80. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Tenivent,  Diseases  of  Fir^infa.^LEMERY,  Duhamel,  &c. 
Hist,  de  VAcad.  1739, 136. — Archer,  Med.  ^  Phijs.  Jmirnal,  i.  83, 
106. — Percivax,  Med.  Jmirnal,  iv.  67.— Bree  on  Asthma,  258. 
— Massie,  Inaiig.  Diss.  Philad.  1803. — Thacher,  Disp.  319.— 
JV*.  Eng.  Journal,  vii.  206. 

PLATE  XXX. 

rig..l.  Pohjgala  senega. 
Fig.  2.  Jljlower  magnified. 
Fig.  S.  Calyx  of  the  same. 
Fig.  4.  Corolla  magnified. 
Fig.  5.  Capsule. 
Fig.  6.  A  seed. 


AMERICAN 


MEDICAL    BOTANY. 


VOLUME  ir.— PART  IT. 


yz .  .r.r.ri 


^.J^!^/:^^t7^?^<^^         ^^ 


Annin  Sr  SniM 


y//^/^r//'^^ 


AMERICAN 

MEDICAL   BOTANY. 

LTRIODENDEON  TULIPIFERA. 

Tulip  Tree, 

PLATE  XXXI. 

A  HE  vegetable  world  can  hardly  offer  a  more 
interesting  object,  than  a  tree  of  exalted  stature 
and  extensive  shade,  covered  with  a  beautiful  and 
singular  foliage,  putting  forth  from  its  boughs  an 
immense  number  of  large  and  variegated  flowers, 
at  the  same  time  that  its  trunk  affords  one  of  the 
most  useful  species  of  wood,  and  its  bark  an  aro- 
matic medicinal  agent.  Such  an  one  is  the  Tulip 
tree  of  the  United  States. 

The  forests  of  the  3Iiddle  and  Western  States, 
according  to  the  representation  of  Michaux,  a- 
bound  with  the  Liriodendron  tulipifera,  as  do  like- 
wise the  elevated  parts  of  Carolina  and  Georgia. 
It  is  found  in  the  New  England  states,  but  is 
principally  confined  to  the  igouthern  parts  of  them. 


108  LIRIODENDRON  TULIPIFERA. 

Cultivated  trees  are  common  in  Boston  and  its 
vicinity,  but  I  have  never  met  with  it  in  the  woods 
of  this  part  of  the  country,  nor  to  the  north  of  it 
upon  the  sea  boai*d. 

In  point  of  size  the  Liriodendron  is  exceeded 
by  few  trees  of  the  North  American  forest.  Its 
growth  is  regular,  straight  and  majestic.  Its  trunk 
often  acquires  a  diameter  of  from  two  to  three 
feet,  and  an  elevation  of  eighty  or  ninety.  In  fa- 
vourable situations  it  frequently  exceeds  these  di- 
mensions. Michaux  measured  a  tree  near  Louis- 
ville in  Kentucky,  which  at  five  feet  from  the 
ground  was  twenty  two  feet  and  an  half  in  circum- 
ference, and  which  he  estimated  to  be  a  hundred 
and  twenty  or  a  hundred  and  forty  feet  in  height. 
Catesby  informs  us  that  the  circumference  is 
sometimes  thirty  feet. 

The  names  of  Tulip  tree,  White  wood,  Canoe 
wood,  and  Poplar  are  applied  to  this  tree  in  diffe- 
rent parts  of  the  United  States.  Its  flowering 
tim^e  is  in  the  months  of  May  and  June. 

The  genus  Liriodendron,  to  which  Linnseus 
has  assigned  four  species  of  trees,  is  characterized 
by  a  double  calycc,  the  outer  of  two,  the  inner  of 
three  leaves ;  petals  six,  seeds  imbricated  into  a 
cone. 


TULIP  TREE.  109 

The  species  tulipifera,  the  only  one  in  Amer- 
ica, is  remarkably  distinguished  by  its  lobed  and 
tmmcated  leaves. 

Together  with  several  other  of  our  finest  flow- 
ering trees  and  shrubs,  the  Liriodendron  is  found 
in  the  class  Polyandria  and  order  Polygynia,  and 
the  natural  orders  Coadunatce  of  Linnseus  and 
Magnoliw  of  Jussieu. 

The  branches  of  the  Tulip  tree  are  of  a  grey- 
ish colour  inclining  to  red.  The  buds  which  ter- 
minate them  in  winter  are  very  curiously  con- 
structed. They  are  obovate,  and  flattened  or 
compressed  into  a  sharp  edge  at  the  extremity. 
They  are  made  up  of  a  number  of  concentric 
sheaths,  each  of  which  contains  a  single  minia- 
ture leaf  between  it  and  the  next  interior  sheath. 
This  leaf,  instead  of  embracing  the  next  sheath,  is 
folded  up  and  bent  down  upon  one  side  of  it. 
When  vegetation  begins  in  the  spring  the  sheaths 
swell  to  a  large  size  before  bursting,  and  at  length 
liberate  the  leaves  one  at  a  time,  the  remains  of 
each  sheath  becoming  converted  into  a  stipule. 

The  leaves  of  the  Tulip  tree  have  a  form  alto- 
gether peculiar,  and  which  is  not  resembled  by 
any  other  production  of  our  forests.  They  are 
divided  into  four  pointed  lobes  and  terminated  by 
a    shallow    notch,    the     cxtremitv   beins*   nearly 


110  LIRIODENDRON  TULIPIFERA. 

square,  and  the  middle  rib  ending  abruptly,  as  if 
cut  off.     In  the  large  leaves,  the  two  lower  lobes 
are  furnished  with  a  tooth  or  additional  lobe  on 
their  outside.     They  are  attached  by  long  pedun- 
cles  and  have  a  beautifully  smooth  and  bright 
green  surface.     There  is  one  variety  of  this  tree 
which  has  the  lobes  of  its  leaves  not  pointed,  but 
very  obtuse.     The  flowers  are  large,  solitary,  and 
terminal.      The   outer  calyx  has  two  triangular 
leaves  which  fall  off  as  the  flower  expands.     The 
inner  calyx  consists  of  three  large,  oval,   concave, 
veined  leaves,  of  a  pale  green  colour,  spreading  at 
first,  but  afterwards  reflexed.     Petals  six,  some- 
times more,  obtuse,  concave,  veined,  of  a  pale  yel- 
lowish green,  marked  with  an  irregular,  indented 
crescent  of  bright  orange   on   both   sides  toward 
the  base.     Stamens  numerous,   with  long  linear 
anthers  opening  outwardly,   and  short  filaments. 
Pistil  a  large,  conical,  acute  body,   its   upper  half 
covered  with  minute,  blackish,  recurved  stigmas  ; 
its  lower  furrowed,  being  a  mass   of  coalescing 
styles  and  germs.     The  fruit  is  a  cone  of  imbri- 
cated seed  vessels,   which  are  woody  and  solid, 
their  upper  portion  formed  by  a  long  lanceolate 
scale.     Seeds  two,  blackish,   ovate,  one  or  both 
often  abortive. 


TULIP  TREE.  m 

The  bark  of  the  Tulip  tree  has  a  very  hitter 
taste  and  a  strong  aromatic  pungency.  The  lat- 
ter property  appears  to  reside  in  a  volatile  oil. 
When  the  bark  is  distilled  with  water,  it  fills  tlie 
apartment  with  its  fragrant  odour,  yet  the  product 
of  the  distillation,  at  least  when  the  process  is  con- 
ducted in  the  small  way  with  the  luting  of  the  ap- 
paratus not  perfectly  tight,  has  scarcely  any  taste 
or  smell.  Dr.  Rogers  informs  us  that  he  obtain- 
ed an  oily  matter  in  the  form  of  a  whitish  scum 
on  the  surface  of  the  water  in  the  receiver.  A 
bitter  resin  exists  in  small  quantities  in  the  baik. 
Water  dissolves  a  mucous  substance,  which  is 
precipitated  in  a  flocculent  form  by  alcohol.  Wa- 
ter is  also  impregnated  with  the  bitterness,  and, 
if  too  much  heat  be  not  employed,  with  some  of 
the  aroma  of  the  tree.  The  sulphate  of  iron  pro- 
duced a  dark  brown  colour,  but  a  solution  of  isin- 
glass did  not  increase  the  chemical  evidence  of 
astringency,  producing  a  barely  perceptible  effect. 
Alcohol  and  proof  spirit  may  be  considered  the 
most  perfect  solvents  of  the  active  ingredients  ot" 
this  article,  although  water  dissolves  enough  to 
produce  its  medicinal  effect. 

The  bark  both  of  the  root  and  branches  acts 
on  the  system  as  a  stimulating  tonic  and  diapho- 
retic, having  properties  resembling  the  Cascarilla 


113  LIRIODENDRON  TULIPIFERA. 

and  other  aromatic  barks  of  the  shops.     The  dis- 
ease in  which  it  has  been  most  employed  is  in- 
termittent fever.     But  the  triumph  which  results 
from  the  occasional  cure  of  this  disease  is  now  di- 
vided among  so  large   a  list  of  tonic  medicines, 
that  the  distinction  conferred  by  it  is   not  of  the 
most   signal  kind.      As  a  warm  sudorific,   this 
bark    seems   well   adapted   to   the   treatment   of 
chronic  rheumatism,  and  for  this  purpose  it  has 
been  employed  with  success   by  various   medical 
practitioners  in  the  United  States.     In  some  dis- 
eases of  an  inflammatory  type  in  which  it  has  been 
recommended,  its   stimulating  properties  render 
it  more  like  to  do  harm   than  good.     The  only 
personal  acquaintance  which  I  have  had  with  it, 
is  as  a  stomachic.     Administered  with  this  view, 
it  has  been  acceptable   and  apparently  useful  to 
patients  who  had  derivetl  occasional  benefit  from 
"  Huxham's  tincture,"   "  Stougliton's  elixir,''   and 
similar  compositions  of  bitter  and  aromatic  drugs. 
The  wood  of  the  Tulip  tree  is  smooth  and  fine 
grained,   very  easily  wrought  and  not  liable   to 
split.     It  is  used  for  various  kinds  of  carving  and 
ornamental  work,  and  for  articles  of  house  furni- 
ture.    In  the  Western  States  where  pine  lumber 
is  scarce,  Michaux  tells  us,  that  the  joinery  or  in- 
side work  of  houses  is   most  frequently  of  this 


TULIP  TREE,  113 

laiiterial.  A  common  use  of  it  throughout  the 
United  States  is  in  the  manufacture  of  carriages 
to  form  the  pannels  of  coach  and  chaise  bodies. 
For  this  purpose  it  is  particularly  fitted  by  its 
smootlmess,  flexibility  and  toughness.* 

The  true  or  heart  wood  of  this  tree  is  of  a  yel- 
lowish colour  and  differs  in  proportion  in  different 
trunks.  We  are  told  that  two  varieties  of  the 
tree  exist,  denominated  the  yellow  and  the  white, 
and  which  appear  to  be  in  some  measure  produc- 
ed by  the  mode  and  place  of  growth.  The  yellow 
variety  is  most  valuable,  having  least  alburnum 
and  being  less  subject  than  the  other  to  decay. 

The  Tulip  tree  has  been  long  since  introduc- 
ed from  this  country  into  the  forests  and  fields  of 
Europe.  Its  use,  ornamental  appearance,  and  the 
facility  with  which  it  is  raised,  have  rendered  it  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  interesting  objects  of 
forest  cultivation. 

*  The  various  economical  uses  of  this  tree  are  treated  of  at 
large  in  the  splendid  work  of  the  younger  Michaux  on  the  Forest 
trees  of  JSTorth  America.  Those  who  appreciate  the  value  of  a  cor- 
rect knowledge  of  the  various  internal  resources  of  our  country,  will 
be  gratified  that  a  translation  of  this  important  work,  with  the  origi- 
nal plates,  is  now  publishing  at  Paris  and  Philadelphia. 
1(5 


i  14  LIRIODENDRON  TULIPIFERA. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Liriodendron  tulipifera,  Linn^us,  Sp.  pi. — Curtis,  Bot, 
Mag.  U  275. — MiCHAUX,  i.  526. — Michaux,  fll.  Arbres  foresti- 
ers,  iii.  202. — Pursh,  ii.  382. — Liriodendron  foliis  angulatis  trun- 
catis,  Trew,  Ehret,  2.  t.  10.  Tulipifera  virginiana  &c. 
Catesbt,  Car.  i.  U  48, — Piukenet,  1. 117.  f.  5.  &c. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Rush,  Trans.  Fhil.  Col.  i.  183.— Bart.  CoU,  14.— Clay- 
ton, Phil.  Trans,  abr,  viii.  332. — B^ogbrs,  Inaugural  disseiiationf 
1802. 

PLATE  XXXI. 

Fig.  1.  A  branch  of  Liriodendron  tulipifera. 

Fig.  2.  Stamens  presenting  different  sides. 

Fig.  3.  Pistil. 

Fig.  4.  Fruit. 

Fig.  5.  One  of  the  seeds  xvith  its  scale  or  envelope. 


pj.  jourii. 


W'^/>^    r^^^^^^^ 


'nnmt^   -^w" 


JUGLANS  CINEREA. 


Butternut, 


FINITE  XXXII. 

Of  the  forest  trees  which  deserve  attention 
for  other  properties  than  the  uses  of  their  timber, 
the  Butternut  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting ;  its  fruit,  bark  and  juices  being  all  con- 
vertible to  use.  In  favourable  situations  it  becomes 
a  larg'e  tree,  having  frequently  a  trunk  of  three 
feet  in  diameter.  It  is  abundant  in  the  North- 
ern and  3Iiddle  States,  as  well  as  in  the  Western 
country.  Some  parts  of  the  District  of  Maine,  I 
am  told,  produce  woods  of  considerable  extent, 
consisting  wholly  of  this  tree.  Michaux  tells  us, 
that  it  is  common  in  the  states  of  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  that  it  abounds  on  the  banks  of  Lake 
Erie,  the  Ohio  and  even  the  Missouri.  The  same 
author  states  that  it  is  found  in  the  mountainous 


116  JUGLANS  CINEREA. 

parts  of  Carolina  and  Georgia,  but  that  he  has  not 
met  with  it  in  the  lower  or  level  portions  of  the 
Southern  States.  It  is  variously  known  by  the 
names  of  Butternut,  Ollnut  and  White  Walnut, 

The  genus  Juglaus  or  Walnut  appertains  to 
the  Linnsean  class  Moncecia  and  order  Polyan- 
dria.  Its  natural  orders  are  Jlmentaceoe  of  Lin- 
naeus and  Terebintacew  of  Jussieu. 

This  genus  has  its  harren  Jiowers  in  aments 
with  a  six-parted  calyx  ;  its  fertile  jiowers  with 
a  four-cleft  superior  calyx  ;  a  four-parted  corolla; 
two  styles  ;  and  a  coriaceous  drupe  with  a  furrow- 
ed nut. 

The  species  cinerea  has  its  leafets  numerous, 
oblong-lanceolate,  rounded  at  base,  downy  under- 
neath, serrate.  Fruit  oblong-07Hite  with  a  termin- 
al projection,  viscid  and  hairy  ;  nut  oblong,  acumi- 
nate, with  a  rough,  indented  and  ragged  surface. 

The  leaves  of  the  Butternut  tree  when  fully 
grown  are  very  long,  consisting  of  fifteen  or  seven- 
teen leafets,  each  of  which  is  two  or  three  inches 
long,  rounded  at  base,  acuminate,  finely  serrate 
and  downy. 

The  flowers  appear  in  May  before  the  leaves 
are  expanded  to  their  full  size.  The  barren  flow- 
ers hang  in  large  aments  from  the  sides  of  the 
last  year's  shoots,  near  their  extremities.     The 


BUTTERNUT.  117 

scales  which  compose  them  arc  ohlong  and  deep- 
ly cleft  on  each  side  into  about  three  teeth  or 
segments.  The  anthers  are  ahout  eight  or  ten  in 
number,  oblong  and  nearly  sessile.  The  fertile 
flowers  grow  in  a  short  spike  at  the  end  of  the 
new  shoot  They  are  sessile  and  universally 
pubescent  and  viscid.  When  fully  grown,  they 
seem  to  consist  of  a  large  oblong  germ  and  a 
forked  feathery  style.  The  top  of  the  germ, 
however,  presents  an  obscurely  four-toothed  ca- 
lyx. Within  this  is  a  corolla  of  four  narrow  lan- 
ceolate petals  growing  to  the  sides  of  the  style. 
The  style  divides  into  two  large,  diverging,  feath- 
ery stigmas  nearly  as  long  as  the  germ.  These 
flowers  are  somewhat  later  than  the  aments  in 
their  appearance.  The  fruit  is  sessile,  several  to- 
gether on  the  sides  and  extremity  of  a  long  pe- 
duncle. It  is  of  a  green  colour,  brown  when  ripe, 
oblong-oval,  pointed,  hairy  and  extremely  viscid. 
It  contains  a  nut  which  is  of  a  dark  colour,  cari- 
nated  on  both  sides,  sharp  pointed,  its  whole  sur- 
face roughened  by  deep  indentures  and  sharp 
prominences.  The  kernel  is  more  regular  than 
in  most  nuts  of  its  kind,  is  very  oily,  pleasant  to 
the  taste  when  fresh,  but  acquires  a  rancid  taste 
bv  as:e. 


118  JUGLANS  CINEREA. 

The  bark  of  the  branches  affords  a  large  quan- 
tity of  soluble  matter,  chiefly  of  the  extractive 
kind.  In  a  concentrated  tincture  I  have  not  been 
able  to  detect  any  appearance  of  resin.  No  evi- 
dence of  tannin  is  produced  by  the  test  of  gelatin. 
A  brownish  black  colour  is  caused  by  the  sulphate 
of  iron.  The  distilled  water  possesses  the  taste 
of  the  bark  in  a  considerable  degree.  We  are 
authorized  to  conclude  that  water  is  an  adequate 
solvent  for  this  article,  and  experience  has  shewn 
that  the  watery  extract  is  one  of  its  best  prepar- 
ations. 

The  sap  of  the  Butternut  tree  is  saccharine, 
like  that  of  the  Maple,  and  may  be  procured  in 
large  quantities.  In  the  third  volume  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Agricultural  Repository  is  an  account 
of  an  experiment  made  on  this  tree  by  IVIr.  M.  P. 
Gray.,  He  states  that  four  trees,  the  trunks  of 
Avhich  were  only  from  eight  to  ten  inches  in  di- 
ameter, produced  in  one  day  nine  quarts  of  sap, 
from  which  was  made  one  pound  and  a  quarter  of 
sugar.  This  quantity,  it  appears  from  his  state- 
ment, is  equal  if  not  superior  to  that  which  the 
maple  affords  in  the  same  vicinity. 

The  inner  bark  of  this  tree,  especially  that  ob- 
tained from  the  root,  affords  one  of  the  most  mild 
and  efficacious  laxatives  which  we  possess.     It  is 


BUTTERNUT.  119 

commonly  employed  in  the  form  of  an  extract, 
which  preparation  is  kept  in  our  druggists'  shops. 
Ten  or  twelve  grains  of  this  extract  operate  gent- 
ly, and  twenty  or  thirty  grains  with  considerable 
activity  on  the  bowels.  It  has  been  used  for 
inany  years  in  this  town  by  the  most  respectable 
practitioners.  The  late  Dr.  Warren  thought 
highly  of  its  efficacy,  and  employed  it  extensively 
in  various  complaints,  especially  in  dysentery. 
During  the  revolutionary  war,  when  foreign  medi- 
cines were  scarce,  this  extract  was  resorted  to  by 
many  of  the  army  surgeons,  as  a  substitute  for 
more  expensive  imported  drugs.  In  dysentery  it 
seems  at  one  time  to  have  acquired  a  sort  of  spe- 
cific reputation. 

From  numerous  trials  which  I  have  made  with 
this  medicine,  it  appears  to  me  to  possess  the 
qualities  of  an  useful  and  innocent  laxative.  When 
fresh  and  properly  prepared,  it  is  very  certain  in 
its  effect,  and  leaves  the  bowels  in  a  good  state. 
In  cases  of  habitual  costiveness  it  is  to  be  prefer- 
red to  more  stimulating  cathartics,  and  many 
persons  whose  state  of  health  has  rendered  them 
dependent  on  the  use  of  laxative  medicines,  have 
given  this  the  preference  after  the  trial  of  a  vari- 
etv  of  other  medicines. 


120  JUGLANS  CINEREA. 

A  patent  medicine,  long  vended  in  this  state 
under  the  name  of  Chamberlain's  Bilious  Cordial, 
was  a  tincture  of  this  hark  combined  with  various 
aromatic  seeds. 

The  bark  is  said  to  be  rubefacient  when  exter- 
nally applied,  and  even  capable  of  exciting  a  blis- 
ter.    Of  this  I  have  had  no  experience. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Juglans  cinerea,  LiwiciBus,  Sp.  jd. — Jacq,uin,  Ic.  rar,  i.  t. 
192. — WiLLDENOw,  arh.  156. — Wangenheim,  Amer.  21.  f.  9./. 
21. — MiCHATJX,  ii.  191. — PuRSH,  ii.  636. 

Juglans  oblonga  Retz.  Obs.  i.  p.  10. — Juglans  cathartira, 
MicHAUX,  FLL.  ArbresforestierSf  i.  165. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Thacher,  Disp.  245. — Bart.  Col.  23.  32. — Rush,  Med. 
Obs.i,  112. 

PLATE  XXXII. 

Fig.  1.  *i  branch  of  Juglans  cinerea  in  JloweVf  the  leaves  not  fully 

expanded. 
Fig.  2.  A  scale  or  barren fiower  from  the  ament  magnified. 
Fig.  3.  Jl  fertile  flower  magnified. 
Fig.  4.  The  fruit. 


1 


VER4TRUM  VIRIDE. 

American  Hellebore. 

PLATE  XXXIII. 

In  many  parts  of  the  United  States  the  swamps 
and  wet  meadows,  which  have  been  converted  into 
mowing*  lands,  are  peculiarly  marked  in  the  early 
part  of  spring  by  two  species  of  plants.  These 
are  the  Ictodes  foetidus  already  described  (PI. 
xxiv)  and  Veratriim  viride,  usually  denominated 
Poke  root  and  Hellebore.  Both  of  these  plants 
spring  up  more  rapidly  than  the  grass  around 
them,  and  from  the  largeness  and  bright  green 
colour  of  their  leaves  they  are  often  the  most  no- 
ticeable objects  in  the  places  of  their  growth.  As 
the  season  advances,  the  Ictodes  continues  only  a 
tuft  of  radical  leaves,  while  the  Yeratrum  sends 
up  a  straight  leafy  stalk,  which  frequently  acquires 

the  full  height  of  a  man, 
16 


12S  VERATRUM  VIRIDE. 

This  plant  is  not  only  found  in  boggy  mead- 
ows, but  by  the  sides  of  brooks  in  rocky  and 
mountainous  situations,  from  Canada  to  Carolina. 
Its  flowering  time  is  from  May  to  July. 

The  Veratrum  album  or  White  Hellebore,  a 
well  known  medicinal  plant  found  in  most  coun- 
tries of  Europe,  has  a  very  close  resemblance  to 
the  American  species.  It  is,  however,  a  smooth- 
er plant,  and  differs  somewhat  in  its  flowers, 
bractes  and  stalks. 

The  genus  Veratrum,  on  account  of  the  diver- 
sity of  its  flowers,  was  placed  by  Linngeus  in  his 
class  Polygamia  and  order  Monoecia.  Those  more 
recent  botanists,  who  omit  this  class,  have  trans- 
ferred the  genus  to  Hej[;andria  trigynia. 

The  generic  character  of  Veratrum  consists 
in  a  six-parted  corolla  without  calyao.  Stamens 
inserted  in  the  receptacle.  Capsules  three,  many 
seeded,  A  part  of  the  flowers  barren.  The  spe- 
cies viride  has  a  downy  panicle  with  the  partial 
bractes  longer  than  their  pedicels.  Segments  of 
the  corolla  thickened  on  the  inside  at  base. 

The  root  of  this  plant  is  thick  and  fleshy,  its 
upper  portion  tunicated,  its  lower  half  solid  and 
sending  fortli  a  multitude  of  large  whitish  radi- 
cles. The  stem  is  from  three  to  five  feet  high, 
roundish,  solid,  striated  and  pubescent.    Through- 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE.  128 

out  the  greater  part  of  its  length  it  is  closely  in- 
vested with  the  sheathing  bases  of  the  leaves. 
The  lower  leaves  are  large,  from  half  a  foot  to  a 
foot   long,    oval,    acuminate,  pubescent,  strongly 
plaited  and  nerved  ;   the  lower  part  of  their  edges 
meeting  round  the  stem.     The  upper  leaves  be- 
come  gradually   narrower    and   the    uppermost, 
which  perform  the   office  of  bractes,  are  linear- 
lanceolate.     The  flowers  are  numerous  and  dis- 
tributed in  compound  racemes   axillary  from  the 
upper  leaves,  and  terminal ;  the  whole  forming  a 
sort   of    panicle.       Peduncles    roundish,    downy, 
Bractes  boat-shaped,  acuminate,  downy.     The  pe- 
dicel of  each  flower  is  many  times  shorter  than 
its  bracte.     Calyx  none.     Corolla  divided  into  six 
green,  oval,  acute,  nerved  segments,  of  which  the 
alternate  ones  are  longest.     All  the  segments  are 
contracted  at  base  into  a  sort  of  claw  with  a  thick- 
ened or  cartilaginous   edge.      Stamens   six  with 
recurved  filaments   and  roundish,  two-lobed  an- 
thers.    Germs  three,  cohering,  Avith  acute  recurv- 
ed styles  as  long  as  the  stamens.     A  part  of  the 
flowers  are  barren  and  have   only   the  rudiments 
of  styles,  so  that  the  plant  is  strictly  polygamous. 
The  seed  vessel  consists  of  three  capsules  united 
together,  separating  at  top  and  opening  on  their 
inner  side.     Seeds  flat  imbricated. 


i24l  VERATRUM  VIRIDE. 

The  root  of  the  Veratrum  has  a  bitter  taste 
accompanied  with  acrimony^  and  leaves  a  durable 
impression  on  the  mouth  and  fauces  when  it  has 
heen  chewed  or  swallowed.  It  abounds  with  a 
resinous  juice,  which  adheres  closely  to  a  knife 
with  which  the  root  has  been  cut.  This  resin 
dissolves  abundantly  in  alcohol.  When  water  is 
added  to  the  solution,  a  white  turbidness  gradu- 
ally appears  rendering  the  liquid  opaque,  but  with- 
out sediment.  The  decoction  has  an  intensely 
bitter  taste.  It  is  not  rendered  turbid  by  alcohol 
although  some  slight  flocculi  are  separated  after 
standing.  It  is  probable  that  this  bitterness  re- 
sides in  an  extractive  principle.  The  distilled 
water  of  the  root  has  a  slightly  unpleasant  taste, 
witliout  bitterness  or  pungency. 

This  plant  in  its  medicinal  powers  resembles 
the  Veratrum  album  or  White  hellebore  of  Eu- 
rope. It  is  an  acrid  emetic  and  a  powerful  stim- 
ulant, followed  by  sedative  effects.  As  a  medicine 
or  as  a  poisonous  plant,  it  has  been  known  from 
an  early  period.  The  aborigines  of  the  country 
were  fully  apprized  of  its  activity.  Josselyn  in 
his  voyage  to  Xew  England,  which  took  place  not 
long  after  the  first  settlement  of  the  country,  in- 
forms us  that  the  young  Indians  had  a  custom  of 
e1ectin«:  their  chiefs  by  a  sort  of  ordeal  instituted 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE.  125 

with  the  roots  of  this  phmt,  which  he  denominates 
"  white  liellebore."  A  portion  of  this  root  was 
repeatedly  given  to  each  individual,  and  he  whose 
stomach  made  the  most  vigorous  resistance  or 
soonest  recovered  from  its  effects  was  considered 
the  stoutest  of  the  party  and  entitled  to  command 
the  rest. 

Kalm  tells  us  that  the  people  of  this  country, 
at  the  time  of  his  travels,  employed  a  decoction  of 
this  plant  externally  in  the  cure  of  scorbutic  af- 
fections, and  for  the  destruction  of  vermin.  He 
further  states,  that  corn  before  planting  was  soak- 
ed in  a  strong  decoction  of  the  Yeratrum  to  protect 
it  against  the  birds  which  infest  our  fields  and 
devour  the  grain  after  it  is  deposited  in  the 
ground.  When  the  corn  is  thus  prepared,  it  is 
observed,  that  those  bu^ds  which  swallow  it  be- 
come giddy  and  fall  to  the  ground,  an  example, 
the  writer  informs  us,  which  has  the  effect  to 
frighten  the  remainder  of  the  tribe  away  from  the 
place. 

Since  the  celebrity  acquired  bv  the  European 
white  hellebore  as  a  remedy  for  gout,  that  plant 
being  for  a  time  supposed  the  basis  of  the  cele- 
brated Eau  medicinale ;  the  attention  of  some 
practitioners  has  been  turned  to  investigating  the 
properties  of  the  American  plant,  which  so  close- 


i2Gf  TERATRUai  VIRIDE. 

Ij  resembles  the  Veratrum  album  in  its  external 
habitudes.  The  result  of  such  trials  as  have  been 
made,  establishes  beyound  a  doubt  the  medicinal 
similarity  of  these  two  vegetables.  I  have  em- 
ployed the  American  plant  in  dispensary  practice 
in  the  treatment  of  obstinate  cases  of  chronic 
rheumatism.  Other  practitioners  have  applied  it 
to  the  treatment  of  gout,  and  of  cutaneous  and  oth- 
er affections.  From  the  sum  of  my  observations 
and  knowledge  respecting  it,  I  am  satisfied  that 
the  root,  when  not  impaired  by  long  exposure  and 
age,  is  in  sufficient  doses  a  strong  emetic,  com- 
mencing its  operation  tardily,  but  continuing  in 
many  instances  for  a  long  time ;  in  large  doses 
affecting  the  functions  of  the  brain  and  nervous 
system  in  a  powerful  manner,  producing  giddir 
ness,  impaired  vision,  prostration  of  strength  and 
diminution  of  the  vita!  powers.  Like  the  Vera- 
trum album  and  Colchicum  antunmale,  the  violent 
impression  which  it  makes  upon  the  system  has 
arrested  the  paroxysms  of  gout  and  given  relief  in 
some  unyielding  cases  of  protracted  rheumatism. 
Like  those  substances,  it  requires  to  be  given  with 
great  caution  and  under  vigilant  restrictions.  The 
solutions  of  this  ai'ticle  have  appeared  to  me  more 
powerful  in  proportion  to  their  quantity  than  the 
substance,  probably  in   consequence  of  a  part  of 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE.  137 

the  powder  being  thrown  out  in  the  first  efforts  to 
vomit,  before  a  perfect  solution  of  its  active  parts 
in  the  stomach  could  have  taken  place. 

A  course  of  experiments  with  this  article  was 
made  sometime  since  in  the  Boston  Almshouse 
by  Dr.  John  Ware,  the  results  of  which  he  has 
obligingly  communicated  to  me.  They  cannot  be 
better  stated  than  in  his  own  words. 

"  I  gave  this  plant,"  says  he,  "  in  the  first  place 
with  a  view  to  ascertain  its  action  on  the  stomach 
and  alimentary  canal.  The  doses  in  which  it  was 
administered  amounted  to  from  two  to  ten  grains. 
I  began  with  a  small  quantity,  and  increased  it 
very  gradually  in  order  to  guard  against  the  oc- 
currence of  those  violent  and  dangerous  effects 
which  I  had  been  led  to  apprehend  from  the  de- 
scriptions given  of  the  operation  of  the  white  helle- 
bore. A  slight  and  general  account  of  the  ex- 
periments will  give  the  most  satisfactory  view  of 
the  effects  of  this  root  as  an  emetic. 

"  It  was  administered  in  about  thirty  cases.  In 
the  first  case  two  grains  were  given  ;  this  only 
produced  slight  and  temporary  nausea. 

"  In  three  instances  three  grains  Avere  admin- 
istered ;  in  tw  o  of  these  vomiting  was  produced ; 
in  one  of  them  to  a  considerable  degree — in  the 
other  slio^ht — in  tho  third  no  effect  whatever  was 


1S8  VERATRUM  VIRlDE. 

produced. — Of  gr.  iv.  Four  doses,  of  which  only 
one  operated,  and  then  the  operation  was  incon- 
siderable.— Of  gr.  vi.  Fifteen  doses  were  given — 
ten  of  these  operated  perfectly  well ;  as  complete 
and  thorough  vomiting  was  produced  as  follows 
from  the  case  of  any  other  emetics — in  the  elev- 
enth case  nausea  only  ensued — and  in  the  re- 
maining, no  effect  whatever  was  perceived. — Of 
gr,  viii.  Four  doses — of  these,  two  failed  entire- 
ly and  two  operated  satisfactorily. — Of.  gr.  x.  On- 
ly one  dose  was  given — this  operated  very  thor- 
oughly. 

"  I  did  not  find,  as  I  had  expected,  that  this 
substance  was  uncommonly  violent  or  distressing 
in  its  operation.  Patients,  in  general,  did  not 
complain  of  any  thing  unusual,  and  when  they 
were  pai'ticularly  questioned  as  to  their  sensa- 
tions, they  told  of  nothing  more  than  those  usual- 
ly occurring  during  the  effects  of  a  brisk  emetic. 
It  seemed  to  produce  vomiting  rather  more  se- 
verely than  an  ordinary  dose  of  ipecac— but  not 
more  tlian  one  of  antimony.  Indeed,  its  opera- 
tion may  fairly  be  said  to  be  about  as  violent  and 
distressing  as  that  of  any  other  emetic  whose  ef- 
fects in  evacuating  the  stomach  are  equally  thor- 
ough. In  a  few  instances,  however,  there  was  a 
complaint  of  very  violent  and  painful  retching — 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE.  129 

and  of  dizziness  at  the  time  and  for  a  short  time 
after— still  these  effects  were  not  common  nor  ex- 
cessive. 

"  As  to  its  influence  as  an  emetic  upon  diseased 
states  of  the  system,  there  were  few  opportuni- 
ties of  administering  it  where  any  considerable  de- 
rangement existed.  In  those  cases  which  did  oc- 
cur it  did  not  appear  to  be  inferior  to  the  common 
emetics. 

'•  The  degree  of  operation  did  not  seem  to  be 
much  increased  by  the  increase  of  the  dose  of  the 
medicine.  Doses  of  six  grains  appeared,  when 
they  took  effect,  to  produce  vomiting  as  thorough 
and  complete,  as  that  which  followed  from  larger 
doses  ;  except  that  the  lai'ger  were  perhaps  more 
speedy  in  operating.  I  could  find  no  cause  for 
the  failure  of  so  many  of  those  cases  in  which  the 
dose  amounted  to  six  or  eight  grains,  except  an 
insensibility  in  the  patient  to  the  stimulus  of  the 
medicine  ;  and  this  was  rendered  more  probable 
from  the  circumstance  that  generally  in  those  in- 
stances, the  substance  failed  in  producing  any  ef- 
fect whatever ;  nausea  did  not  often  occur  when 
vomiting  was  not  to  follow  it,  and  in  no  instance 
wa»  it  very  clear  that  purging  was  produced. 

"  Indeed  this  appeared  to  be  rather  a  singular 
circumstance  relating  to  this  substance,  and  one 
17 


130  VEHATRUM  VIlllDtl. 

in  which  it  dift'ers  from  most  or  all  other  emetics. 
These  articles,  when  they  fail  of  producing  vomit- 
ing, generally  occasion  a  determination  down- 
wards, and  thus  produce  all  the  phenomena  of  ca- 
tliartic  medicines.  This  effect  is  also  frequently 
produced  when  they  have  operated  in  their  pecu- 
liar way.  But  in  no  instance  did  this  appear  to 
be  the  case  with  the  Hellebore.  Some  patients, 
indeed,  said  that  it  operated  upon  them  by  stool 
very  slightly — but  on  strict  inquiry  I  did  not 
think  that  the  medicine  had  had  any  effect  in  this 
way,  and  that  what  was  told  me  proceeded  from  a 
desire  in  the  persons  to  attribute  some  sort  of  ef- 
fect to  what  had  been  given  them. 

"In  the  greater  number  of  the  cases,  the  Helle- 
bore was  longer  before  it  produced  vomiting  than 
is  the  case  generally  witli  other  emetics.  It  did 
not  often  operate  in  less  than  three  quarters  of  an 
hour  or  an  hour — but  sometimes  the  interval  was 
extended  to  two  or  three  hours — and  in  one  case, 
although  the  dose  was  administered  at  twelve  at 
noon,  its  effects  were  not  produced  until  between 
nine  and  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening.  This  tardi- 
ness in  manifesting  its  effects  on  the  system  cor- 
responds with  what  has  been  observed  with  re- 
spect to  the  European  species. 


AMERICAJJ  HELLEBORE.  131 

"  I  made  a  few  experiments  with  the  powder  of 
the  Veratriim  album  in  order  to  compare  its  pow- 
ers with  those  which  existed  in  our  native  species. 
It  was  given  in  six  cases — of  two  doses  of  three 
grains — neither  produced  any  effect — one  of  four 
was  not  more  effectual — six  grains  produced  some 
vomiting,  hut  not  to  any  considerable  extent — seven 
no  effect  whatever — and  eight  produced  in  about 
four  hours  after  taking  it  considerable  effect.  If 
these  experiments  are  to  be  depended  upon,  the 
foreign  certainly  is  not  more  powerful  than  the 
native  species. 

"  I  endeavoured  next  to  ascertain  what  degree 
of  power  the  Hellebore  was  possessed  of  over  cu- 
taneous diseases.  It  has  the  reputation  in  the 
country  of  some  efficacy  in  these  complaints.  The 
ointment  and  decoction  were  applied  in  a  number 
of  cases,  and  it  certainly  proved  to  be  an  applica- 
tion of  considerable  power.  Its  effects  in  some 
cases  amounted  to  a  removal  of  the  disease  en- 
tirely'— and  in  most,  some  diminution  of  it  fol- 
lowed, which  was  more  or  less  durable. 

"In  one  case  where  there  was  an  eruption  about 
the  wrists  and  other  parts  of  the  body,  supposed 
to  be  the  itch — the  ointment  (made  by  simmering 
together  a  dram  of  Hellebore  in  an  ounce  of  lard) 
after  being  applied  for  some  time,  removed  the 


132  yfiRATnUM  VIRIDE. 

disease.  The  cure,  however,  was  protracted  and 
tedious. 

"  A  second  case  was  that  of  a  boy  who  had  on 
the  back  of  his  head,  what  appeared  to  be  the  com- 
mencement of  Tinea  capitis.  The  ointment  made 
in  the  same  way  as  that  before  mentioned,  except 
that  simmering  was  omitted,  removed  it  in  the 
course  of  a  fortnight.  It  returned  again  in  the 
course  of  a  few  weeks  and  was^  again  destroyed  by 
the  same  application.  It  did  not  recur  so  long 
as  I  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  the  child, 
which  was,  however,  not  long. 

"  In  one  clear  case  of  itch,  the  ointment  failed 
of  producing  any  beneficial  effect,  and  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  have  recourse  to  the  usual  remedy. 

"  An  instance  of  a  very  troublesome  and  irritat- 
ing eruption  upon  the  hands  and  fingers,  accom- 
panied by  a  venereal  taint  of  the  system,  was  very 
much  relieved  by  this  ointment.  Its  final  remov- 
al, however,  could  not  be  attributed  to  this,  since 
the  patient  was  under  the  influence  of  mercury  at 
the  same  time. 

"  In  some  other  cases  both  the  ointment  and 
decoction  were  used  with  success  for  a  time,  but 
the  effects  they  produced  were  only  partial  and 
temporary." 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE.  133 

Of  the  power  of  this  plant  to  relieve  the  formi- 
dable disease  of  gout,  we  have  the  most  satisfac- 
tory evidence.  A  composition  intended  to  imi- 
tate the  celebrated  Eau  medicinale  was  prepared 
in  England  by  Mr.  Moore  from  the  wine  of  white 
hellebore  and  wine  of  opium  in  the  proportion  of 
three  parts  of  the  former  to  one  of  the  latter. 
This  compound  was  used  by  many  arthritic  pa- 
tients both  in  Europe  and  America  with  great 
success  in  relieving  the  paroxysms  of  the  disease. 
In  Boston  a  considerable  number  of  individuals 
have  been  induced  to  make  trial  of  the  remedy, 
and  generally  with  advantage.  But  I  am  inform- 
ed by  several  of  our  most  repectable  apotheca- 
ries, that  for  a  long  time,  especially  during  the 
late  war,  when  the  white  hellebore  could  not  be 
obtained  from  Europe,  the  American  plant  was 
used  in  the  preparation  of  the  medicine  upon 
the  supposition  of  its  being  the  same  with  the 
European.  Various  gouty  patients  made  use  of 
it,  and  no  difference  was  perceived  by  them  or 
their  physicians  in  its  mode  of  operation  or  effect 
upon  the  disease.  Some  were  relieved  by  small 
doses,  which  did  not  even  nauseate,  such  as  fifteen 
or  twenty  drops,  repeated  if  necessary.  Others 
found  a  drachm  of  the  mixture  necessary,  which 
quantity  affected  them  unpleasantly  by  vomiting 


134  VERATRUM  VIRIDB. 

or  otherwise.  Some  experienced  such  severe  ef- 
fects as  to  deter  them  after  one  trial  from  a  repe- 
tition of  the  experiment.  In  general  the  parox- 
ysm of  gout  was  completely  suspended  by  the  op- 
eration of  the  medicine. 

On  the  whole,  we  have  sufficient  knowledge  of 
the  American  green  hellebore,  to  feel  assured 
that  it  is  a  plant  of  great  activity,  closely  resem- 
bling in  its  properties  tlie  Yeratrum  album  of 
Europe  ;  and  that  like  that  plant  it  has  given  re- 
lief in  the  paroxysms  of  gout  and  in  rheumatism. 
Whether  the  original  Eau  medicinale  be  a  prep- 
aration of  Veratrum,  Colchicum,  or  any  other  ac- 
rid narcotic,  it  is  not  of  consequence  here  to  de- 
cide. These  plants,  with  several  others  that 
might  be  mentioned,  are  similar  in  their  operation, 
and  probably  influence  the  system  when  under 
disease,  much  in  the  same  way.  Some  individu- 
als obtain  relief  from  moderate  doses,  which  do 
not  occasion  nausea  or  any  very  disagreeable  ef- 
fects. Others  have  not  derived  benefit  except 
from  such  quantities  as  bring  on  vomiting.  Some 
have  experienced  very  distressing  consequences, 
such  as  excessive  sickness,  purging,  great  pros- 
tration of  strength,  impaired  vision,  and  even 
total  insensibilit}^  where  the  dose  has  been  im- 
prudently large. 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE.  135 

Tlie  wine  of  green  hellebore  is  prepared  like 
that  of  the  white,  by  iniusing  for  ten  days  eight 
ounces  of  the  sliced  root,  in  two  pints  and  an 
half  of  Spanish  white  wine.  Before  being  given, 
in  gout,  it  is  combined  with  one  fourth  part  its 
quantity  of  wine  of  opium.  Of  this  compound 
the  dose  varies  from  twenty  drops  to  a  dracbm. 

From  some  observations  made  by  Sir  Everard 
Home  respecting  the  wine  of  Colchicum  autum- 
nale,  it  is  probable  that  the  wine  of  Yeratrum 
may  be  less  violent  in  its  effects,  if  freed  from  the 
sediment  which  it  deposits  by  standing. 

Of  the  substance  of  the  root  freshly  powdered, 
from  two  to  six  grains  will  be  found  a  sufficient 
dose.  For  medicinal  use,  however,  in  most  cases 
it  is  probable  that  the  liquid  preparation  above 
described  promises  more. 

The  external  application  of  the  ointment  and 
decoction  sometimes  produces  the  same  effect  on 
the  stomach  as  the  internal  use  of  the  plant.  In 
one  instance  a  patient  was  nauseated  and  vomit- 
ing brought  on  by  the  ointment  applied  to  an 
ulcer  of  the  leg.  I  have  known  similar  conse- 
quences from  a  strong  decoction  in  cutaneous  af- 
fections. Might  the  topical  application  of  this 
plant  be  of  any  service  in  gout  ? 


136  YERATRUM  VIRIDE. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Veratrum  viride,  Aiton,  Kew.  iii.  422. — Wujldenow,  8p. 
pi.  iv.  896. — PuRSH,  i.  242. — Rees'  Cyclopedia,  ad,  verb. — ^Ve- 
ratrum album,  MiCHAUx,  ii.  249. — Helonias  viridis.  But,  Mag. 
1096. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

■Kalm,  travels f  ii.  91. — Josselyn,  Vbyagc  to  JVtw  England, 
p.  60. — Thacher,  JV.  Eng.  Journal. 

PLATE  XXXII. 

Fig.  1.  Leajandjlowers  of  Veratrum  viride. 

Fig.  2.  Fetal  magnified. 

Fig.  3.  Stamens, 

Fig.  4.  Pistils. 

Fig.  5.  Capsule. 

Fig.  6.  Section  of  the  capsule,  slioxving  the  seeds. 

Fig.  7.  A  seed. 


J'A.   XA'A/i 


(ye^i/^^frt^/KX'     (/Pf2/kj/^^^ 


jbmin  &  SndrA   5c. 


GENTIANA  CATESB.EI. 


Blue  Gentian. 


PLATE  xxxir, 

J.  am  indebted  to  the  late  Dr.  Macbride,  of 
Charleston,  S.  C.  for  my  specimens  of  this  me- 
dicinal plant,  and  for  a  quantity  of  its  root  in 
preservation.  Many  of  the  perennial  species  of 
Gentian  have  a  great  degree  of  bitterness  in  the 
root,  and  among  these  the  Gentiana  lutea,  or  com- 
mon imported  Gentian  of  the  shops,  stands  pre- 
eminent. Of  the  American  species,  several  bear 
great  resemblance  in  taste  and  effect  to  the  Euro- 
pean plant.  No  one,  however,  which  I  have  ex- 
amined approaches  so  near  to  the  officinal  root  in 
bitterness,  as  the  species  which  is  the  subject  of 
this  article.  This  species  was  formerly  con- 
founded witli  the  Gentiana  saponaria,  a  fine  au- 
tumnal plant,  common  in  the  Northern  and  Mid- 
18 


138  GENTIANA  CATESBiET. 

die  states.  It  differs  widely,  howeyer,  from  that 
species  in  the  size  of  its  leaves,  the  length  of  its 
calyx,  the  open  mouth  of  its  corolla  and  shape  of 
its  segments.  An  imperfect  figure  of  this  plant, 
published  by  Catesby  sixty  years  ago,  has  been 
quoted  by  subsequent  botanists  as  belonging  to 
G.  Saponaria.  It  has  now  been  very  properly 
distinguished  by  Walter  and  Elliott,  who  have  ap- 
plied to  the  new  species  the  name  of  its  earliest 
delineator. 

The  genus  Gentiana  has  a  monopetaloiis  corol- 
la; a  capsule  one-celled  and  two-valved,  with  two 
longitudinal  receptacles.  The  species  Cateshwi 
hiis  a  rough  stem ;  leaves  ovate-lanceolate ;  seg- 
ments of  the  calyx  longer  than  the  tube  ;  mouth  of 
the  corolla  open,  its  outer  segments  subacute,  in- 
ner segments  bifid  and  fimbriate. 

This  genus  is  placed  by  Linnaius  in  his  class 
and  order  Pentandria,  Bigynia,  A  part  of  the 
species,  however,  depart  from  the  character  of 
this  class,  and  constitute  one  of  those  instances  in 
w  hich  the  general  rules  of  the  arrangement  are 
violated,  that  apparently  natural  genera  may  not 
be  divided.  A  part  of  the  Gentians  have  five  sta- 
mens and  a  five-cleft  corolla  ;  othei*s  have  four 
stamens  and  a  four-cleft  corolla ;  others  have  a 
still  different  number.      Yet  so  uniform  is   the 


BLUE   GENTIAN.  139 

Structure  of  the  fruit,  and  so  great  tlie  apparent 
affinity  of  the  plants,  that  hotunists  have  hitherto 
kept  the  genus  entire,  even  though  the  variety  of 
form  as  well  as  of  numher  in  the  cnlyx,  corolla, 
and  stamens  might  perliaps  justify  a  subdivision. 

This  genus  belongs  to  the  natural  order  Mo- 
tacece  of  Linnaeus,  and  to  Jussieu's  GentiancB. 

The  Gentiana  Catesba?i  has  a  branching  and 
somewhat  fleshy  root.  Stem  simple,  erect,  rough. 
Leaves  opposite,  ovate  or  lanceolate,  slightly 
three-nerved,  acute,  rough  on  the  margin.  Flow- 
ers crowded,  nearly  sessile,  axillary  and  terminal. 
Segments  of  the  calyx  linear-lanceolate,  varying 
in  length,  exceeding  the  tube  and  sometimes 
more  than  twice  its  length.  Corolla  large,  blue, 
ventricase,  plaited  ;  its  border  ten-eleft,  the  five 
outer  segments  roundish  and  more  or  less  acute, 
the  five  inner  bifid  and  fimbriate.  Stamens  five, 
with  dilated  filaments  and  sagittate  anthers. 
Germ  oblong-lanceolate,  compressed,  supported 
by  a  sort  of  pedicel.  Style  none,  stigmas  two, 
oblong,  reflexed.  Capsule  oblong,  acuminate, 
one-celled,  two-valved. 

The  dried  root  of  this  vegetable  has  at  first 
a  mucilaginous  and  sweetish  taste,  which  is  soon 
succeeded  by  an  intense  bitter,  approaching  near- 
ly to  that  of  the   officinal   gentian.     This  quality 


140  GENTIANA  CATESBiEI. 

appears  to  reside  in  a  bitter  extractive  principle, 
soluble  in  botli  alcohol  and  water.  A  little  resin 
is  developed  by  the  pearly  appearance  which  the 
tincture  assumes  on  the  addition  of  water.  The 
decoction,  however,  is  nearly  equal  in  bitterness 
to  the  tincture,  and  both  these  solutions  exhibit 
this  property  much  more  powerfully  than  the 
root  in  substance.  No  astringency  appears  in 
this  root,  and  nothing  remarkable  in  the  distilled 
water. 

I  have  found  the  root  of  this  plant  in  a  variety 
of  instances  in  which  I  have  used  it,  to  resemble 
very  nearly  the  imported  Gentian  in  its  proper- 
ties, being  but  little  inferior  to  it  in  strength  or 
efijcacy.  Like  that  substance  it  invigorates  the 
stomach  and  gives  relief  in  complaints  arising 
from  indigestion.  Dr.  Macbride,  at  whose  sug- 
gestion I  first  employed  it,  entertained  a  high 
opinion  of  its  tonic  power  in  cases  of  debility  of 
the  stomach  and  digestive  organs. 

In  Mr.  Elliott's  Botany  of  the  Southern  States, 
we  are  told,  tliat  in  the  form  of  a  decoction  it  is 
used  with  decided  advantage  in  cases  of  pneumon- 
ic, where  the  fever  is  nervous,  and  that  it  acts  as 
a  tonic  and  sudorific.  A  tincture  of  it  is  esteem- 
ed as  a  reniedy  in  dyspepsia,  given  in  doses  of  one 
fourth  or  half  an  ounce.     It  is   said  to  increase 


BLUE  GENTIAN.  141 

the  appetite,  prevent  the  acidification  of  the  food, 
and  to  enable  the  stomach  to  bear  and  digest  ar- 
ticles of  diet,  whicli  before  produced  oppression 
and  dejection  of  spirits. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Gentiana  Catesbsei,  Waitee,  Flora  Carol,  p.  109. — ^Eixi- 
OTT,  Botany  of  the  Southern  States,  i.  340. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCE. 
EijiioTT,  loc,  dt, 

PLATE  XXXIV. 

Fig.  1.  Gentiana  Catesbcei. 

Fig.  2.  A  Jlower  xvith  the  corolla  draxvn  open  to  show  the 

inner  plicce. 
Fig.  3.  Stamens  and  pistU  in  their  natural  situation. 
Fig.  4.  Stamens  separate. 
Fig.  5.  Fistil. 


LAURUS  SASSAFRAS* 


Sassafras  Tree. 


PLATE  XXXV. 

Almost  every  section  of  the  United  States 
produces  the  Sassafras  tree.  It  not  only  inhab- 
its every  latitude  from  New  England  to  Florida, 
but  we  are  told  it  is  also  found  in  the  forests  of 
Mexico  and  even  of  Brazil.  Its  peculiar  foliage 
and  the  spicy  qualities  of  its  bark  render  it  a 
prominent  object  of  notice,  and  it  seems  to  have 
been  one  of  the  earliest  trees  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican continent  to  attract  the  attention  of  Europe- 
ans. Its  character  as  an  article  of  medicine  was 
at  one  time  so  high,  that  it  commanded  an  extrava- 
gant price,  and  treatises  were  written  to  celebrate 
its  virtues.  It  still  retains  a  place  in  the  best 
European  Pharmacopseias. 


/v.jfjurv. 


Artnat    Ic  Sj-M  Sc 


SASSAFRAS  TREE.  143 

Xhe  g'eniis  of  trees  and  slirubs  known  by  the 
name  o£  Lauviis  comprises  many  of  the  most  use- 
ful as  well  as  celebrated  products  of  the  vegeta- 
ble world.  The  Bay  tree  or  Laurel  of  the  an- 
cients, the  Cinnamon  tree,  Cassia  tree.  Camphor 
tree,  and  Avocado  pear,  are  either  of  them  suffi- 
cient to  give  notoriety  to  the  genus  to  which  thev 
belong.  This  genus  has  a  calijcc  of  from  four  to 
six  divisions ;  nectary  of  three  bisetose  glands,  or 
wanting ;  stamens  variable  in  number ;  fruit  a 
drupe  ;  flowers  often  polygamous.  The  species 
Sassafras  is  polygamous,  with  leaves  entire  and 
lobed. 

The  Laurels  constitute  one  of  the  few  genera 
assigned  by  Linn  sens  to  his  class  Enneandria,  to 
the  first  order  of  which  they  belong.  Jussieu 
has  placed  them  with  his  Lauri,  to  which  they 
give  name.  The  propriety  with  which  they  have 
been  associated  with  the  Linnsean  natural  order 
Oleracece  is  of  a  very  questionable  nature. 

The  Sassafras  tree,  of  the  United  State,  ar- 
rives, in  favourable  situations,  to  a  tall  stature  and 
large  circumference.  In  the  Northern  States,  it 
is  of  smaller  size,  yet  trees  are  sometimes  met 
with  about  Boston  which  attain  to  nearly  the 
average  height  of  the  woods  around  them,  and 
have  trunks  a  foot  in  thickness.     The  bark  of  the 


144  LAURUS  SASSAFRAS. 

trunk  is  mucli  cracked  and  of  a  greyish  colour ; 
the  young  twigs  are  of  a  reddish  green.  The 
leaves  are  remarkable  for  the  variety  of  their  form 
on  the  same  tree.  Those  which  proceed  first 
from  the  bud  are  usually  oval  and  entire  ;  the 
next  have  the  same  form  with  a  lobe  on  one  side  ; 
the  last  and  most  numerous  have  regularly  three 
lobes.  They  grow  on  petioles,  and  are  very 
downy  when  young,  but  become  smoother  by  age. 
The  flowers  grow  from  the  sides  of  the  branches 
beloAV  the  leaves,  having  the  scales  .of  the  former 
bud  for  their  floral  leaves.  They  are  disposed  in 
short  slender  racemes  of  a  pale  green  colour,  each 
flower  having  six  oblong  segments.  Different 
trees  produce  barren  and  perfect  flowers.  Tlie 
barren  flowers  have  nine  stamens,  six  of  which 
are  exterior  and  three  interior.  The  perfect  flow- 
ers, the  kind  represented  in  our  plate,  have  only 
six  stamens,  with  short  filaments  and  heart-shap- 
ed anthers.  ^N^ectary  none.  Germ  roundish  with 
a  straight,  erect  style.  Fruit  an  oval  drupe  of  a 
deep  blue  colour,  supported  by  a  red  incras sated 
pedicel.  Only  a  small  number  of  the  trees  pro- 
duce fruit. 

The  bark  of  this  tree  has  a  fragrant  smell 
and  a  very  agreeable  spicy  taste.  The  flavour  of 
the  root  is  most  powerful,  that  of  the  branches 


SASSAFRAS  TREE.  145 

more  pleasant.  The  flavour  and  odour  reside  in 
a  volatile  oil  which  is  readily  obtained  from  the 
bai'k  by  distillation.  It  is  of  a  light  colour,  be- 
coming darker  by  age,  very  pungent,  and  heavier 
than  water,  so  that  it  sinks  in  that  fluid  when  the 
drops  are  sufficiently  large  to  overcome  the  re- 
pulsion at  the  surface.  The  bark  and  pith  of  the 
young  twigs  abound  with  a  pure  and  delicate  mu- 
cilage. A  very  small  quantity  of  the  pith  infused 
in  a  glass  of  water  gives  to  the  whole  a  ropy  con- 
sistance,  like  the  white  of  an  e^g.  This  mucilage 
has  the  uncommon  quality  that  it  is  not  precipi- 
tated, coagulated,  or  rendered  turbid  by  alcohol. 
It  continues  in  a  perfectly  transparent  state  when 
mixed  with  that  fluid,  though  it  does  not  unite 
with  it.  When  evaporated  to  dryness,  it  leaves  a 
light  coloured,  gum-like  residuum. 

The  volatile  oil  and  the  mucilage  appear  to 
contain  all  the  medicinal  virtue  of  the  tree. 

The  bark  and  wood  of  the  Sassafras  were 
formerly  much  celebrated  in  the  cure  of  various 
complaints,  particularly  syphilis,  rheumatism  and 
dropsy.  Its  reputation,  however,  as  a  specific  in 
those  diseases,  particularly  the  first,  has  fallen 
into  deserved  oblivion,  while  it  is  now  recognized 
only  with  regard  to  its  general  properties,  which 
are  those  of  a  warm  stimulant  and  diaphoretic. 
19 


146  LAURUS  SASSAFRAS. 

It  is  retained  by  the  Dispensatories  as  an  ingre- 
dient in  several  preparations,  particularly  the 
compound  decoction  of  guaiacum,  formerly  called 
"  decoction  of  the  woods  ;''  and  the  compound 
decoction  of  Sarsaparilla,  formerly  the  "Lisbon 
diet  drink.''  These  preparations  are  useful  as 
sudorifics  in  rheumatism,  some  cutaneous  diseas- 
es, and  the  sequelae  of  syphilis.  They  derive, 
however,  more  of  their  efficacy  from  their  other 
ingredients,  than  from  the  Sassafras,  a  principal 
part  of  the  efficacy  of  wliich  is  dissipated  by  boil- 
ing. 

The  most  proper  mode  of  employing  the  Sas- 
safras is  in  the  form  of  its  volatile  oil,  which  may 
be  given  in  very  small  quantities  as  an  antispas- 
modic, stimulant  and  sudorific.  It  is  too  acrid  to 
be  taken  unmixed,  and  should  therefore  be  dis- 
solved in  spirit  and  mixed  with  water  or  syrup. 

The  mucilage  of  the  pith  of  this  tree  is  pe- 
culiarly mild  and  lubricating,  and  has  been  used 
with  much  benefit  in  dysentery,  and  in  catarrhal, 
as  well  as  calculous  affections.  Some  eminent 
surgeons  have  employed  it  as  a  lotion  in  the  most 
inflammatory  stages  of  ophthalmia,  to  which  its 
softness  renders  it  extremely  well  suited. 

llie  wood  of  the  Sassafras  tree  is  of  a  light 
texture,  but  is  said  to  be  durable  when  exposed 


SASSAFRAS  TREE,  147 

to  the  weather.  It  has  heen  thought  capable  of 
repelling  insects  by  its  odour,  and  on  this  ac- 
count has  been  employed  for  trunks,  bedsteads, 
^'c.  A  property  of  this  kind,  however,  is  wrongly 
attributed  to  it,  since  the  wood  retains  scarcely 
any  odour  after  a  few  months  drying. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Laurus  Sassafras,  Linn.  Sp. ;)/.— Piesh,  i.  277. — Nuttaix, 
i.  259. — WooDViLLE,  iv.  t,  234. — Michaux,  fil.  Jrl^res  fares- 
tierSf  iii.  173. — Laurus  foliis  integris,  trilobisve. — Trew,  Ehr, 
U  69,  70. — Cornus  irias  odorata,  &c. — Plukenet,  Mm.  120,  L 
222. — Catesby,  Car,  i.  U  55, 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Murray,  Apparatus,  iv.  535. — Kaxm,  travels,  ii. — Hotfman 
06s.  Fhys.  Chenu  31. — Cuulen,  J^Iat.  Med.  ii.  200. — Clayton, 
Phil.  Trans.  Mr.  viii.  332. — Bremane,  Sassafrasologia  in  1627, 

PLATE  XXXV. 

Fig.  1.  Laurus  Sassafras,  a  branch  with  perfect  flowers  of 

the  natural  sixe. 
Fig,  2,  A  stamen  magnified. 
Fig.  3.  Pistil,  ditto. 

Fig.  4.  Fruit, 


APOCYNUM  ANDROSJEMIFOLIUM. 

Dog^s  Bane. 

PLATE  XXXVL 

Ahis  is  a  branching  perennial  plant,  found 
from  Canada  to  Carolina  about  the  sides  offences 
and  the  borders  of  woods.  It  has  a  peculiarly 
neat  aspect  derived  from  its  smoothness,  its  leaf- 
less and  coloured  stalk,  bushy  top  and  delicate 
flowers.  Like  the  other  American  species,  it  is 
a  lactescent  plant,  with  a  fibrous  bark.  It  attains 
its  flowering  period  in  June  and  July. 

The  genus  Apocynum  has  a  hell-shaped  co- 
rolla ;  a  nectary  of  jive  corpuscles  surrounding 
the  germ  ;  anthers  adhering  to  the  stigma  by  the 
middle  ;  follicles  two  ;  seeds  with  down. 

The  present  species  is  glabrous,  its  stem  erect 
and  branching ;  cymes  lateral  and  terminal;  co- 
rolla spreading. 


Pf .  XJC.WI. 


DOG'S  BANE.  149 

Class  Fentandria,  order  Bigynia  ;  natural  or- 
ders Contortce,  Linnaeus  ;  Apocinece,  Jussieu. 

The  Apocynuni  Androsfemifolium  grows  often 
to  the  height  of  five  or  six  feet,  though  its  com- 
mon elevation  is  three  or  four.  Its  stalk  is 
smooth,  simple  below,  branching  repeatedly  at 
top,  red  on  the  side  exposed  to  the  sun.  Leaves 
opposite,  smooth  on  both  sides,  paler  beneath, 
ovate,  acutCj  on  short  petioles.  The  flowers  grow 
in  nodding  cymes  from  the  ends  of  the  branches 
and  axils  of  the  upper  leaves,  furnished  with  mi- 
nute acute  bractes.  Calyx  five-cleft,  acute,  much 
shorter  than  the  corolla.  Corolla  white  tinged 
with  red,  monopetalous,  campanulate,  with  five 
acute,  spreading  segments.  Stamens  five,  with 
very  short  filaments,  and  connivent,  oblong  arrow- 
shaped  anthers,  cohering  with  the  stigma  about 
their  middle.  The  nectary  consists  of  five  ob- 
long glandular  bodies  alternating  with  the  sta- 
mens. Germs  two,  ovate,  concealed  by  the  an- 
thers. Stigma  thick,  roundish,  agglutinated  to 
the  anthers.  The  fruit  is  a  pau'  of  slender  linear- 
lanceolate  follicles,  containing  numerous  imbri- 
cated seeds  each  crowned  with  a  long  pappus  or 
down,  and  attached  to  a  slender  central  recep- 
tacle. 


150  APOCYNUM  ANDROSiEMIFOLIUM. 

Every  part  of  the  Apocynum  when  wounded 
emits  copiously  a  milky  juice.     When  chewed, 
the   root   communicates    an   unpleasant   and  in- 
tensely bitter  taste.     It  exhibits,  when   dry,  the 
following  chemical  phsenomena. — If  a  solution  in 
ether  be  mixed  with  alcohol,  the   alcohol,  though 
not  turbid  at  first,  becomes  so  when  the   ether 
evaporates.     An  aqueous  infusion  or  decoction  is 
of  a  deep  red  colour  and  intensely  bitter.     A  so- 
lution in  alcohol  is  nearly  destitute  of  colour,  but 
retains  the  whole  bitterness  of  the  plant,  and  is 
not  disturbed  by  the  addition  of  water.     When 
submitted  to  distillation  a  slight  oily  film  floats  on 
the  surface  of  water  in  the  receiver. — From  these 
facts  we  may  conclude  that  the  Apocynum  con- 
tains, 1.  A  bitter  extractive  principle.     2,  A  col- 
ouring principle  soluble  in  water  and  not  in  al- 
cohol.    3.  Caoutchouc.     4.  A  volatile  oil. 
'     In  various   parts   of  the   Eastern  States  this 
plant  has  been  shewn  to  me   by  country  practi- 
tioners under  the  name  of  Ipecac.     This   name 
is  applied  to  it  from  its  power  of  acting  on  the 
stomach  in  the   same  manner  as   the   Brazilian 
emetic.     Several  physicians,  among  whom  is  Dr. 
Richardson  of  3Iedway,  inform  me  that  they  have 
found  ahout  thirty  grains  of  the  root  to  evacuate 
the  contents  of  the  stomach  as  effectually  as   two 


dog's  bane.  151 

thirds  the  quantity  of  Ipecacuanha.  In  my  own 
trials  it  has  appeared  to  me  much  less  powerful 
than  the  latter  suhstance,  and  although  it  produces 
vomiting,  yet  this  power  is  diminished  by  keeping, 
and  appears  to  be  eventually  destroyed  by  age. 
When  used  for  the  purpose  of  an  emetic,  the  re- 
cently powdered  root  should  be  employed. 

The  sensible  and  chemical  qualities  of  this 
root  seem  to  promise  a  good  effect  when  given  in 
small  doses  as  a  tonic  medicine  to  the  stomach. 
My  observations  on  this  subject  may  hereafter  be 
more  mature.  (See  Appendijc.j  We  have  certain- 
ly very  few  indigenous  vegetables  which  exceed 
the  Apocynum  in  bitterness.  Perhaps  its  emetic 
property  when  given  in  large  doses  may  be  owing 
to  this  quality.  Most  bitter  vegetables  produce 
vomiting  when  administered  in  large  quantities. 

Kalm  observes  in  his  travels  in  North  Ameri- 
ca, that  in  some  parts  of  the  country  this  plant 
was  suspected  of  poisonous  properties  like  those 
of  the  Rhus  vernix.  The  country  people  inform^ 
ed  him  that  the  milky  juice  rubbed  on  the  hands 
produced  blistering  in  many  persons,  and  that 
some  were  affected  in  the  same  way  even  by  the 
cffiuvium  of  the  plant. — I  know  of  no  other  au- 
thority than  that  stated  above  for  the  existence  of 
such  a  property  in  the  Apocynum.     The  plant  is 


15S  APOCYNUM  ANDROSJEMIFOLIUM, 

common  and  well  known  in  Massachusetts,  yet 
I  have  never  heard  it  suspected  of  deleterious 
properties. 

The  flowers  of  the  xlpocynum  have  a  power 
of  catching:  flies  and  small  insects  which  was  as- 
cribed  by  Dr.  Darwin  to  an  irritability  in  the  in- 
ternal organs.     Mr.  Curtis  in  the  Botanical  mag- 
azine, has  considered  this  subject  at  large,   and 
ascribes  the  property  to   a  more  rational  cause. 
In  consequence  of  the  close   convergency  of  the 
anthers  and  their  adhesion  to  the  stigma,  a  nar- 
row fissure  or  slit  exists,  which  becomes  more 
contracted  near  the  top.     The  insect  in  search  of 
the  honey  at  the  bottom  of  the  flower,  inserts  his 
proboscis  between  the   stamens   into   the   cavity 
within  them.     In  extricating  it  from  this   situa- 
tion the  proboscis  is  sometimes  caugbt  in  the  fis- 
sure, and  in  proportion  to  the  eiforts  made  by  the 
insect  to  escape  it  becomes  more  closely  wedged 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  slit,  so  that  its  deliverance 
by  its  own  powers  becomes  at  length  impractica- 
ble.    Musquitoes,  gnats,  and  small  flies   are  fre- 
quently found  dead  in  this  confinement. 


DOG'S  BANE.  153 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Apocynutn  androssemifollum,  Lin.  Sp.  pi. — Curtis,  Botani- 
cal Magazine,  t.  280.— Darwin,  Botanic  Garden,  ii.  182. — Mi- 
€HAUx,  Flora,  i.  121 Pursh,  i.  179. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCE. 
Kaxm,  Travels,  iii.  26. 

PLATE  XXXVL 

Fig.  1.  Branch  of  Spocijmim  androsainiifolium. 

Fig.  2.  Fair  of  follicles. 

Fig.  3.  Cone  formed  of  the  united  stamens. 

Fig.  4.  Stamen  detached. 

Fig.  5.  Side  view  of  the  calyx,  nectaries  and  germs^t 

Fig.  6.  Front  view  of  the  same. 

Fig.  7.  <M  seed. 


20 


DIRCA  PALUSTRIS. 

Leather  Wood, 

FLdTE  XXXVn. 

A  HE  diversity  of  climate  in  different  latitudes 
of  the  United  States  does  not  prevent  this  shrub 
from  appearing  in  the  most  rigorously  cold  as 
well  as  in  the  warmest  sections  of  the  country. 
I  have  seen  it  grooving  plentifully  on  the  hanks 
of  the  Kennehec,  in  Maine,  and  Mr.  Bartram 
found  it  in  great  vigour  on  the  Savannah  river  in 
Georgia.  It  is  a  marshy  shrub  frequenting  low 
w  oods  and  the  vicinity  of  water,  flowering  in  April 
and  May.  It  is  commonly  of  humble  growth, 
though  Mr.  Bartram  found  specimens  six  or 
seven  feet  in  height.  It  is  remarkable  for  the 
flexibility  of  its  wood  and  toughness  of  its  bark, 
which  are  so  great  that  it  cannot  be  broken  with- 
out great  difliculty.     The  Aborigines  employed 


/'/../■- 


_::_/ vv'r/7   //a///.^/^^^ 


A'uim.'k  Smuk  Sr- 


LEATHER  WOOD.  ioo 

it  for  their  cordage,  and  from  its  great  tenacity 
the  name  of  Leather  wood  has  been  applied  to  it 
in  most  parts  of  the  United  States.  The  Canadian 
French  called  it  Bois  de  Fiomb  or  Leaden  wood 
from  its  flexibility. 

The  generic  character  of  Dirca  consists  in  a 
tubular  corolla  without  calya?,  having  its  border 
obsoletely  toothed.  Stamens  longer  than  the  corol- 
la.    Berry  one-seeded. 

The  genus  contains  but  a  single  species. 

Class  Octandria,  order  Monogynia.  Natural 
orders  Fepreculce,  Lin.  Thymelww,  Juss. 

The  Dirca  is  an  uTcgular  shrub  somewhat 
distinguished  by  the  horizontal  tendency  of  its 
branches  and  leaves.  The  branches  have  an  in- 
terrupted or  jointed  mode  of  growth.  The  leaves 
are  scattered  or  alternate,  with  very  short  petioles. 
They  are  oval,  entire,  subacute,  downy,  when 
young,  smooth  and  membranous  when  fully 
grown,  and  pale  on  the  under  side.  The  flowers 
appear  long  before  the  leaves.  Previously  to 
their  emerging  they  exist  in  miniature  within  a 
small  hairy  bud,  which  occupies  a  sheath  or  cavity 
in  the  end  of  each  flowering  branch.  They  arc 
commonly  m  bunches  of  three  together  with  their 
peduncles  cohering.  Each  flower  is  about  half 
an  inch  long,  of  a  yellow  colour  and  without  ca- 


156  DIRCA  PALUSTRIS. 

lyx.  The  corolla  is  funnel-shaped,  >vith  a  con- 
traction near  the  hase  and  another  in  the  middle^ 
its  border  dilated,  and  slightly  and  irregularly 
toothed.  Stamens  eight,  much  longer  than  the 
corolla,  the  alternate  ones  longest,  the  filaments 
capillary  and  inserted  into  the  tube  ;  the  anthers 
roundish.  Germ  ovate  placed  obliquely,  the 
style  appearing  to  issue  from  one  side.  The 
style  is  capillary,  curved,  and  longer  than  the 
stamens.  The  fruit  is  a  small  oval,  acute,  red, 
one-seeded  berrv. 

Chemically  examined,  the  bark  of  this  shrub 
discovers  a  slightly  resinous  character  by  the 
pearliness  which  its  tincture  assumes  on  admix- 
ture with  water.  The  decoction  is  somewhat 
mucilaginous  and  deposits  slight  flocculi  on  the 
addition  of  alcohol.  Iron  and  gelatin  produce  no 
evidence  of  tannin  or  gallic  acid.  The  distilled 
water  has  an  unpleasant  odour,  but  is  void  of  ac- 
rimony. 

The  bark  of  the  Dhxa  has  a  peculiar  and 
rather  unpleasant  taste.  When  swallowed,  it 
leaves  a  sensation  of  acrimony  in  the  fauces 
which  continues  for  some  time.  If  taken  in  the 
quantity  of  six  or  eight  grains,  it  produces  a  sense 
of  heat  in  the  stomach  and  at  length  brings  on 


LEATHER  WOOD,  137 

vomiting.     This  effect  pretty  certainly  occurs  if 
the  bark  be  recent  or  freshly  powdered, 

A  variety  of  observations  on  this  slirub  have 
been  made  by  my  pupil,  Dr.  John  Locke,  who 
first  called  my  attention  to  the  examination  of  its 
properties.  He  found  on  experiment  that  not 
only  the  distilled  water,  but  the  decoction  also 
was  void  of  acrimony,  and  that  in  the  boiled  bark 
this  property  was  very  much  diminished,  though 
still  present.  The  watery  extract  had  consider- 
able bitterness,  but  scarcely  any  of  the  peculiar 
acrimony  of  the  plant.  Taken  in  doses  of  a 
drachm,  it  did  not  produce  any  very  sensible  ef- 
fect. Alcohol  without  heat  acquu'ed  but  slight 
sensible  properties  from  the  bark.  Nothing 
came  over  by  distillation  Avith  alcohol,  but  the 
alcohol  remaining  in  the  retort  had  acquired  the 
acrimony.  The  spirituous  extract  procured  by 
evaporating  this  decoction  was  equal  to  one  twen- 
ty fourth  of  the  bark  from  which  it  was  obtained. 
It  contained  the  acrimony  in  a  concentrated  form, 
producing  a  more  powerful  effect  on  the  fauces 
than  the  fresh  bark.  It  was  lai^gely  but  not  com- 
pletely soluble  in  water. 

Dr.  Locke  gave  the  freshly  dried  root  to  various 
patients  in  doses  of  fi'om  five  to  ten  grains,  which 
quantity   in   most  instances    proved    powerfully 


i58  DIRCA  PALUSTRIS. 

emetic,  and  sometimes  cathartic.  It  was  found 
to  be  deteriorated  by  keeping,  and  did  not  pro- 
duce the  same  effects  when  very  old.  In  conse- 
quence of  some  statements  whicli  have  been 
made  in  regard  to  its  vesicating  properties,  Dr. 
Locke  applied  portions  of  the  bark  moistened  with 
vinegar  to  the  skin  of  his  arm.  In  twelve  hours 
no  effect  was  produced,  in  twenty  four  some  red- 
ness and  itching  took  place  and  in  thirty  a  com- 
plete vesication  followed. 

The  fruit  of  the  Dirca  has  been  suspected  of 
narcotic  properties.  Dr.  Perkins,  of  Hanover, 
N.  H.  has  communicated  the  case  of  a  child 
which  had  eaten  these  berries  with  effects  like 
those  produced  by  Stramonium,  such  as  stupor, 
insensibility,  and  dilatation  of  the  pupils.  An 
emetic  brought  up  the  berries  and  the  child  grad- 
ually recovered.  A  medical  student  who  took 
several  of  the  berries  found  that  they  produced 
nausea  and  giddiness. 

The  medicinal  action  of  the  bark  of  the  Dirca 
probably  depends  on  its  acrid  constituents,  which 
appear  to  be  partly  of  a  resinous  and  partly  of  a 
volatile  nature.  Its  properties  appear  somewhat 
allied  to  those  of  Polygala  senega,  for  whicli  it 
might  perhaps  be  substituted  in  small  quanti- 
ties.    It  is  best  given  in  substance,  though  on  ac- 


LEATHER  WOOD.  159 

count  of  the  tenacity  of  its  fibres  it  is  diflicult  of 
subdivision.  After  beating  in  a  mortar  it  resem- 
bles fine  Hut  more  than  powder.  Its  vesicatiug 
properties  appear  too  feeble  to  promise  much 
utility. 

I  have  introduced  the  Dirca  in  this  place,  not 
so  much  because  it  has  been  yet  applied  to  any 
medical  purpose  of  great  importance  ;  but  be- 
cause it  would  be  improper,  in  a  work  like  the 
present,  to  pass  over  unnoticed  a  shrub  of  such 
decided  activity. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Dirca  palustris,  Li!v.  JmcEnitates  academicce,  iii.  t.  i.  6.  7. 

DuHAMEL,  Jrb.  vi.  t.  212. — Pursh.  i.  236. — Michaux,  i.  268. 

Bartram,  Travels,  309. — Kalm,  Travels,  ii.  148. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCE. 
B.  S.  Barton,  ColL  32. 

PLATE  XXXVII. 

Fig.  1.  ^  branch  with  leaves  of  Dirca  palustr'is. 

Fig.  2.  A  branch  injlower. 

Fig.  3.  Fruit. 

Fig.  4.  Germ  and  style  much  magnified. 

Fig.  5.  Magnified  corolla^  laid  open. 

Fig.  C.  Flower  magnified. 


RUBUS  VILLOSUS. 

Tall  Blackberry. 

PLATE  xxxnu, 

liiE  family  of  shrubs  comprized  under  the 
term  Bnhiis,  including  the  various  species  of 
Raspberry^  Blackberry,  Dewberry^  ^c.  is  exten- 
sively diffused  throughout  the  United  States. 
Many  of  them  are  known  as  troublesome  bram- 
bles, a  few  are  unarmed,  and  a  certain  number 
are  nearly  herbaceous.  Some  are  distinguished 
by  the  elegance  of  their  flowers,  and  others  by 
the  deliciousness  of  their  fruit.  The  Rubus  vil- 
losus  is  one  of  the  most  common  and  interesting-^ 
species.  It  abounds  among  the  brushwood  of 
neglected  fields  and  pastures,  about  fences  and 
the  borders  of  woods,  from  the  Eastern  to  the 
Southern  states.  Beings  of  rapid  growth,  it  is 
frequently  troublesome  to  the  farmer  by  spread- 


/•/.  x.vrv/ii 


Annin  X-.   Smilfi  Sr 


■••!^-    .. 


TALL  BLACKBERRY.  16 1 

ing  in  his  lands,  although  it  oft'ers  some  amends 
for  the  intrusion  by  the  abundance  and  fine 
flavour  of  its  fruit.  It  is  commonly  called  tall  or 
high  blackberry  in  distinction  from  the  B.  trivia- 
lis  or  loio  blackberry,  ^vhich  it  greatly  resembles 
in  the  quality  of  its  fruit.  It  is  in  flower  in  June 
and  its  fruit  is  ripe  in  Aug-ust  and  September. 

For  the  generic  character,  it  has  a  jive-cleft 
calycc ;  five  petals  ;  and  a  compound  berry  com- 
posed of  one-seeded  acinic — This  species  is  puheS' 
cent,  bristly  and  prickly,  the  leaves  in  threes  or 
fives,  leafets  ovate,  acuminate,  serrate,  pubescent, 
with  the  petioles  prickly  ;  flowers  racemed. 

Class  Icosandria,  order  Polygynia  ;  natural  or- 
orders  Senticosoe,  Lin.  JRosaceoe,  Juss. 

This  shrub  has  a  tall,  branching,  prickly 
stem,  which  is  more  or  less  furrowed  and  angu- 
lar. Leaves  mostly  in  threes  on  a  channelled, 
hairy  petiole.  A  few  are  solitary  and  some  qui- 
nate.  Leafets  ovate,  acuminate,  sharply  and  une- 
qually serrate,  covered  with  scattered  hairs  above, 
and  with  a  thick  soft  pubescence  underneath. 
The  terminal  leafet  is  pedicelled,  the  two  side 
ones  sessile.  The  petiole  and  back  of  the  mid- 
dle rib  are  commonly  armed  with  short  recurved 
prickles.      The   flowers   grow  in  erect  racemes 

with  a  hairy,  prickly  stalk.      The  pedicels    are 
21 


162  RUBUS  VILLOSUS. 

slender,  an  inch  or  two  in  length,  covered  with 
glandular  hairs  and  supported  by  lanceolate 
hractes.  Calyx  divided  into  five  ovate,  concave, 
hairy  segments  ending  in  an  acuminate  point  or 
a  lanceolate  leafet.  Petals  five,  w  hite,  ovate  or 
oblong,  concave,  contracted  into  a  short  claw  at 
hase.  Stamens  very  numerous,  with  roundish 
anthers  and  slender,  white  filaments.  Germs  nu- 
merous, covering  a  conic  central  receptacle. 
Styles  capillary,  arising  from  the  sides  of  the 
germs,  persistent.  Fruit  a  black,  sliining,  com- 
pound berry  formed  of  pulpy  acini  attached  to 
the  receptacle,  each  containing  a  single  oblong 
seed. 

The  bark  of  the  root  of  tliis  bramble  is  the 
part  which  has  been  medicinally  employed,  [t 
is  a  pure  and  strong  astringent,  which  property 
it  manifests  both  by  its  sensible  effects  and  by 
chemical  examination.  When  treated  with  the 
sulphate  of  iron  both  the  tincture  and  decoction 
assume  a  beautiful  dark  purple  colour  and  throw 
down  a  copious  precipitate.  A  precipitate  also 
takes  place  on  the  addition  of  gelatin,  which  is 
copious,  white  and  opaque.  The  alcoholic  solu- 
tion is  in  part  decomposed  by  water.  The  sub- 
stance precipitated  does  not  occasion  the  uniform 
turbidncBs  whicii  usually  attends  the  separation 


TALL  BLACKBERRY.  163 

of  resins,  but  exhibits  a  flocculent  appearance  like 
that  of  congulatcd  mucilage.  These  flocculi, 
however,  when  collected  and  dried,  exhibit  the 
common  resinous  properties  on  exposure  to  heat. 
I  subjected  the  dried  bark  to  distillation,  but  the 
distilled  water  was  nearly  insipid,  possessing  only 
a  very  slight  flavour  of  the  root. 

The  properties  of  this  bark  ai^e  those  of  a  very 
powerful  astringent.  I  have  tried  its  operation 
sufficiently  to  become  satisfied  of  its  efficacy  both 
internally  and  externally  used  in  a  variety  of  cases 
which  admit  of  relief  from  medicines  of  its  class. 
It  is  true  that  our  list  of  vegetalde  astringents  lias 
become  very  numerous  and  tiie  cases  which  re- 
quire them  are  perhaps  less  frequent  than  was 
formerly  imagined  ;  yet  as  we  continue  to  im- 
port and  consume  various  foreign  medicines  of 
this  kind,  we  ought  not  to  exclude  from  attention 
native  articles  of  equal  efficacy.  Professor  Chap- 
man, of  Philadelphia,  expresses  a  very  decided 
opinion  in  regard  to  the  powers  of  this  substance. 
«  Of  the  vegetable  astringents,"  says  he,  "this  I 
have  reason  to  believe  is  among  tlie  most  active 
and  decidedly  efficacious  in  certain  cases.  To 
the  declining  stages  of  dysentery  after  the  symp- 
toms of  active  inflammation  are  removed,  it  is 
well  suited,  though  T  have  given  it.  T  think,  with 


164  RUBUS  VILLOSUS, 

greater  advantage  under  nearly  similar  circum- 
stances, in  cholera  infantum.  To  check  the  in- 
ordinate evacuations  which  commonly  attend  the 
protracted  cases  of  this  disease,  no  remedy  has 
ever  done  so  much  in  my  hands.  Even  two  or 
three  doses  will  sometimes  so  hind  tlie  howels 
that  purgatives  became  necessary.  Being  so 
powerfully  astringent,  this  medicine  is  useful  in 
all  excessive  purgings,  and  especially  in  the  di- 
arrhea of  very  old  people,  as  well  as  when  it  oc- 
curs at  the  close  of  diseases.  During  my  atten- 
dance in  our  public  institutions  I  had  abundant 
opportunities  of  testing  its  efficacy  in  these  cases." 

The  fruit  of  the  blackberry  is  among  the 
most  delicious  productions  of  the  uncultivated 
forest.  To  an  agreeable  combination  of  sweetness 
and  acid  it  adds  an  aromatic  fragrance  which  is 
surpassed  by  few  of  the  lighter  fruits  produced 
among  us.  It  differs  in  size  and  perfection  in 
different  seasons,  warm  and  dry  summers  being 
most  favourable  to  its  perfect  maturity.  Our 
markets,  however,  are  rarely  destitute  of  this  fine 
fruit  in  the  months  of  August  and  September. 

Some  other  species  of  Rubus  are  closely  allied 
to  this  in  the  qualities  of  their  fruit  and  bark, 
particularly  the  Ruhus  procumbens,  commonly 
called  lotv  or  running  blackberry  or  dewberry* 


TALL  BLACKBERRY.  165 

The  fruit  of  this  species  is  usually  larger  but 
produced  in  smaller  quantity  from  the  inflores- 
cence being  nearly  solitary.  The  bark  is  not  less 
astringent  than  in  the  present  species. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Rubus  villosus,  Aiton,  Kew,  ii.  210. — Wulldenow,  ii.  1085. 
— MiCHAUX,  i.  297. — PuRSH,  i.  346. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Chapman,  Therapeutics  and  Mat,  Med,  ii.  474. — Thacher, 
Disp.  341. 


PLATE  XXXVIIL 

Fig.  1.  Jl  specimen  of  Ruhis  villosus  in  flower. 

Fig.  2.  Stamen. 

Fig.  3.  PistUs. 

Fig-.  4.  The  ripe  fruit. 


CASSIA  MARILANDICA 


American  Senna, 


J'LATE  XXXIX. 

X  HIS  tall  and  luxuriant  plant  is  found  in  rich 
soils  in  the  vicinity  of  water  from  N^ew  England 
to  Carolina,  and  westward  to  the  banks  of  the 
Missouri.  The  most  northern  situation  in  which 
I  liave  known  it  decidedly  indigenous,  is  on  tlie 
banks  of  tlie  Quinehaug  river  near  the  southern 
boundary  of  Massachusetts.  It  is,  however,  cul- 
tivated in  gardens  for  medicinal  use  much  further 
to  the  north.  It  is  a  vigorous  herbaceous  peren- 
nial with  stalks  four  or  five  feet  high,  having 
their  summits  covered  in  July  and  August  with 
brilliant  yellow  flowers. 

The  extensive  genus  Cassia  has  a  five-leaved 
calyjc  and  five  petals  ;  anthers  unequal^  the  three 
uppermost   barren,   the   three    lowermost    longer, 


PI..XXX/X 


-Aftnin  H  SrruM 


AMERICAN  SENNA.  167 

curved  and  beahed.  Legume  Uvo-valved. — ^The 
species  Marilaiidica  has  eight  or  nine  pairs  of  leaf- 
ets,  which  are  ohlong-lanceolate,  and  mucronaie ; 
an  obovate  gland  on  the  petiole.  Racemes  accillary 
and  terminal ;  legumes  linear  ami  curved. 

Class  Becandria,  order  Monogynia.     Natural 
orders  Lomentacece,  Linn.  Leguminoscv,  Juss. 

The  stems,  Avhich  grow  in  bunches  and   often 
attain  the   heiglit  of  five   or   six  feet,  are  round, 
striated,  and  invested  with  a  few   scattered  hairs. 
Petioles  compressed,   channelled  above,   bearing 
from  eight  to  ten  pairs  of  leafets,  which  are   ob- 
long, smooth,  somewhat  hairy  at  the  edges,  pale 
on  the   under  side,   supported  by   short  crooked 
pedicels,  and  mucronated  with  a  rigid  bristle   at 
the  end.     On  the   base  of  the   petiole  is   a  large 
ovate  pedicelled  gland,  of  a   shining  green,  ter- 
minating in  a  dark  point  at  top,  which  is   some- 
times double.     Each  petiole  is  also  furnished  with 
a  pair  of  linear-subulate,  ciliate,  deciduous   stip- 
ules.    The  flowers  grow  in  axillary  racemes,  ex- 
tending quite  to  the  top  of  the   stem.     The   pe- 
duncles are  sliglitly  furrowed,  pedicels  supported 
by  bractes  like  the  stipules,  and  marked  with  mi- 
nute, blackish,  glandular  hairs.     Leaves   of  the 
calyx  yellow  oval,  obtuse,  the  lateral  ones  longest. 
Petals  five,  briglit  yellow,  spatulate,  concave,  very  a 


168  CASSIA  MARILANDICA. 

obtuse,  three  ascending  and  two  descending. 
Stamens  ten  with  yellow  filaments  and  hrown 
anthers.  The  three  upper  have  short  abortive 
anthers.  To  these  succeed  two  pairs  of  deflexed 
linear  anthers.  The  remaining  three,  or  lower- 
most, are  much  longer,  crooked,  and  taper  into  a 
sort  of  beak,  the  middle  one  being  shortest.  The 
anthers  open  by  a  terminal  pore.  Germ  descend- 
ing with  the  low  er  stamens,  hairy ;  style  ascend- 
ing, stigma  hairy,  moist.  The  fruit  consists  of 
long  legumes  which  are  pendulous  linear,  curved, 
swelling  at  the  seeds,  and  ftirnished  with  slight 
hairs. 

The  predominant  constituents  of  the  leaves 
in  tliis  plant  appear  to  be  resin  extractive,  and 
a  volatile  matter.  The  tincture  is  of  a  dark  brown 
colour  and  is  rendered  extremely  tm^bid  by  water. 
The  infusion  and  decoction  have  a  lighter  colour 
and  the  peculiar  taste  of  tlie  plant.  The  dis- 
tilled water  is  nauseous.  It  is  found  that  both 
the  infusion  and  decoction  answer  for  medicinal 
use,  yet  it  is  probable  that  the  tincture  would  be 
more  strongly  operative,  did  not  the  sedative  ef- 
fects of  the  alcohol  prove  a  balance  for  the  addi- 
tional parts  of  the  medicine  dissolved. 

The  Cassia  Marilandica  is  related  to  the  ori- 
ental Senna  in  its  botanical  habit,  and  nearly  re- 


AMERICAN  SENNA.  169 

sembles  it  in  its  medicinal  virtues.*  Neither  of 
these  phxnts  is  to  be  ranked  among  the  most  ac- 
tive cathartics,  and  they  require  to  be  taken  in 
much   larger   quantities   than   aloes,  rhubarb   or 

*  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  true  Alexandrian  Senna  is  the 
product  of  the  Cassia  Senna  of  Linnaeus  and  of  Willdenow.  La- 
marck has  occasioned  an  unnecessary  confusion  on  this  subject,  and 
misled  other  botanists,  by  changing  the  Linnsean  name  C.  senna  to 
C.  lanceolata  ;  while  he  has  appropriated  the  name  C.  senna  to  the 
variety  /3  of  Linnseus,  which  is  the  Italian  senna,  since  very  properly 
named  C.  Italica.  See  Rees'  Cyclopedia,  Art.  Cassia,  &c.  The 
African  plant  is  accounted  the  most  active,  although  the  Italian  Sen- 
na cultivated  in  Jamaica,  according  to  Dr.  Wright,  proved  fully 
equal  to  it  in  efficacy. 

The  greater  part  of  the  Senna  consumed  in  the  United  States  is 
imported  from  the  East  Indies.  Smaller  quantities  occasionally  reach 
us  from  different  ports  of  the  Mediterranean  and  Red  seas.  The 
common  India  senna  has  a  lanceolate  leaf  narrow  and  acute;  pe- 
tioles without  glands,  bearing  from  five  to  nine  pairs  of  leaves  ;  and 
a  flat  oblong  curved  legume.  Medicinally  considered,  it  is  one  of 
the  most  valuable  sorts,  operating  with  mildness  and  certainty.  The 
facility  and  cheapness  with  which  it  is  obtained  in  India,  has  long 
caused  it  to  predominate  in  our  markets. 

The  India  senna,  which  I  have  examined,  has  been  very  pure, 
consisting  only  of  leaves  of  Cassia.  The  Egyptian  has  frequently  a 
slight  admixture  of  foreign  leaves  which  are  nauseous  and  bitter. 

The  Cassia  senna  would  doubtless  succeed  in  our  Southern 
states.  The  product,  consisting  of  the  whole  leaves  of  the  plant, 
must  necessarily  be  large,  and  would  well  reward  the  attention  of 
planters.  Ripe  seeds  may  probably  be  found  among  the  senna  of  the 
shops  which  will  vegetate,  if  not  too  old.  According  to  Roxburgh 
and  Carey,  the  Arabian  senna  cultivated  at  the  Bengal  garden  is  a 
biennial  plant. 

23 


170  CASSIA  MARILANDICA. 

jalap,  to  produce  their  desired  effect.  Hence  the 
coiumon  form  of  administering  senna  is  in  in- 
fusion, a  large  portion  being  made  to  communi- 
cate its  strength  to  water  at  a  time.  As  far  as  I 
have  been  able  to  observe,  about  one  third  more 
of  the  Cassia  marilandica  is  required  to  produce 
a  given  effect,  than  of  the  C.  senna.  This  ohjec- 
tion  will  prevent  it  from  superseding  the  senna 
of  the  shops,  although  the  facility,  with  which  it 
may  be  raised  in  any  part  of  the  United  States, 
will  render  it  a  convenient  medicine  where  cheap- 
ness is  an  object.  It  is  already  cultivated  in 
gardens  for  medicinal  use,  and  the  infusion  and 
decoction  are  considerably  employed  by  families 
and  country  practitioners. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Cassia  Marilandica,  Lin.  Sp.  pi. — Martyn,  Cent,  t,  23. — 
MiCHAUX,  Flora,  i.  261. — Pursh,  i.  306. — ^Nuttali,  i.  280. — 
Cassia  mimosse  foliis,  &c. — Dillenius,  t.  260,/.  339. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

B.  S.  Barton,  Coll.  32. — Thacher,  Bisp.  178, — Chap- 
man, Therapeutics. 

PLATE  XXXIX. 

Fig.  1.  Cassia  Marilandica. 

Fig.  2.  The  three  upper  stamens. 

Fig.  3.  The  fourth  andjifth  ditto. 

Fig.  4.  The  sixth  and  seventh  ditto. 

Fig.  5.  The  three  lowest  ditto. 

Fig.  6,  A  legume. 


PlXh 


NICOTIANA  TABACUM. 


Tobacco. 


FLJTE  XL, 

At  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  America  the 
Tobacco  plant  was  cultivated  by  the  natives  in 
the  West  India  islands  and  in  different  parts  of 
the  continent,  especially  those  bordering  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  Whatever  may  have  been  its 
native  climate,  we  need  not  trace  it  farther  back 
than  this  period ;  and  can  incur  but  little  risk 
in  considering  it  as  indigenous  to  the  southern 
parts  of  the  United  States  in  their  present  cnlai'g- 
ed  extent.  [JVofe  B.]  It  is  an  annual  plant  capable 
of  perfecting  its  flowers  and  fruit  in  almost  any 
part  of  the  Union,  yet  seldom  found  growing 
spontaneously  except  in  cultivated  grounds  or 
their  vicinity. 


172  NICOTIANA  TABACUM. 

The  genus  Wcotiiina  has  Si  funnel-shaped  co- 
rolla, zvith  its  border  someivhat  plaited.  Stamens 
inclined  ;  stigma  emarginate.  Capsule  ttvo-celledy 
two  or  four-valved.  The  species  Tabaciim^re- 
presented  in  our  plate,  has  its  leaves  ovate-lanceo- 
late, sessile,  decurrent ;  flowers  panicled,  acute. 

Class  Pentandria,  order  Monogynia.  Natural 
orders  Luridcv,  Linn.   Solanacece,  Juss. 

The  common  Tobacco  has  a  long  fibrous  root; 
a  stalk  five  or  six  feet  high,  erect,  round,  hairy, 
and  viscid,  branching  at  top.  Leaves  sessile,  very 
large,  ovate  or  lanceolate,  acuminate,  viscid,  of  a 
pale  green  colour.  Bractes  linear,  acute.  Flow- 
ers forming  a  panicle  on  the  ends  of  the  stem  and 
branches.  Calyx  swelling,  hairy,  glutinous,  half 
as  long  as  the  corolla,  ending  in  five  acute  seg- 
ments. Corolla  funnel-shaped,  swelling  toward 
the  top,  the  border  expanding,  with  five  acute 
lobes  ;  the  tube  of  a  greenish  white,  the  border 
red.  Filaments  inclined  to  one  side,  with  oblong 
anthers.  Germ  ovate,  style  long  and  slender, 
stigma  cloven.  Capsule  ovate,  invested  with  the 
calyx,  two-celled,  two-valved,  but  opening  cross- 
wise at  top  ;  partition  contrary  to  the  valves. 
Seeds  very  numerous,  small,  somewhat  reniform, 
attached  to  a  fleshy  receptacle. 


TOBACCO.  173 

It  is  a  remarkable  law  of  the  animal  economy, 
that  the  power  of  use  and  habit  is  capable  of 
reconciling  tlie  system  to  bear  witli  impunity 
what  in  its  unaccustomed  state  proves  highly 
deleterious  and  even  fatal.  It  is  a  fact  that  most 
substances  in  the  Materia  Medica  lose  their  eftect 
after  the  continuance  of  their  use  for  a  certain 
length  of  time,  so  that  if  we  would  realize  their 
original  operation,  we  must  increase  their  dose  in 
proportion  as  the  body  becomes  accustomed 
and  insensible  to  their  stimulus.  This  is  partic- 
ularly exemplified  in  the  narcotics.  Many  of 
these  substances,  which  at  first  are  not  only  nau- 
seous and  disgusting  in  their  sensible  qualities, 
but  highly  injurious  in  their  influence  upon 
health  ;  are  so  changed  in  their  effect  by  habitual 
use,  as  to  become  to  those  who  employ  them  an 
innocent  and  indispensible  comfort  and  a  first 
rate  luxury  of  life. 

In  its  external  and  sensible  properties,  there 
is  no  plant  which  has  less  to  recommend  it  than 
the  common  Tobacco.  Its  taste  in  the  ^reen 
state  is  acrid,  nauseous  and  repulsive,  and  a  small 
quantity  taken  into  the  stomach  excites  violent 
vomiting,  attended  with  other  alarming  symp- 
toms. Yet  the  first  person  who  had  courage  and 
patience  enough  to  persevere  in  its  use,  until  hab- 


174  NICOTIANA  TABACUM. 

it  had  overcome  his  original  disgust,  eventually 
found  in  it  a  pleasing  sedative,  a  soother  of  care, 
and  a  material  addition  to  the  pleasures  of  life. 
Its  use,  which  originated  among  savages,  has 
spread  into  every  civilized  country ;  it  has  made 
its  way  against  the  declamations  of  the  learned, 
and  the  prohibitions  of  civil  and  religious  author- 
ity, and  it  now  gives  rise  to  an  extensive  branch 
of  agriculture,  or  of  commerce,  in  every  part  of 
the  globe. 

Tobacco  was  in  use  among  the  aborigines  of 
America,  at  the  time  of  its  dicovery.  They  em- 
ployed it  as  incense  in  their  sacrificial  fires, 
believing  that  the  odour  of  it  w  as  grateful  to  their 
gods.  The  priests  of  some  tribes  swallowed  the 
smoke  of  this  plant  to  excite  in  them  a  spirit  of 
divination,  and  this  they  did  to  a  degree  which 
threw  them  into  a  stupor  of  many  hours  continu- 
ance. When  recovered  from  this  fit  of  intoxica- 
tion, they  asserted  that  they  had  held  a  confer- 
ence with  the  devil,  and  had  learned  from  him  the 
course  of  future  events.  Their  physicians  also 
got  inebriated  with  this  smoke,  and  pretended 
that  while  under  the  influence  of  this  intoxication 
they  were  admitted  to  the  council  of  the  gods, 
who  revealed  to  them  the  event  of  diseases.  Har- 
riot. 


TOBACCO.  175 

In  1559  Tobacco  was  sent  into  Spain  and  Por- 
tugal by  Hernandez  de  Toledo,  and  from  thence 
it  was  carried  into  France  {>.s  a  curiosity  by  Jean 
Nicot  or  Nicotius,  ambassador  at  the  court  of  Lis- 
bon, whose  name  is  now  immortalized  by  its 
application  to  this  genus  of  plants.  From  this 
period  the  use  of  tobacco  spread  rapidly  through 
the  continent,  and  in  half  a  century  it  was  known 
in  most  countries  in  Europe.  The  rich  indulged 
in  it,  as  a  luxury  of  the  highest  kind;  and  the  poor 
gave  themselves  up  to  it,  as  a  solace  for  the  mis- 
eries of  life.  Its  use  became  so  general  and  so 
excessive,  that  in  many  countries,  the  constituted 
authorities,  both  of  church  and  state,  found  it 
necessary  to  interpose,  and  to  stop  the  extrava- 
gant indulgence  in  it  by  the  severest  prohibi- 
tions. James  the  First  of  England,  besides  writ- 
ing a  book  against  it,  called  his  "Counterblast  to 
Tobacco,"  gave  orders  that  no  planter  in  Virginia 
should  cultivate  more  than  one  hundred  pounds. 
Pope  Urban  the  Eighth  publislied  a  decree  of 
excommunication  against  all  who  took  snuff  in 
the  church.  Smoking  was  forbidden  in  Russia 
under  penalty  of  having  the  nose  cut  off.  In 
Switzerland  a  tribunal  (Chambre  dii  tahac)  was 
instituted  for  the  express  purpose  of  trying  trans- 
gressors in  Tobacco.      A   Turk,  who  was  found 


176  NICOTIANA  TAIiACUM. 

smoking  in  Constantinople,  was  conducted 
through  the  streets  of  that  city  with  Jiis  pipe 
transfixed  through  his  nose. 

Even  in  this  country,  where  the  use  of  Tobac- 
co originated,  we  find  our  puritanic  ancestors 
guarding  against  its  abuse  by  salutary  statutes. 
In  the  old  Massachusetts  colony  laws  is  an  act 
laying  a  penalty  upon  any  one  "who  shall  smoke 
tobacco  within  twenty  poles  of  any  house ;"  or 
who  shall  "take  tobacco  in  any  inn  or  common 
victualling  house,  except  in  a  private  room,  so  as 
that  neither  the  master  of  the  said  house  nor  any 
other  guest  shall  take  offence  thereat." — In  the 
earliest  records  of  Harvard  University  soon  after 
its  foundation,  is  a  regulation  of  this  kind.  "  No 
scholar  shall  take  tobacco,  unless  permitted  by  the 
president,  with  the  consent  of  their  parents  and 
guardians,  and  on  good  reason  first  given  by  a 
physician,  and  then  in  a  sober  and  private  man- 
ner." 

While  the  legal  authorities  in  various  parts  of 
the  world  took  upon  them  to  control  the  abuse 
of  this  fascinating  weed,  the  literati  of  different 
countries  entered  warmly  into  the  discussion  of 
its  merits  and  its  faults.  Among  its  advocates 
were  Castor  Duranti  and  Haphael  Thorius,  both  of 
whom  wrote  Latin  poems  expressly  in  its  praise. 


TOBACCO.  177 

The  perfornnanee  of  the  latter  is  entitled  a 
"  Hymn  to  Tohacco,"  and  is  very  lavish  in  ascrip- 
tions to  this  plant,  which  he  styles  the  "gift  of 
heaven  and  the  ornament  of  earth."  So  warm 
were  the  prejudices  of  its  advocates,  that  it  oh- 
tained  the  reputation  of  a  general  panacea,  and 
the  catalogne  of  diseases  which  it  was  announced 
to  cure,  amounted  almost  to  a  complete  nosology. 

But  the  opinions  of  its  adversaries  were  not 
less  extravagant  upon  the  other  extreme.  It  is 
remarkable  tliat  in  the  days  of  its  first  general  in- 
troduction, no  man  spoke  about  it  with  coolness 
or  indifference,  but  every  one  warmly  espoused  its 
censure  or  its  praise.  Camden,  in  his  life  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  says,  that  men  used  Tobacco 
every  where,  some  for  wantonness  and  some  for 
health's  sake;  and  that  "with  insatiable  desire 
and  greediness,  they  sucked  the  stinking  smoke 
thereof  through  an  earthen  pipe,  which  they 
presently  blew  out  again  at  their  nostrils  ; — so 
that  Englishmen's  bodies  were  so  delighted  with 
this  plant,  that  they  seemed  as  it  were  degener- 
ated into  barbarians." 

Dr.  Venner  in  a  work  entitled  Via  recta  ad 

vitam  longam,  published  at  London  in  1638,  gives 

a  brief  summary  of  the  injuries  done  by  Tobacco. 

"  It  drieth  the  brain,  dimmeth  the  sight,  vitiateth 

23 


478  NICOTIANA  TABACTJM. 

tlie  smell,  Imrtetli   the  stomach,  destroyetli   the 
concoction,  disturbeth  the  humours  and   spirits, 
eoiTupteth   the  breath,  induceth  a  trembling  of 
the  limbs,  exsiccateth  the  winde  pipe,  lungs  and 
liver,  annoyeth  the  milt,  scorcheth  the  heart  and 
causeth  the  blood  to  be  adusted.     In  a  word,  it 
overthroweth   the  spirits,  perverteth   the  under- 
standing, and  confoundeth  the  senses  with  sudden 
astonishment  and  stupiditie  of  the  whole  body." 
A  poetical  philiippic,  called  "  Tobacco  batter- 
red,"  was  published  in  the  reign  of  King  James 
by  Joshua  Sylvester,  in  which  he  compares  Tobac- 
co to  gunpowder,  and  pipes  to  guns  ;    making  the 
mischief  of  the  two  equal.     But  the  most  cele- 
brated of  all  invectives  against  Tobacco  was  the 
"  Counterblast"  of  King  James  I.     That   weak 
monarch  gave  vent  to  his  prejudices  against  this 
herb  in  a  publication,  in  which  he  professes  to 
disprove  all  the  alleged  grounds  for  the  toleration 
of  Tobacco,   and  warns   his  subjects  in   a   most 
earnest  manner  not  to  sin  against  Ood,  and/harm 
their  own  persons  and  goods,  and  render  them- 
selves scorned  and  contemned  by  strangers,  who 
should  come  among  them ;    by  persevering  in  a 
custom  loathsome  to  the  eye,  hateful  to  the  nose, 
and  baneful  to  the  brain." 


TOBACCO.  179 

Such  were  the  commotions  excited  by  the 
introduction  and  spreading  of  an  article,  whose 
use  has  now  become  so  common  as  scarcely  to 
attract  notice.  This  article  is  the  product  of 
several  species  of  Nicotiana,  but  chiefly  of  the  N. 
tabacum  or  Virginian  Tobacco,  and  the  INT.  rustica, 
sometimes  called  English  Tobacco,  and  being  the 
sort  which  Sir  Walter  Raleigb  introduced  at  the 
court  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  Anotber  species,  N, 
fruticosa,  is  said  to  have  been  cultivated  in  tbe 
East  prior  to  the  discovery  of  America.  The 
Indians  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  and  Colum- 
bia rivers  cultivate  for  use  the  N.  quadrivalvis  of 
Pursh  and  Nuttall.  It  has  been  remarked  that 
the  Tobacco  of  warm  climates  is  more  mild  in  its 
flavour,  while  that  raised  in  colder  latitudes  is 
more  strong  and  pungent.  The  Bengal  Tobac- 
co, of  which  the  sheroots  are  made,  is  one  of  the 
most  weak  and  mild  in  its  properties.  After  this 
is  the  West  India  Tobacco  which  aflbrds  the  Ha- 
vanna  cigars.  Next  is  the  Tobacco  of  our  South- 
ern States,  and  lastly  the  Tobacco  raised  in  the 
northern  parts  of  the  Union,  which  is  the  most 
acrimonious  and  pungent  of  all.* 

*  Several  varieties  of  JSTicotiana  Tabacum  are  cultivated  in  the 
United  States,  of  which  the  principal  are  the  broad  leaved  or  siveet  ■■ 
scented^  and  tlic  narrow  leaved. 


180  NICOTIANA  TABACUM. 

An  elaborate  chemical  analysis  of  Tobacco. 
has  been  published  by  M.  Vauqiielin  in  the 
Annales  de  Chimie.  His  results  are,  that  the 
broad  leaved  Tobacco  furnishes  from  its  juices 
the  following  constituents.  1.  A  large  quantity 
of  animal  matter  of  an  albuminous  nature. 
2.  Malate  of  lime  with  an  excess  of  acid.  3.  Ace- 
tic acid.  4.  Nitrate  and  muriate  of  potash  in 
observable  quantities.  5,  A  red  matter  soluble 
in  alcohol  and  water,  which  swells  and  boils  in 
the  fire,  its  nature  undetermined.  6.  Muriate  of 
J  mmonia.  7-  A  peculiar  acrid,  volatile,  colour- 
less substance,  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  and 
which  appears  different  from  any  thing  known 
in  the  vegetable  kingdom.  It  is  this  principle 
which  gives  to  prepared  Tobacco  its  peculiar 
character,  and  it  is  perhaps  not  to  be  found  in  any 
other  species  of  plant.  Tlie  medicinal  activity  of 
Tobacco  evidently  resides  in  this  volatile  portion, 
for  both  the  extract  and  decoction  of  the  plant  by 
long  boiling  become  nearly  inert,  while  the  es- 
sential or  the  empyreumatic  oil  is  one  of  the  most 
deadly  poisons  known. 

Among  the  substances  used  by  Mr.  Brodie  in 
his  experiments  or  vegetable  poisons,  was  the 
empyreumatic  oil  of  Tobacco  prepared  by  Mr. 
Braude  by  distilling  the  leaves  of  Tobacco  in  a 


TOBACCO.  181 

heat  above  that  of  boiling  water.  A  quantity  of 
watery  fluid  came  over,  on  the  surface  of  which 
was  a  film  of  unctuous  substance,  wiiich  he  calls 
the  empyreumatic  oil.  Mr.  Brodie  found  that 
two  drops  of  this  oil  applied  to  the  tongue  of  a 
young  cat  with  an  interval  of  fifteen  minutes 
occasioned  death.  A  single  drop  suspended  in 
an  ounce  of  water  and  injected  into  the  rectum 
of  a  cat,  produced  death  in  about  five  minutes. 
One  drop  suspended  in  an  ounce  and  a  half  of 
mucilage  and  thrown  into  the  rectum  of  a  dog, 
produced  violent  symptoms,  and  a  repetition  of 
the  experiment  killed  him. 

Tobacco  has  been  used  both  as  a  luxury  and 
prophylactic,  and  as  a  medicine.  In  the  former 
cases  it  has  not  been  taken  internall}',  but  only 
kept  in  contact  with  absorbing  surfaces.  It  is 
well  known,  that  to  the  mouth  it  is  applied  in 
substance  and  in  smoke  ;  and  to  the  nose  in  the 
form  of  powder.  The  opinion  which  at  one  time 
prevailed  of  its  power  to  prolong  life  and  to 
secure  immunity  from  diseases  is  now  pretty 
fully  abandoned.  It  has  no  prophylactic  reputa- 
tion except  as  a  preservation  for  the  teeth,  and  in 
some  degree  as  a  protection  against  the  conta- 
gion of  epidemics.  In  both  these  cases  it  is 
entitled  to  a  certain  degree  of  confidence,  though 


182  NICOTIANA  TABACUM. 

it  is  probably  inferior  to  many  otber  substances 
for  both  these  purposes. 

As  to  its  effects  upon  longevity,  the  great 
frequency  of  its  use  and  the  facts  and  observations 
of  Sir  John  Sinclair  render  it  improbable  that 
when  moderately  taken,  it  has  any  influence  in 
wearing  out  the  constitution,  or  abridging  the  usu- 
al period  of  life.  But  like  all  other  narcotics  its 
excessive  use  or  abuse  must  impair  the  health 
and  engender  disease.  Of  the  different  modes  of 
using  Tobacco,  I  imagine  that  smoking  is  the 
most  injurious,  and  the  most  capable  of  abuse, 
since  in  this  process  the  active  principles  of  the 
Tobacco  are  volatilized  with  the  smoke,  and  are 
extensively  applied  to  the  lungs  as  well  as  the 
mouth  and  nose  and  fauces. 

Asa  medicine,  this  plant  has  been  employed 
in  a  variety  of  ways  for  the  alleviation  and  cure 
of  diseases.  Externally  it  has  been  applied  with 
benefit  in  tinea  capitis  and  in  complaints  occa- 
sioned by  the  presence  of  insects.  In  the  form 
of  a  cataplasm  applied  to  the  pit  of  the  stomach 
it  occasions  severe  vomiting.  The  prostration  of 
{Strength  and  other  distressing  symptoms  which 
attend  this  application,  must  prevent  its  general 
employment.  Still  it  may  be  remembered  as  an 
auxiliary  iu  cases  where  other  emetics  have  failed 


TOBACCO.  183 

to  operate.  A  surgeon  in  the  U.  S.  army  inform- 
ed me  that  the  soldiers  had  au  expedient  to  ex- 
empt themselves  from  duty,  by  wearing  a  piece 
of  tobacco  under  each  armpit,  until  the  most 
alarming  symptoms  of  real  illness  appeared  in 
the  whole  system. 

Dr.  James  Currie  has  recorded  a  case  of  epi- 
lepsy cured  by  the  external  use  of  Tobacco.  A 
cataplasm  was  applied  to  the  stomacli  for  several 
days  about  half  an  hour  before  the  expected  re- 
turn  of  the  paroxysm.  A  violent  impression  was 
produced  eacli  time  upon  the  system,  the  parox- 
ysm prevented  and  the  diseased  association 
effectually  broken  up.  Two  cases  of  obstinate 
and  dangerous  intermittent  were  cured  in  the 
same  manner  by  a  decoction  of  half  a  drachm  of 
Tobacco  in  four  ounces  of  v/ater,  thrown  up  as  an 
enema,  a  short  period  before  the  time  of  the 
paroxysm. 

The  Tobacco  enema  was  formerly  recom- 
mended in  colic,  nephritic  complaints,  ^*c.  Of 
late  years  it  lias  been  extensively  employed  in 
strangulated  hernia.  In  cases  of  this  complaint 
where  the  taxis  has  been  ineffectually  attenipted 
iind  the  usual  auxiliaries  have  failed,  an  injection 
made  by  infusing  half  a  drachm  of  Tobacco  in 
eight  ounces  of  boiling  water  for  ten  minutes,  is 


184  NICOTIANA  TABACUM. 

found  extremely  userul.  If  assisted  by  the  local 
application  of  ice  to  the  part,  it  frequently  causes 
the  contents  of  the  sac  to  return  spontaneously, 
and  renders  the  operation  unnecessary,  which 
would  be  otherwise  unavoidable.  It  operates  by 
its  powerfully  sedative  and  relaxing  effects,  as 
well  as  by  its  catbartic  property. 

When  the  infusion  is  not  used,  an  injection  of 
Tobacco  smoke  into  the  rectum  frequently  pro- 
duces the  same  consequences.  The  smoke  may 
be  made  to  penetrate  farther  than  any  liquid,  and 
it  is  equally  efficacious,  from  the  activity  of  the 
volatile  parts.  It  was  formerly  much  used  in  the 
restoration  of  persons  apparently  dead  from 
drowning',  but  of  late  years  it  has  gone  more  into 
disuse.  From  the  sedative  effect  of  Tobacco,  the 
tendency  to  syncope  and  the  great  prostration 
of  strength  which  it  occasions  in  ordinary  cases  ; 
it  is  probable  that  its  employment  in  cases  of 
asphyxia  from  drowning,  must  assist  in  extin- 
guishing rather  than  in  rekindling  the  spark  of 
life. 

As  a  diuretic.  Tobacco  has  been  administered 
internally  in  doses  so  small  as  not  to  offend  the 
stomach,  with  very  good  effect.  Dr.  Fowler  has 
published  a  collection  of  facts  relative  to  its  use, 
principally  in  dropsy  and  dysury,  from  which  he 


TOBACCO.  185 

concludes  it  is  a  safe  and  efficacious  diuretic.     In 
thirty  one  dropsical  cases  in  which  he  employed 
it,  eighteen  were  cured  and  ten  relieved ;  and  out 
of  eighteen  cases  of  dysury,  ten  were  cured  and 
seven  relieved.      Dr.  Ferriar  and  several  subse- 
quent practitioners  have  found  it  a  valuable  diu- 
retic, although   CuUen  does  not  speak  very  en- 
couragingly of  its  use.      At  the  present  day  it 
does  not  seem  to  be  extensively  in  use,  having 
passed  into  neglect  ratlier  because  more  fashiona- 
ble remedies  have  superceded  it,  than  because  it 
has  really  been  weighed  and  found  wanting.     It 
will  always    deserve  trial   in  obstinate    dropsical 
cases  (and  such  cases  it  must  be  confessed  are  not 
rare)  in  whicli  the  more  common  remedies  have 
been  tried  without  benefit.     Of  the  various  for- 
mulas recommended  by  Dr.  Fowler,  the  Wine  of 
Tobacco  is  the  only  one  preserved  in  the  Edin- 
burgh and  Massachusetts  pharmacopoeias,  beino' 
the   one  which  is  believed  to  extract  most  fully 
the  virtues  of  tJie  Tobacco.     It  is  made  by  di- 
gesting for  a  week,  an  ounce  of  the  dried  Tobac- 
co in  a  pound  of  Spanish  white  wine.     The  dose 
is  from  thirty  to  eighty  drops.     Dr.  Fowler  him- 
self however  believed  the  most  effectual  mode  of 
administering   the  Tobacco,  was  in  the  form  of 
pills  of  a  grain  each. 
S4> 


186  NICOTIANA  TABACUM. 

Tobacco  has  been  employed  with  some  suc- 
cess in  the  locked  jaw,  both  of  warm  and  cold 
climates.  Mr.  Duncan,  surgeon  of  Grenada,  has 
published  in  the  Edinburgh  Journal  the  account 
of  a  very  distressing  case  of  this  kind,  which  was 
relieved  and  finally  cured  principally  by  enemas 
of  Tobacco  smoke.  These  applications  generally 
produced  syncope  and  deathlike  sickness  in  the 
patient,  but  by  prudent  management  of  them,  the 
disease  was  entirely  overcome,  and  recovery  took 
place.  Dr.  Holmes  of  Worcester  county,  Mass. 
exhibited  the  infusion  of  Tobacco,  to  a  patient 
under  violent  tetanus,  after  the  more  common 
remedies  had  been  fully  tried  without  effect. 
The  spasms  were  completely  removed  and  the 
patient  recovered. 

This  powerful  medicine  has  been  also  em- 
ployed with  some  palliative  effect  in  hydrophobia 
and  certain  other  spasmodic  diseases.  Its  in- 
ternal use  however  requires  great  caution,  since 
patients  have  in  various  instances  been  destroyed 
bv  improper  quantities  administered  by  the 
hands  of  the  unskilful  or  unwary.  T^otwithstand- 
ing  the  common  use  and  extensive  consumption 
of  Tobacco  in  its  various  forms,  it  must  unques- 
tionably be  ranked  among  narcotic  poisons  of 
the  most  active  class.     The  great  prostration  of 


TOBACCO.  187 

Strength,  excessive  giddiness,  fainting,  and  vio- 
lent affections  of  the  alimentary  canal,  which 
often  attend  its  internal  use,  make  it  proper  that 
so  potent  a  drug  should  be  resorted  to  by  medi- 
cal men,  only  in  restricted  doses  and  on  occa- 
sions of  magnitude. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Nicotlana  tabacum,  Lijr.   sp.  pi. — Aiton,  ICew.  i.   241. . 

WooDviiiE,  Med,  Bot.  U  77.     Blackwell,  t.  146.— Puesh,  i. 

141. — NUTTAUL,  i.  132. 

MEDICAL  AND  OTHER  REFERENCES. 
MxjRiiAY,  apparatus,  \.  6S\. — Wafer,  Travels,  102 — Har- 
riott, Voyage  to  Virginia. — Hakluyt,  75. — Everard,  de  her. 
ba  panacea,  ^'c.    1583. — Chrysostom   Magnenus,   Exercita- 

tiones  14,  de  Tabaco. — King  James  I.  Works,  London,  1616 

SuoRT,  Discourses  on  Tea,  Tobacco,  ^-c. — Bientema,  Tabacolo- 
gia  in  1690. — Hahn,  Tahacologia,  Jenoe. — Gerard,  Historic  of 
Plants,  360. — Vauq,uelix,  Annales  de  Chimie,  1809. — Edinburgh 
Med.  Comment,  xl.  327. — Desgranges,  Journal  de  Medicine, 
1791. — Cullen,  Mat.  Med. — Fowler.  Med.  JReports  on  Tobacco, 
Svo,  Lond. — Tatham,  on  the  Culture  and  Commerce  of  Tobacco, 

Lond.  1800. — Med,  and  Phys.  Journal,   Vol,  24,  25,  et  passim. . 

Duncan,  Repr.  in  JS".  Engl.  Journal  for  1814. — Ferriar,  J)/ef^. 
Hist.  i.  75,  and  ii.  152. — ^1'ott.  ii.  72,  85,  ^-c.— Watterston, 
,Mem(nr  on  the  Tobacco  plant,  Washington,  1817. 

PLATE  XL. 

Fig.  1.  JVicotiana  tabacum. 
Fig.  2.  Capstile, 

Fig.  S.  Ripe  capsule  opening  at  top. 
Fig.  4.  Transverse  section. 


N  O  T  E  8. 

JVote  A. 
A  memoir  on  the  cultivation  and  use  of  Asdepias  Syraica,  by 
J.  A.  Moller,  may  be  found  in  Tilloch's  Philosophical  Magazine, 
Vol.  viii.  p.  149.    Its  chief  uses  were  for  beds,  cloth,  hats  and 
paper.     It  was  found  that  from  eight  to  nine  pounds  of  the  silk 
occupied  a  space  of  from  five  to  six  cubic  feet,  and  were  suffi- 
cient for  a  bed,  coverlet  and  two  pillows. — The  sliortness  of  the 
fibre  prevented  it  from  being  spun  and  woven  alone.     It  how- 
ever was  mixed  with  flax,  wool,  &c.  in  certain  stuffs  to  advan- 
tage.     Hats  made  with  it  were  very  light  and  soft.      The 
stalks  afforded  paper  in  every  respect  resembling  tliat  obtained 
from  rags.    The  plant  is  easily  propagated  by  seeds  or  slips. 
A  plantation  containing  thirty  thousand  plants  yeilded  from  six 
hundred  to  eight  hundred  pounds  of  silk. 

J^ote  B. 
Tobacco  was  discovered  in  Cuba,  Florida  and  Mexico,  near- 
ly three  centuries  ago,  and  was  soon  after  introduced  from  this 
continent  into  Europe.  "Whether  or  not  any  species  of  it  was 
cultivated  in  the  East  before  the  discovery  of  America,  is  a 
point  of  no  consequence  in  regard  to  its  American  nativity. 
The  extent  of  country  throughout  which  it  was  used  by  the  ab- 
origines of  this  continent,  renders  it  probable  that  it  must  have 
been  cultivated  in  various  parts  of  America  for  many  centuries 
previous  to  its  discovery. 


NOTES.  Igf9 

The  following  account  of  the  present  mode  of  cultivating 
Tobacco  in  our  Southern  States  is  extracted  from  Jn  Historical 
and  Practical  Essaij  on  the  Culture  and  Commerce  of  Tobacco.  By 
William  Tatham.     London,  1800. 

First,  of  preparing  the  Tobacco  Ground. 

**  There  are  two  distinct  and  separate  methods  of  preparing 
the  Tobacco  ground :  the  one  is  applicable  to  the  preparation  of 
new  and  uncultivated  lands,  such  as  are  in  a  state  of  nature,  and 
require  to  be  cleared  of  the  heavy  timber  and  other  productions 
with  which  Providence  has  stocked  them ;  and  the  other  method 
is  designed  to  meliorate  and  revive  lands  of  good  foundation, 
which  have  been  heretofore  cultivated,  and,  in  some  measure, 
exhausted  by  the  calls  of  agriculture  and  evaporation. 

*<  The  process  of  preparing  new  lands  begins  as  early  in  the 
Minter  as  the  housing  and  managing  the  antecedent  crop  will 
permit,  by  grubbing  the  under  growth  with  a  mattock  ^  felling 
the  timber  with  a  poll-axe  ;  lopping  off  the  tops,  and  cutting  the 
bodies  into  lengths  of  about  eleven  feet,  which  is  about  the  cus- 
tomary length  of  an  American  fence  rail,  in  what  is  called  a 
7Vorm  or  pannel  fence.  During  this  part  of  tlie  pi-occss  the  ne- 
gro women,  boys,  and  weaker  labourers,  are  employed  in  piling 
or  throwing  the  brush-wood,  roots,  and  small  wood,  into  heaps 
to  be  burned  j  and  after  such  logs  or  stocks  are  selected  as  are 
suitable  to  be  mailed  into  rails,  make  clap-boards,  or  answer  for 
other  more  particular  occasions  of  the  planter,  the  remaining 
logs  ai'e  rolled  into  heaps  by  means  of  hand-spikes  and  skids ; 
but  the  Pennsylvania  and  German  farmers,  who*  are  more  con- 
versant with  animal  powers  than  the  Virginians,  save  much  of 
this  labour  by  the  use  of  a  pair  of  horses  with  a  half  sledge,  or  a 
pair  of  truck  wheels.  The  burning  of  (his  brush- wood,  and  the 
log  piles,  is  a  business  for  all  hands  after  working  hours  ,•  and 
as  nightly  revels  are  peculiar  to  the  African  constitution,  this 


190  NOTES. 

part  of  the  labour  proves  often  a  Yery  late  employment,  which 
affords  many  scenes  of  rustic  mirth. 

*<  When  this  process  has  cleared  the  land  of  its  various  natu- 
ral incumbrances,  (to  attain  which  end  is  very  expensive  and 
laborious,)  the  next  part  of  the  process  is  that  of  the  hoe ;  for 
the  plough  is  an  implement  which  is  rarely  used  in  new  lands 
when  they  are  either  designed  for  tobacco  or  meadow. 

"  There  are  three  kinds  of  the  hoe  which  are  applied  to  this 
tillage :  the  first  is  what  is  termed  the  sprouting  hoe,  which  is  a 
smaller  species  of  mattock  that  serves  to  break  up  any  particu- 
lar hard  part  of  the  ground,  to  grub  up  any  smaller  sized  grubs 
which  the  mattock  or  grubbing  hoe  may  have  omitted,  to  remove 
small  stones  and  other  partial  impediments  to  the  next  process. 

**  The  narrow  or  hilling  hoe  follows  the  operation  of  the 
sprouting  hoe.  It  is  generally  from  six  to  eight  inches  wide, 
and  ten  or  twelve  in  the  length  of  the  blade,  according  to  the 
strength  of  the  person  who  is  to  use  it ;  the  blade  is  thin,  and 
by  means  of  a  moveable  wedge  which  is  driven  into  the  eye  of 
the  hoe,  it  can  be  set  more  or  less  digging  (as  it  is  termed,)  that 
is,  on  a  greater  or  less  angle  with  the  helve,  at  pleasure.  In 
this  respect  there  are  few  instances  where  the  American  black- 
smith is  not  employed  to  alter  the  eye  of  an  English-msiAe  hoe 
before  it  is  fit  for  use ;  the  industrious  and  truly  useful  mer- 
chants of  Glasgow  have  paid  more  minute  attention  to  this  cir- 
cumstance. 

"The  use  of  this  hoe  is  to  break  up  the  ground  and  throw  it 
into  shape  j  which  is  done  by  chopping  the  clods  until  they  are 
sufficiently  fine,  and  then  drawing  the  earth  round  the  foot  until  it 
forms  a  heap  round  the  projected  leg  of  tiie  labourer  like  a  mole 
hill,  and  nearly  as  high  as  the  knee  ;  he  then  draws  out  his  foot, 
flattens  the  top  of  the  hill  by  a  dab  with  the  flat  part  of  the  hoe, 
and  advances  forward  to  the  next  hill  in  the  same  manner,  until 
the  whole  piece  of  ground  is  prepared.    The  centre  of  these 


NOTES.  191 

liills  are  in  this  manner  guessed  by  the  eye;  and  in  most  instan- 
ces tliey  approach  near  to  lines  of  four  feet  one  way,  and  three 
feet  the  other.  The  planter  always  endeavours  to  time  this 
operation  so  as  to  tally  with  the  growth  of  plants,  so  that  he 
may  be  certain  by  this  means  to  pitch  his  crop  within  season. 

"  The  third  kind  of  hoe  is  the  broad  or  weeding  hoe.  Tliis 
is  made  use  of  during  the  cultivation  of  the  crop,  to  keep  it 
clean  from  the  weeds.  It  is  wide  upon  the  edge,  say  from  ten 
inches  to  a  foot,  or  more ;  of  thinner  substance  than  the  hilling 
hoe,  not  near  so  deep  in  the  blade,  and  the  eye  is  formed  more 
bent  and  shelving  than  the  latter,  so  that  it  can  be  set  upon  a 
more  acute  angle  upon  the  helve  at  pleasure,  by  removing  the 
wedge. 

OJ  the  Seas&n  for  Planting. 

*<  The  term,  season  for  planting,  signifies  a  shower  of  rain 
of  sufficient  quantity  to  wet  the  earth  to  a  degree  of  moisture 
which  may  render  it  safe  to  draw  the  young  plants  from  the 
plant  bed,  and  transplant  them  into  the  hills  which  are  prepared 
for  them  in  the  field,  as  described  under  the  last  head;  and 
these  seasons  generally  commence  in  April,  and  terminate  with 
what  is  termed  the  long  season  in  May ;  which  (to  make  use  of 
an  Irishism)  very  frequently  happens  in  June  ;  and  is  the  op- 
portunity which  the  planter  finds  himself  necessitated  to  seize 
with  eagerness  for  the  pitching  of  his  crop  ,•  a  term  which  com- 
prehends the  ultimate  opportunity  which  the  spring  will  afford 
him  for  planting  a  quantity  equal  to  the  capacity  of  the  collec- 
tive power  of  his  labourers  when  applied  in  cultivation. 

"  By  the  time  which  these  seasons  approach,  nature  has  so 
ordered  vegetation,  that  the  weather  has  generally  enabled  the 
plants  (if  duly  sh,eltered  from  the  spring  frosts,  a  circumstance 
to  which  a  planter  should  always  be  attentive  in  selecting  his 
plant  patch)  to  shoot  forward  in  sufficient  strength  to  bear  the 
vicissitude  of  transplantation. 


19S  NOTES. 

"  They  are  supposed  to  be  equal  to  meet  the  imposition  of 
this  task  when  the  leaves  are  about  the  size  of  a  dollar  j  but  this 
is  more  generally  the  minor  magnitude  of  the  leaves ;  and 
some  will  be  of  course  about  three  or  four  times  that  medium 
dimension. 

*'  Thus,  when  a  good  shower  or  season  happens  at  this  pe- 
riod of  the  year,  and  the  field  and  plants  are  equally  ready  for 
the  intended  union,  the  planter  hurries  to  the  plant  bed,  disre- 
garding tlie  teeming  element,  which  is  doomed  to  wet  his  skin, 
from  the  view  of  a  bountiful  harvest,  and  having  carefully  drawn 
the  largest  sizeable  plants,  he  proceeds  to  the  next  operation. 

Of  Flani'mg. 
«  The  ofiice  of  planting  the  tobacco  is  performed  by  two  or 
more  persons,  in  the  following  manner  :  The  first  person  bears, 
suspended  upon  one  arm,  a  large  basket  full  of  the  plants  which 
have  been  just  drawn  and  brought  from  the  plant  bed  to  the 
field,  without  waiting  for  an  intermission  of  the  shower,  al- 
though it  should  rain  ever  so  heavily ;  such  an  opportunity 
indeed,  instead  of  being  shunned,  is  eagerly  sought  after,  and  is 
considered  to  be  the  sure  and  certain  means  of  laying  a  good 
foindation,  which  cherishes  the  hope  of  a  bounteous  return. 
The  person  who  bears  the  basket  proceeds  thus  by  rows  from 
hill  to  hill ;  and  upon  each  hill  he  takes  care  to  drop  one  of  his 
plants.  Those  who  follow  make  a  hole  in  the  centre  of  each 
hill  with  their  fingers,  and  having  adjusted  the  tobacco  plant  in 
its  natural  position,  they  knead  the  earth  round  the  root  with 
their  hands,  until  is  of  a  sufficient  consistency  to  sustain  the 
plant  against  wind  and  weather.  In  this  condition  they  leave 
the  field  for  a  few  days  until  the  plants  shall  have  formed  their 
radifications ;  and  where  any  of  them  shall  have  casually  per- 
ished, the  ground  is  followed  over  again  by  successive  replant- 
ings,  until  the  crop  is  rendered  complete. 


NOTES.  193 

Of  Hoeing  the  Crop, 

"The  operation  of  hoeing  comprehends  two  distinct  func- 
tions, viz.  that  of  hilliifg,  and  that  of  weeding ;  and  there  are 
moreover  two  stages  of  hilling.  The  first  hilling  commences, 
as  heretofore  described,  in  the  preparation  of  the  field  previous  to 
planting  the  crop,  and  it  is  performed,  as  before  explained,  by 
means  of  the  peculiar  implement  called  a  hilling  hoe ;  the  sec- 
ond hilling  is  performed  after  the  crop  is  planted,  with  a  view 
to  succour  and  support  the  plant  as  it  may  happen  to  want 
strengthening,  by  giving  a  firm  and  permanent  foundation  to  its 
root ;  and  it  may  be  effected  accordi?«g  to  the  demand  of  the 
respective  plants  by  a  dexterity  in  changing  the  stroke  with 
the  weeding  hoe,  without  any  necessity  to  recur  to  the  more 
appropriate  utensil. 

"  The  more  direct  use  of  the  weeding  hoe  commences  with 
the  first  growth  of  the  tobacco  after  transplantation,  and  never 
ceases  until  the  plant  is  nearly  ripe,  and  ready  to  be  laid  by,  as 
they  term  the  last  weeding  with  the  hoe ;  for  be  who  would 
have  a  good  crop  of  tobacco,  or  of  maize,  must  not  be  sparirg 
of  his  labour,  but  must  keep  the  ground  constantly  stirring  dur- 
ing the  whole  growth  of  the  crop.  And  it  is  a  rare  instance 
to  see  the  plough  introduced  as  an  assistant,  unless  it  be  the 
flook  plough,  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  a  sowing  of  wheat 
for  the  following  year,  even  while  the  present  crop  is  growing ; 
and  this  is  frequently  practised  in  fields  of  maize,  and  some- 
times in  fields  of  tobacco,  which  may  be  ranked  amongst  the 
best  fallow  crops,  as  it  leaves  the  ground  perfectly  clean  and 
naked,  permitting  neither  grass,  weed,  nor  vegetable,  to  remain 
standing  in  the  space  which  it  has  occupied. 
S5 


194  NOTES. 

Of  Topping  the  Flant, 
"This  operation,  simply,  is  that  of  pinching  off  with  the 
iliumb  nail*  the  leading  stem  or  sprout  of  the  plant,  which 
w  oiild,  if  left  alone,  run  up  to  flower  and  seed ;  but  which,  from 
the  more  substantial  formation  of  the  leaf  by  the  help  of  the  nu- 
tritive juices,  which  are  thereby  afforded  to  the  lower  parts  of 
the  plant,  and  thus  absorbed  through  the  ducts  and  fibres  of  the 
leaf,  is  rendered  more  weighty,  thick,  and  fit  for  market.  The 
qualiiied  sense  of  this  term  is  applicable  to  certain  legal  restric- 
tions founded  upon  long  experience,  and  calculated  to  compel  an 
amendment  in  the  culture  of  this  staple  of  the  Virginia  trade,  so 
that  it  shall  at  all  times  excel  in  foreign  markets,  and  thus  just- 
ly merit  a  superior  reputation.  I  do  not  exactly  recollect  the 
piesent  limitation  by  law,  which  has  changed,  I  believe,  with 
the  progress  of  experience  j  but  the  custom  is  to  top  the  plant 
to  nine,  seven,  or  five  leaves,  as  the  quality  and  soil  may  seem 
most  likely  to  bear. 

Of  the  Slicker,  and  Suckering. 

"  The  sucker  is  a  superfluous  sprout  which  is  wont  to  make 
its  appearance  and  shoot  forth  from  the  stem  or  stalk,  near  to 
the  junction  of  the  leaves  with  the  stem,  and  about  the  root  of 
the  plant ;  and  if  these  suckers  arc  permitted  to  grow,  they  in- 
jure the  marketable  quality  of  the  tobacco  by  compelling  a  division 
of  its  nutriment  during  the  act  of  maturation.  The  planter  is 
therefore  careful  to  destroy  these  intruders  with  the  thumb  nail, 
as  in  the  act  of  topping,  and  this  process  is  termed  suckering, 

"  This  superfluity  of  vegetation,  like  that  of  the  top,  has 
been  often  the  subject  of  legislative  care  j  and  the  policy  of  sup- 
porting the  good  name  of  the  Virginia  produce  has  dictated  the 

*  "  Many  of  tlie  Virginians  let  the  thumb  nail  grow  long,  and 
liarden  it  in  the  candle,  for  this  purpose  :  not  for  the  use  of  gouging 
out  people's  eyes,  as  souie  have  thought  fit  to  insinuate." 


NOTES.  195 

wisdom  of  penal  laws  to  maintain  her  good  faith  against  imposi- 
tion upon  strangers  who  trade  with  her.  It  has  heen  customary 
in  former  ages  to  rear  an  inferior  plant  from  the  sucker  which 
projects  from  the  root  after  the  cutting  of  an  early  plant ;  and 
thus  a  secoml  crop  has  heen  often  obtained  from  the  same  field 
by  one  and  the  same  course  of  culture ;  and  although  this  scion 
is  of  a  sufficient  quality  for  smoking,  and  might  become  preferred 
in  the  weaker  kinds  of  snuff,  it  has  been  (I  think  very  properly) 
thought  eligible  to  prefer  a  prohibitory  law,  to  a  risk  of  imposi- 
tion by  means  of  similitude. 

*'  The  practice  of  cultivating  suckers  is  on  these  accounts 
not  only  discountenanced  as  fraudulent,  hut  the  constables  are 
strictly  enjoined  ex  officio  to  make  diligent  search,  and  to  em- 
ploy the  posse  comitatus  in  destroying  such  crops ;  a  law 
indeed  for  which,  to  the  credit  of  the  Virginians,  there  is  seldom 
occasion;  yet  some  few  instances  have  occurred,  within  my  day, 
wiiere  the  constables  have  very  honourably  carried  it  into  exe- 
cution in  a  manner  truly  exemplary,  and  productive  of  public 
good. 

Of  the  fVcynn. 

*'  There  are  several  species  of  the  worm,  or  rather  grub  ge- 
nus, which  prove  injurious  to  the  culture  of  tobacco ;  some  of 
these  attack  the  root,  and  some  the  leaf  of  the  plant  5  but  that 
which  is  most  destructive,  and  consequently  creates  the  most 
employment,  is  the  horn  worm,  or  large  green  tobacco  worm. 
This  appears  to  me  to  be  the  same  species  with  that  which 
Catesby  has  described  in  the  second  volume  of  his  Natural  His- 
tory of  Carolina,  p.  94,  under  the  title  eruca  maxima  cornuta,  or 
the  great  horned  caterpillar. 

"  'This  caterpillar,'  says  he,  <is  about  four  inches  long,  be- 
sides the  head  and  tail ;  it  consists  of  ten  joints,  or  rings,  of  a 
yellow  colour ;   on  the  head,  which  is  black,  grow  four  pair  of 


196  NOTES. 

horns,  smooth  and  of  a  reddish  brown  towards  the  bottom,  jagged 
or  bearded,  and  black  towards  the  top;  on  each  of  the  rings  arise 
short,  jagged,  black  horns,  one  standing  on  the  back,  and  two  on 
each  side ;  below  which  is  a  trachma  on  each  side ;  likewise  the 
horn  of  the  back  of  the  last  ring  is  longest :  the  flap  of  the  tail 
is  of  a  bright  bay  colour.  It  hath  eight  feet,  and  six  papiUae.'' 
«  There  are,  besides  this  kind,  others  without  horns  ;  all  of 
them  of  a  green  colour,  so  far  as  I  recollect.  And  this,  in 
Catesby's  description,  differs  in  respect  to  colour ;  this  tobacco 
worm  or  horn  worm,  as  the  planters  call  it  more  particularly, 
being  of  a  pale  delicate  green ;  an  effect  I  apprehend  which  pro- 
ceeds from  the  colour  of  its  food  when  it  feeds  upon  growing  to- 
bacco plants.  The  act  of  destroying  these  worms  is  termed 
'worming  the  tobacco,  which  is  a  very  nauseous  occupation,  and 
takes  up  much  labour.  It  is  performed  by  picking  every  thing 
of  this  kind  off  the  respective  leaves  with  the  hand,  and  destroy- 
ing it  with  the  foot. 

Ojtlie  Term  ^^  Firing:* 
«<  During  very  rainy  seasons,  and  in  some  kinds  of  unfa- 
vourable soil,  the  plant  is  subject  to  a  malady  called  firing. 
This  is  a  kind  of  blight  occasioned  by  the  moist  state  of  the 
atmosphere,  and  the  too  moist  condition  of  the  plant :  I  do  not 
recollect  whether  the  opposite  extreme  does  not  produce  an  ef- 
fect something  similar.  This  injury  is  much  dreaded  by  the 
planter,  as  it  spots  the  leaf  with  a  hard  brown  spot,  which  per- 
ishes, and  becomes  so  far  a  loss  upon  the  commodity.  I  appre- 
hend there  are  two  stages  when  the  plant  is,  in  a  certain  degree, 
subject  to  this  evil  effect :  the  first  is  whilst  growing  in  the  field, 
the  latter  when  hanging  in  the  tobacco  house.  I  know  of  no  other 
remedy  than  constant  working  the  ground  while  the  seed  is  grow- 
ing, and  careful  drying  by  the  use  of  fire  in  the  tobacco  house. 


NOTES.  197 

Of  the  Rijiening  of  the  Crop. 

«<  Much  practice  is  requisite  to  form  a  judicious  discernment 
concerning  the  state  and  progress  of  the  ripening  leaf;  yet  care 
must  be  used  to  cut  up  the  plant  as  soon  as  it  is  sufficiently  ripe 
to  promise  a  good  curable  condition,  lest  the  approach  of  frost 
should  tread  upon  the  heels  of  the  crop-master  ;  for  in  this  case, 
tobacco  will  be  among  the  first  plants  that  feel  its  influence,  and 
the  loss  to  be  apprehended  in  this  instance,  is  not  a  mere  partial 
damage  by  nippling,  but  a  total  consumption  by  the  destruc- 
tion of  every  plant. 

"  I  find  it  difficult  to  give  to  strangers  a  full  idea  of  the 
ripening  of  the  leaf:  it  is  a  point  on  which  I  would  not  trust 
my  own  experience  without  consulting  some  able  crop-master  in 
the  neighbourhood  ;  and  I  believe  this  is  not  an  uncustomary 
precaution  among  those  who  plant  it»  So  far  as  I  am  able  to 
convey  an  idea,  which  I  find  it  easier  to  understand  tban  to  ex- 
press, I  should  judge  of  the  ripening  of  the  leaf  by  its  thickening 
sufficiently ;  by  the  change  of  its  colour  to  a  more  yellowish 
green ;  by  a  certain  mellow  appearance,  and  protusion  of  the  web 
of  the  leaf,  which  I  suppose  to  be  occasioned  by  a  contraction  of 
the  fibres  ;  and  by  such  other  appearances  as  I  might  conceive 
to  indicate  an  ultimate  suspension  of  the  vegetative  functions. 

Of  Cutting  and  Gathering  the  Crop. 
"  When  the  crop  is  adjudged  sufficiently  ripe  to  proceed  to 
cutting,  this  operation  is  assigned  to  the  best  and  most  judicious 
hands  who  are  employed  in  the  culture ;  and  these  being  pro- 
vided each  with  a  strong  sharp  knife,  proceed  along  the  respec- 
tive rows  of  the  field  to  select  such  plants  as  appear  to  be  ripe, 
leaving  others  to  ripen  ;  those  which  are  cut  arc  sliced  off  near 
to  the  ground,  and  such  plants  as  have  thick  stalks  or  stems  are 
sliced  down  the  middle  of  the  stem  in  order  to  admit  a  more  free 
and  equal  circulation  of  air  through  the  parts  during  the  pj'ocess 


198  NOTES. 

of  curing,  and  to  free  the  plant,  as  far  as  possible,  from  such 
partial  retention  of  moisture  as  might  have  a  tendency  to  fer- 
ment, and  damage  the  staple.  The  plants  are  then  laid  down 
upon  the  hill  where  they  grew,  with  the  points  of  the  leaves  pro- 
jecting all  the  same  way,  as  nearly  as  possible,  so  that  when  the 
sun  has  had  sufficient  effect  to  render  them  pliable,  they  may 
more  easily  and  uniformly  he  gathered  into  turns  by  the  gather- 
ers who  follow  the  cutting. 

Of  Gathering  the  Crop  in. 

"  For  the  better  comprehending  the  method  of  gathering  the 
crop,  it  is  necessary  to  understand  the  preparation  which  must 
be  previously  made  for  facilitating  this  part  of  the  process. 

« In  preparing  for  gathering  the  crop  of  tobacco  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  erect  a  kind  of  scaffold  in  various  places  of  the  tobacco 
ground  which  may  happen  to  offer  a  convenient  situation.  This 
is  done  by  lodging  one  end  of  several  strong  poles  upon  any  log 
or  fence  which  may  be  convenient,  and  resting  the  other  end  of 
such  poles  upon  a  transverse  pole  supported  by  forks,  at  about 
five  feet  from  the  ground ;  or  by  erecting  the  whole  scaflfold 
upon  forks  if  circumstances  require  it. 

"  In  forming  this  part  of  the  scaffold  in  the  manner  of  joists, 
the  poles  are  placed  about  four  feet  asunder  from  centre  to  cen- 
tre, so  that  when  the  sticks  which  sustain  the  tobacco  plants  are 
prepared  they  may  fill  the  space  advantageously  by  leaving  but 
little  spare  room  upon  the  scaffold. 

"  Timber  is  then  split  in  the  manner  of  laths,  into  pieces  of 
four  feet  in  length,  and  about  an  inch  and  a  half  diameter. 
These  are  termed  the  tobacco  sticks  ;  and  tlieir  use  is  to  hang 
the  tobacco  upon,  hoth  by  lodging  the  ends  of  tliis  stick  upon 
the  poles  of  the  scaffold  which  have  been  previously  prepared  in 
the  field,  in  order  to  render  it  sufficiently  pliable  and  in  condi- 
tion to  carry  into  the  tobacco-house,  to  which  it  is  now  convey- 


NOTES.  199 

ed  by  such  means  as  the  planter  has  in  his  powei* ;  and  by  sus- 
pending  it  in  the  same  way  in  the  house,  so  that  the  air  may 
pass  through  it  in  the  process  of  curing.  Instead  of  this  partic 
ular  method,  those  wlio  prefer  to  do  so,  lay  it  a  short  while  in 
bulk  upon  poles,  logs,  &c.  in  the  field,  before  they  convey  it  im- 
der  cover.*' 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  SECOND  VOLUME. 


Pyrola  umbellata. 

y  Winter  green, 

rage. 

15 

Ganltheiia  procumbenSf 

>s  Partridge  berry. 

£7 

Podophyllum  peltatumf 

May  apple, 

34 

Modes  foetiduSf 

Skunk  cabbage. 

41 

Statice  Carolinianat 

1  Marsh  rosemary, 

51 

Jisdepias  tuherosa, 

Butterfly  weed. 

59 

Magnolia  glauca. 

Small  magnolia. 

67 

CornusJlQridaf 

Dogwood, 

73 

Panax  quinquefolinnif 

Ginseng, 

82 

Pdygala  senega. 

Seneca  snake  root, 

97 

Liriodendron  tulipiferaf 

Tulip  tree. 

107 

Juglans  cinerea. 

Butternut, 

115 

Veratrum  viride. 

American  Hellebore, 

121 

Gentiana  Cateshcei, 

Blue  gentian. 

137 

Laurus  sassqfraSf 

Sassafras, 

142 

Apocijnum  androstemifolium. 

Dogsbane, 

148 

Dirca  palustris. 

Leather  wood. 

154 

Rubus  villosuSf 

Tall  blackberry. 

160 

Cassia  Marilandicaf 

American  senna. 

166 

Mcotiana  tabacum, 

Tobacco, 

171 

JVbfes, 

188 

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