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VEGETABLE MATERIA MEDICA
OF THE
UNITED STATES:
MEDICAL BOTANY.
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VEGETABLE MATERIA MEDICA —
OF THE
UNITED STATES;
OR
MEBDICAh BOTANY
CONTAINING
A BOTANICAL, GENERAL, AND MEDICAL HISTORY, OF MEDICINAL
PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO THE UNITED STATES.
ILLUSTRATED BY
COLOURED ENGRAVINGS,
MADE AFTER ORIGINAL DRAWINGS FROM NATURE, DONE BY THE AUTHOR.
.
:
BY WILLIAM P. C. BARTON, M. D.
SURGEON IN THE UNITED STATES’ NAVY, AND OF THE NAVAL HOSPITAL AT PHILADELPHIA:
AND
PROFESSOR OF BOTANY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA,
VOLUME ITI. ¥
PHILADELPHIA:
PUBLISHED BY M. CAREY & SON, CORNER OF FOURTH AND CHESNUT STREETS.
JOSEPH R. A. SKERRETT, PRINTER,
woes sesseerenes .
1808.
Bissour, BOTANiCag
EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO WIT:
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the third day of December, in the forty-third. year of the
Independence of the United States of America, A. D, 1818, WILLIAM P. C. BARTON, of the
and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned.”—And also to the act, enti-
tled, “ An act supplementary to an act, entitled, “An act for the encouragement of learning, by
securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies
during the times therein mentioned,” and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing,
D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvanian
*
4 ue)
SAMUBL BWING, BSQ.
AN ACCOMPLISHED SCHOLAR,
AND
AN EMINENT MEMBER OF THE PHILADELPHIA BAR:
THIS VOLUME,
IN EVIDENCE OF ESTEEM,
AND IN GRATITUDE FOR HIS LONG-TRIED FRIENDSHIP,
IS INSCRIBED
BY THE AUTHOR,
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
IN presenting the second volume of this work to the public, it may
be proper to offer a few remarks, relative to the nature of the enter-
prise, and the progress which has been made towards achieving it. As
soon as my attention was directed to the Botany of our country, it
appeared to me obvious, that a rich treasure of Medicinal vegetables,
remained imperfectly described and unknown. Considering, indeed,
the vast extent of territory, and the luxuriance and number of the ve-
getables of the United States, its botany has been investigated with a
surprising degree of zeal and research. But, unfortunately, only its
nomenclatural botany, has hitherto excited much attention. I did
believe, when I conceived the design of illustrating the medical
botany of our country, that such a work, even though it were limit-
ed to the delineation and description of the known medicinal plants,
* or those supposed to be medicinal, would have the effect of directing
a more general attention to this important subject, than had pre-
viously been bestowed, and of giving an impulse perhaps, to the
studies and observations of those physicians and botanists whose
qualifications and opportunities were equally propitious to investi-
gations of this nature. And it must be confessed, I have had my an-
ticipation, on this point, fully realized. To this work, and that of my
fellow traveller in the same path, may perhaps be attributed, some
Vili PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
of the eager curiosity and attention which our native medicinal
plants now manifestly excite. Thus much may, it is hoped, with
propriety be said. And if this work only perform the office of the
finger-post on the road, which, though it stirs not one inch of the
way itself, points out the right path to be pursued, it will not have
been published in vain. Already the attention to this subject may be
seen, in a late valuable edition of the Edinburgh Dispensatory, by Dr.
Dyckman, of New York, in which more of our native medicines will
be found, than have, heretofore, appeared inthe American Dispensato-
ries. And it is not doubted, that when the national Pharmacopeia,
now meditated, is given to the world, the Materia Medica of the
United States will not only be extensively used by our own physi-
cians, but will be eagerly sought for by those of foreign countries.
But, our Materia Medica is not the only worthy object of enquiry, to
the botanist: the Materia Alimentaria of North America, is equally in-
teresting. From an unfortunate race of human beings now rapidly
disappearing, by the influence of the combined effects of warfare,
civilization, and amalgamation with the whites, much valuable infor-
mation might, in all probability be obtained, on the subject of their ma-
teria alimentaria.* For among the esculent vegetables of the Indians
* It is highly probable that among the manuscripts which were left by the late Pro-
fessor Barton, much interesting information on this subject might be collected. His
well known inquisitiveness, and his constant habit of recording, in however desultory a
manner, the facts with which his enquiries made him acquainted, warrant the belief,
that the public are deprived of some curious and very interesting Knowledge, in conse-
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS, ix
of our country, it has always been supposed there were some worthy
of cultivation for the table. This has heretofore been prevented,
in consequence of our ignorance of the identical plants, or precise spe-
cies, which were used by the savages. The travels of Lewis and Clarke,
have put usin possession of the Indian names of many native dietetic
articles, and these names have occasionally been accompanied by im-
perfect descriptions. Not much more therefore than conjectures, could
be expected to arise from such informal and unscientific accounts ;
and indeed, little else has resulted, on this subject, from the rich op-
quence of the cloak which has been thrown over hiscollections. Strange as it may ap-
pear, it is not the less true, that not a single one of these manuscripts, not even his
lectures on Materia Medica,* has ever seen the light. The public is yet to be inform-
ed what has become of the industrious collections of that eminent man ; and it is sin-
cerely hoped they have not been recklessly destroyed. Though the author of this work,
his own nephew, was engaged in the same pursuits which occupied much of the time
and attention of the late Professor, not a single line of his manuscripts has ever been put
into his hands, or seen by him; nor was his opinion even asked about the disposition of
them. But on the contrary, he was refused a sight of such memorandums and notes as
were asked to enable him to write an authentic account of his life, when called on so to
do by the Philadelphia Medical Society, of which the Professor, at the time of his
decease, was president. It has been deemed proper to make this public avowal, because
it lias been mentioned to the author, that some persons supposed him possessed of all
the papers and collections of the late Professor Barton, designing by such intimation,
to deprive the author of whatever credit his persevering exertions, in iin! of dis-
couraging and sgt obstacles, may have deserved.
* The manuscript lectures on Materia Medica, were sold to Mr. Dobson, more than two years since, but
have not yet been published,
VoL, 1”
¥i PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
portunities of that governmental expedition, Itis well known, that no
botanist or naturalist accompanied those travellers; although our or-
nithology might have been enriched by some new species of birds,
or some interesting facts relative to the habits and migrations of
known species, had the humble and entreating offer of the lamented
Wilson,* to accompany the expedition, been accepted. It is neither
my intention, nor my province, in this place, to make any animad-
-_yersions on the direction of that great undertaking : but I cannot for-
bear to remark, that from the discoveries made by a botanical exa-
mination of the few plants brought by captain Lewis, we are war-
ranted in the belief, that a very spendid harvest might have been
reaped, had any competent botanist accompanied the party. I need
only mention, in proof of this, the discovery of the plant which yields
the bread-root of the Indians.
The Opopanok, the Mockshauw, the wild-potatoe, and the hog-potatoe,+
are yet entirely unknown; at least the identical plants bearing these
names, are not yet ascertained. They are, undoubtedly, native vege-
tables; and it was formerly supposed that some one or two of them,
* For an affecting account of the transaction here alluded to, I beg leaye to refer to
the masterly biographical sketch of his friend, by Juin Ord, Esq. prefixed to the tenth
volume of Wilson’s Ornithology, which was edited by this zealous naturalist,
{1 am aware that the convolvulus panduratus has been called hog-potatoe, but whether
it is really the plant so commonly recognised by that name formerly, is somewhat pro-
blematical. 7 :
2
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. xi
were aboriginal names for the common Irish-potatoe, (solanum tu-
berosum.) The enquiries and investigations, however, of the late
Professor Barton, in relation to this subject,* while they prove, beyond
the possibility of doubt, that the Irish-potatoe, as it is generally now
called, is not a native of any part of North-America, sufficiently sa-
tisfy us, that neither of the vegetables under the above names, can
be identical with that plant.
The travels of Baron Humboldt, which have so much enriched
our knowledge, by details of the practical and ceconomical uses of
plants, acquaint us, that the inhabitants of Palma and Gomera make
acomposition out of the root of Pteris aquilina and barley-meal, which
serves them for food.t This fern is plentifully distributed along the
moist edges of woods, fields and bogs, all over the United States. It
grows near the falls of Schuylkill, and indeed all along its western
shores, and in Jersey, near the Delaware river. The Lenni-
Lenappes, we well know, used two important dietetic articles, the
Mockshauw, and a subterranean aquatic tuber, which has by some
been conjectured to be the Sagittaria sagittifolia.t This, however,
* Tilloch’s Philosophical Magazine.
+ They grind the roots to powder, then mix it with the meal, and boil it. When thus
prepared, it is termed gofie.
$ While I have mentioned this plant, I may not inappropriately state, that the root
seems to have been successfully used as a poultice, in cases of sphacelating ulcers.
xi PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
:.
certainly is not the case; but the Pteris aquilina may be the plant
meant under the name of Mockshauw. 1 throw this out as a mere
suggestion; at the same time I ought to remark, that in perusing the
“Materia Venenaria regni Vegetabilis,” of Puihn, I met with an ob-
servation relative to Orontium aquaticum, (which also inhabits the
borders of rivers, and such places as the Delaware Indians were said
to have resorted to for their favourite Mockshauw,) which induced me
to think it not improbable, that this is the plant intended by that name.
The observation is as follows : “Orontii aquatici radix, quee cineribus
tosta Americanis sylvestribus cibo est, cruda ob acredinem homini-
bus toxifera habetur. Semina quoque, que bene siccata et cum aqua
aliquoties cocta ferculum exhibent, cruda acerrima sunt.’’*
“The Indians had their sallads,’* we are told by the late Professor
Barton, who remarks at the same time that the “ Indian sallad,” and
the “ Shawnee sallad,” of the states of Kentucky and Ohio, are praised
by the white settlers; and adds, “they are unknown to me.”+ It
An officer of the war department pointed out this plant to me in a marsh in the city of
Washington, and informed me, that an officer in the army, with whom he was acquainted,
had caused the plant to be dug up, the roots bruised, moistened, and applied to a very
extensive and ill-conditioned ulcer, in which mortification had commenced, and that
one or two applications of the poultice checked the progress of the mortification, and
the sore healed kindly and rapidly.
* Materia Venenaria, p. 80.
{ Collections for a Materia Medica, and Discourses on some of the principal deside-
rata of Natural History, read before the Philadelphia Linnzan Society.
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. xiii
would perhaps be going too far to say, at this period of my informa-
tion on the subject, that I had ascertained the plant to which these
names refer ; though I am certainly warranted in saying, that the facts
I am possessed of render it extremely probable, that the Shawnee or
Indian sallad of the state of Kentucky, is the Hydrophyllum appendi-
culatum.*
But these are merely a few instances of the desiderata on this
point. From an investigation of so rich a subject, much novel and in-
teresting information must necessarily be acquired.
* Some time since, Dr. Short, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, sent a specimen of a plant
to a friend in this city, with the following note: «I send you a plant, vulgarly known
in Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, by the name of Woollen-breeches. The young
shoots are eaten in the spring, as a sallad, and highly praised by all who eat them.
I could wish to know the name of this plant, which I understand Mr. Correa was
very anxious to see, when in this part of the world.”’ The plant in question proves
on examination, to be Hydrophyllum appendiculatum. I subsequently received a better
specimen from Dr. Eberle, of Lancaster, who obtained it, I believe, from the late Dr.
Muhlenberg, or who found it in one of the books purchased from the reverend doctor’s
library. From this specimen, aided in the colour of the flowers, by a sketch sent on the
blank page of the letter, by Dr. Short, I have made a drawing. I have already said,
I do not assert that this plant yields the Shawnee sallad, or Indian sallad so called;
but as it certainly is an Indian sallad, and inhabits the districts of country in which
the Shawnee sallad is said to grow, it is by no means unlikely that it may be the plant
intended by those appellations; and from what has been said concerning it, is un-
doubtedly worthy of cultivation. The roots of a species of the same genus, Hydro-
phyllum Canadensis, we learn, were eaten by the Indians in times of scarcity.
XivV PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
Impressed with these views, I had determined, after embracing
the whole of the medicinal plants of these states, to continue the
work by delineating all the dietetic native vegetables of our country,
and giving of each a correct coloured plate. Whether this part of my
design will ever be accomplished, it is difficult to say. There are
many discouraging circumstances connected with investigations of
this nature, which I may not feel willing to combat or oppose. Among
them, is the notorious discouraging influence, at least in this city, rela-
tive to botanical pursuits, proceeding too from sources where acciden-
tal and professional elevation gives a kind of adventitious importance
to opinions, which would otherwise be wholly inefficient in their ope-
ration, ifnot beneath notice or refutation. As regards my own efforts,
fam free to confess, that my interests are too deeply connected with
such opposition to the pursuits of the professorship I have the
honour to hold, to be very solicitous to run counter to, or struggle
against, such appalling circumstances. And at least necessity, if not
the will, would urge a relinquishment of pursuits, which are indus-
triously taught to be incompatible with the severe, and more useful
occupations of medicine, or with the attainment of the more conspi-
cuous eminence to which the practice of physic and surgery lead.
_ It may now be proper to inform the public of the state of forward-
ness of this work. The whole number of plates necessary to complete
it, are engraved; and were it not for the tediousness of the colour-
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. XY
ing,* the second volume might be presented complete, in a month
from this time. By the first of the ensuing March, however, the
eighth and last number will be published. And though all the im-
portant medicinal plants of our country, cannot be comprehended
within the limits to which it was thought prudent, on the subscribers’
account, to affix to the present undertaking, still, it is hoped, a suffi-
cient number have been figured and described, to render the work
useful. If the public desire a continuance of it, their encourage-
ment may effect it. To them already the publishers are indebted for
a very extensive patronage, and the author for a very flattering
reception of his labours. The former were richly entitled to it by their
enterprise, in undertaking so costly a publication, and their great
*It may be proper to mention in this place, that when this work was com-
menced, the author believed, being under the impression that the subscription would be
very limited, that he would be enabled to execute all the colouring with his own hand.
The large subscription which was immediately filled up, soon convinced him, that this
was utterly impracticable; and he consequently was obliged to have recourse to the as-
sistance of others. And even with the assistance, sometimes of six persons, he could
not supply the coloured copies as rapidly as the publishers orders called for. He
has been fortunate in meeting in his own family, with some persons, whose colouring
is faithful—but in many instances he has met with repeated disappointment and mortifi-
cation, in those who wanted this faithfulness—and in despite of all exertions to prevent it,
some colouring has passed through his hands, which, though not very faulty, was far from
- being as well executed as could be desired. With a view to complete the work as soon
as possible, a few plates have been done by Mr. Boyd, and Mr. Warnicke ; the largest
number, however, have been executed by Messrs. l'anner, Vallance, Kearny, and Co.
The plates are highly creditable to the talents of all these excellent artists.
XVi PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
liberality in conducting it; and the author can say with sincerity, that
he has spared no effort in endeavouring to render his work useful, and
worthy of the distinguished countenance with which it has been
honoured.
Philadelphia, December 3d, 1848.
i
i
i
* é at fae
. Pin
My
Fitg.6
Aly
POD OP FY Is U DM PELIEANTOUOM
y
AVL 2
Nature by WE C Bare
(May Apple.
of pees
PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM.
MAY-APPLE.
Mandrake. Wild Lemon. Ipecacuanha. Duck’s-foot, (in England.)
Germ. Schildblattriger Entenfuss. (Willd.) Entenfuss; Fluss blatt.
Dutch. Eendenpoot.
PoporHytiuM peltatum. L. Sp. Pl. 7235. a. Marr. 489. Hort. Kew. ii. 222.
Boerh. ii. 72. Catesb. Car. 1.t. 24. Schoepf. 86. Bart. Collections, 31. 37, 40.
ed. 3d. 31. 39. Coxe’s Disp. ed. 3d. p. 499. Thatcher’s Disp. ed. 3d. p. 318.
Dale 421. col. 1. par. 1. Stokes’s Bot. Mat. Med. iii. p. 179. Bigelow, Florula
Bost. p. 132. Pursh. Fl. Am. ii. 566, Juss. 235. Mich. Fl. Am. i. 309. Hort.
Cliff. 202. Hort. Ups. 137. Gron. Virg. 5. Roy, Lugdb. 480. Trew. ehret. t.
29. Mill. Dict. Houttuyn. Lin. Pfl. Syst. 7. p. 187. Willd. Sp. Pl. tom. ii. par.
iii, p. 1141. Dyckman’s edition of the Edinburg Dispen. p. 347. Barton’s
Cullen, vol. i. p. 91. vol. ii. p. 375. Nutt. Gen. Am. PI. vol. ii. p. 10. Bart.
Prod. Fl. Ph. 57. Bart. Compendium Flore Philadelphice, vol. ii. p. 9.
Mentz. Pugill. t. 11. Ait. Hort. Kew. vol. iii. 287. Lamarck, Ilustr, t. 449.
Mubl. Cat, 53, Pharm. Med. Soc. Mass. 26.
PODOPHYLLUM.
Gen. Pl. ed. Schreb. n. 879.
Cor. 9-petala, (6-10 petala. B.) Cal. 3-phyllus. Bacca 1-locularis, coronata stigmate.
VOL. I. 2
10 Podophyllum peltatum.
Calix 3-leaved. Petals 9. Stigma crenate, sessile. Capsule superior, 1-celled, many-
seeded, becoming an ovate berry. Receptacle unilateral, large and pulpy.—
Nutt. .
Nat. Syst. Juss. Ranunculacee. Classis XIII. Ordo 1.
PoporuyiuuM, L.* Anapodophyllum, T.* Calix 3-phyllus. Petala 9. Stylus 0; stigma
capitatum. Caulis 2-phyllus foliis palmatis, in dichotomié 1-florus flore albo.
Juss. Gen. Plant. ed. 1789. p. 235.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Rhoadew.
Classis Polyandria. Ordo Monogynia. Lin. Syst.
Gen. Ch. Cal. Perianth inferior, of three large, coloured, ovate,. concave, ascending
leaves, soon falling. Cor. Petals nine, orbicular, concave, plaited at the mar-
gin. Stam. Filaments numerous, very short; anthers oblong, large, erect.
Pist. Germen superior, roundish ; style none; stigma obtuse, furrowed. Peric,
Berry globose, crowned with the permanent stigma, of one cell. Seeds numer-
ous, roundish. Receptacle central, unconnected.
Ess. Ch. Corolla of nine petals. Calix of three leaves, deciduous. Berry of one cell,
| crowned with the stigma. Ency.
PopoPHYLLUM peltatum; stem one-flowered; leaves peltate, palmate, lobate; lobes
cuneate, incised. Barton’s Compendium Flore Philadelphice, vol. ii. p. 9.
SYNONYMA.
ANAPODOPHYLLUM Canadense. Catesb. —
AconirtroLta humilis, flore albo unico campanulato fructu cynosbati. Mentz.
PHARM,
Popopny111 peltati, Radix; interdum fructus.
see
Podophyllum peltatum. 44
Tne generic name Podophyllum, is derived from xs, a foot, and
gvaae, a leaf, from a fancied resemblance of the leaf to the web-foot
of aquatic birds. It was called originally by Tournefort napodophylion,
from anas, the Latin name for a duck; but Linnzeus’s more correct no-
tions of derivation, caused him to modify this exceptionable word in
the manner it is now universally received. The species which is the
subject of this article, is a hardy perennial herbaceous plant, and is per-
haps, one of the most important medicinal vegetables indigenous to
our country. The root is creeping, very long, often from three to six
feet in length, of a burnt-umber or bistre colour externally, and yel-
lowish-white within. It is smooth and round, but interrupted by joints
or nodes, from which proceed numerous large fibres of a colour con-
siderably lighter than the main root. The stem is upright, simple,
round, smooth, yellowish-green, about a foot or fourteen inches high,
supporting two large leaves, and a single flower in the fork, formed by
the junction of the petioles. The leaves when they first appear are
often marked with brown discolorations; these occasionally continue
on them when mature. They are peltate, the petioles inclining mostly
towards the edge of the fissure inthe base. They are palmately di-
vided for the most part into six large lobes, attenuated towards the
bottom, and irregularly incised at the top, with sometimes sharp and
often obtuse points. They are strongly veined, are of a fine yellow-
green above, pale. underneath, inclining in the mature leaves to a
grey or bluish-green, and are reputed to possess a deleterious quality.
_ The flower is drooping, mostly of the size represented in the plate,
12 Podophyllum peltatum.
consisting of three deciduous calix leaves (Fig. 8.) and from six to
nine white petals, delicately reticulated with veins, and forming a
concave flower. The pistil is somewhat urceolate, of a yellowish
colour and crowned with a crenate stigma, much darker. The sta-
mens are from thirteen to twenty, and of a yellow colour. The fruit
varies much in size, according to the different situations in which
the plant may have grown. Its usual size is that represented in the
figure, or of a common plumb, but I have very frequently seen it
twice as large, and it is often smaller. It is, when mature, of a le-
mon-yellow colour, slightly maculated with round brownish dots,
and is crowned with the persistent stigma. It consists internally of
a delicate pulp, in which about a dozen seeds are immersed, attach-
ed by umbilicate fibres to the receptacle, which is situated more to
one side than the other. This fruit is extremely delicious to most
persons, and to many quite apperient; it may be eaten in consi-
derable quantities without any unpleasant effect, and being sub-
acid and grateful, may be considered healthful. Schoepf says, the
_ pigeons of Carolina are fattened by eating it. The seeds are about
twelve in number, of the size and shape represented in the draw-
ing, and of a light yellowish colour. |
This plant is propagated so luxuriantly by the creeping of its
roots, that but a small proportion of the flowers produce fruit;
perhaps not more than one in forty or fifty; so that it is not un-
common to find whole patches consisting of two or three hundred
Podophyllum peltatum. 13
plants, with scarcely more than a couple of dozen fruiting speci-
mens.
The May-apple is exclusively a native of North America; and is
found from the northern to the southern boundaries of the United
States, in great profusion, generally inhabiting moist, rich, and shady
woods, though not unfrequently met with in open or exposed situa-
tions, as well as often by the edges of rivulets. It appears, how-
ever, to delight in moist soil, being always most luxuriant in humid
places. When it grows in low and very wet or marshy grounds, the
roots become larger than usual, and quite succulent, so that in ex-
siccation they lose more than half their diameter.
Why this plant has received the name of May-apple, it is diffi-
cult to conjecture, since it only commences flowering, at least in the
middle and northern states, in the latter part of the month of May,
and is not in full bloom until the first week in June. ‘Its fruit is not
mature till the latter part of September, at which time the leaves
have become faded to a yellow colour, or have entirely fallen off.
Then is the proper period for collecting the roots for medicinal
uses; they should be dried and pulverized for use. The Indians
dry them in the shade. (For Chemical Analysis, see Appendix.)
14 | Podophyllum peltatum.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
The root of the May-apple, exclusively, is used in medicine.
There is no indigenous plant whose medicinal virtues are better
ascertained at present. Its proper place in the Materia Medica,
is among cathartics ; and it may be ranked among the most safe and
active of this class of medicines. Schoepf briefly remarks that the
root is emetic, without specifying the dose which produces that ef-
fect ; and Puihn speaks of it as a powerful emetic: “ Podophylli
peltati radix valde emetica est.”** Like most active purgatives, this
medicine will occasionally act upon the stomach ; and I have on two
occasions found large doses, to produce full vomiting. But this is
certainly not the usual, or conspicuous effect of the powder ; on the
contrary, it almost always acts as an active purgative. In an exten-
sive use of this article for two years past, I have, with the exception
of the two instances just mentioned, uniformly found it to affect the
bowels ; and I have repeatedly employed it alone ; though the bet-
ter mode of administering it is in conjunction with the supertartrate
of potash, calomel or rhubarb. The root has “ often been found
to operate as an anthelmintic, and it is used as such by the Cherokee
* Materia Venenaria Regni vegetabilis.
Podophyllum peltatum. 15
and other southern Indians.”* Of this my experience affords
neither corroboration nor refutation ; but in all probability the plant
is destitute of any specific anthelmintic virtue ; and most likely ex-
pels worms as calomel and many active purgatives do. The late
Dr. Barton tells us that he had heard much of the virtue of an ex-
tract of the root of May-apple, but had never himself used it. It is
reputed to have been found highly useful as a cathartic in colica
pictonum.t He seemed to think that, as a cathartic, the powder
possessed some advantages over rhubarb and jalap; he does not
however mention in what respect he deemed it superior or prefer-
able. My impression, from an impartial administration of the
powder, in repeated trials, is, that it is equal to the common jalap of
the shops, in doses of the proportion of a scruple of the former, to
fifteen or eighteen grains of the latter; and in this it seems indeed
to be preferable to the jalap, that it is less nauseous to irritable sto-
machs. Dr. Barton remarks, “that Podophyllum has been thought
by some practitioners, to be especially adapted, as a purge, to cases
of intermittents, remittents and dropsy ;?? and concludes by ob-
serving, that he “believes the medicine possesses some narcotic -
quality.”*t
aii __* Barton’s Collections. ;
+ Barton’s edition of Cullen’s Materia Medica, vol. 2. p. 375.
t Ibid.
16 Podophyllum peltatum.
TABLE XXV.
Fig. 1. Represents the Podophyllum peltatum in flower, the stem
broken from Fig. 2. at the mark.+
2, The lower portion of the stem and root of the same.
3, The mature fruit of the commonest size.
4. A cross section of the same, shewing the pulp and the at-
tachment of the seeds to the receptacle.
5. A longitudinal section of another fruit, which shews the va-
riation in the shape of the apple, and gives a different view
of the seeds.
6. A back view of a.seed.
7. Afront view of the same.
8. A view of the unexpanded flower, exhibiting the calix before
it has fallen.
9. A stamen.
Table 26:
Fig.
oi
~ Barton.
ure bE
a
1
:
HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS.
YELLOW-ROOT.
Germ. Canadische Hydrastis. ( Willd.)
French. Hydraste de Canada.
Hyprastis Canadensis. L. Sp. Pl. 784. Mant.408. Hort. Kew. ii. 273, Mill. Ph. ic.
190. t. 285. Stokes’s Bot. Mat. Med. iii. 278. Houttuyn. Lin. Pf. Syst. vii. p.
$79. Mich. Fl. Am. Boreal. i. 817. Pursh. Fl. Am. ii. 389. Muhl. Cat. 57.
Willd. Sp. Pl. ii. p. 1340. Coxe’s Disp. ed. 3d. 374. Dyckman’s Ed. Disp.
416. Barton’s Collections, ed. 3d. par. i. p. 9. par. ii. p. 13. Bart. Comp.
FI. Ph. ii. p. 22.. Bart. Prod. Fi. Ph. p, 61. Juss. 232. Lamarck, Dict. v. 3.
151. Hlustr. t. 500. Lin, Gen. PL. 283. Schreb. 379. Mart. Mill. Dict. v. 2.
Bart. Elem. Bot. par. 3. p. 70.
HYDRASTIS.
Gen. Pl. ed. Schreb. n. 958.
s
Hyprastis. Cal.0. Petala 8. Nectaria 0. Bacca composita acinis monospermis.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Ranunculacee. Classis XIII. Ordo I.
VOL. Il. 3
20 Hydrastis Canadensis.
_main root. It shrinks considerably in drying, often losing two-
thirds ofits bulk. The stem is upright, from eight to twelve inches
high, round and finely pubescent or hairy, especially in the young
state of the plant. It is terminated by two leaves of unequal size,
beyond the smaller of which the peduncle projects, to the length of
three quarters of an inch, and is terminated by a single three-
petalled, white or very pale rose-coloured flower.
The leaves are petiolated, emarginate at the base, palmate, un-
equally serrated, three, four, or five lobed, the lobes having a smaller
lobe on each side. The leaves are at first small during the flores-
cence, but afterwards become much larger, as represented. in the
outline (Fig. 2.) When the plant is quite advanced, they are often
even larger than that figure, The fruit is said to be about the size
of a raspberry, and of a bright red colour, It is a compound berry,
consisting of a number of muricated acini, the points occasioned by
the persistent styles. This plant is in flower in the beginning of
May, but as the petals are fugacious, it is seldom seen in full
florescence.. I have not myself seen it except just after the petals
had fallen; im consequence of which I have been obliged to make
the drawing of the petals, from a specimen in the Muhlenbergian
Herbarium, Hydrastis isnot a very common plant, except westward
of the Allegehany mountains, where it is said to grow in profusion,
It is however sufficiently abundant in the woods near Lancaster, in
Pennsylvania. In the neighbourhood of this city, itis very rare.
Hydrastis Canadensis. 24
have two or three times found it on the Wissahickon creek, near
Germantown. The young plants which appear in midsummer have
but a single leaf. (For the Chemical Analysis, see Appendix.)
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
The medicinal yirtues of Hydrastis, reside in the root. When
dried, it has a strong and somewhat narcotic smell, and it is exceed-
ingly bitter. Hence spirituous infusions of it are used, and recom-
mended by country practitioners, for their tonic effect. It isa com-
mon practice in some parts of our country, particularly in Kentucky.
in the vicinity of the falls of Ohio, to use a cold, strained infusion, in
inflammation of the eyes. This fact was known to. the late Pro-
fessor Barton Who has mentioned it in his “ Collections; and on
his authority it has been introduced into our Dispensatories. This
plant has been described to me by a gentleman of my class from
Kentucky, as being much used in the manner just mentioned, The
commendations which have been bestowed on yellow-root, have,
unfortunately, not been confined, as perhaps they should have been,
to the bitter-tonic. virtues which it indubitably possesses ; buta mere.
supposition, rather inadvertently thrown out by the late Professor
Barton, that “ the Cherokee Indians employ a plant in the cure of
cancer, which is thought to be Hydrastis,” has caused some persons
22 Hydrastis Canadensis.
to attach to its other medicinal qualities, the questionable power of
curing or alleviating cancer; and it is much to be regretted that
Dr. Dyckman, in bis valuable edition of the Edinburg Dispensatory,
has mentioned cancer as one of the diseases for which Hydrastis is
aremedy. It is, I believe, not to be doubted, that there is scarcely
a plant distinguished for any medical powers that is not, in some
part or other of our country, commended by the vulgar, as a cancer-
remedy. The almost irremediate nature of that disease by any
other means than the surgeon’s knife, is the obvious cause of such
perpetual recurrence to a multitude of remedies, which have, in all
probability, no other claim to the name of cancer-remedies, than that
which exists in the imaginations of the credulous persons who em-
ploy them, and whose temerity in the indiscriminate use of active
plants in the treatment of this disease, is unrestrained by that fear,
which knowledge inspires, and uncontrolled by a sense of the dan-
ver of using acrid or irritating applications. I have made some
trials with the pulverised root and spirituous tincture of Hydrastis ;
and these sufficiently justify me in recommending it to the notice of
physicians as a strong tonic bitter. Yet I confess myself unwilling
to believe that the plant is possessed of any properties sufficiently
active, or of such a nature, as to lead to any reasonable expectation
of heing serviceable in cancers ; though it is probable enough that it
is one of the numerous vegetable bases of the many quack medicines
for this disorder.
Hydrastis Canadensis. _ 23
CEcONOMICAL USE.
The root of Hydrastis affords a juice of a brilliant yellow colour.
which has been employed for the purpose of dyeing.
TABLE XXVI.
Fig. 4. Represents a flowering specimen of Hydrastis Canadensis,
about the usual size during florescence.
2, The size of the leaves when the plant is further advanced
and in fruit.
3. A petal.
4. A stamen, a very little magnified.
5. Represents the immature fruit about half advanced towards
perfection, and about one-third of the size of the full
grown berry. Ihave figured it in this imperfect state,
never having seen the mature fruit.
Table 2 7.
*
. e OROBANCHIE VIRGINIANA.
; : { Ganccr-root. Beech-drops. ;
Bes
ce
Boye fee
OROBANCHE VIRGINIANA.
CANCER-ROOT. BEECH DROPS.
Virginian Broom-rape.
Germ. Virginische Sommerwurz. ( Willd.)
Orosancue Virginiana. L. Sp. Pl. 882. Walt. 167. Gron. Virg. 96. Mor. Hist. ox.
s. 12. t. 16. row. 1. f. 9. Stokes’s Mat. Med. iii. p. 408. Schoepf. 101. Coxe’s
Disp. ed. 3d. p. 465. Dyckman’s Ed. Disp. 418. Barton’s Collections, ed. 3d.
par. 2. p. 6. Mich. Fl. Boreali-Am. ii. p. 26. Pursh. Fl. Am. Sep. ii. p. 431.
Nutt. Gen. Am. Pl. ii. p. 60. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 66. Bart. Comp. Fl. Pb. ii.
p. 50. Muhl. Cat. 61. Walt. Carol. 167. Raj. Supp. 595. Houttuyn. Lin.
Pf. Syst. 8. p. 152. Willd. Sp. Pl. tom. iii. par. 1. p. $50. Lin. Gen. 321.
Schreb, 421. :
OROBAN CHE.
Gen. Pl. ed. Schreb. n. 1045.
Cal. 2-4. s, 5-fidus. Cor. ringens. Caps. 1-locularis, 2-valvis, polysperma. Glandula
sub basi germinis.
VOL, Il. +}
26 Orobanche Virginiana.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Pediculares. Classis VIII. Ordo II.
Orogancue, T. L. * Orobanche. Calix 3-bracteatus, nunc tubulosus 5-fidus inzequalis,
nunc subnullus bracteis 2 interioribus latioribus 2-fidis calicem supplentibus,
Corolla tubulosa ventricosa irregularis 2-labiata, supra concava emarginata,
infra reflexa 3-fida ineequalis, Stamina 4 didynama, sub labio superiore. Ger-
men basi glandulosum; stylus 1; stigma 2-lobum. Capsula acuminata 1-locu-
laris 2-valvis polysperma, singula valva medio 2-placentari et seminifera,
seminibus minutissimis. Herbs subcarnosz rufescentes, parasitice plantarum
radicibus innascentes ; radix tuberosa, squamis imbricata ; caulis alterné squa-
mulosus, sepé simplex ; flores bracteati, spicati terminales. Species quedam
scapo nudo 1-floro, flore spathaceo aflines Lathreis 1-floris. Thunbergius
Phelypew nomine describit herbam Orobanche similem, unicaulem, aphyllam,
squamulodsam, dioicam apice florentem, calice 2-partito bracteiformi, corolla
6-partita connivente ciliata pilosa, filamento 1-hypogyno, anthera clavata, ger-
mine supero, stylo 1, stigmate capitate, capsula columnari 7-valvi 7-loculari
polysperma, columna intra fructum centrali: an planta veré corollata, aut
vere l-andra? Juss. Gen. Plant, ed. 1789. p. 101-2.
Gen. Ch. Perianth inferior, of two leaves, mostly divided, lateral, sometimes com-
bined at their base, erect, coloured, permanent. Cor. of one petal, ringent,
withering. Tube bending, ample, inflated. Limb spreading ; its upper lip con-
eave, dilated, notched; lower reflexed, three cleft, uneven at the margin,
notched; its segments various in size and proportion. Nectary a gland, in
front, at the base of the germen. Stam. Filaments four, awl-shaped, conceal-
ed under the upper lip, two of them longest; anthers erect, approximated,
shorter than the corolla, tumid, two-lobed, and acutely awned. Pist. Germen
superior, oblong ; style simple, the length and position of the stamens; stigma
drooping, thick, of two obtuse lobes. Peric. Capsule ovate-oblong, pointed,
of one cell and two valves. Seeds numerous, minute. Receptacles four, linear,
lateral, attached to the valves.
2
Orobanche Virginiana. 27
Ess. Ch, Calix of two natural leaves. Corolla ringent. Capsule of one cell and two
valves. Seeds numerous. A gland under the germen in front. Ency.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Personate.
Classis Didynamia. Ordo Angiospermia. Lin. Syst.
OroBancne Virginiana; caule ramoso, floribus alternis distantibus, corollis deciduis
4-dentatis. Willd. and Pursh.
Stem branched, flowers alternate, distant; corollas deciduous, 4-toothed.
SYNONYMA.
Orowancne caule ramoso, floribus distantibus. Gron.
O. minor Virginiana lignosior, &c. Morris.
Ersracvs Americanus. Nutt.
Errracus Virginianus. Bart. Comp. Fl. Ph.
PHARM.
Ornovancu. Virg. Radix et Herba.
Tue Cancer-root is a very singular, handsome, and interest-
ing parasitic plant. It belongs to a genus which is the ogepayx»
of the Greeks ; so named from cgsges, a vetch, and «7x, to strangle,
or suffocate, because the species of the genus designated by this
name were supposed to starve, or render barren, the different plants
on which they grow. The name of Broom-rape, by which all the
species of the genus are designated in England, was given in conse-
28 Orobanche Virginiana.
quence of the Orobanche having been originally discovered in that
country, to be parasitic on the broom.
The present species is singular in its habit and structure, and in-
teresting, because of the agency there is good reason to suppose it
had in the formation of a celebrated cancer-powder. The whole
plant is somewhat fleshy; it is herbaceous and wholly without ver-
dure, or even any approximation to that common hue of the vegeta-
ble creation. It is frequently altogether of a sickly yellow colour,
but most commonly is of a pale pink, with longitudinal stripes of
dark purple, white and yellow. These stripes are on the ridges of
the stems and branches, all which are finely furrowed. The root is
tuberous, yellow, carnose, covered with short convoluted and mat-
ted fibres on its lower end, and interspersed with squamose projec-
tions towards its junction with the stalk. The stem is glabrous,
erect, about twelve or fifteen inches high, much branched from the
base, and garnished with scattered, short ovate scales instead of
leaves, of which it is entirely destitute. The flowers are numerous,
remote, alternate, and situated just above the cauline scales. The
calix is a short membranaceous cup, with five vertical acute ribs
projecting above, and joined together by their crenate margin. The
acute points of those projections are deep purple, inclining to crow-
black. The corolla of the fertile or fruiting flowers, is small, being
in reality, little else than a four-toothed scale, crowning the large
and rapidly enlarging germ, after the manner of the calyptra of
Orobanche Virginiana. 29
mosses. This corolla, which is represented by the beak-like pro-
cess in (Fig. 5.) is extremely deciduous, owing to the increase in
the size of the germs, which is very rapid, as well as to their oblique
form. The later and infertile flowers, which are numerous, and
situated towards the tops or extremities of the branches, are about
half an inch long, arcuate, tubular, compressed, and bilabiate: the
upper lip is somewhat notched, the lower three-toothed; their ca-
lices are like those of the primary or fertile flowers, but their co-
-rollas are of a cream-white, delicately striped with rose-red, and
have, on close inspection, a very beautiful appearance. ‘The pale
yellow specimens are generally destitute of these long tubular
flowers. The stamens are four in number, rarely exserted, but
have no attachment to the corolla; they are furnished with smooth
filaments, crowned with small globose pubescent anthers. The
style is simple and smooth. The capsule which opens only on one
side, contains an immense number of very minute, ovate, yellowish-
white seeds, resembling coarse meal.
It has been already said, that this is a parasitic plant, and it is
chiefly, if not always found growing on the roots of the Beech,
(Fagus sylvatica, and F. feruginea.) Hence the common name
Beech-drops, from the vulgar notion, that as the plant is found under
the shade of those trees, it is produced by some kind of seed
faliing from them. The vulgar name cancer-root, may have had its
origin in the cancerous like structure, if 1 may so speak, of the root;
30 Orobanche Virginiana.
or perhaps from the use made of the plant in the treatment of
eancers.
Mr. Nuttall says this plant is “ equally indigenous to every part
of North America.’ In the neighbourhood of this city, it is very
abundant, particularly in the woods above the falls of the Schuyl-
kill, on the west side; where it covers the ground for rods together.
It is in full flower in those situations, about the tenth of September,
at which time it should be gathered for medical use. (For Chemical
Analysis, see Appendix. )
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
The cancer-root is now introduced into all our dispensatories, and
has obtained, whether deservedly or not. I am unable from any ex-
perience on the subject to say, not a little reputation as a remedy
for cancer. The chief claim it has to any consideration as an effica-
cious application to cancerous affections, is derived from the cir-
cumstance of its having been collected by Dr. Hugh Martin, in the
neighbourhood of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of mak-
ing his renowned cancer-powder,* a preparation supposed to consist
* See Barton’s Collections, ed. 3d. par. 2. p. 8.
Orobanche Virginiana. Bt
of the white oxyd of arsenic* and this vegetable base. On this subject
the late Professor Barton has made these observations: “ The Oro-
* Since there is so much reason to believe that the subject of this article was really
the vegetable base of this celebrated powder, it may be useful to quote Professor
Rush’s paper on the subject, at length. I do this the more willingly, because the
transactions of the Philosophical Society in which it is published, are not very ac-
cessible to most persons.
An account of the late Dr. Hugh Martin’s Cancer Powder, with brief observations
en cancers. By Benjamin Rush, M. D., &c. &c. ** A few years ago a certain Dr.
Hugh Martin, a surgeon of one of the Pennsylvania regiments stationed at Fort Pitt,
during the latter part of the late war, came to this city, and advertised to cure cancers
with a medicine which he said he had discovered in the woods, in the neighbourhood of
the garrison. As Dr. Martin had once been a pupil of mine, I took the liberty of wait-
ing upon him, and asked him some questions respecting his discovery. His answers
were calculated to make me believe, that his medicine was of a vegetable nature, and
that it was originally an Indian remedy. He shewed me some of the medicine, which
appeared to be the powder of a well-dried root of some kind. Anxious to see the success
of this medicine in cancerous sores, F prevailed upon the doctor to admit me to see him
apply it in two or three cases. TI observed in some instances, he applied a powder to
the parts affected, and in others only touched them with a feather dipped in a liquid
which had a white sediment, and which he made me believe was the vegetable root dif-
fused in water. It gave me great pleasure to witness the efficacy of the doctor’s appli-
cations. In several cancerous ulcers, the cures he performed were complete. Where
the cancers were much connected with the lymphatic system, or accompanied with a
scrophulous habit of body, his medicine always failed, and in some instances did evi-
dent mischief.
32 Orobanche Virginiana.
banche has been supposed by many persons, to have formed a part
of the celebrated cancer-powder of Dr. Hugh Martin, whose success
«« Anxious to discover a medicine that promised relief in even a few cases of cancers,
and supposing that all the caustic vegetables were nearly alike, I applied the phyto-
lacca or poke root, the stramonium, the arum, and one or two others, to foul ulcers,
in hopes of seeing the same effects from them which I had seen from Dr. Martin’s
powder ; but in these I was disappointed. They gave some pain, but performed no
cures, At length I was furnished by a gentleman from Fort Pitt with a powder which
I had no doubt, from a variety of circumstances, was of the same kind as that used by
Dr. Martin. I applied it to a fungous ulcer, but without producing the degrees of
pain, inflammation, or discharge, which I had been accustomed to see from the appli-
cation of Dr. Martin’s powder. After this, I should have suspected that the powder
was not a simple root, had not the doctor continued upon all occasions to assure me
that it was wholly a vegetable preparation.
>
«* In the beginning of the year 1784 the doctor died, and it was generally believed that
his medicine had died with him. A few weeks after his death, I procured from Mr.
Thomas Leiper, one of his administrators, a few ounces of the doctor’s powder, partly
with a view of applying it to a cancerous sore which then offered, and partly with a
view of examining it more minutely than I had been able to do during the doctor’s
life. Upon throwing the powder, which was of a brown colour, upon a piece of white
paper, I perceived distinctly a number of white particles scattered through it. I sus-
pected at first that they were corrosive sublimate; but the usual tests of that metallic
salt soon convinced me that I was mistaken. Recollecting that arsenic was the basis
of most of the celebrated cancer-powders that have been used in the world, I had re-
course to the tests for detecting it. Upon sprinkling a small quantity of the powder
upon some coals of fire, it emitted the garlic smell so perceptibly as to be known by
Orobanche Virginiana. 38
in the management of many cases of this dreadful disease, has been
acknowledged by the regular practitioners of Philadelphia, &c.
several persons whom I called into the room where I made the experiment, and who
knew nothing of the object of my enquiries. After this with some difficulty I picked
out about three or four grains of the white powder, and bound them between two pieces:
of copper, which I threw into the fire. After the copper pieces became red hot, I took
them out of the fire, and when they had cooled, discovered an evident whiteness im-
parted to both of them. One of the pieces afterwards looked like dull silver. These
two tests have generally been thought sufficient to distinguish the presence of arsenic
in any bodies ; but I made use of a third, which has lately been communicated to the
world by Mr. Bergman, and which is supposed to be in all cases infallible.
s¢T infused a small quantity of the powder in a solution of a vegetable alkali in water
for a few hours, and then poured it upon a solution of blue vitriol in water. The colour
of the vitriol was immediately changed to a beautiful green, and afterwards pre-
cipitated.
aoe | shall close this paper with a few remarks upon this powder, and upon the cure of
cancers and foul ulcers of all kinds.
«1, The use of caustics in cancers and foul ulcers is very ancient, and universal. But
I believe arsenic to be the most efficacious of any that has ever been used. It is the
basis of Plunkett’s, and probably of Guy’s well known cancer-powders. ‘Phe great art
of applying it successfully, is to dilute and mix it in such a manner as to mitigate
the violence of its action. Dr. Martin’s composition was happily calculated for this
purpose. It gave less pain than the common or lunar caustic. It excited a moderate
inflammation, which separated the morbid from the sound parts, and promoted a plen-
tiful afflux of humours to the sore during its application. Tt seldom produced an escar 3
hence it insinuated itself into the deepest recesses of the cancers, and frequently sepa-
VOL. Il. 5
34 Orobanche Virginiana.
“As early as 1785, at which time I was a student of medicine, I
was informed, by the people inhabiting the western parts of Penn-
rated these fibres in an unbroken state which are generally called the roots of the
cancer. Upon this account, I think, in an ulcerated cancer it is to be preferred to the
knife. It has no action upon the sound skin. This Dr. Hall proved by confining a
small quantity of it upon his arm for many hours. In those cases where Dr, Martin
used it to extract cancerous or schirrous tumours that were not ulcerated, I have rea-
son to believe that he always broke the skin with Spanish flies. :
‘6 2, The arsenic used by the doctor was the pure white arsenic. I should suppose
from the examination I made of the powder with the eye, that the proportion of ar-
senic to the vegetable powder, could not be more than one-fortieth part of the whole com-
pound. I have reason to think that the doctor employed different vegetable substances
at different times. The vegetable matter with which the arsenic was combined in the
powder which I used in my experiments, was probably nothing more than the powder
of the root and berries of the solanum lethale, or deadly nightshade. As the principal,
and perhaps the only design of the vegetable addition was to blunt the activity of the
arsenic, I should suppose that the same proportion of common wheat flour as the doctor
used of his caustic vegetables, would answer nearly the same purpose. In those cases
where the doctor applied a feather dipped in a liquid to the sore of his patient, I have
no doubt but his phial contained nothing but a weak solution of arsenic in water. This
is no new method of applying arsenic to foul ulcers. Dr. Way of Wilmington, has
spoken in the highest terms to me of a wash for foulnesses on the skin, as well as old
ulcers, prepared by boiling an ounce of white arsenic in two quarts of water to three
pints, and applying it once or twice a day.
©S. I mentioned formerly that Dr. Martin was often unsuccessful in the application
ef his powder. This was occasioned by his using it indiscriminately in all cases. In
“
Orobanche Virginiana. 35
sylvania and Virginia, that this Orobanche formed the principal part,
if not the whole, of Martin’s powder. It was even said, that Martin,
schirrous and cancerous tumours, the knife should always be preferred to the caustic. -
In cancerous ulcers attended with a scrophulous or a bad habit of body, such particu-
larly as have their seat in the neck, in the breasts of females, and in the axillary glands,
it can only protract the patient’s misery. Most of the cancerous sores cured by Dr.
Martin were seated on the nose, or cheeks, or upon the surface or extremities of the
body. It remains yet to discover a cure for cancers that taint the fluids, or infect the
whole lymphatic system. his cure I apprehend must be sought for in diet, or in the
long use of some internal medicine.
«‘ To pronounce a disease incurable, is often to render it so. The intermitting fever,
if left to itself, would probably prove frequently, and perhaps more speedily fatal than
cancers. And as cancerous tumours and sores are often neglected, or treated impro-
perly by injudicious people, from an apprehension that they are incurable, (to which
the frequent advice of physicians « to let them alone,” has no doubt contributed) per-
haps the introduction of arsenic into regular practice as a remedy for cancers, may in-
vite to a more early application to physicians, and thereby prevent the deplorable cases
that have been mentioned, which are often rendered so by delay or unskilful manage-
ment.
«©4, It is not in cancerous sores only that Dr. Martin’s powder has been found to do
service, In sores of all kinds, and from a variety of causes, where they have been at-
tended with fungous flesh or callous edges, I have used the doctor’s powder with ad-
vantage. | sldador
«¢ 1 flatter myself that I shall be excused in giving this detail of a quack medicine,
when the society reflect that it was from the inventions and temerity of quacks, that
physicians have derived some of their most active and useful medicines.” Trans. Amer.
Phil. Soc. vol. 2. p. 212.
36 Orobanche Virginiana,
who had passed some time at Fort Pitt, was known to have collect-
ed the plant for the purpose. I believe it to be a fact sufficiently
established, that the basis, or perhaps rather the most active part,
of Martin’s powder, was the oxyd of arsenic. This has been shown
by a chemical examination of the powder, and by other circum-
stances nearly as decisive. Thus comatose affections, such as are
known to be induced by arsenic, have been induced by the powder
of Martin, even when externally applied in cancerous ulcers. A case
of this kind came under the notice of a physician in Philadelphia.
The patient seemed to fall a victim to the application of the medi-
cine.
“ But the powder of Martin did not consist entirely of the oxyd of
arsenic. This is certain. I believe it to be certain also, that he
combined with the arsenic, a vegetable matter; and from what has
been said, it would seem not entirely improbable, that this vegetable
was the Orobanche Virginiana,
“It may be said, and it is not,impossible, that Martin added the
¥egetable matter merely to disguise the arsenic, reposing, at the.
same time, all his confidence in the arsenic alone. I think it more
probable, however, that the superior efficacy of Martin’s powder,
and of the powders in the hands of other empirical practitioners,
has been, in part, owing to the addition of something to the arsenic.
If there be no foundation for this suspicion, how has it happened,
Orobanche Virginiana. 37
that in the management of cancers, the empirical practitioners have
often succeeded so much better with their medicines than the regu-
lar physicians have done? Both use arsenic. Some of the cancer-
powders, employed by empirics, in Europe, are known to have been
composed, in part, of arsenie and a vegetable matter. The cele-
brated powder of Plumked was made up of arsenic, the root of a
species of Ranunculus, or Crow-foot, and sulphur.
“ Whatever may have been the vegetable which Martin used in
combination with arsenic, it is certain, that the powder of the Oro-
banche, or Cancer-root, has been of great service (in Philadelphia,
&c.) externally applied to obstinate ulcers, some of which had re-
sisted the applications that are commonly made use of in such eases,
It would be well to try the effects of this vegetable in those dreadful
ulcerations, by some writers deemed cancerous, which are too
frequently the consequence of the use of mercury, when it has been
given in large quantity. Cases of the kind I allude to, are recorded
by Dr. Donald Monro, Mr. Adams, in a valuable work, and other
writers. I have had occasion to see some ulcerations of the same
kind in Philadelphia. They often refuse to yield to stimulating or
to mild applications.
“ With the view to encourage further enquiry into the nature and
properties of the Orobanche Virginiana, | may here mention, that
one of the European species of this genus, the Orobanche major, or
38 Orobanche Virginiana.
Greater Broom-rape, is a very powerful astringent, and is said to have
been found useful, externally applied, in cases of ulcers. This I men-
tion on the respectable authority of sir John Floyer. The activity of
the European plant may even be inferred from the fact mentioned
by Schreber, that cattle do not eat it.°’*
It would seem then, that the cancer-root is an active vegetable,
and it would be naturally expected, from the foregoing account of
its effects, to be considerably astringent. This is the fact, and its as-
tringency is very perceptible to the taste in the recent, and in the
dry plant. When fresh, the plant is also bitter and nauseous to the
taste; exsiccation seems to lessen in some degree its sensible pro-
perties. |
Dr. Barton tells us “ it has been celebrated in dysentery.” He
does not mention the manner nor the dose in which it has been ad-
ministered in that complaint; and as I have never administered it
myself internally, I am not prepared to offer any opinion on the
subject. ;
Upon the whole, the cancer-root may be justly said to have a
claim to the attention of physicians and surgeons, for further and
more extensive trials of its virtues than have heretofore been made.
(For the Chemical Analysis, see Appendix. )
* Barton’s Collections, ed. 3d. par. 2. p. 6.
Orobanche Virginiana. 39
TABLE XXVII,
Fig. 14. Represents the upper portion of a flowering specimen of
Orobanche Virginiana, separated from the thickest stem
of No. 2.
2. The root and lower part of the same.
3. A tubular infertile flower, with its calix.
4, Calix, stamens, and pistil.
5. A fertile flower with the gibbous germ full of immature
seeds, situated in the calix.
ene vf ‘” . te, a’
ee > eee
a : = ‘
ARISTOLOCHIA SERPENTARIA.
VIRGINIAN SNAKE-ROOT.
Snakeweed Root. Snake-root Birthwort.
Germ. Die Schlangenosterluzey, die Virginische Schlangen oder Vipernwurzel.—
Arzeneykraftige Osterluzey. ( Willd.)
Dutch. Slangenwortel, Virginische Slangenwortel.
Danish. Slangréd.
Swedish. Ormrot.
French. L’aristoloche serpentaire, vulg. Serpentaire ou Coluvrine de Virginie.
Portugu. &c. Serpentaria de Virginia.
ArisToLocuta serpentaria. L. Sp. Pl. 1363. Mat. Med. 196. Gron. Virg. 140.
Mill. Dict. n. 6. Pluk. Alm. 50. t. 148. f. 5. Catesb. Car, 1. p. 29. t. 29.
Raj. Suppl. 394. Mor. Hist. 3. p. 510. s. 12. t. 17. f. 14. Pluk. Alm. 50.
t.78.f. 1. Willd. Sp. Pl. tom. iv. par. 1. p. 159. Walt. Carol. 223. Woodv.
ii. 291. t. 106. Gron. Virg, ed, Ist. 112. Park. theatr, 420. Ger. by Johns.
848. n. 6. line 16th? Bannister in Phil. Trans. Abr. ii. 644. Alst. 1. 520.
Chalm. 1. 67. 149. 152. 155. 165. 186; ii. 6,115. 167. 208. Hume in Lett.
and Ess. 257. Lew. ii. 364. Mead. Mon. ii. 90. Ploucq. Bibl. 1. 506. 516.
Pott. iii. 158. Quarin. Febr. 36. 69. 92. 121; 3; animad. 176. Smyth Jail Dist.
VOL, II. 6 .
42 Aristolochia serpentaria.
121. Stoll. Med. iii. 109. Underw. 1. 77. 259. Pharm. Edin. Hoven, ac-
count from, in Med. Rev. ii. 363. Lew. Disp. by Dunc. 153. Murr. J. i.
184; ii. 69. Pearson, R. i. 245; ii. 1703 ed. 2d. 328. Valentine, account from,
in Chir. Rey. xi. 240. Pharm. Lond. Berg. 716. Bruce in Lind. Hot Clim.
254. Cartheus. iii. 68. Cold. in Med. Obs. i. 221. Cull. ii. 85. Dale 194.
Douglas, account from, in Med. Ess. iv. 390. Fuller. Pharm. 75. Geoffr. ii.
141. Herm. 36. Hill61. Hillary Barb. 128. 165. Lin. 235. Mead. Mon. i. 33.
46. Mill. Jos.410. Monro, iii. 265; Sold. 258. Murr. i. 348. Robertson Fey.
375. Rutty. 482. Schoepf. 131. Spielm. 297. Stoll. Med. 1. 8. 45. 54.
aph. n. 678. Underw. 1. 94. Vog. 211. Wintringh. in Mead. 1. 223. 230.
Pharm. Austriaco. Prov. 67. ‘Clark. Long Voyag. 175. 261. Hume, in Lett.
and Ess. 229. Jackson Jam. 236. 322. 333. Lempr. ii. 162. 174. 191, 192.
Lind. Hot. Clim. 104; Seam. 202. Moseley 162. 169. 222. Pott iii. 359,
Pringle 274; app. 108. Lind. Seam. 259. Pringle 311. Rush v. 182,
Bisset Ess. 75. Stokes’s Bot. Mat. Med. ii. p. 275. Barton’s Collections, 3d.
ed, Coxe’s Disp. 3d..ed. 201. Thatcher’s Disp. 3d. ed. p. 151. . Pharm.
Mass. Med. Soc. 7. Barton’s Cullen, ii. 59, 60,61. Dyckman’s Edin. Disp.
183. Pursh. Fl. Am. Sep. ii. 596. Mich. Fl. Boreali-Am. ii. 162. Muhl.
Cat. 85. Nutt. Gen. Am. Pl. ii. 199. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 87. Bart. Comp.
Fl. Ph. ii. 146.
’ ARISTOLOCHIA.
Gen. Pl. ed. Schreb. n. 1383.
Nat. Syst. Juss. 4ristolochie. Classis V1. Ordo I.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Sarmentacee.
Artificial Syst. Lin. Classis Gynandria. Ordo Hexandria.
“Cal. none. Cor. 1-petala, ligulata, basi ventricosa. Caps. 6-locularis, polysperma infera.
2
Aristolochia serpentaria. 43
AnisTotocnia, I’. L.* ristoloche. Calix coloratus tubulosus, basi ventricosus, apice
dilatatus, in ligulam extensus, anther 6-subsessiles sub-stigmate. Stylus sub-
nullus; stigma 6-partitum. Capsula 6-gona, 6-locularis. Caulis erectus aut
volubilis ; folia alterna; flores axillares; tubus quorumdam scyphiformis in-
curvus. Juss. Gen. Plant. ed. 1789. p. 73.
Calix none. Corolla of one petal, ligulate, with a ventricose base. Capsule six-
celled, many-seeded, inferior.
Gen. Ch. Cal. none. Cor. Monopetalous, tubular, iriegeliile base swelling, subglo-
bular, tortulose ; tube oblong, hexagon-cylindric ; limb dilated, extended be-
low into along tongue. Stam. Filaments none; anthers six, fastened at the
bottom of the stigmas, four-celled. Pist. Germ oblong, inferior, angular ;
style scarcely any; stigma sub-globular, six-parted, concave. Per. Capsule
large, six-angled, six-celled. Seeds several, depressed, incumbent. Ency.
Ess. Gen. Ch. Stigmas six. Cal. none. Cor. Monopetalous, tongue-shaped, entire.
Caps. six-celled, inferior.
ARISTOLOcHIA serpentaria: foliis cordatis oblongis, acuminatis, caule flexuoso ad-
scendente, pedunculis radicalibus, corollz labio lanceolato. Willd.
Leaves cordate, oblong, acuminate ; stem flexuous, adscendent ; peduncles radi-
cal; lip of the corolla lanceolate. B.
SYNONYMA.
Aristotocura pistolochia, s. serpentaria Virginiana, caule nodoso. Pluk. Catesb.
ArisToLocuia pistolochia, caule nodoso; s. serpentaria Virginiana. Raj.
ArisTotocntia polyrhizos Virginiana, fructus parvo Rees Moris.,
Poxyruizos Virginiana, Park.
PrisroLocuta Virginiana. Ger. by Johns, (the figure is A, sempervirens.)
PisroLocuta, or Serpentaria Virginiana. Bannister.
+4 Aristolochia serpentaria.
SeRPENTARIA Virginiana of some Pharmacopeias and medical writers, as quoted in
the list of references.
SERPENTARIA Virginica. Pharm. Austriaco. prov.
SwakeE-roor of Clark, Hume, Jackson, Lempr., Land, Moseley, Pott, Pringle, &c. &c.
Vireintan Snake-root of Lind. Seam. 259. Pringle, 311. Rush, v..182. Underw.
&c, Ke.
SerrPenrary of Blane.
SNAKEWEED-ROOT of Bisset.
VireRIneE of Chom.
PHARM.
Off. The root.
ARISTOLOCHIE serpentarie Radix. Ed.
SERPENTARIZ Radix. Lond.
SERPENTARLE Virginiane Radix. Dub.
. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS.
Tinctrvura Aristolochiz serpentariz. Edin. Lond. Dub.
Tincrvura Cinchonz composite. Lon. Dub.
ExectrvariuM Opiatum. Edin.
Carapiasma Cumini. Lond.
Tue little plant which is the subject of this article, is well known
in physic, having been long employed by practitioners of the
healing art in many parts of the world, and always witi: the effect
Aristolochia serpentaria. 45
of supporting its reputation as an important, active and useful
medicine. It belongs to a genus containing about forty-one species,
twenty of which are shrubby and indigenous to the tropical regions
of America. One of these is described by Baron Humboldt, as
growing on the borders of Madalena, which produces flowers so
large as to afford hats for children. Several species are endued
with medicinal virtues, but none in so remarkable a degree as the
present one. The Aristolochia rotunda, A. longa, A. Clematitis, were
formerly admitted into the Materia Medica of the British pharma-
copeias; and the last is still retained by the Edinburgh College.
The generic term Aristolochia, (Birthwort,) is derived from a¢:c7es,
and asxz.«, OF Aé¢xzeie, from the supposed use of the plants it comprises,
in disorders attendant on parturition. ‘The species indigenous to
North America, according to Muhlenberg, are four in number, A.
sipho, (broad-leaved Birthwort, or Dutchman’s pipe ;) A. serpentaria,
(snake-root,) A. hirsuta (hairy Birthwort,) and A. sagittata, (arrow-
leaved Birthwort.) On an examination of the specimens of these
species in the Muhlenbergian Herbarium, the serpentaria, hirsuta
and sagittata, appeared very closely allied; and on tasting and
smelling the roots I could perceive no difference in their sensible
properties. The A. hirsuta, is the tomentosa of Mr. Nuttall ; and the
A. sagittata, of which I have given an outline figure of two leaves
from different specimens, (Fig. 6, 7.) is the hastata of Mr. Nuttall.
This is hardly a distinct species, unless there be some well marked
discrepancy in the flowers.
*
46 Aristolochia serpentaria.
The most common species in the United States, is the serpentaria.
It has a perennial root, consisting of very numerous small fibres,
proceeding from a short gibbous caudex. The small roots are of a
yellow ochre colour, and become deep brown or black, on drying.
The thick and knotty portion of the root is brown. The stems are
slender, round, weak, flexuose, from eight to ten inches high, and
jointed at irregular distances. The upper portion is yellowish, the
lower purple.
The leaves are lanceolate-cordate, entire, acuminate, of a yellow.
green colour, and have short petioles. The flowers are solitary, and
consist of a monopetalous, brownish-purple, tubular and irregular
corolla, without any calix. The peduncles which are slender, round,
and jointed, and occasionally garnished with a scale or two, are radi-
cal or nearly so, and so arcuate as to bury the flower for the most part
beneath the earth or dead leaves near the roots. The filaments are
wanting, and the six anthers are attached to the stigma, which is
nearly elobular. The hexagonal capsule is dark brown, and consists of
six cells, which contain several minute flat seeds. This plant flowers
in May and June, and ripens its seeds by the last of September.
It inhabits rich shady woods from New England to Carolina, and
Pursh says it is particularly abundant in the mountains. In the neigh-
bourhood of this city it is not common; it is however found in
some of our woods, both on the east and west side of the Dela-
ware,
Aristolochia serpentaria. 47
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS,
*
“ Snake-root has an aromatic smell, approaching to that of valerian,
but more agreeable, and a warm, bitterish pungent taste, which is not ©
easily concealed or overpowered by a large admixture of other ma-
terials. It gives out its active matter both to water and rectified spirit,
and tinges the former of a deep brown, the latter of an orange co-
lour. Greatest part of its smell and flavour is carried off in evapo-
ration or distillation by both menstrua: along with water there arises,
if the quantity of the root submitted to the operation be lange, a
small portion of pale-coloured essential oil, of a considerable smell,
but no very strong taste, greatest part of the camphorated pungency,
as well as bitterness of the root, remaining in the inspissated extract.
The spirituous extract is stronger than the watery: not so much
from its having lost less in the evaporation, as from its containing
the active parts of the root concentrated into a smaller volume ; its
quantity amounting only to about one-half of that of the other.”’* —
“ Treated with alcohol it affords a bright green tincture, which
is rendered turbid by water; by filtration a small portion of green
matter is separated, but its transparency is not restored, It neither
* Lewis, M. M. p. 602.
48 | Aristolochia serpentaria.
precipitates tannin nor gelatin, nor affects the salts of iron or tinc-
ture of turnsole. When the diluted tincture is distilled, the spirit and —
tincture pass over milky, strongly impregnated with its peculiar
flavour.>* :
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
It is remarkable that the snake-root, which is so deservedly es-
teemed as a medicine, has no reputation among regular practitioners
as a remedy for those affections for which it was first brought
into notice. It is now universally acknowledged to be useful in cer-
tain diseases, for which it was not thought of as a remedy, until a
considerable period subsequent to its introduction into medical prac-
tice.
In 1635, Dr. J. Cornutus published at Paris, a work entitled “ Cana-
densium plantarum, aliarumque nondum editarum, Historia ;?? and in
that book noticed the serpentaria under the name of Radix Sanagroel
Noth Angliz, and extolled it as an effectual remedy for the bites of
the most poisonous serpents.t The ancient and now exploded doc-
* Edin. Disp.
+ M. M. vol. 1. p. 521.
Aristolochia serpentaria. “ 49
trine, that the morbific matter of malignant fevers was analogous to
the poison of serpents, and that its influence on the human system
might be obviated by the same means, led to the employment of the
snake-root in all fevers of a malignant type.* In accordance with
those notions, this plant was considered the most powerful of the me-
dicines termed alexipharmics, or antidotes to poisons.+ But this prac-
tice, originating in the erroneous ideas of the old physicians, was not
without its usefulness. The employment of snake-reot in malignant
fevers, led to its more general use in fevers of another kind; and it
was not long before, by the united consent of the medical world,
this plant was acknowledged to be a powerful diaphoretic stimulant
and tonic; and peculiarly suited, from the antiseptic virtue which it is
generally believed to possess, to such cases of disease as required
powerful remedies endued with such properties. The high authority
of Lind, Huxham, Hillary, Lysons, Monro, Cullen, Rush, and others,
is not wanting to support the claim of serpentaria to a distin-
guished rank in the Materia Medica. It has been recommended to be
used in combination with Peruvian bark, in intermittent and con-
tinued fevers; and the bark has been found more efficacious when
thus used in union with the serpentaria, than when employed alone.t
It should be recollected, that the medical powers of this plant depend
* Woodville Med. Bot. vol. 2. p. 292.
, + Ibid.
+ Woodville and Lysons’ Practical Essays upon Intermitting Fevers, p. 13,
VOL. II. +f
50 a lristolochia serpentaria.
chiefly on an essential oil, which it abundantly yields; and as this,
like most other essential oils, is heating and stimulating, the snake-
root, consequently, cannot be safely administered when the pulse de-
mands blood-letting. But in the secondary stage of fevers, or after
the inflammatory action has subsided or been subdued ; and espe-
cially when the skin is obstinately dry, the paroxysms not termi-
nating by sweat, then the serpentaria may be used with much
advantage. It produces an immediate action on the skin, and is
gently diuretic. During a very extensive practice in Norfolk, Virginia,
in the years 1809 and 1810, while surgeon of the frigate United States,
I had many opportunities of witnessing the efficacy of the serpentaria
in cases similar to those above described, as well as in typhus fever.
The sick lists were daily crowded with cases of fever incident to that
climate, and arising from the exposure of the crew; and at one time
they contained cases of typhus to the daily number of from twenty to
forty for a month or six weeks together. It was my constant practice
to use the serpentaria in those fevers, in various ways, as tincture,
(the officinal,) in substance, and in union with camphor and Peru-
vian bark. In no instance had I reason to be dissatisfied with this
practice, to which I have adhered in a multitude of similar cases
since that time, with the same beneficial effect. While I was attend-
ing physician of the army in the fourth military district, during the
late war, the hospital for recruits, and the lazaretto hospital, where
I also prescribed, were continually crowded with cases of pneumonia
typhoides. Many of the subjects of this disease, were afflicted with
2
Aristolochia serpentaria. St
unusual malignant symptoms, and great tendency to rapid prostra-
tion of the system. Encouraged by my former success, I used the
serpentaria still more extensively, often alone, but most commonly
with camphor, polygala senega*and Peruvian bark. In some in-
stances, the malignity of the disease made rapid strides to dissolu-
tion; but in not a few I had every reason to believe the use of the
snake-root had been of infinite service, particularly in relieving
bilious vomiting. Upon the whole, I am inclined to think that the
serpentaria is entitled to a much more general use in our fevers
with putrid tendency, than is usual. Throughout the United States,
the country practitioners are much more in the habit of prescribing
it in autumnal and other fevers, than the physicians of large cities,
but as their voices are united in favour of the success of that prac-
tice, it would be well if it were more commonly imitated. The anti-
septic virtues of serpentaria have led to its use in gangrene; and it
is often externally applied as a gargle in putrid sore throat. It has
been found serviceable in dyspepsia, and has been known to remove
the disease in a short time, and remarkably to renovate and strength-
en the lost tone of the stomach. It has also been recommended in
exanthematous diseases, when the fever is of the typhoid type, to
support the action of the skin, and keep out the eruption. I have
known it used in tincture, on the borders of York and Elizabeth rivers,
in Virginia, as a prophylactic against agues.
52 Aristolochia serpentaria.
TABLE XXVIII.
¥
Fig. 1. Represents the Aristolochia serpentaria in flower, of the na-
tural and common size. -
#
2. A section of the corolla, with the germ.
3. The capsule.
4. A aiid
5. The reverse of the same.
6. A leaf of the variety in the Muhlenbergian Herbarium.
_ 7. Another leaf from a different specimen in the same.
a
BAPTISIA TINCTORIA.
WILD INDIGO.
Indigo-weed. Horse-fly-weed. Broom.
Germ. Farbende Podalyria. ( Willd.)
Baptista tinctoria. L. Sp. Pl. 534. Mant. 377. Mill. Dict. 3. Lamarck Illustr. Gea.
t. 327. f. 1. Houttuyn. Lin. Pf. Syst. 6. p. 500. Willd. Sp. Pl. tom. ii. par. 1.
_p. 503. a. Murr. 391. Hort. Kew. ii. 554. Gron. Virg. 64. Pluk. Alm. 129;
Phyt. t. 86. f. 2. Ehret. t. 1. f. 3. Schoepf 63. Cutler 473. Mich. Fl. Boreali-
Am. i. 265. Pursh Fl. Am. Sep. i. 308. Nutt. Gen. Am. Pl. i. 281. Muhl. Cat.
42. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 48. Bart. Comp. Fl. Ph. i. 206. Big. Florula Bost.
104. Thacher’s Disp. 3d. ed. 360. Coxe’s Disp. 3d. ed. 567. Brown in Hort.
Kew. vol. 5. p. 5. Bot. Mag. 1099. Woodville Med. Bot. ii. 292. Dyck. Ed.
Disp. $82. Comstock in Eclec. Rep. vol. 6,
Ld
BAPTISIA.
Ventrenant. R. Brown.
Popatyria. Michaux, Lamarck.
Sopnora. Lin.
54 Baptisia tinctoria.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Leguminose. Classis XIV. Ordo XI.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Papilionacee,
Artific, Syst. Lin. Classis Decandria. Ordo Monogynia.
Calix half 4 or 5-cleft, bilabiate. Corolla papilionaceous, petals nearly equal in length ;
~-yexillum laterally reflected. Stamina deciduous. Legume ventricose, pedicellate,
many-seeded.—Brown Hort. Kew. 3. p. 5.
Baptista tinctoria; glaberrima, ramosissima, microphylla; foliis ternatis subsessili-
bus, foliis cuneato-obovatis rotundato-obtusis, stipulis obsoletis oblongis acutis
petiolo multoties brevioribus, racemis spicatis terminalibus; leguminibus ovatis
longo-stipitatis.—Willd. and Pursh.
Very glabrous and much branched, small-leaved; leaves ternate, subsessile,
folioles cuneate-obovate, round, obtuse; stipules obsolete, oblong-acute, much
shorter than the petiole; racemes spiked, terminal; legumes ovate, on long
footstalks.—Bart. Comp. FI. Ph.
SYNONYMA.
Sopnora tinctoria. Sp. Pl. 534,
Popatyria tinctoria. Mich., Lam., and Wild.
PHARM.
Barris tinctoriez, Radix et Herba. .
Tue subject of this article was originally referred by Linnzus to
the extensive genus Sophora. Michaux, Lamarck, Willdenow, and
others, assigned it a place under the genus Podalyria: and more re-
cently it has been placed by Brown and Ventenant, as a species of
Baptisia tinctoria. 55
Baptisia. The latter name is given here, because it more properly
belongs to the genus it designates, than to either of the other two.
This fine, luxuriant, bushy plant is a native of North America, and
is almost universally known by the English name at the head of
this chapter.
The root is perennial, large, ligneous, irregularly shaped, of a
bistre colour, inclining to black externally, and yellowish within.
The radicles proceeding from the main root, which is occasionally
ramified, are numerous, and of a lighter colour than the caudex.
The stalks are two or three feet high, round, yellowish-green,
smooth, and covered with an infinite number of black dots. They
are much ramified, and become more yellow towards their extre-
mities. The leaves are small, seldom larger than the thumb-nail,
ternate, cuneate-cordate, nearly sessile, and of a deep indigo-bluish-
green. The stipules are very minute and evanescent. The flowers
are gamboge-yellow, becoming black, (as indeed the whole plant does
upon drying,) after being plucked, or sometimes even while they re-
main on the bush, after bloom. They are numerous, and situated in
loose spikes on the extremities of the branches, and are supported
by slender peduncles. The seed-vessel is an inflated, oblong pod, of
the same bluish hue as the mature leaves, inclining to crow-black.
The period of flowering is from the beginning of July to the middle
and last of August.
56 Baptisia tinctoria.
Wild indigo is a common plant in the United States, being found
in every state of the union. It promiscuously inhabits a variety of
- situations, though almost always in adry soil. Itseems to prefer the
borders of dry hilly woods, being found in most abundance in such
places ; yet the borders of thickets, and the edges of cultivated fields,
are frequently decorated by the numerous gay flowers of this pretty
plant. It is seldom seen in moist situations ; though on the edges of
low woods in Jersey, and sometimes in the marshy thickets it is met
with : and it must be acknowledged, that in these situations it does not
appear to deteriorate; so that I fancy it possesses a flexible constitu-
tion, enabling it to accommodate itself with facility, to many scites
widely discrepant in the nature and effect of their peculiar soils.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
Both the root and plant may be used for medical purposes. The
former has no smell, but is subacrid and a little nauseous to the taste.
This remark applies only to the bark of the root, which is thick.
Though wild indigo is manifestly an active plant, it has excited,
hitherto, comparatively, little attention among any other than empi-
rical practitioners; but among the latter I am strongly inclined to
suspect itis very generally used. It has happened to me on several
Baptisia tinctoria, 57
occasions during my herborizing excursions, to meet with negroes
and others, collecting large quantities of this plant, which they always
spoke of by the name of wild indigo. My enquiries of these people,
who in every instance, except one, were collecting for other per-
sons, convinced me the search for the plant was for medical purposes,
It does not, however, appear likely, that in any other way than as an
external application, the Baptisia will become useful in medicine. I
am inclined to offer this opinion, from my own trials with it, and
those of other persons. Yet, as an external remedy in certain affec-
tions presently to be mentioned, it is far from being devoid of use-
fulness ; and I here present it to the notice of physicians, as an anti-
septic and sub-astringent plant, capable of correcting the vitiated dis-
charges of foul and gangrenous ulcers ; and checking the progress,
perhaps, of mortification, when used simultaneously with the internal
administration of Peruvian bark. The cathartic and emetic effect
which has occasionally followed its use in large quantities, should, I
think, be disregarded as far as any benefit may be expected from
their effects ; neither do I believe the diaphoretic effect which has
supervened upon the free use of the decoction and infusion, in my
own hands, and in the trials made by others, is entitled to any atten-
tion; because, like its purgative and emetic effect, it only followed
the use of the article, pushed to considerable and inconvenient ex-
tent. It is also slightly stimulant, both in the powder and in the de-
coction of the root, but probably not more so, than any active sub-
stance introduced into the stomach.
VOL. II. 8
58 Baptisia tinctoria.
After premising these cautionary remarks, I shall notice the extent
of the information relative to the medical powers of this plant, as con-
tained in the ouly two publications of any claim to authority, that
have met my eyes; the Dispensatory of Dr. Thacher of Plymouth,
(New Eng.) anda paper by Dr. Comstock, published in the Eclectic
Repertory. To these gentlemen, confessedly, is due the credit of
bringing this plant into notice, which will sufficiently excuse my giv-
ing in their own language the result of their experience. “In the
hands of some physicians,” says Dr. Thacher,“ it is found to operate
in a large dose, with much severity as an emetic and cathartic. But
a weak decoction of the root has frequently been given with the ef-
fect only of a mild laxative. A decoction of the bark of the root has,
it is said, been made known by an empiric experienced in its use, as
a remedy in scarlatina anginosa; and its employment has been ex-
tended in a few instances to typhus or putrid fever with such good
effect as to encourage further trials. An experienced physician con-
siders it as an excellent antiseptic and febrifuge, preferring it in some
fevers to Peruvian bark. As an external application, its antiseptic
qualities ought to be more extensively known. In the form of fomen-
tation or cataplasm it has proved eminently beneficial when applied
to phagedenic and gangrenous ulcers, especially if the decoction be
administered internally at the same time.
“Some experiments have been made with the pulverized root in
doses of twenty to thirty grains, for the purpose of ascertaining its
a
Baptisia tinctoria. 59
emetic and cathartic powers, but without a very favourable result.
It appears to possess valuable antiseptic properties, as an external
application to vitiated ulcers of almost every description; an infu-
sion of the root has surpassed in efficacy any other remedy which I
have ever employed. In aphthous and other ulcers of the mouth,
sore nipples, chronic sore eyes, and in various painful ulcers, dis-
charging acrid matter, the assuaging and healing qualities of an infu-
sion of wild indigo root has answered every expectation in practice.
Impressed with the assurance of its great utility, and solicitous to dif-
fuse an experimental knowledge of it more extensively, I was in-
duced to furnish several medical friends in Boston with the root, to
be used in the marine hospital and in the almshouse, particularly in
cases of syphilitic ulcers; nor has the result disappointed my san-
guine expectations. In their hands it has proved extremely beneficial
when applied to venereal ulcers, mercurial sore mouth, and other
ulcerous affections. In malignant ulcerous sore throat, no opportu-
nity has presented for trial, but the happiest effects are anticipated in
that disease, as well as others of a putrid nature. An ointment may
be made by simmering the fresh root in hogs lard, or in cream, to be
applied to burns and ulcers. The virtues of the root appear to be con-
siderably diminished by long keeping.’’*
Dr. Comstock, of Rhode Island, has had considerable experience
with this article, and he detailst an instance of its successful exhibition,
* Thach. Disp. p. 361.
+ Eclectic Repertory, vol. 6.
60 Baptisia tinctoria.
in a case of inverted uterus. The Baptisia was usedin decoction, as
a local application to the protruded viscus which was nearly gangre-
nous, at the same time that bark was given internally, and he remarks,
“as to the remedy used in this case to stop the progress of gangrene,
(Sophora tinctoria,) I am disposed to consider it a very powerful
antiseptic ; having, besides the above, used it in a great many other
cases wherein mortification was threatened or actually present, with
the most decided benefit, both externally and internally.” The same
gentleman has recently corroborated the above favourable statement
of the antiseptic virtues of this article, in a letter addressed to a gen-
tleman* in our University, who has made this plant the subject of his.
inaugural dissertation. “I would observe,” says Dr. Comstock in
the letter alluded to, “that it is used in cases of mortification, in
fevers supposed to be putrid, and inclining to putrescency, and
in general where antiseptics are indicated. In cases of mortification
it is used as a poultice, applied externally, or in strong decoction as
a fomentation. When used internally, I consider an ounce of the re-
cent root to a pound of boiling water, about a suitable proportion.
The quantity to be administered of this decoction, is half an ounce,
in from four to eight hours. If it proves cathartic, the quantity is to
be diminished, or laudanum to be given with it. I consider it to be the
most powerful antiseptic in use, and it is very frequently resorted to
by the people in this part of the country, and by some practitioners
of medicine.”
* Mr. Weems.
Baptisia tinctoria. 64
The foregoing remarks are unquestionably entitled to much credit.
They are amply sufficient to induce an extensive use of the wild in-
digo for its antiseptic virtues, and I am glad to say, that my own
trials of the decoction as an external application to foul ulcers, fully
corroborates the reports of Drs. Comstock and Thacher.
(ECONOMICAL USES.
The young shoots of this plant, which resemble asparagus in ap-
pearance, have been used in New England as a substitute for it.
Like the young shoots of poke, however, they have occasionally pro-
duced drastic evacuant effects.
The very common practice in the country of placing this plant
about the harness of horses, to kill or drive away flies, has given it
in some places the name of Horse-fly-weed. It is supposed that the
leaves and flowers contain something noxious or deleterious to the
flies, for it is said, I know not with what truth, more effectually to
keep off those insects, than any other plant.
62 Baptisia tinctoria.
TABLE XXIX.
Fig. 1. A flowering twig of Baptisia tinctoria of the size of nature, cull-
ed in the month of August, when the capsules begin to be
formed.
2. The vexillum or banner of the corolla.
3. One of the wings.
* The carina or keel,
5. Calix, stamens, and pistil.
6. Pistil.
”. The calix.
ACORUS CALAMUS.
CALAMUS. SWEET-FLAG.
Germ. Vielleicht der acorus der Alten; Acorus verus Calamus officin.; Acorus odoratus.
Der Kalmus oder Calmus; die wohlriechende Schwertlilie. Gemeina Cala-
mus. ( Willd.)
Dutch. Kalmus.
Dan, Kalmus, Calmus.
Swed. Kalmuss.
Engl. The sweet smelling flag; sweet cane; sweet grass; myrtle-flag; sweet myrtle-
grass.—Galic. Milsean-mara.
oe *
French. L’acore odorant. Lamarck; L’acorus veritable. Bom.
Ital. Acoro, calamo odorato, canna odorifera. *
Span. Acoro calamo. (Im arancel de rentas y diezmos deLano de 1709 wird er calahis
genannt. )
Port. Acoro calamo; canna cheirosa.
Russ. Koren, Ir.
Poln. ‘V'atarskie ziele.
Bohm. Pruskworek, Prasskworec.
64 Acorus calamus.
Hunga. Kalmuss,
Lett. Kalmus sakkenes, karweles, Karili. Fischer.
E/fsin. Kalmusfid, kalmus; So ingwer.
Fran. L’acorus des Indes ou asiatique. Bom.—La bassombe. Lamarck.
Malab. Waembu. Rheed.
Ceylon. Vazumbo,
Jaca. Deryngo.
Japan. Kawa sobu. Thunb.
Bra. Bembi.
Egypt. Cassabel, Bamira.
Hebr. Kneh-boschem.
Acorus Catamus; Ait. Hort. Kew. 1. p.. 474. Roy. Lugd. 6. FI. Suec. 277. 297.
Mat. Med. p. 96. Hall. Helv. n. 1307. Gmel. lib. 1. p. 1. Scop. Carn. n.
426. Pollich. Pal. n, 343. Ludw. ect. t. $4. Kniph. Ceut. 9. n. 5. Hoffm.
Germ. 123. Roth. Germ. i. 153. ii. 398. 2 Acorus vulgaris, Bank. Pin. 34.
~. Hort. Cliff. 137. Blackw. t. 466. Mor. Hist. 3. p. 246. s. 8. t. 13. f. 4.
€
Tabern. 642. g. Acorus verus. Herm. Lugdb. 9. Fl. Zeyl. 132. Garz. 288. c.
Rumph. Amb. 5. p. 178. t. 72. f. 1. Rheed. Mal. 11. p. 99. t. 60. Hout-
tuyn. Lin. Pfl. Syst. 6. p. 354. Smith. Brit. FJ. 373. Engl. Bot. t. 356. os
Suec. n. 297. Sp. Pl. 462. Willd. Sp. Pl. tom. 11. par. 1. p. 199. Woodville
Med. Bot. 472. t. 173. Bot. Arrang. 357. Mich. Fl. Bor. Am. 1.194. Huds.
147. Fl. Dan, t. 1158. Thunb. Japon. 144. Hort. 196. Scop. Carn. n. 426,
Jacq. Vind. 60. Gouan. Hort.18, Hist. ox. s. 8. t. 13. f. 4. Raii. Syn, 437.
Lob. Ady. 29. Dalech. 1618. Clus. Hisp. 521. Lob. Obs. 30, inner fig. and
ic. 1. 57. outer fig. Dod. 249. Repr. in Lob. Obs. 30, inner fig. &c. Ger. by
Johns 62, Clus. Panr. 259. Cop. in Bankn. J. ii. 734, and Park. Theatr.
140, and Repr. in Ger. by Johns 62. Blackst. Haref. 2. Alst. 1. 356. Cutl.
435. Krock.n. 540, Schrod. 525. Ruttey 9. Dale 259. Geoffr. ii. 2. Herm.
8. Hill. 570. Mill. Jos. 12. Pharm. Edin. Lew. Disp. by Dunc. 127. Mur.
J. 1.195. Pearson, R. ii. 165. Pharm. Lond. Cartheus. iii. 60. Heberd.
161. Hufeland, account from, in Med. Rev. ii, 458. Lin. Hot Clim, 314;
Acorus calamus. - 65
Seam. 148. Monro iii. 36; Sold. ii, 128. 186. Moseley 169. Neum. ii. 200.
Percival ii. 275. Ploucq. Bibl. 1. 129. 176. Quarin. Animad, 170. 172. 175.
Spielm, 242. Vog. 189. Pharm. Suec. Berg. 274. Linn. 112. Mur, v. 39.
Schoepf 49. Lew. 1.251. Chom. 180. L. Sp. 463. Herm. Hort. 9. Jour.
1. 259. Boerh. ii. 167. Garzias, ap. Clus. exot. 200. Rheede xi. 99, t. 60.—
Acorus indicus, Geoffr. ii. 5. Herm. 11. 4. asiaticus, Dale 259. 4, verus, Linn.
112. Mur. v. 39. Stokes’s Bot. Mat. Med. ii. 283. .4. calamus, Pursh. FI.
Am. Sep. i.235. Muhl. Cat. 35. Bart. Prod, Fl. Ph. 43; Compend. Fl. Ph.
i. 169. Big. Florula Bost. 83. Pharm. Mass. Med. Soc. 4. Thach. Disp. 3d.
ed. 131. Coxe’s Disp. 3d. ed. 177. Abbot. 77. Eng. Bot. 356. Dyck. Ed.
Disp. 149.
ACORUS.
Gen. Pl. ed. Schreb. n. 586.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Typhi. Classis II. Ordo I.
Nat, Ord. Lin. Piperite.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Heaandria. Ordo Monogynia.
Spadix cylindricus, tectus flosculis. Cor, 6-petale, nude. Stylus 0. Caps. 3-locularis.
Acorvs, T’. L.* Spadix cylindricus flosculis tectus. Calix 6-partitus persistens. Sta-
mina 6, (calici inserta?) Germen 1; Stylus 0; Stigma punctum prominens.
Capsula $-gona 3-sperma, (3-locul. polysp. ex Lin.) Spadix innascens medio
folio ultra producto emulanti spatham planam. Affinior forté juncis, ex Bern.
Jusszo. Juss. Gen. Pl. ed. 1789. p. 25.
Acorvs Calamus; scapo mucrone longissimo foliaceo. Willd.
VOL. Il. 9
66 Acorus calamus.
SYNONYMA.,
TyrHa aromatica, clava rugosa. Moris.
Acorv legitimum. Tabern.
CaLamvs aromaticus, Garz.
AcoruM. Rumph.
Waemser. Rheed.
PHARM.
Acors Calami Radix. Edin.
Catami Radix. Lond.
Acori Radix. Dub.
Caxamus is a fine aromatic, and well-known aquatic plant. It is
truly indigenous to our states, and though not specifically, is slightly
different from the foreign vegetable. It is a species of the genus
Acorus, a term derived from «os, the pupil; having been formerly
esteemed peculiarly beneficial in disorders of the eye. There are
only two described species, the subject of this chapter and the A.
gramineus, which is cultivated in China. Of the A. calamus, European
writers describe two varieties, the vulgaris, European sweet-rush,
sweet-smelling flag or calamus aromaticus, and the verus seu Asi-
aticus, Indian sweet-rush, or calamus aromaticus. The former is said
to be distinguished by “ its long sword-shaped leaves, resembling
those of the flag, but narrower, of a brighter green, and yielding,
when broken, a strong aromatic scent; and also by its oblique cylin-
2
Acorus calamus. 67
dric spike of flowers, proceeding from the side of the stem at the
edge of the leaf, which spike is generally single, sometimes double,
and more rarely triple, or quadruple. It grows naturally on the banks
of rivers, and in shallow standing waters; and is found in many
parts of England; and plentifully in the standing waters and canals
of Holland, and is, besides, common in many parts of Europe.”* The
other variety is called the Indian calamus, and grows not only in
marshy ditches, but in more elevated and dry places in Malabar,
Ceylon, Amboyna, and other parts of the East Indies; it is said to
differ little from the European, except in being a little more tender
and narrow, and of a more hot and pungent taste. The shops are
usually supplied with this article from the Levant: but such roots are
said not to be superior to those of the plant indigenous to England ;
and the same may be said respecting that indigenous to the United
States, a figure of which is here given.
The root is perennial, rugose, horizontal, jointed, somewhat com-
pressed, from half an inch to an inch thick, and from six inches to
two feet long, sending off from the base, a great number of small and
large round fibres, which are sometimes white, and often yellow.
The joints are from half an inch to an inch long. They are white,
tinged by triangular shades of sienna, rose-red and bistre, and often
covered with numerous round elevated spots, occasioned generally
by the insertion of the fibrous portions which have fallen off. From
these joints, and from the point between the lateral union of the roots,
* Edit. Article Acorus. Rees’s Ency.
68 Acorus calamus.
bunches of brown fibres resembling coarse hair, are always found
when the plant has grown in its natural wet situations. The root is
internally of a white spongy texture, and loses nearly one half of
its diameter in exsiccation. Its odour is strong, aromatic, subtle and
pungent, particularly when dried; and its taste very peculiar, being
somewhat saccharine, and agreeably aromatic when first chewed,
but upon mastication becoming bitter, acrid and nauseous. The leaves
are long, sword-shaped, sheathing, especially at the base; and at their
origin from the root are of a red colour mixed with green and white.
The flowers are tesselately arranged on a spadix, coming out
laterally from the middle of a foliaceous scape, which extends a
considerable distance beyond it, so as to have the appearance of a
leaf; and indeed it is generally said by botanists, that the spadix
proceeds from a leaf. This spadix is solitary, from one and a half to
two inches and a half long, something less than half an inch in dia-
meter, cylindrical and attenuated at its base and apex. It is croud-
ed spirally with numerous small greenish-yellow flowers, consisting
of six small concave membranous truncated petals, without any calix,
and stamens varying in number, from six to five and four, which
have thick filaments and double anthers. The germen is gibbous and
without any style, being crowned by a pointed stigma. The capsule
is somewhat oblong, and contains a great number of small thin seeds
in its numerous cells. Its favourite situations are the borders of ri-
vulets, creeks, and small running streams, where it is generally
emerged half its height in the water. In these situations it is found in
company with different species of Iris, and Typha, (cat’s-tail or bull-
Aeorus calamus. 69
rush) all which are indiscriminately known by the common name of
flag. It is often, however, found in swampy meadows, old ditches,
overflowed places, and low moist grounds contiguous to water. It
flowers in May and June, at which time it may readily be distinguish-
ed from the other plants called flags. Calamus is a common inhabitant
of the sites just specified, throughout the United States, and can
seldom be sought for unsuccessfully, at the period of its florescence.
When out of bloom, the smell of the roots, and indeed, of the whole
plant, will readily direct to the spot where it grows.
MEDICINAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.
The root only of calamus is used in medicine. It is carminative
and stomachic, and is used as an ingredient in many bitter infu-
sions. It communicates, however, as has already been remarked,
a nauseous flavour to such infusions. The root, when dried, has a
warm and tolerably strong aromatic smell, and a pungent bitter
taste. It contains an essential oil, to which is probably owing its pe-
culiar taste, and the agreeable flavour it is known to communicate
to the bitter infusions of which it is an ingredient; for the residuum
after distillation has a nauseous flavour dissimilar to calamus, Hoff--
man* obtained only two ounces of the essential oil from fifty pounds
* Observat. Physico-chym. lib. 1. obs. 1.
70 Acorus calamus.
of the root; but Neuman and Cartheuser obtained it in much
greater proportions. It was formerly recommended by a writer of
authority,* in vertigo, proceeding from a vitiated stomach; and in
intermittents, which are said to have been cured by this medicine,
after the bark had failed.; To its reputed efficacy in scorbutic and
hemorrhagic complaints, in the words of Dr. Woodville, “ little cre-
dit should be given, and still less to its supposed elexipharmic
power.’’*{ Calamus also stands as an ingredient in the renowned
mithridate and theriaca, and in the compound powder of arum.
The candied roots are said to be used by the Turks in Constan-
tinople, as a prophylactic against contagion. The preparations of
it enumerated by Murray,@ are, a dry confection of the roots, a
distilled water and oil, a spirituous and aqueous extract, and the
elixir vite Matthioli, and elixir vitrioli Mynsichti. The infusions
in water are strongly imbued with the odour of the root, and
have a moderately warm and very bitter taste. Spirituous tinc-
tures are more warm and pungent than aqueous infusions, but
much less bitter, and have but little smell, and water applied after
spirit gains a considerable bitterness.|| Hence it is evident that water
is a better menstruum than spirit to extract the medical virtues of
* De Mayerne, Prax. Med. p. 59.
+ Act. Societ. Med. Hav. vol. 9. p. 206.
+t Med. Bot.
§ App. Med. 2. 5. p. 39.
|| Lewis, Mat. Med. p. 252. vol. 1.
Acorus calamus. 71
calamus. According to Lewis, on distilling the spirituous tincture,
the distilled spirit has scarcely any smell or taste of the root, and
the extract has very littke smell and much less taste than might be
expected from so warm and pungent a root.*
It may be necessary to remark, that the American variety of cala-
mus does not differ in medical properties from that imported from
Asia and the Levant; or from that indigenous to Europe. While it
will be seen, that this article has a conspicuous rank in all European
works on Materia Medica, it must be confessed it is at present
but little used in this country. Yet the disuse into which it
has, undeseryedly I think, fallen, is more the consequence probably
of that kind of fashion which sways in medicine as in other spheres,
than to any want of confidence in the virtues of the medicine. As
there is no good reason why this confidence should be impaired,
it cannot be improper to urge a recourse to the use of this
article, as extensive as its peculiar virtues merit. In my opi-
nion, it is one of the most efficacious stomachics which the Ma-
teria Medica presents. Dr. Swediaur recommends it either in the
form of extract, (dose half a drachm) or candied, in dyspeptic cases.
My experience enables me to say that, in dyspeptic flatulency, and
other disorders of the stomach, and in colic, it merits the mark.
ed attention of physicians. It has, in my practice, proved ener-
* Lewis, Mat. Med. p. 252. vol. 1.
"2, Acorus calamus.
getically beneficial in that distressing complaint to which sailors are
so frequently subject, from the nature of their life and diet, well
known, particularly to naval surgeons, by the name of wind colic;
given in hot decoctions in the manner of ginger tea, it quickly re-
lieves the distressing swelling of the belly, by the discharge of wind.
it may be chewed by dyspeptic persons, and the juice swallowed,
rejecting the pulp ; and in this manner it proves a pleasant remedy
for indigestion, in the course of a week or two. Ihave on some oc-
casions prescribed the hot infusion to infants labouring under colic,
and with success. In intermittents I have had no experience with it,
neither do I know of any authentic accounts on this point ; though it
has repeatedly been mentioned to me by country people, that
they cure agues by the free use of the tincture. When masticated,.
it stimulates the salivary glands powerfully, producing a copious dis-.
charge of saliva. I have heard of its being used in this manner, with
success, to cure the tooth ach.
Acorus calamus. 73
CEcONOMICAL USES.
Beckstein observes, that the leaves are noxious to insects: and
it is well known that no kind of cattle will eat any part of the
plant. It has been suggested therefore, that the leaves might be
usefully employed in destroying the moths that infest woollen cloths,
and the worms which injure books.* M. Bautroth has used the whole
plant for tanning leather; and it is supposed by Dr. Bohmer, that
the French snuff, called a la violette, receives its peculiar scent from
this root. Throughout the United States, it is used by the country
people as an ingredient in making wine bitters
* Mease’s Edit. Dom. Ency.
VOL. H. 10
74 Acorus calamus.
TABLE XXX.
Fig. 4. Represents the upper portion of the floriferous leaf, support-
ing the spadix of flowers.
2. The root.
(Of the size of nature.)
3. A stamen.
4, A flower.
5. Thestigma and germ.
(Magnified. )
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Ba eteenth a a
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Table 31
Fig. 2.
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Vallance. Kearny Case
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IGIE LIA
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Barton
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—
SPIGELIA MARILANDICA.
CAROLINA PINK-ROOT.
Indian Pink. Pink-root. Worm-grass. Carolina Pink. Unsteetla, of the Cherokee
Indians.
Germ. Nordamerikanische Spigelie. ( Willd.)
SpiceLia Marilandica. Syst. Veg. 166. Hope. Act. Edin. 8. ann, 1771, p. 151. t. 1.
Curt. Mag. 202. L. Sp. Pl. 2. p. 249. Gron. Virg. 142. Rai. Dendr. 32.
Catesb. Car. 2. p. 78. t. 78. Houttuyn Lin. Pfl. Syst. 5. p. 502. Curt. Bot.
Mag. 1. t. 80. Woodville Med. Bot. 2. 288. t. 105, Walt. Fl. Car. 92. Mich.
Fl. Bore. Am. 1. 147. Pursh, Fl. Am. 1. 139. Elliot, Sketch. 1. 286. Gron.
Virg. 30. Chalmers, Diseases S. Car. 1. 67. Pharm, Edin. Bart. 39, repr.
in Phys. Jour. viii, 428. Lew. Disp. by Dunc. 317. Murr. J. 1.378. Home,
F. Clin. 420, Rush, 1. 185. Schoepf, 21. Monro, iii. 270, Pharm. Lond,
Berg. 94. Lew. ii. 377. Vog. 216. Garden in Phys. Ess. iii. 145. Graing.
28. Lining in Phys. Ess. 1. 436. Stok. Bot. Mat. Med. 1. 309. Big. Med.
Bot. 1. 146. Willd. Sp. Pl. tom. 1. par. ii. p. 825. Thacher’s Disp. sd. ed.
362. Coxe’s Disp. sd. ed. 568. Pharm. Mass. Med. Soc. 30. Barton’s
Collections, 3d. ed, par. 1. 38, 39.61. Dyck. Edin. Disp, 385. Nutt. Gen.
Am. PI. ii. 134.
76 Spigelia Marilandica.
SPIGELIA.
Gen. PI, ed. Schreb. n. 272.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Gentianae. Classis VIII. Ordo XIII.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Stellatae, s.
Artificial Syst. Lin. Classis Pentandria. Ordo Monogynia.
Cor. infundibulif. Caps. didyma, 1-locularis, polyspernia.
Spiceia, L.* 4rapabaca, P1.* Calix 5-partitus Corolla infundibuliformis, limbo patens
5-fida equalis. Stamina 5. Germen didymum; stylus 1; stigma i. Capsula
didyma 2-locularis quasi 2-cocca, 4-valvis polysperma seminibus angulo locu-
lorum interiori affixis. Herbe ; folia opposita (floralia in S. Anthelmid 4-verti-
cillata ;) flores terminales bracteolati spicati aut cymosi, in spicis secundi.
Juss. Gen. Plant. ed. 1789. p. 143.
Gen. Ch. Cal. Perianth inferior, of one leaf, deeply five-cleft, pointed, small, perma-
nent. Cor. of one petal, funnel-shaped ; tube much longer than the calix, nar-
rowed towards the base; limb spreading, cloven into five broad pointed seg-
ments. Stam. Filaments five, simple ; anthers simple. Pist. Germen superior,
composed of two globes; style solitary, awl-shaped, the length of the tube ;
stigma simple. Peric. Capsule two-lobed, of two cells, and four valves. Seeds
numerous, very minute,
Ess. Ch. Corolla funnel-shaped. Capsule of two globular cells, with many seeds.
Sprree11a Marilandica: caule tetragono, foliis omnibus oppositis. Willd.
Stem four-sided, leaves all opposite.
SYNONYMA.
SPicEL1a oppositifolia. ‘Stokes.
Spr1geLia Americana. Monro.
Spigelia Marilandica. 77
LontceRra Marilandica spicis terminalibus, &c. Sp. Pl. 2. p. 249. Gron. Virg. 142.
PeRicLYMEN! Virginiani flore coccineo, &c. Rai. dendr, 32.
PHARM.
Off. The root,
Rapix Spigelie Marilandice. Edin.
SpiGeL1z Radix. Lon. Dub.
DESCRIPTIO UBERIOR.
Radix perennis. Caules simplices, erecti, scabri, quadrangulares, rigidi, annui, Folia
opposita, sessilia, ovato-lanceolata, integerrima, glabra, patentia, Spica soli-
taria secunda. Bracteis parvulis oppositis. Calia pentaphyllus: foliolis subu-
latis, persistentibus. Corolla superne 5-angulata, fauce gibba, basi dilatata:
Limbus 5-partitus: laciniis lanceolatis revolutis. Stamina 5, corolla breviora.
Antherae sagittate, conniventes, Germen superum. Stylus teres, inferne ar-
ticulatus parte superiore decidua. Stigma attenuatum. Capsula subrotunda,
didyma: loculis bivalvibus. Semina plurima, angulata, scabra. (¢Willd.)
To a celebrated professor of anatomy and surgery at Padua, Dr.
Adrian Spigelius, the genus, of which a species is now to be particu-
larly described, was dedicated by Linneeus. Spigelius was a distin-
guished botanist* in his day, in consequence of which he was thus
* Dr. Spigelius was a profound anatomist and distinguished surgeon. He was boru
at Brussels in 1578, and died professor of three branches at Padua, whither his fame
78 Spigelia Marilandica.
honoured by the learned Swede. Of this genus there are two other
species besides the Marilandica, and which are natives of Brazil and
Cayenne.
Spigelia Marilandica is a herbaceous plant, from six to twenty
inches high; it has a perennial root, consisting of a multitude of slen-
der fibres, forming together a large bunch, as represented in the
plate (Fig. 2.) They are of a yellow colour when recently remov-
ed from the ground, and become black when dried. From the root
proceed several four-sided, smooth stems of a purplish colour, gar-
nished with two or three small leaves, which are usually of a faded
green or brown colour. The leaves are few, sessile and opposite,
ovate, acuminated, entire and glabrous, except on the margins and
the veins, where they are pubescent. The flowers are borne on a
terminal racemous spike, which leans towards one side, and sup-
ports from four to twelve flowers, situated on short peduncles. The
corolla is funnel-shaped, contracted at the top, and divided into five
acute segments. It is of a beautiful carmine colour externally, ex-
cept towards the base, where it is blended into white; and of an
orange-yellow within. The edges of the corolla segments are slight-
had caused him to be invited, in 1625. The works he published are as follow: « Isa-
goges in Rem. Herbariam Libri duo.” «* De Lumbrico lato Liber, cum notis et ejus-
lem Lumbrici icone.” « De incerto tempore Purtus.” « De Semitertiana Libri
quatuor.”” «« De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri, cum Tabulis 98 ere incisis.” « De
formato Fetu liber singularis, zeneis figuris ornatus.” « Tractus de Arthritide.”
Spigelia Marilandica. 79
ly tinged with green, which is sufficiently conspicuous when they
are reflected. Only one or two of the flowers are expanded at
once. The calix consists of five long and narrow leaves, which
are a little serrated on the margin; it is permanent, and has the
segments reflected when the fruit is mature. The stamens appear
to be short and inserted into the corolla towards the upper part: but
in all the specimens I have examined, they may be said to have
been adnate, and the length of the tube, as represented in Fig. 5.
for the filaments could be distinctly traced down to the base of the
tube, and easily detached. The anthers are oblong and narrow.
Germen superior, ovate; style the length of the corolla, terminated
by a long fringed stigma, projecting beyond it a quarter of an inch.
The capsule is double, two-celled, and contains many seeds.
This plant is a native of the southern states, where it is abundant.
It was formerly found wild near Baltimore, but has been extirpated.
Even in Virginia it is rare, and does not grow wild in any state
north of it. It is, however, cultivated abundantly in some of our
gardens, particularly at Kingsess, where it thrives luxuriantly. From
living specimens obtained thence, I made the drawing, from which
the plate has been engraved. It grows in rich, dry soils, on the bor-
ders of woods, and its time of flowering, according to Mr. Elliot, is
from May to July.
80 Spigelia Marilandica,
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
Carolina pink-root is a medicine of high reputation as a vermi-
fuge. It is said this property was learned from the Cherokee In-
dians; but it was first brought into notice among physicians by Drs.
Garden, Lining, and Chalmers, who have all spoken in strong terms
of its anthelmintic virtue. It also acts powerfully as a cathartic,
but this effect is uncertain, and only follows large doses. As the
plant contains no resin, it yields its principal medicinal virtues to
water. It is accordingly given, most frequently, in infusion and de-
coction. The root is supposed to be more powerful than the plant;
but the usual practice is to employ the whole herb in hot infusion or
decoction. When given in substance, the powdered root alone is
administered. Dr. Garden discovered that the recent plant was
most active, and that when the root became old, it was very consi-
derably impaired. This circumstance should be borne in mind,
whenever it is necessary to employ the plant in medicine; and
when it is known to be old, to make a proportionate allowance for
the deterioration. The pink-root occasionally induces violent nar-
cotic effects, such as dimness of sight, giddiness, dilated pupil, spas-
modic motions in the muscles of the eyes, and even convulsions.
Indeed, Dr. Chalmers attributes the loss of two children, who died
Spigelia Marilandica. 81
in convulsions, to this article. Dr. H. Thompson found large doses of
the root, to produce in his own system, acceleration of the pulse,
flushed face, drowsiness, and stiffness of the eye-lids. Notwithstand-
ing these narcotic effects, which have undoubtedly followed the use
of the plant, it is said that no danger need reasonably be appre-
hended from them: and some eminent physicians even assert, that
they merely indicate the favourable operation of the medicine.
The use of pink-root has not been confined to cases of
worms. Dr. Garden mentioned, in the first letter to Dr. Hope,
which was written about the year 1763, that “its purgative quality
naturally led him to give it in febrile diseases, which seemed to arise
from viscidity of the prime vie; and in these cases it succeeded to
admiration, even when the sick did not void worms.” According
to Dr. Garden, the pink-root never does much good, except when
it operates gently as a purgative. Hence it has become a common
practice to unite calomel or rhubarb with it, in order to ensure the
cathartic effect, which has already been said to be very uncertain.
He recommended that a vomit should be given previously to the
administration of the pink-root; and this practice is often adopt-
ed; and almost universally, a mercurial cathartic is given after the
-pink-root. The late Professor Barton recommends this medicine
in the protracted remitting fever of infants, which is supposed to lay
the foundation of hydrocephalus. Garden, and others, since his
time, have combined the Aristolochia serpentaria with this plant,
VOL, I. 44
82 Spigelia Marilandica.
and it is said, with the effect of counteracting the narcotic power of
the pink-root. Professor Bergelius* has known instances of con-
vulsions cured by Spigelia, without the expulsion of worms; and
Dr. Barton informs us,+ that an extensive use of the plant convinced
him it often affords relief in supposed cases of worms, but in which
none were discharged.
An opinion formerly prevailed that the poisonous effects of Spi-
gelia were not produced by that plant, but by the roots of another,
which was accidentally gathered with it. This idea is not, at this
time, entertained; and the small black fibres which are found among
the roots of the spigelia, and which were supposed to belong to the
deleterious plant, are now known to be nothing else than the decay-
ed roots of the spigelia, from the preceding year, and which, ae-
cording to Mr. Elliot, are particularly visible in the spring, at which
time the pink-root is gathered.
The spigelia is somewhat mucilaginous, and is sweetish or insipid
to the taste. It is therefore readily taken by children. The dose is,
of the dried pulverized root, about fifteen grains or a scruple for a
child between six and eight years of age, and half that quantity for
an infant under six years. To an adult a drachm or two drachms
* Essays and Observations, Physical and Literary, vol. iii. art. x. p. 149.
+ Collections.
2
Spigelia Marilandica. 83
may safely be given. The common mode of administering the in-
fusion is in the proportion of an ounce of the root and plant to a
pound of boiling water, of which from one to three table spoonsful
may be given to a child, and about half a pint to an adult, Ifno
effect follows, the doses may be augmented.
TABLE XXXI.
Fig. 4. Represents a flowering branch of the Spigelia Marilandica, of
its natural size.
2. The lower parts of the stems, with the tuft of fascicled roots.
3. The calix.
4. The pistil.
5. The corolla opened.
.
4
,
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{
ASARUM CANADENSE.
(Wild Ginger.) ; " :
ASARUM CANADENSE.
WILD GINGER.
Indian Ginger. Colts-foot. Canada Snake-root. American Asarabacca. Kidney-
leaved Asarabacca.
Germ. Canadische Haselwurz. (Filld.)
Asarum Canadense. L. Sp. Pl. 633. Hort. Kew. 1. 124. Sal. R. Hort. 344. Gron.
Virg. 72. Corn. 24. t. 25. Park. theatr. 266. Hist. Ox. s. 13. t. 7. f. 4.
Bart. Collect. 26. 48. ed. Sd. par. 1. p. 24.27. Big. Med. Bot. 1. p. 150.
Coxe’s Disp. 3d. ed. 218. Dyck. Ed. Disp. 195.411. Schoepf, 72. Mich.
Fi. Am. Bor. 1. 279. Pursh, Fl. Am. ii. p. 596. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 53.
Comp. Fi. Ph. ii. 146. Muhl. Cat. 47. Nutt. Gen. Am. PI. ii. 200. Willd. Sp,
Pl. tom. ii. par. ii. p. 838. Mill. Dict. n. 2. et Ilustr. Syst. Thunb. Jap. 190.
Salisb. Prod. Chap. Allert. 344. Gron. Virg. 52. Corn. Canad. 24. t. 25.
Houttuyn. Lin, Pf. Syst. 7. p. 5. Walt. Fl. Car. 143.
ASARUM. -
Gen. Pl. ed. Schreb. n. 801.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Aristolochiae. Juss.
Nat. Ord. Sarmentaceae. Lin.
86 Asarum Canadense.
Art. Syst. Lin. Classis Gynandria. Ordo Dodecandria.
Asarum, T. L.* 4saret, Cabaret. Calix urceolatus 3-fidus. Stamina 12 brevia, germini
imposita ; antherz mediis filamentis adnate. Stylus brevis; stigma stellatum
6-partitum. Capsula 6-locularis. Radix tuberosa emittens cauliculos 2-phyllos,
in foliorum dichotomia t-floros. Juss. Gen. Pl. ed. 1789. p. 73.
Gen. Ch. Cal. Perianth one-leafed, bell-shaped, three or four cleft, coriaceous, colour-
ed, permanent; clefts erect, bent in the apex. Cor. none. Stam. Filaments
twelve, subulate, half the length of the calix; anthers oblong, fastened to the
middle partition of the filaments. Pist. Germ. inferior or concealed within the
calix; style cylindric, the length of the stamens; stigma stellate, 6-parted.
Per, Capsule coriaceous, usually six-celled. Seeds several, ovate.
Ess. Gen. Ch. Cal. Three or four cleft, placed on the germ. Cor. none. Capsule coria-
ceous, crowned, Stigma six-cleft. Ency.
Asarnum Canadense; A. foliis lato-reniformibus geminatis, calice lanato, profunde tri-
partito, laciniis sub-lanceolatis reflexis. Mich., Willd., and Pursh.
A pair of broad-reniform leaves ; calix woolly, deeply three-parted; segments
sub-lanceolate, reflexed “
SYNONYMA.
AsaruM latifolium. Salisb.
Asarum foliis sub-cordatis petiolatis. Gron.
Asarum Carolinianum. Walt.
PHARM. .
Asart Canadensis, Radix et Herba.
DESCRIPTIO UBERIOR.
«
Four utrinque minutissime pubescentia. Germen obsolete trigonum. Calix foliolis in-
ferne incurvis cavis, superne plus minus patentibus, planiusculis, marginibus
revolutis, Filamenta vix altitudinem stigmatum. Willd.
Asarum Canadense. 8
Tue root of wild-ginger is long, creeping, horizontal, jointed,
fleshy, and of a light yellowish colour, sending off radicles of the
same hue. It smells powerfully aromatic, and is exceedingly grate-
ful. The stems are very short, bifoliate, and bear a single drooping
flower, in the fork formed by the junction of the two petioles. These
petioles are from six to ten inches long, round, woolly, greenish
above, and flesh-coloured below. The leaves are broad, kidney-
shaped, pubescent above and below, have strong prominent veins
which give the under part a bullated appearance. They are of a
rich, shining light-green above; and pale, almost bluish underneath.
The calix is very woolly, and is divided into three broad, concave,
acuminated segments, with the point reflexed. They are of a deep
brown-purple colour at the inside, and of a dull purple, inclining to
blue-green externally. I have however found many specimens in
which both externally and internally the colour was fine purple.
The stamens are clavate, of unequal length, inserted on the germ,
and are generally about twelve innumber. ‘The anthers are adnate
to the filaments close to the ends, a slender point of the filament pro-
jecting in each stamen beyond the anther. There are three nectarine
filaments or perhaps abortive stamens, inserted near the lacinial di-
visions of the calix. The pistil consists of an inferior, irregularly hex-
agonal germ, and a conical deeply grooved style, (or perhaps six
styles closely connected together,) crowned by six revolute stig-
mas. The flower is generally buried under the earth by its drooping
uncurved hairy peduncle. The geographical range of the wild-ginger,
88 Asarum Canadense.
is from Canada to Carolina, and perhaps further south. It inhabits
rich shady woods, and appears to delight in hilly places. The period
of flowering is from April to May. This plant grows abundantly on
the banks of the Schuylkill, above the falls on the west side, and on
the Wissahickon creek.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
Wild-ginger is nearly allied in its medical properties, to the Aris-
tolochia serpentaria.* The root possesses the same spicy and aro-
matic odour, as the root of that plant; but the Asarum has it more
powerfully, and it is not in this confined to the roots: the petioles,
flowers and even leaves, being endued with the same grateful odour.
The wild-ginger may deservedly be received into the Materia Medica,
as a warm, grateful aromatic stimulant, acting on the skin, when
taken in sufficiently large doses, with tolerable certainty, and as a
powerful errhine, the latter property residing in the leaves. The
emetic power} attributed to the expressed juice of the leaves is
scarcely worth noticing, the dose that is necessary to produce the
* Schoepf informs us that the Asarum Virginicum, (which is nearly allied to the A.
Canadense) was formerly sold in England, for Aristolochia serpentaria; and that the
inhabitants of Carolina called it Heart snake-root.
+ Barton’s Collections.
Asarum Canadense. 89
emesis, being so copious, that it is doubtful whether the effect on the
stomach is not produced by the quantity of crude indigestible mat-
ter. (For the Chemical Analysis, see Appendix.)
CEcoNOMICAL USES.
The roots steeped in fermented wine, produce a grateful drink ;*
and the dried pulverized root is commonly used in many parts of our
country, as a substitute for ginger: hence the common name.
Schoepf says the same epithet has been applied to the Asarum Vir-
ginicum.
* Asari Canadensis radices suaveolentes in petio vino fermentantiimmersz, liquoram
gratiorem reddunt. Cornut.
VOL, UU. 12
90 Asarum Canadense.
TABLE XXXII.
Fig. 4. Represents a specimen of Asarum Canadense in flower, of
its natural size.
2, The calix with the stamens and pistil brought into view.
3. A stamen.
4, The pistil.
arny & Co S€
G
Tanner Vallance
C. Barton
ature by W
®
drawn from
.
oh
rice-wood.)
LAURUS BENZOIN.
SPICE-WOOD.
Allspice-bush. Fever-bush. Wild Allspice. Spice-berry. Fever-wood.
Germ. Benzoin Lorbeer. (Willd.)
Laurus benzoin. L. Sp. Pl. 530. Hort. Cliff. 154. Gron. Virg. 46. Roy. Ludgb. 226.
Fabric. Helmst. 401. Du Roi harbk. 1. p. 354. Mill. Dict. n. 6. Willd. Arb.
165. Wangh. Amer, 87. Comm. Hort. 1, p. 189. t. 97. Pluk. Alm. 42. t. 139.
f. 3. 4. Houttuyn. Lin. Pfl. Syst. 1. p. 534. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. i. p. 276.
Willd. Sp. PL. ii. p. 485. Mich. Fl. Am. Bor, i. p. 243. Bart. Comp. Fl. Ph. t
p- 192. Bartram’s Travels 21. Baylies in Med, Pap. 47. Stokes’s Bot. Mat.
Med. vol. 2. p. 425. Cutler, 440. Hort. Kew. ii.40. Barton’s Collec. 3d. ed.
par. 1. p. 20. par. 2. p. 52. Bart. Prod, Fl. Ph. 48. Nutt. Gen, Am. PI. 1.
259, Big. Florula Bost. p. 97.
LAURUS.
Gen. Pl. ed. Schreb. n. 388.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Lauri. Classis VI. Ordo VI.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Holeraceae.
Artifi. Syst. Lin. Classis Enneandria. Ordo Monogynia.
Cal. 0. Cor. calycina, 6-partita. .Vectarium glandulis tribus, bisetis, germen cingenti-
bus. Filamenta interiora glandulifera. Drupa 1-sperma,—
we
92 Laurus benzoin.
Laurus, T, L.* Laurier. Calix 6-partitus aut 6-fidus equalis Staminum filamenta
12, 6 exteriora fertilia, 6 interiora exterioribus opposita quorum 3 fertilia basi
2-appendiculata aut 2-glandulosa et 3 alterna sterilia. Stigma capitatum. Folia
plerumque integra, in paucis subopposita ; flores in plurimis subpaniculati
axillares aut terminales, in paucis solitarii aut glomerati axillares, quandoque
sexubus abortivis dioici. Calix quorumdam deciduus, ceterorum persistens
cupuleformis integer aut lobatus. Drupa in plurimis Olive aut Ceraso similis,
in L. Persed pyriformis magna. Ex Linnzo stamina quorumdam numero va-
ria, 6-8 in L. Sassafras, 8-14 calice 4-fido in L, Nobili, &c. Confer in vivis.
An genus dividendum ? Juss. Gen. Plant. ed. 1789. p. 80.
Gen. Ch. Cal. none, unless the corolla be taken for such. Cor. in six deep, ovate, point-
ed, concave, erect, alternately external segments. Nectary consisting of tltree-
pointed coloured tubercles, each terminating in two bristles, surrounding the
germen. Stam. Filaments nine, shorter than the corolla, compressed, obtuse,
three in each row ; anthers attached to the edges of each filament, in the upper
part, at each side. There are two globular glands, on a very short stalk, at-
tached to every filament of the innermost row, near its base. Pist. Germen supe-
_ rior, nearly ovate; style simple, of equal thickness throughout, the length of the
stamens ; stigma obtuse, oblique. Peric, Drupa oval, pointed, of one cell, con-
tained within the corolla. Seed. Nut ovate, pointed, with a kernel of the same
shape. Ency.
Laurus benzoin; ramis virgatis sub floratione aphyllis, foliis deciduis, cuneato-ovali-
bus, subtus albicantibus subpubescentibus, floribus glomerato-umbellatis, gem-
mis pedicellisque glabris.—Willd. and Pursh.
Leaves ovate, lanceolate, pubescent underneath; flowers in clustered umbels ;
buds and pedicels glabrous. Bart. Comp. Fl. Ph.
SYNONYMA.
Lavrvs pseudo benzoin. Mich.
Laurus exstivalis. Wangh.
Laurus benzoin. 93
Arnor Virginiana citree vel limonii folio, benzoinum fundens. Comm. Hort.
Arpor Virginiana, pishaminis folio baccata benzoinum redolens. Pluk.
Laurus, sub genus, Euosmos benzoin. Nutt.
PHARM.
Lavurt benz. Cortex et bacca. The bark and berries.
THe term Laurus was the ancient name for the bay-tree, and it
is now continued, not only to designate that tree, but is applied to
a genus, comprising in common with it, a great number of fine aro-
matic shrubs and arborescent vegetables.
The laurus benzoin is one of these, and it is, without doubt, one
of the finest aromatic shrubs of our country. It is polygamous, and
rises to the height of from four to ten feet, and is very bushy. The
stems are of an ash colour, often spotted with white dots. The
flowers appear early in April or the last of March, long before
the leaves put out. About the first week of April the leaves are about
as far advanced as represented in Fig. 4, of the plate. They after-
wards become the size of those represented in Figs. 2, and 3. ‘They
are cuneate-oboval, nearly pubescent beneath, and always paler
than above. ity J
The greenish-yellow flowers appear in small umbels, containing
each from two to four flowers; the pedicels in these umbels are
94: Laurus benzoin.
smooth. The calix is hexaphyllous; the leaflets oblong, thin, costate,
with globular olearia. There are generally nine stamens, which have
two of the three outer filaments simple, the third with a pedun-
culate gland at the base ; the three at the base of the three other
leaflets, with two pedunculate glands at the base ; the three inner
with glands at the base; pistil terete and attenuate. The flowers are
succeeded by shining, oval, scarlet or crimson berries, which are
ripe in the last of September. They possess an aromatic and grateful
taste, and according to Dr. Drake, are used for medicinal purposes.
The spice-wood inhabits low and moist places, and damp shady
woods. It is partial to the borders of streams and rivulets, and in
such places seems to thrive better than elsewhere. It is found from
the most northerly state of our union to Florida; and is every where
well-known by one or other of the vulgar names at the head of this
chapter.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
The medical virtues of spice-wood, are not inconsiderable. The
bark is highly aromatic, stimulant and tonic, and is extensively used
in the country, I have been informed, with much success, in in-
termittent fevers. It is given generally in decoction, but not unfre-
quently in powder. The late Dr. Barton informs us, that a watery
infusion of the twigs has often been given to children with a view to
Laurus benzoin. 95
dislodge worms, and that it is deemed an efficacious medicine in such
cases. Of this I know nothing myself; but as the tea made by in-
fusing the young branches is very pleasant, it would certainly be
well to try it as a vermifuge. The Indians are said to esteem the
spice-wood highly as a medicine; in what complaints they use it
I have not been able satisfactorily to learn. Dr. Drake* mentions
that the oil of the berries is used medicinally, and that it is sti-
mulant. The dose of the infusion or decoction is about a pint in
twenty-four hours. When the powdered bark is used, one drachm
is given two or three times a day, in a glass of wine. I have known
the flowers used for making tea, in the manner that sassafras blos-
soms are, and taken as a gentle refreshing stimulant.
CEcONOMICAL USE.
The berries partake of the same spicy flavour which distinguishes
the bark of the shrub; and we are informed, that during the late
American war, the inhabitants of the United States used them dried
and powdered as a substitute for allspice.t
* Picture of Cincinnati.
} Barton’s Collections.
6 Laurus benzoin.
TABLE XXXiil.
Fig. 4. Represents a flowering twig of the Laurus benzoin, with the
leaves just coming out. The earliest flowers appear before
there are any leaves on the shrub.
2. A specimen of the plant in fruit, culled on the tenth of Sep--
tember.
3. An outline of one of the largest leaves.
4. A group of flowers with the four bractes.
5. An expanded flower separated.
6. A seed,
L
Drawn trom Nature b RPE Barton,
COIPTIS TIRIF OMIA .
(Gold - Thread.)
2 Lt
isitsiatibsiisiasaneaiis oe eat ea a
Tanner: Vallance Hearny. & Co Se,
COPTIS TRIFOLIA.
GOLD-THREAD.
Mouth-root,
Germ. Kleinste Christwurz. (Wiild.)
Cortis trifolia. Lin. Sp. Pl. 784. Am. Acad. v. 2. p. 356. t. 4. f. 18. Mich. Fl. Bo-
reali-Amer, 1. 325. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. ii. 390. Salisb. in Linn. Trans. viii.
305. Sp. Pl. Willd. ii. 1335. Kalm’s Travels, iii. 379. Big. Med. Bot. 1. p.
64. Lepech. Iter. 1. 190. Géder. Fl. Dan. t. 566. Pallas, Iter. iii. 34. Big.
Florula Bost. p. 134. Thach. Disp. 3d. ed. p. 235. Cutler, Amer. Acad. 1:
457. Dyck. Ed. Disp. 249.
COPTIS.
Salisbury.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Ranunculaceae.
Nat. Ord. Linn. Multisiliquae.
Art. Syst. Lin. Classis Polyandria. Ordo Monogynia.
Calix none. Petals five or six, caducous ; nectaries five or six, cucullate ; capsules
from five to eight, pedicelled, beaked, many-seeded.
Coptis trifolia; leaves ternate, scape one-flowered.
VOL. i. 13
98 Coptis trifolia.
SYNONYMA.
Anemone Groénlandica, Fl. Dan. T. DLXVt.
Hewpexorts trifolius. L. and others.
HELLEBORUs scapo unifloro. Am. Acad.
Nicexia, Cutler.
PHARM.
Coprts trifolia. Radix. The root.
DESCRIPTIO UBERIOR.
Raprx fibrosa, filiformis, repens, perennis. Folia radicalia ternata ; foliolis sessilibus,
obverse ovatis, extrorsum magis gibbis, argute serratis, rigidiusculis, glabris,
venosis. Petioli filiformes, folio longiores. Scapus solitarius, filiformis, petiolis
duplo Jongior, instructus bractea subovata. Flos solitarius, magnitudine floris
Trientalis. Corollae petala quinque, ovata, basi in ungues attenuata, alba, stri-
ata. Vectaria petalis sepius plura, lutea, limbo ovata, basi attenuata in cylin-
drum perforatum, petalis dimidio breviora. Staminum filamenta capillaria,
alba, plurima, nectariis vix longiora. .dntherae albze, subrotunds, erectz.
Pistilli germina quinque compressa. Styli filiformes, longitudine staminum,
recurvi. Stigmata obtusa, Pericarpiwm capsulis quinque, acuminatis, com-
pressis, coadunatis margine interiore, Semina plurima. Minima est hec planta
in suo genere, attamen spectabilis; inter Flores Sibiriz speciosos et maxime
singulares est, et jam quedam Fumaria bulbosis aflinis, floribus condecorata in
suo genere maximis. Amen. Acad. ps 355.
2
Coptis trifolia. 99
Tuts pretty little evergreen plant, was referred by all botanists
to the genus helleborus, until Mr. Salisbury separated it, on the
characters which are given above. He associated it with another
plant, having twice ternate leaves and green flowers, found by
Mr. Menzies on the north-west coast of America. To the genus he
gave the name of coptis, from +77, to cut; and botanists now uni-
versally adopt his name and generic characters. The species which
is the subject of this chapter, is a native of Siberia, Iceland, Labrador,
and the northern parts of the United States.
The roots are perennial, about the size of bobbin, creeping, fasci-
cled, and of a bright-yellow colour, which gives them the name of
gold-thread. The stems are slender, round, and proceed from
sheathing, ovate, sharp-pointed squamous sheaths. The leaves
are ternate, coriaceous, smooth, and of a deep, shining evergreen,
conspicuously and delicately veined. They are supported by long
and short, round, slender petioles. The folioles are cuneate-obo-
vate, with acuminate crenatures on the margin. The scapes are
one-flowered, slender, terete, and garnished, with a mucronate scale-
like bract at some distance below the flower. The corolla consists
of from five to seven oblong, greenish-white, concave petals. There
are five or six clavate fistulous nectaries, which are tinged with
yellow at the top. The stamens are numerous, consisting of delicate
white filaments and globose anthers. Germs oblong, flattened. The
capsules are oblong, rostrate, and pedicellate, containing many seeds
100 Coptis trifolia.
attached obliquely across their sides, to the inside. This little alpine
evergreen is restricted to Canada and some of our most northerly
states.* It is found in sphagnous swamps, and in cold situations most
abundantly, flowering in the month of May.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
The root of gold-thread is a pure and powerful bitter, devoid of
any thing like astringency, and yielding its virtues readily to watery
menstrua, though its bitterness is equally well given out to spirit. It is
used in both ways, in the New England states, where, according to
Dr. Thacher, it has long been a popular remedy for apthous affections
of the mouth in children; and the doctor says, “ experience has evinc-
ed its beneficial effects.*> He informs us, also, that it is considerably
employed as a stomachic bitter in debility of the stomach and loss of
appetite. Professor Bigelow states, that larger quantities of this article
are sold in the druggists’ shops of Boston, than of almost any other
indigenous production; and that the demand arises from its reputed
efficacy as a local application in apthous and other ulcerations of the
mouth. He thinks, however, that its reputation in these cases is
* My specimens were brought to me from New England, in 1814, by a physician of
this city, and a large quantity of the root, which had belonged to the late Professor
Barton, fell into my hands after his death.
Coptis trifolia. 104
wholly unmerited, and attributes the benefit which has attended its
use, to other stimulating and astringent articles which have been
combined with it. I have had no further experience with this plant,
than simply in a few trials to ascertain its tonic and stomachic vir-
tues ; and in these, the results fully confirmed the promise which the
sensible properties of the root held out. It is one of the purest bitters
I am a¢quainted with, and though not so intense as quassia, is some-
what similar to it. It may be safely recommended for its tonic and
bitter powers.
102 Coptis trifolia.
TABLE XXXIV.
Fig. 1. Coptis trifolia, of its natural size, in flower, and with the last
year’s fruit on.
2. A petal. :
3. A pistil.
4, A nectary. . + All greatly magnified.
3. Stamen.
6. Capsule opened, shewing the seeds. |
7. The entire capsule, (still more magnified.)
N. B. The organs of the plant as above, viz. Figs. 3, 4, and 5,
are copied from the Fl. Dan., my specimens not being sufficient to
enable me to draw them from the American plant.
i
army 6 COSC.
aod es
48
hy
Low Aid,
my ae
ei 6
FRASERA WALTERL
AMERICAN COLUMBO, COLUMBO.
Columbia. Indian Lettuce. Columbo-root. Marietta Columbo. Wild Columbo.
FRAsERA Walteri. Walter, Fl. Car. 88. Mich. Fl. Bor. Am. 1. p. 96. Pursh, FI.
Am. Sep. 1. p. 101. Drake’s Pict. Cin. p. 85. Nutt. Gen.» Am. Pl. 1. p.
102. Bart. Collec. ed. 3d. par. 2. p. 16. Bart. Fl. Virg. 49. Gmelin, Syst. Nat.
ii. p. 215. 256. Persoon, Syn, Plant. 1, p. 137. Bartram’s Travels, p. 42.
Med. Rep. New York, vol. 15. Elliot. Sket. vol. 1. p. 205.
FRASERA.
Walter. Michaux.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Ceynaner.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Tetrandria. Ordo Monogynia.
Cal. profunde 4-partitus, patens, laciniis lanceolatis, acutis. Cor. calyce multo major,
profundissime 4-partita, patens : laciniis ovalibus, ob utrumque marginem ver-
sus summitatem incumbenti-inflexuam quasi acuminatis. Glandula conspicua,
i
10-4 Frasera Walteri.
orbiculata, convexo-protuberans et eleganter barbata in parte laciniarum me-
dia. Stam. 4, corolla breviora eique alterna, filamenta subulata; anthere
subovate-oblonge, inferne subsemibifide, demum reflexe. Pist. ovarium ob-
longo-ovatum, compressum, sensim desinens in stylum ipsius circiter longitu-
dine: stigmata 2, crassa, glandulosa, divergentia. Caps. majuscula, ovalis,
yalde compressa, ambitu submarginata, subcartilaginea, rudimento styli mu-
cronata; 1-locularis, margine 2-valvis. Semina pauca, (8-12) elliptica, plano-
compressa, membranaceo-marginata; ad latera utriusque suture immediate
longitudinaliter per marginem alterum ita adnexa, ut sibi invicem imbricatim
incumbant.
Obs. Genus gentianeum ; fructu fere Menyanruis Vymphoidis.
| Mich. Flor. Boreali-Amer. p. 96.
Calix deeply 4-parted. Corolia 4-parted, spreading ; segments oval, with a bearded
orbicular gland in the middle of each. Capsule compressed, partly marginated,
: i-celled. Seeds few, (8 to 12) imbricated, large, elliptic, with a membra-
naceous margin.
SYNONYMA.
Frasera Carolinensis. Walter.
Frasera officinalis. Bart. Fl. Virg.
_ Frasera verticillata. Drake, and others.
PHARM.
Fraserz Walteri. Radix. he root.
Frasera Walteri. 105
Tue superb plant which is the subject of this chapter, was dedi-
cated by Walter to Mr. John Fraser,* and is the only species of the
genus known at present. The root is biennial, large, tuberous and
fleshy, and of a yellow colour. The stalk is strong, succulent, and
fleshy, from eight to ten feet high, nearly square and furrowed, send-
ing of whorls of large, deep-green glabrous leaves, at intervals of six
or eight inches, to about half its length, and smaller leaves and
flowering branches in whorls to the top. “ The lower leaves are ob-
long, lanceolate, entire, membranous, delicately veined, from six to
eight inches long, and from two to three wide ; upper leaves narrow,
lanceolate, small.’’+ | ;
The leaves according to Pursh, Mr. Elliot, and the late Dr. Bar-
ton,t are occasionally opposite. They generally grow to the number
of four or eight together, are lanceolate or sometimes oblong,
ovate, and acute. The flowers are aggregated in clusters; the
segments of the corolla are lanceolate, greenish-yellow, or cream-
white, finely speckled with purple, and having a pubescent or ciliated
oval gland in the middle of each petal, which is green internally,
and brown on the edges. Those glands are conspicuous on both
sides of the petals, as represented in the front and back views of the
* An indefatigable nursery and seedsman, to whose exertions the gardens of Eng-
land, and particularly of London, are indebted for many rare American plants,
{ Elliot. + Flora Virg.
VOL. I. 14
106 Frasera Walteri.
two expanded flowers in the plate. The peduncles are from one
to three inches long, one-flowered; calacine segments lanceolate,
shorter than the corolla, Filaments four, shorter than the corolla,
attached to the base, and alternating with the segments of the co-
rolla. Anthers oblong, incumbent. Germ superior, ovate, tapering
above. Style only the attenuated germ, bifid. Stigmas two, diverging.
The capsules are compressed, somewhat margined, one-celled, and
contain about eight or twelve diaphanous flat seeds, with a membra-
naccous margin, and are imbricately attached to the attenuate mar-
gins of the capsule. These capsules (in the dried specimens) are of
the colour represented in the plate, (Fig. 2.) The habitat of this plant
is variously described by different botanists. Michaux, it appears, has
observed it in wet or swampy places “in Paludosis Caroline.”
Pursh says it is found “in the swamps of Lower Carolina, and on
the borders of the lakes of Pennsylvania and New York.” Mr.
Nuttall says, “in the dry and open woods of western Pennsylvania,
and New York, in certain localities it is abundant: and Dr. William
Short, in a letter* to me, says it grows inthe barrens or prairies of
* The following is an extract from the letter of this gentleman, which will, I am sure,
be interesting in this place. «* The flowers of the Frasera are by no means showy
at-a distance, but exquisitely delicate upon minute examination.
« The Columbo, for so it is universally denominated here, grows abundantly in the
country in which I reside, particularly those portions of it called barrens or prairies,
where, from the annual passage of fires over them, the forest growth is stunted and
sparse, but affording in the summer, rank and luxuriant growths of annual plants, and
2
Frasera Walteri. 107
Kentucky. ‘The late Dr. Barton observed it in 1797, growing in
great abundance, on the west side of the Jenisseia river, in the state
of New York. It is said to be common in some parts of Upper
Canada; but the states of Kentucky, and Tennessee, yield it in pro-
fusion. From the abundance which grows in the neighbourhood of
Marietta, in Ohio, it has received the name of Marietta Columbo.
According to Walter, Michaux, Mr. William Bartram, and Mr. Elliot,
it grows in Carolina and Georgia. The latter gentleman mentions
that it has been found in Fairfield district, and in Abbeville.
The credit of the discovery of this fine and interesting plant,
seems to be due to Mr. William Bartram,* of Kingsess gardens. He
some shrubs. Here among the hazle, and different species of Sumac, the Frasera rears
its conical head in all its grandeur, frequently attaining the height of eight and ten
feet—in other parts of the country, not so particularly congenial to its growth, I have
seen it of much smaller size.”
* Mr. Bartram is still living, though aged and infirm. He resides at Kingsess gar-
dens, where he hallows by his venerable appearance, and graces by his instructive
converse and simple manners, the seat founded and supported by his family. He is
one of the most unambitious lovers of nature I have ever seen. With a mind keen,
penetrating and vivacious, he applied himself in early life, to the study of botany,
and indeed natural history generally ; but more particularly devoted himself to the study
of the manners and habits of our birds, and other interesting points of inquiry con-
nected with their history and migrations. In his travels into Florida, he relates these
in all the fervour of a real lover of nature’s works, and with such innocent enthusiasm,
that we cannot fail to love and venerate the author. He ranks as a botanist in a very
high grade. All his observations have been communicated to others, for the good of
108 Frasera Walteri.
describes it under the name of Indian Lettuce.* The time of flower-.
ing of the columbo, is in May, June, and July.
From a variation in the number of parts of the flower and other
circumstances, it is asserted by the editor of the article Frasera, in
Rees’s Encyclopedia, to be the Swertia difformis, of Linnzeus ; and
Pursh remarks that the genus is so nearly allied to Swertia, that
without seeing the fruit, the plant might readily be mistaken for a
species of that genus. It is said by Dr. Barton,t that “flowers with
five stamens are very frequently met with, and six stamens occasion-
ally occur.’ In the specimens in my possession, for which I am in-
debted to Dr. Drake, of Cincinnati, the stamens are uniformly four.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.
The following is an account of the experiments made with the root
by Dr. Daniel Drake, of Cincinnati, with a view to ascertain the com-
parative qualities of the Frasera, and the officinal columbo. “This root,
(F. Walteri) gives out its bitterness both to aqueous and alcoholic
menstrua, but more fully to the latter; the reverse of which is the
science; and to him, the late Professor Barton, Dr. Muhlenberg, Wilson, the orni-
thologist, and many others, have been largely indebted for much useful information, _
* See his Travels, p. 42. + Fl. Virg.
Frasera Walteri. 109
case with the columbo. Its spirituous tincture suffers decomposition
upon the addition of water, indicating that it contains resin, which
the columbo does not, at least in any considerable quantity ; and the
addition of a decoction or tincture of galls to its watery or spirituous
infusion, causes no precipitate of cinchonin, one of the chief consti-
tuents of columbo.”’*. (For further chemical results, see Appendix.)
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
The root of Frasera is a pure, powerful and excellent bitter, desti-
tute of aroma. It is said to be not at all inferior to the gentian or
columbo of the shops, and is equal to any of the common tonic bit-
ters used in medicine. In its recent state it is said to possess consi-
derable emetic and cathartic powers.+ I have been informed that it is
extensively used in the western states, and that it supports its repu-
tation wherever it is generally known. I have never used tlie plant
in any way, and consequently can say nothing from experience on
the subject. The late Proféssor Barton shewed me some slices of the
dried root several years ago, but the quantity he possessed was not
sufficient to enable him to make any extensive trials with’ it. It may
be used in powder, decoction, infusion, and tincture.
* Picture of Cincinnati. + Ibid.
440 Frasera Walteri.
TABLE XXXy.
Fig. 4. Represents a whorl of leaves, and a flowering branch of the
Frasera Walteri.
2. The capsules.
3. A seed,
(All the size of nature.)
N. B. The drawing from which the plate was engraved, was made
from good dried specimens, which I received from Dr. Drake ; the
colouring of the flowers is imitated from a sketch made in a letter,
by Dr. William Short, of Kentucky, in the faithfulness of whose pencil
I have much reliance. The uncoloured whorl of leaves is an exact
copy of Dr. Short’s outline sketch, made with a pen.
Serpe EE
4
4
i
4
i
i
*
Bon Fon Man GWEC
POLYGALA SENEKA.
(Seneka Snake-ro ot.)
POLYGALA SENEKA.
SENEKA SNAKE-ROOT.
Rattlesnake-root. Senega Rattlesnake-root. Officinal Milk-wort, or Rattlesnake-
root, in England.
Germ. Giftwiderstchende Polygala. (Willd.) Senegawurz. Klapper-schlangenwurz.
French. Polygale de Virginie; Seneka; Racine de serpent a sonnettes.
Potyeaa seneka. L. Sp. Pl. 990. Bot. Mag. t. 1051. Mill. Ph. Dict. ed. vii. t. 5.
Repr. in ed. viii. at Art. Polygala. Hort. Kew. iii. 6. Walt. 178. Wood.
Med. Bot. 253. t. 93. Thornt. 629. Gron. Virg. ed. 1.80. L. Am. ii, 139.
t. 2. at p. 141. f. 2. Pharm. Lond. Archer, account from, in Phys.-Jour.
i. 83. 106. Chir. Rev. vi. 194, and Underw. 1. 336, Bang. in Act. Haun. 1,
20. 111, 112. 257. Callisen, ib. 73. Chalm. ii. 115. Darw. ii. 392, and 398.
Bree, 258. Cull. ii. 532. Lem. Duham. and Juss. account from, in Med. Ess.
vi. 877. Spielm. 581. Geoffr. ii. 137. Haen. i. 357. Hill. 630. Lew. ii. 240.
Pharm. Lond. Noviss. Mackenzie, in Med. Obs. ii. 288. Monro, iii. 257.
Perciv. T. in Med. Jour. iv. 67. Repr. in Perciv. T. ii. 895. Und. 1. 338.
Bang. in Act. Haun. 1. 239, 254, 255; ii. 41. 51. Berg. 595. Carth. ii. 435.
Linn. 200. Murr. ii. 436. Ploucq. Bibl. 1. 661. Schoepf, 110. Vog. 226.
Pharm. Edin. Stoke. Bot, Mat. Med. iii. 500. Bart. Collec. 3d. ed, par. 1. p.
112 Polygala seneka.
26. 32. 34, 56. par. 2. p. 37. Cassel, account from, in Med. Rev. iv. 44. Lew.
Disp. by Dunc. 284. Massie, account from, in Chir. Rev. xiv. 63. Murr. J.i. 331;
ii. 46. Pears. R. i. 152. 230. 256. Arch. account from, in Ann. Med. iv. 511,
and Med. Rev. iii. 426. Scot. J. ib. 513. Lew. Juss. and Bouvart, in Ac. Soc.
abr. by Souther. iii. 297. Tenant. Disp. of Virginia, and account from, in
Med. Ess. vi. 376. Graing. 66. Rush, v. 176. Dyck. Ed. Disp. p. 348.
Coxe’s Disp. 3d: ed. 500. Thach. Disp. Sd. ed. p. 319. Barton’s Cull. ii. 370,
390. 411. Muhl. Cat. 66. Mich. Fl. Boreali-Am. ii. 53. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep.
ii. 464, Nutt. Gen. Am. Pl. ii. 87. Willd. Sp. Pl. 3. p. 894. Raj. Suppl. 640.
Houttuyn. Lin. Pfl. Syst. 8. p. 490. Drake’s Pict. Cin. p. 87. Chapman’s
Flement. Ther. and Mat. Med. yol. 1. p.270, Pharm. Mass. Med. Soc, 26.
POLYGALA.
Gen. Pl. ed. Schreb. n. 1154.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Pediculares. Classis VIII. Ordo II.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Lomeniaceae. :
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Diadelphia. Ordo Octandria.
Cal. 5-phylius; foliolis duobus aleformibus, coloratis. Legumen obcordatum, bilocu-
Tare. >
ree T. L.* Calix 5-partitus, laciniis 2-longé majoribus aleformibus szpé co-
loratis. Corcila convoluta in tubum supra fissum, limbo 2-labiatum, labio supe-
- riore 2-partito fisso, inferiore concavo subtis barbato aut imberbi, intus obte-
gente stamina 8 in duas fasces collecta; anthere 1-loculares. Stigma sub-
bifidum. Capsula compressa obcordata. Herbae aut frutices; folia plerumque
alterna; flores 1-3-bracteolati, alterni, laxé aut densé spicati, terminales.
‘Fructus P. spinosae baccatus et ramuli pungentes. Calix P. age 5-par-
| hes a aomalie? non — germen 4-corne. |
Fs ~~ Juss, Gen. Plant. ed. 1789. p. 99.
Polygala seneka. 143
Gen. Ch. Cal. Perianth inferior, permanent, small, five unequal, ovate, acute leaves :
two of them below the corolla; one above it; and two very large, flat, colour-
ed, like wings, at the sides. Cor. imperfectly papilionaceous. Standard tubular,
nearly cylindrical, short, its mouth reflexed, small, cloven. Keel concave, com-
pressed, swelling towards the extremity, near to which are attached, for the
_ most part, two feathery three-cleft appendages. Stam. Filaments eight, in two
sets, both united, contained within the keel ; anthers eight, simple. Pist. Ger-
men oblong, superior; style simple, erect; stigma terminal, tumid, cloven.
Peric. Capsule turbinate, somewhat heart-shaped, compressed, sharp-edged.
with two cells and two valves, bursting on each side at the edges, the partition
contrary to the valves. Seeds solitary, ovate, witha glandularscar. Ency.
Po1nyGaLa Seneka; caulibus erectis simplicissimis foliosis, foliis alternis danceolatic,
) spica terminali filiformi, floribus alternis. Willd. and Pursh.
Stems erect, quite simple, leafy ; leaves alternate, lanceolate ; spike terminal, slen-
der; flowers alternate.
SYNONYMA.
Puantuta Marilandica, caule non ramoso, &c. Raj.
PotyGata floribus imberbis spicatis, &c. Gron.
Potyeata Virginiana. Lem. Juss. and Bouvart.
SENEKA, of many medical writers, as quoted in the list of references.
RATTLESNAKE root of Tennant.
SeneGa Rattlesnake-root of Graing.
PHARM inf -ooived
ze ~ ‘ bite go the € O58
iS
Off. The root.
Ranix Polygale Senege. Edin.
Senecs Radix. Lond.
Senek# Radix. Dub.
VOL. It. 15
444 Polygala seneka.
Turis humble plant is deservedly esteemed one of the first me-
dicines in point of importance, native to our country. The genus
to which it belongs is very extensive, containing more than one hun-
dred species.* It is an ancient name, compounded of two Greek
words, weavs, much, and yaa, milk, in allusion to the reputation of
the effect of the plant on cattle that feed on it. But at this time it
isnot known what is the precise plant supposed to be endued with
such virtues. The root of Polygala seneka is irregularly shaped,
contorted, gibbous, and ligneous; covered with a thick dull yellowish
or greyish bark. Several stems arise from one root. They are leafy,
slender, simple, erect, terete, of a dull brown purple colour below,
and greenish towards the top; and are from ten to fourteen inches
high. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate, acuminate, somewhat
undulate, smooth, and supported on short petioles. Towards the base
they are smaller, and inclined to ovate. The flowers are borne alter-
nately on a slender terminal spike. They are papilionaceous, and
though generally white, are often tinged with dull purple, and some-
times faint yellow. The calix consists of three short teeth, two in-
ferior, and one superior, in relation to the corolla. Michaux and
Pursh describe two distinct varieties, one of which they call «. albida ;
having lanceolate or oval leaves, with a somewhat crowded spike of
* «s Europe affords six, South and Tropical America as far as Buenos Ayres twenty-
four, Barbary and the Levant four, Siberia two, Guinea two, the Cape of Good Hope
produces twenty-four, many of them ornamental shrubs, India and China thirteen, one
in Japan, one in Arabia Felix, and several others of uncertain locality.” Mutt,
2
Polygala seneka. £45
white sub-sessile flowers. The other g. rosea, which is either smooth-
ish or pubescent; having linear leaves, a loose alternate-flowered
spike, and rose-coloured flowers. «. grows from Canada throughout
the Allegheny mountains. s. in Carolina and Georgia. The plant
is generally found on the sides of hills and in dry woods. It is abund-
ant in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee, and flowers from June to
August. It was cultivated in England as early as 1759, by Philip
Miller, and is still found at Kew Garden and other botanic grounds.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.
To the taste, the root is bitter, pungent, subtle and peculiar; but
it has little or no smell. Both aqueous, and spirituous menstrua ex-
tract its virtue ; but the alcoholic tincture obtains them most com-
pletely. The powder in substance, however, is generally believed to be
more active than either the tincture or decoction, The latter when
first taken are not peculiarly unpleasant, but speedily stimulate the
mouth and fauces, and produce a free discharge from the salivary
glands. A tincture of the root in rectified spirit, was formerly in
great repute ; and it was said to be more active and permanent in its
effects It is now disused. It has been said, and perhaps not without
foundation, that the bark of the root contains most of the active
power of the plant ; and that the ligneous portion is comparatively
inert. To this opinion Dr, Cullen inclines, though at the same time
116 Polygala seneka.
he says the whole root has commonly been used without regard to this
difference inthe power of its different parts. Murray relates the results
of analyses carefully made of the root of this plant, by those who have:
written on it. But from them we learn nothing remarkable, except
that the aqueous is more abundant than the resinous extract ;
though the ligneous part of the root yields sufficiently, a resin, a
mucilage, &c. :
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES,
The Seneka snake-root possesses various medicinal virtues. It is
stimulant, diuretic, sialagogue, expectorant, purgative, emetic and
sudorific ; and of late years it is esteemeda valuable emenagogue. Dr.
Cullen has treated of it, both under the head of cathartics, and under
that of diuretics. Dr. Barton, in his edition of Cullen, has assigned it
a place under the head of emenagogues, and Dr. Chapman, under
the head of stimulating diuretics, as well as under the head of expec-
torants and emenagogues. Its purgative effect was regarded by Dr.
Cullen as its true characteristic ; and under the opinion that it was
most salutary, when it produced copious evacuations, he arranged it
under the head of cathartics. From this opinion many respectable
physicians dissent. |
It is now more than eighty years, (1735) since Dr. John Tennant
invited the attention of physicians to this medicine, as an antidote
Polygala seneka. 447
against the bite of the rattle-snake. In an extensive intercourse with
the Indian nations of our country, it appears that, induced by the
offer of alluring rewards, he obtained from the Senagaroos, a disclo-
sure of their secret remedy for this accident, or the disease arising
in consequence of it. According to their practice, it was applied ex-
ternally and internally, either chewed and applied to the wound, or
in the form of cataplasm. Dr. Tennant himself saw, or thought he
saw, beneticial effects from the root of this medicine in cases of this
kind. He inferred from the similarity of those symptoms which su-
pervened on the poison of the rattlesnake, to those of pleurisy,
that the medicine would prove beneficial in that disease. He accord-
ingly recommended it, and it has been much used, and with repeat-
ed good effect, in peripneumonic cases. The most prominent of
the physicians who have borne testimony in favour of its powers
in those cases, are Bouvart, De Jussieu, Lemery, and Duhamel. Sir
Francis Millman, Dr. Percival, and others, have spoken highly of it
as a diuretic in dropsies. Of late years the Seneka has been much
used in Croup, and numerous well attested instances of its beneficial
effects are to be found in various publications. The credit of discover-
ing the efficacy of the root in this complaint,is due to Dr. Archer,*
of Maryland, who, confessedly, was the first person that proposed its
use in that distressing malady. ‘The late Dr. Barton, on this subject
says “from my own experience I am led to repose more confidence
* See Medical Repository, New York, vol. ii. n. 1. art. vii.
118 Polygala seneka.
in the use of this medicine (in croup) than in any other.”*. The sali-
vating property of seneka has been long known, and the instances of
this effect being succeeded by its use, are numerous and authentic, fts
expectorant power has caused it to be used in cases of typhus with
pneumonic symptoms, and with considerable success, greatly pro-
moting, by stimulating the lungs, the expectoration of mucus. “ Dr.
Brandreth, of Liverpool, has derived great benefit in some cases of
lethargy, from an extract of seneka combined with carbonate of
‘ ammonia,”+ That it acts, occasionally, with much vigour as a sudo-
rific, seems beyond disputation ; but I cannot mention without some
apprehension of raising a smile, the marvellous effect said to have
been produced on the blacks who have used it. Dr. Barton mentions
that he “ has been assured it has, been known to remove portions of
the mucous body or rete mucosum from their skin.°*t According to
the doctor, the Indians use a decoction of this root in syphilis, and in
malignant sore-throat. We are told by Dr. Woodville, that “ the re-
pute which this root obtained in peripneumonic affections, induced
some to employ it in other inflammatory disorders, in which it
provedserviceable, particularly in rheumatism.’’? The notion that this
’
* Collections.
. } Edinburgh Disp. by Dyck. p, 348.
t Collections,
§ Med. Bot. vol. 2. p. 255. Com. Novic. 1741. p. 363. Sarcone Geschichte de
Kraukh, in Neapel, tom. 1. p. 108. 169. 173. 199.
Polygala seneka. 3 419
root possesses the power of rendering the siziness of the blood more
fluid, has been satisfactorily refuted by De Haen;* and does really
seem to be entitled to no serious attention.
From this summary of its virtues and effects, it will be seen that
the seneka is a medicine of no common powers; but on adverting
to what is manifestly the most prominent effect ofits operation, its
stimulant power, we cannot but be struck with the impropriety of
administering it in the first stages of inflammatory disorders, such
as pleurisy and croup; for the latter cannot be considered purely
spasmodic. In these cases, unless the lancet has been freely used,
the seneka cannot, I apprehend, be safely given. It is a stimulant
of a very searching nature, influencing besides the circulation of the
blood, the lymphatic and secretory organs ina powerful and peculiar
manner. It does not really appear that it has ever cured true pleu-
risy ; neither has the lancet been omitted in most of the cases of cy-
nanche trachealis, in which it has proved serviceable: and it may be
questioned, whether Dr. Archer has insisted enough on the propriety
of blood-letting, prior to the extensive use of the seneka in croup.
He recommends a strong decoction of the root in this disease, which
acts as an emetic, cathartic, and expectorant, The decoction is made
from half an ounce of the bruised or coarsely powdered root, and eight
ounces of water, boiled over a slow fire down to half the quantity.
Of this decoction he gives a tea-spoonful every half hour, or every
* Ratio Medendi, par. 4. p. 252.
420 Polygala seneka.
hour, according as the urgency of the symptoms may indicate ; and
at intervals, a few drops to keep up the stimulus, until the medicine
acts on the stomach or bowels. The medicine is to be repeated in
diminished quantities, so as to keep up a constant stimulus in the
throat and mouth. This practice has been imitated by many phy-
siclans with success.*
* The following is Dr. Barton’s account of his use of this medicine in croup:
«Since the beginning of the year 1798, I have employed a strong decoction of this
plant in several cases of cynanche trachealis, or hives. Iam persuaded, that the se-
neka is a very important medicine in the treatment of this common, and too frequently
unmanageable, disease ; and praise, in my opinion, is due to Dr. Archer, for his im-
portant discovery ; for such I cannot but deem it. That the seneka is a specific, or
certain remedy, for the cure of the croup, 1 do not believe: but, from my own experi-
ence, I am led to repose more confidence in the use of this medicine than in any other.
Ihave made use of a very strong or saturated decoction of the root. I have always given
it in large quantities. It appears to be chiefly beneficial, when it occasions an expecto-
vation of mucus, and when it proves emetic. It is also very useful by virtue of its pur-
gative quality. But I have known it to occasion very plentiful stools, without benefiting
the patient. Indeed, in the exhibition of the seneka, I would rather wish to guard against
large purging. I have sometime treated my patients almost entirely with the seneka.
Even in such cases, I have perceived most unequivocal good effects from it. But I have,
more generally, given, along with the seneka, calomel, and sometimes calomel com-
bined with ipecacuanha. I have not omitted the employment of the lancet, (though this,
in many cases of croup, is not absolutely necessary,) and the use of blisters, or sina-
pisms, applied near to the seat of the disease. IT am happy to close this short notice by
observing, that several respectable physicians in Philadelphia inform me, that they have
used the seneka, with much advantage, in the disease in question.”
Polygala seneka. 124
It is a common practice to combine calomel with the seneka, and
also Virginian snake-root. In union with the latter, [have seen much
good effect from it in typhoid pneumonia. When combined with
calomel, it should be reduced to powder, and made into boluses, of
which the dose is, for an adult, about a scruple three or four times a
day. The dose of the powdered root alone, is from thirty grains to
two scruples ; but as in this form it is apt to operate as a purgative, and
sometimes as an emetic, itis preferred to give the decoction, which
may be made by boiling an ounce of the root in a pound and an half
of water, till it is reduced to a pound; and of this a table-spoonful is
a dose, frequently repeated.
The discovery of the valuable emenagogue virtues of the seneka,
originated many years ago, with my friend Dr. Hartshorne, an emi-
nent surgeon of this city, whose experience, and habits of searching
observation in the practice of his profession, warrant me in quoting
him as authority of the highest value. From him I have recently
learned the following facts: that he still continues to prescribe the
seneka in amenorrheea, with unimpaired confidence, resulting from
much experience with its peculiar, (perhaps specific) operation in this
disease. He has prescribed it many times, when the suppression of
the catamenia was of very long standing, but in these cases its efficacy
seems less conspicuous than in more recent cases. His usual mode
of administering it, is in saturated decoction, to the extent of a pint in
twenty-four hours, commencing about two weeks previous to the
VoL. I 416
{22 Polygala seneka.
expected menstrual period; and he has found it most efficacious when
the system was prepared for its operation, during the two preceding
weeks, by the administration of calomel, so as to produce a gentle
ptyalism. The doctor has also used the seneka in these cases in sub-
stance, but prefers the saturated decoction. When the cases are of
very long standing, one, two, or three years, he is in the habit of reite-
rating the practice as above detailed, with this exception, that he does
not continue the use of the seneka during the whole period, because
of the disgust it is under such circumstances apt to produce, by its
nauseating tendency. At the instance of Dr. Hartshorne, this article
was tried in amenorrhwa, some years ago, by Professor Chapman,
and he speaks in the highest terms* of his success.+
*Sce his Elements of Therapeutics and Materia Medica, vol: ii. article Polygala
seneka, under the head of Emenagogues. Hive. of ; i
tlt is much to be regretted, that the credit of this important serie of the eme-
nagogue powers of the sencka, has not been given, by either Dr. Thacher,} or Dr,
Coxe, who copies and quotes the doctor, to him, to whom alone it is due; and it is but just
io remark, that though in the publications of Drs. Thacher and Coxe,|| the name of Dr.
Chapman is alone mentioned in relation to this subject, yet the latter gentleman has,
in two publications§ on the seneka, not only acknowledged Dr. Hartshorne as first
pointing out this peculiar effect of the seneka, but gives him all due credit for the
discovery. These observations are made with a firm belief, that Dr. Hartshorne’s
name is inadvertently omitted in the publications of Thacher and Coxe; and with a
design, by rendering unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, to affix the merit due on
this occasion, to an unassuming man of great merit, whose modesty would never suffer
him to speak or write himself on the subject of any claim, wrested from him by inad-
vertence or design.
| "YDispensatory, 3a.ed! ~~’ yDispéhsatory, 3a. ea.’
§ Eclectic Repertory. Elements of Thera) and Materia Medica, 1818, 2d, vol. ,
Polygala seneka. 123
I may here not impertinently remark, that in the treatment of a re-
cent case* of hydrophobia, under my care, I prescribed the Polygala
seneka in pills, of the pulverized root, and in powders, under the
impression, that in this fatal and mysterious malady, the prominent
feature of which is the distressing affection of the pharynx and larynx,
and an extreme difficulty of expectorating the great quantity of vis-
cid mucous with which the trachea seems choaked up—it might
prove serviceable, I was led to this practice from the analogy of its
effects in croup, as detailed by Dr. Archer: and though in the short
continuance of this disease, which ran its terrific and fatal course in
less than two entire days, I had but little opportunity of coming to
any decided conclusion on the effect of the seneka; still I ought to
remark, that it promoted expectoration very freely. It was adminis-
tered but for three hours, and not to any great extent. In a disease
so direful in its symptoms and so universally fatal in its effect, it is a
matter of no inconsiderable importance to seek alleviating remedies.
‘I would therefore propose the free use of the seneka in cases of hy-
drophobia, with a view to its specific or remarkable operation on the
apparent seat of this malady, the lungs, trachea and larynx ; and
should another case ever occur in my practice, I shall lose no time in
the administration of a remedy so powerfully affecting these organs.
* Of this case, which occurred between the 28th and 30th of the present month,
(November,) and which supervened upon the bite of a rabid dog, I have drawn up a de-
tailed account, which is to be soon published in one of our periodical journals.
124: Polygala seneka.
TABLE XXXVI.
Fig. 1. Represents a plant of the Polygala seneka in flower.
2. The root.
3. The calix.
4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The different parts of the papilionaceous
corolla,
(All the size of nature.)
Prawn fom Nate by WP C Barton.
EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM.
{Boneset-Thorough wort.) : .
EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM..
.
BONE-SET. THOROUGH-WORT.
‘Thorough-stem. Vegetable Antimony. Cross-wort. Indian Sage. Thorough-wax.
«* Ague-weed,” of the Indians,
Germ. Durchwachsener Wasserdost. ( Willd.)
Evpatorivum perfoliatum. L. Sp. Pl. 1174. Hort. Cliff. 396. Hort. Ups. 253, Roy.
Lugdb. 156. Gron. Virg. 119. Cold. Noveb. 181. Mill. Dict. n. 8. Pluk.
Alm. 140. t. 87. f. 6. Raj. Suppl. 189. Morris. Hist. iii. p. 97. Houttuyn. Lin.
Pfi. Syst. iv. p. 243. Willd. Sp. Pl. iii. p. 1761. Mich. Fl. Am. Boreal. ii. p.
99. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. ii. p. 516. Hort. Kew. iii. 160. Cutler, 478, Stokes’s
Bot. Mat. Med. iv. p. 171. Guthrie, in Ann. Med. iii. 403. Schoepf, Mat.
Med. Am. 121. Bart. Collections, 3d. ed. part i. p. 28. 55. part ii. p. 22.
Anderson, Inaug. Diss. (New York, 1813.) Thach. Disp. 3d. ed. p. 220, Coxe’s
Disp. ed. sd. p. 317. Dyck. Ed. Disp. p. 264. 415. Chapman’s Element. Mat.
Med. and Thera. vol. i. p. 343. ii. p.415. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 77. Comp. FI.
Ph. ii. p. 101. Big. Florula Bost. p. 190. Muhl. Cat. Pl. Am. Sep. p. 74.
Pursh, in Medical and Physical Journal. Big. Am. Med. Bot. p. 33. Bart.
Med. and Phys. Jour. Nutt. Gen. Am. Pl. vol, ii, p. 135.
VOL, Il. 47
126 Eupatorium perfoliatum.
EUPATORIUM.
Gen. Pl. 1272.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Corymbiferae.
Nat. Qed. Lin. Compositae discoideae.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Syngenesia. Ordo Polygamia aequalis.
Evpatrorium, T. L.* Eupatoire. Flores flosculosi. Calix imbricatus inequalis oblon-
gus cylindricus pauciflorus. Pappus plumosus. Caulis frutescens aut herbaceus,
interdim scandens ; folia in plurimis opposita, in paucis verticillata aut alter-
na; flores sepé corymbosi terminales aut axillares, purpurascentes, Species que-
dam Linnzane calice polyphyllo simplici non imbricato, Cacaliz aflfiniores ex
D. Lamark ; quedam pappo piloso. An congener Critonia Brown. Jam. t. 34.
f. 1., cui ex Autore calix ’4-florus, pappus ramosus, cetera similia ?
Juss. Gen. Pl. ed. 1789. p. 178.
Gen. Ch. Common Calix oblong, imbricated ; scales linear-lanceolate, erect, unequal,
unarmed. Cor. Compound, uniform, discoid; florets all uniform, perfect, fer-
tile, monopetalous, funnel-shaped, with a regular 5-cleft spreading border.
Stam. Filaments five, capillary, very short ; anthers united into a cylindrical
tube, Pist. Germen minute; style thread-shaped, very long, cloven, slender,
bluntish, straight. Peric. None, except the permanent calix. Seeds solitary,
oblong, angular ; down long, rough or feathery. Recep. naked.
Ess. Ch. Receptacle naked. Down rough or feathery. Calix imbricated, oblong. Style
prominent, cloyen half way down, divaricated, Ency.
Recep. Nudum. Pappus pilosus. Cal. imbricatus, cylindricas, Stylus semibifidus,
longus.
Evparorivum perfoliatum ; foliis connato-perfoliatis oblongis sursum angustatis ser-
Fatis, rugosis, subtus tomentosis, caule villoso.—Willd. and Pursh.
Leaves connate-perfoliate, oblong, narrow above, serrate, rough, tomentose be-
neath; stem villous.
A 2
Eupatorium perfoliatum. 127
SYNONYMA.
EvpaToriuM Virginianum, Salvi foliis, &c. Pluk.
EvpatrorivuM foliis connatis tomentosis. Cutler.
EvpaToriuM connatum. Mich,
PHARM.
Evpavr. perfol. Herba et flores—the flowers and leaves.
Tue subject of this article is wholly destitute of any thing like
comliness, but is a very general favourite and will probably always
be highly esteemed, for its medicinal powers. The plant which
gave name to the very extensive genus of which the Bone-set is
a species, is the «»+#!«s:«, of Dioscorides, from Mithridates, sur-
named Eupator, who is reputed to have brought the original plant
into use as an antidote against poisons. Most of the species, of
which Willdenow enumerates seventy-one, are indigenous to Ame-
rica. Pursh describes twenty-seven as natives of North America;
and others will be found extending beyond the tropics as far as
Peru and Paraguay. Those indigenous to our states, are all plain
looking plants, except the E. ceelestinum, the beautiful blue flowers
of which have given rise to the appropriate specific name, Many of
them, however, compensate in stature for what they want in beauty;
128 Eupatorium perfoliatum.
several of the red-flowered species being from five to seven feet
high. They decorate our autumnal landscapes, by the profusion
of their red and white flowers, and by the abundance in which they
are every where met with.
The present is perhaps one of the commonest, if not the most
common, of all the species inhabiting our country; being found
in meadows, damp woods, watery thickets, and on the margins of
brooks, rivulets and other small waters, in the greatest profusion—
covering indeed occasionally, whole acres of ground. It is peculiar
to North America, and is easily distinguished from all the other spe-
cies, to many of which it is nearly allied by its general habit and its
flowers, by the remarkable structure of its leaves, which decussate
each other in such a manner as to have given rise to the appellation
of cross-wort. It may also be readily known by its blistered or rugose
leaves, which have imposed on it the epithet of Indian Sage. But
another discriminating mark in the leaves, arises from the manner
in which they are perforated by the stem; and hence the vulgar
names, Thorough-wort and Thorough-wax.
The origin of the common name bone-set, it is not easy to as-
certain; though a mere suggestion of Professor Barton seems to
have afforded a late writer on the Materia Medica a hint for a
derivation, which he has not failed to avail himself of. We are
toldby this gentleman, upon what authority other than his own, we are
Eupatorium perfoliatum. 129
left to conjecture, that the plant derived the name of bone-set from
the relief it afforded in a certain “ singular catarrh or species of influ-
enza,’’ which prevailed about thirty years ago, and was denominated
break-bone-fever. We are satisfied the Professor would find it ex.
tremely difficult to shew by any printed testimony, that the medici-
nal powers of Eupatorium perfoliatum were generally known even
twenty, much less thirty years ago, or that the vulgar name, bone-
set, is of earlier origin than fifteen years back.
The root is perennial, somewhat horizontal. The stems erect,
from two to four feet high, round, very hairy, (hair flexuose,) and di-
vided towards the top into decussating branches, so as to form when
in flower, a flat dense fastigiate corymb. The stem is generally
greyish-green, but often purplish towards the base. The leaves de-
cussate each other at regular distances; are perfoliate, or perhaps
connate, broadest at their base or point of union with the stem, and
taper gradually into a long acumination. They are serrate, very ru-
gose or wrinkled, closely beset with hairs of a grey colour, which,
together with those wherewith the stem, and indeed nearly the whole
plant is covered, give it a greyish-green aspect. The under surface
of the leaves is paler than the upper, and both woolly. The two or
three upper pairs of leaves on the stems, and all those on the
branches, are given off in pairs, and lose the perfoliate or connate
character, being there merely sessile. Flowers terminal, white, sup-
ported on short hairy peduncles, in close fastigiate corymbs. Calix
130 Eupatorium perfoliatum.
imbricate and hirsutulous; scales lanceolate, acute. Florets about
twelve or fourteen. Each flower tubulous, divided into five segments
or teeth, as represented in Fig. 3. Anthers deep blue or black, fila-
ments five, united with a fistulous brace. Seeds prismatic, attenuate
at the base, of a crow-black colour, and situated on a naked receptacle.
Pappus or down of the seed pilose ; hairs scabrous. The flowers are
fully expanded in the month of August, and the plant is every where
found in bloom during the autumn, and even as late as the last of Oc-
tober.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES,
We are indebted to Dr. Andrew Anderson, for an excellent che-
mical analysis of this species of Eupatorium. According to his expe-
riments, it appears, that it contains first : a free acid—secondly, tannin
in small quantity—thirdly, a bitter extractive matter—fourthly, a gum-
my matter—fifthly, a resin—sixthly, azote—seventhly, lime, proba-
bly the acetate of lime; eighthly, gallic acid, probably modified ;
ninthly, a resiniform matter soluble in water and alcohol, which
seems to contain a bitter principle.
The medicinal properties of bone-set are fully given out, both to
aqueous and spirituous menstrua. Proof spirit digested on the leaves
and flowers, make a fine preparation for cases which will bear the
spirit.
Eupatorium perfoliatum. 134
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
Great indeed is the renown of the Eupatorium perfoliatum,as a me-
dicine, and various as well as powerful are the virtues attributed to it.
Should a wide extended experience justify, in future, only one-half the
encomiums which have been lavishly bestowed upon it, it will even
then be entitled to a distinguished rank in the Materia Medica. It is
impossible to read the accounts which are given of the virtues and
effects of this popular medicine, without indulging the belief, that fa-
vouritism, partiality, or fashion, has had some share in decorating it
out for public view. Believing as I do, that few plants of our country
are more deserving of the attention of physicians than this, for its
real virtues, I regret the too ready adoption from vague rumours, of
accounts of those which are merely imaginary, and which may lead,
on the discovery of the error, to limit its use, or to its total rejection
from practice. Notwithstanding the real, the obviously beneficial ef-
fects, in curing, or alleviating diseases, or symptoms of diseases,
which belong to this plant, some of those who have written on its
properties, have needlessly indulged in a vein of exaggeration, wholly
incompatible with the reality, and calculated to bring the medicine
sooner or later into disrepute. I have ventured to speak thus confi-
dently on this subject, because as it is a favourite article in my own
practice, I have consequently been Jed to use it frequently and ex-
132 Eupatorium perfoliatum.
tensively, and to give it every trial which a favourable impression of
_its powers would induce me to make. The result has been, that
while I deem its properties on the one hand much exaggerated and
even misrepresented in some points of view, I cannot but believe on
the other, that it is a highly important article, when administered in
those affections, to the symptoms of which its peculiar virtues are ap-
plicable and proper. ‘
Bone-set has been represented by various writers, most of whom
have copied after others, as a tonic, stimulant, diaphoretic, eme-
tic, cathartic, diuretic, astringent, and deobstruent; as capable of
curing obstinate cutaneous affections, yellow fever, petechial or spotted
fever, rheumatism, &c. &c. thereby leading the unwary and the inex-
perienced practitioner, to depend too much on its reputed powers.
The sensible properties of bone-set would seem to point out its
most estimable medicinal powers. The whole plant is intensely bit-
ter. It is also possessed of some slight astringency. When dried it
has a peculiar, and not disagreeable odour.
The leaves and flowers according to some writers on the subject,
contain the bitterness, in different degrees of intensity. The late Pro-
fessor Barton states in his collections, that the flowers are more active
than the leaves, and in this error, Dr. Chapman has copied him. Dr.
Anderson on the other hand asserts, that the leaves are more active
Eupatorium perfoliatum. 133
than the flowers, and he has been copied by Thacher, Coxe, and others.
Careful practical experiments with the decoctions and infusions of
both these portions of the plant, in similar and dissimilar doses, have
led me to form the opinion, that there is no difference in the bitter-
ness or activity on the system, between the leaves and flowers. Both
may be used indiscriminately, and either will answer. The stems also,
allowing for the proportion of medulla which enter into their struc-
ture, are nearly as efficacious, as the other portions. Consequently,
the whole plant may be safely and advantageously used for medical
purposes.
I have said that the sensible properties of the bone-set indicate
its medicinal virtues; and it appears that the tonic and diapho-
retic effects, both of which are unequivocal and powerful, are those
most deserving attention. It is also somewhat stimulant, but this
effect is transient; and perhaps it is no more so than all bitters are,
in their first impression on the system, particularly if it be debilitated
by disease, or in a state of excitement from fever. It is certain that
it has been successfully prescribed in violent catarrhs attended with
some fever, and its stimulant effect has not been so considerable as
to be injurious in those cases. As a tonic bitter it has been long
known in this country, and the Indians are said to have used it in the
cure of intermittent fevers; we are even told by the late Professor
Barton, that they recognize it by a name which may be translated
VoL. Hi. 18
134 Eupatorium perfoliatum.,
ague-weed. Imitating their practice, many country physicians of
respectability use it as a substitute for Peruvian bark in these affec-
tions. Their reports are uniformly favourable to. the powers of
the article in curing those fevers, unassisted by any other medi-
cines. This practice is particularly common in the middle and lower
parts of Jersey, where I have had opportunities of knowing that this
plant was successfully used by practitioners of medicine, and in do-
mestic practice, in the treatment of many of the different types of
intermittent fever. Dr. Anderson, in his inaugural thesis, enumerates
and details some cases of quotidian, tertian, and quartan intermittents,
in which the bone-set had, under his own observation, performed
cures. His favourable accounts are supported by the testimony of
Dr. Hosack, who has frequently prescribed the article in the treat-
ment of intermittents. I am not able to offer any corroborative testi.
mony in favour of this plant in these affections, never having used it
in them. Dr. Barton says, that in decoction it has been efficaciously
administered in the hot stage of simple intermittents. The copious
perspiration produced when thus given warm, is highly beneficial,
and it is this effect which has given the plant the appellation of
“ vegetable antimony.*? The Doctor, however, seemed to think, that
to the heat of the water when employed in this manner, was greatly
owing the diaphoretic effect; and, unaided by this adventitious cireum-
stance, he doubts whether the determination to the skin can equal
that of Polygala seneka. In cold infusion I have not been able to
see any very decided or remarkable diaphoretic effect from it.
9
Eupatorium perfoliatum. 135
The efficaciousness of bone-set is not confined to the simple forms
of intermittent fever. It has, beyond disputation, been successfully
employed in remitting bilious, in yellow, and typhus fevers, particu-
larly in the form of the latter disease, lately so rife throughout the
United States. And it is in cases of this disease that I have myself
used it, and in which I can offer the additional experience of an ex-
cellent practitioner, the late Samuel C. Hopkins, M. D.* This gentle-
man resided in the village of Woodbury, New Jersey, and enjoyed
an extensive practice in a range of fifteen or twenty miles of a po-
pulous tract of country, in which, from the low and marshy nature
of the soil—exposure of many of the inhabitants holding fisheries, to
the water, and other pernicious causes—intermittent and typhus
fevers were very prevalent, and the latter particularly malignant.
The Doctor was among those partial to the sweating plan of
treating this fever, and his unusual success in a multitude of
eases for five or six years in succession, is strongly in favour of that
mode of practice. The bone-set was the medicine used in produc-
ing this effect. He prescribed it freely in warm and cold decoction,
but preferred the warm. He assured me that in many instances, his
sole reliance was on this plant, which was occasionally so varied in
its manner of exhibition, as to produce emesis; and frequently was
intentionally pushed to such extent, as to excite free purging. Its
* Late of Philadelphia.—This amiable and excellent man fell a victim to typhus
fever.
136 Eupatorium perfoliatum.
diaphoretic effect, however, he deemed it indispensable to ensure,
and therefore preferred in general giving it warm. He has related to
me many instances in which farmers had, without calling in medical
advice, or where it could not readily be procured, resorted of their
own accord to the free exhibition of a strong decoction of this plant,
for several nights and days in succession, assisting its sweating effect
by warm bed-clothing ; and uniformly with beneficial, often with en-
tirely successful effect.
Encouraged by these reports, I have in every instance which
has occurred to myself, imitated this practice, not, however, plac-
ing such entire reliance on this means of cure as did the Doc-
tor, but using in addition, repeated small purgings. Yet I am de-
cidedly of opinion, from my experience with this article, that it
is, in all cases of low typhus, attended with hot and dry skin, as
is commonly the case, an inestimable medicine; and I have seen
reason, in my own trials, to prefer the warm decoction or infu-
sion, to the cold, or to the plant given in substance. In every
instance I have used the decoction of the flowers and leaves of the
dried plant, to which form I give preference to any other. I have
not found it so apt to produce vomiting in this way, if judiciously and
cautiously administered, as the writers in our dispensatories seem to
fear. From one to two table spoonfuls given every half hour is, I think,
the best plan to ensure its diaphoretic, and avoid its emetic effect. In
Eupatorium perfoliatum. 137
this way it excites nausea, and keeps up the moisture of the skin.
Its mere tonic effect is most easily ensured by giving in substance,
from twenty grains to a drachm of the powdered leaves and flowers,
from three to six times in the course of twenty-four hours.
Of the beneficial administration of bone-set, in the treatment of
yellow fever, medical records present us with well authenticated ac-
counts. It was extensively used by some practitioners in this disease,
at least as early as one thousand seven hundred and _ ninety-eight,
when it was then rife in this city; and we have the authority of
Dr. Barton to believe, that in that epidemic and others, it was used
with much advantage. Pursh, the Botanist, likewise states, in a let-
ter addressed to William Royston, Esq. inserted in the Medical and
Physical Journal, that much benefit was derived from its use by him-
self and others, during his stay in the neighbourhood of Lake Ontario ;
where both the influenza and lake fever, the latter of which he says was
similar to the yellow-fever, were raging among the inhabitants. In
those cases it was used in decoction, and spirituous infusion.
It appears by Dr. Anderson’s Thesis, that the bone-set was exten-
sively used in the New York Alms-house, in the year one thousand
eight hundred and twelve, in the treatment of intermittents, to the
exclusion of the Peruvian bark, It was given either in decoction, or
in powder. In the latter, in doses from twenty to thirty grains every
second hour during the intermission, This practice the Doctor states,
138 Eupatorium perfoliatum.
was followed with uniform success. He further informs us, that Dr.
Hosack and Dr. Bard, in the treatment of yellow-fever, placed al-
most exclusive dependence, after proper evacuations, on sudorifies ;
and among this class of medicines used the bone-set, and estimated it
highly. More evidence in favour of this article in febrile affections
might be adduced; but 1 presume enough already has been stated
to show its undisputed claim to be ranked as a valuable article
of the Materia Medica. Yet, though I have much reliance on the
powers of this plant, I cannot advocate or recommend the prac-
tice of depending exclusively on its effects, in the treatment of
fever or catarrhs, of whatever kind. That it would be safer to use it
as an auxiliary, than to rely wholly on its powers, in any but slight
cases, does not, I think, admit of a doubt,
Imust here mention, that the bone-set has likewise been said to
cure acute rheumatism ; and that it has been used in those cases, my
own enquiries and observations assure me. Though I do not know any
well-attested facts of its efficacy here, or of any cures that it has per-
formed of this disease, I yet think it more than probable, its sweating
powers might be advantageously enlisted, in conjunction with blood-
letting, to cure acute rheumatism, after the highly inflammatory ac-
tion has been nearly or wholly subdued. But, perhaps, in the chronic
state of this disease it would be more safely administered, and not
unlikely, more usefully.
-Eupatorium perfoliatum. 139
Dr. Barton speaks of its alledged beneficial effect in a cutaneous
affection of a very peculiar character, which appeared some years
ago in Virginia, and was called, from the part of the country in
which it raged, the James’s river ring-worm. This solitary fact is
all that can be adduced in favour of its efficacy in cutaneous diseases,
and it does really not appear to me to be sufficiently supported by
corroborative testimony, or the experience of others.
It cannot be doubted that, on this point, powers have been as-
cribed to the plant which it does not possess. This much a regard
for truth, obliges me to declare, that in three or four cases of ob-
stinate cutaneous eruptions, in which I have given the bone-set every
fair trial, it proved utterly worthless.
I can readily believe, it has done good in diseases of general debi-
lity, which occurred in the New York Alms-house, as mentioned in
the thesis already referred to. But that it is competent to the
cure of dropsies, I much doubt. Indeed my enquiries and observa-
tions in different states, do not corroborate the assertion of Dr.
Chapman,* that “ the physicians of this and the neighbouring states,
are much in the habit of prescribing it, in dropsical effusions.” I have
no where been able to learn, that, either by physicians or in domes-
tic employment of the plant, such a practice has been resorted to.
* Elements Mat. Med, vol. i. p. 345.
140 Eupatorium perfoliatum.,
Neither does it seem probable to me, that the sensible or other
known properties of bone-set, justify the notion, that in such cases it
would be efficacious. From its tonic effect, indeed, it may not be
injurious, but perhaps this is the utmost that can be said on this
point. Certainly the inconsiderable diuretic consequences of the use
of the herb, promise nothing beneficial in dropsies. For any effect
it may occasionally have on the kidnies, it shares with many other
diaphoretic remedies, which, particularly if given in warm decoc-
tion, are well known occasionally to increase the urinary discharge.*
Schoepf speaks of its use in gout, and recommends its external
application for the relief of pains.
After the preceding observations, I am fully justified in recom-
mending the bone-set as a valuable tonic bitter, at least equal to the
chamomile; and as a medicine truly valuable for its diaphoretic
effects. And though its other occasional qualities are not, in them-
selves, sufficient to recommend the plant to the notice of physicians,
yet they certainly enhance the value of the article. The plant is
so abundant throughout the country, that it is within the reach of
every country physician, and those residing in cities or towns can
also readily procure it; a circumstance which adds much to the
satisfaction I feel in recommending it.
-* It is not improbable that the Professor, who disclaims all knowledge of botany, and
whose work indeed, on the Materia Medica, teems with botanical errors, may have
mistaken the plant used in dropsies, or been misinformed.
Eupatorium perfoliatum. 444
TABLE XXXYVII.
Fig. 1. Represents a flowering specimen of Eupatorium perfoliatum.
I have often seen the flowers reddish-purple.
2. A flower separated, and greatly magnified.
3. A floret separated from the flower, still more magnified.
4, Anthers embraced by the tube—somewhat enlarged.
5. A seed, magnified.
VOL. Ii. 49
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MEDEOLA VIRGINICA.
INDIAN CUCUMBER. CUCUMBER-ROOT,
Germ. Virginische Medeola. (/JVilld.)
Mepeota Virginica. L. Sp. Pl. 483. Mill. Dict.n. 3, Gron. Virg. 39. Pluk. Alm. 401,
t. 328. f.4. Houttuyn. Lin, Pfl. Syst. vi. p. 389. Willd. Sp. Pl. tom. ii. par. 1,
p- 270. Pursh, Fl. Am, Sep. vol. i. p. 244. Bot, Mag. 1316. Mich. Fl. Am,
Boreal. i. p. 214. Muhl. Cat. Am. Sep. 2d. ed. p. 37. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 44,
Comp. FI. Ph. vol. i. p. 175. Big, Flor. Bost. p. 85. Nutt. Gen. Am. Pl. vol. i,
p- 238. Walt. Fl. Car. p. 126. Elliot. Fl. Georg., &c. vol. i. p. 426. Schoepf,
Mat. Med. Am. p. 53. Bart. Collect. 3d. ed. par. i. p. 38. Hort. Kew. vol. i.
p. 489. Cutler, 437. Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med, vol. ii. p. 326. Coxe’s Disp. ed.
8d. p. 410. Dyck. Ed, Disp. p. 417.
MEDEOLA.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Asparagi.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Sarmentaceae.
Artif. Syst. Lin. Classis Hexandria. Ordo Trigynia.
Corolla 6-parted, revolute. Calix none. Filaments and anthers distinct. Styles none.
144 Medeola Virginica.
Stigmas three, filiform and divaricate, united at the base. Berry 3-celled; cells
5 or 6-seeded. Seeds compressed, 3-sided.
Nutt. sub. Gyromia, Gen. Am. Pl.
Mepeona Virginica; caule lanugine decidua vestito; foliis in medio caule 6-8 verti-
cillatis, in summitate ternis ; ovali-lanceolatis; pedicellis aggregatis, termina-
libus. Mich.
Stem simple, erect; leaves verticillated; flowers terminal, aggregate. B.
SYNONYMA.
Mepeota foliis stellatis lanceolatis fructu baccato. Gron.
Litrum s. Martagon pusillum, &c. Pluk.
Mepeota verticillifolia. Stokes.
Gyromia Virginica. Nutt. and Bart. in Comp. Fl. Ph.
PHARM.
Mepros Virginice Radix.
Tue Medeola Virginica is remarkable for the extreme regularity
and simplicity of its structure, and may certainly be considered
as a handsome plant. [ have always endeavoured to give in
this work, the derivation of the generic name, wherever it was
known; but in the present instance it is not easy to determine whence
the name Medeola originated. Professor Martin supposes that it is
Medeola Virginica. 145
the diminutive of Medea, the renowned sorceress of ancient Mytho-
logy; and this appears to be the only suggestion on the subject, en-
titled to consideration.
The genus Medeola comprises three species, one or two of which
Michaux, Gawler, and some other botanists have proposed to ex-
punge. Jussieu intimates that it should be referred to Trillium or
Paris, from its analogy to those genera, having verticillated leaves
and the habit of Trillium; and Mr. Nuttall has recently severed the
species now under notice, from Medeola, and constituted it a new
genus, to which he has given the name of Gyromia, from vȢos, a
circle, in reference to its verticillated leaves. He does indeed
appear to have good reason for this separation; the present plant,
having a three-celled berry, each cell containing from five to six
seeds; while the other two, which are African species, have berries
containing three cordate seeds. Therefore it was, that in my Com-
pendium Flore Philadelphice, I rather hastily adopted the new
name. As, however, some inconvenience arises in a medical work
like this, from the change of long-received names, I have, for the
present, preferred the old one of Medeola.
The root is horizontal, from one to two inches long, about half an
inch thick, oblong, fieshy, pure white, and covered with a few fibrous
radicles. ‘The stem is from one to two feet high, herbaceous, very
erect, terete, shining, of a yellowish colour, and covered for a few
4146 Medeola Virginica.
inches above and below the lowest whorl of leaves, with a deciduous,
white, flocculent coat, which can easily be removed by drawing the
stems between the fingers. The leaves are in two distinct, remote
whorls, Those forming the lowest whorl, which is about midway of
the height of the stem, are about six or eight in number, broad, lan-
-ceolate, acuminate, attenuate at the base, entire, three-nerved, of a
very yellow green above, and glaucous or nearly so on the under-
side. The upper whorl is at the top of the stem; and generally con-
sists of three, but sometimes of four or five leaves, which are ovate,
acuminate, attenuate at the base, and, like those of the lower whorl,
entire, three-nerved, yellowish green above and nearly glaucous
beneath. Mr. Elliot describes the leaves as membranous, which in
the living state of the plant, I think they can scarcely be considered;
though they do indeed dry with that appearance. The flowers are
situated on the top of the stem ; are aggregate, about three or six in
number, two being mostly opened at a time, pedunculated, generally
drooping and concealed under the upper whorl of leaves. They are
supported by peduncles about three quarters of an inch or an inch long,
first green, afterwards becoming red. The corolla consists of three
straw-yellow petals, which are revolute, lanceolate, or lanceolate-oval,
obtuse, appearing narrower on the flower than when separated and
spread out as in Fig. 4, owing to the margin being somewhat re-
pand; Linneus says the specimen he received from Gronovius
had four petals. Stigmas three, long, irregularly twisted, and divari-
cating horizontally, grooved above, and of a fine chesnut or madder
Medeola Virginica. 147
brown colour. Stamens six, of the same colour. The berry is about
the size of a common pea, of a blue colour, inclining to purple, and
containing three cells, each having from five to six compressed
three-sided seeds.
This plant has a wide range in our states, being every where found
in moist rich woods, according to Michaux, Pursh, &c. from Canada
to Florida. Its favourite situations are low thickets, bordering on
rivulets; and in such places it will be found abundantly in the neigh-
bourhood of this city, flowering in the months of May and June.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
The claims of cucumber root, to be ranked as an article of the
Materia Medica, are rather humble. It must be acknowledged
that the sensible properties of the plant do not augur very favoura-
bly of its activity or usefulness, and it is even said the Indians eat the
root as we do the cucumber. Yet it has been deemed proper to
figure and describe it in this work, in consideration of some little
repute it has enjoyed, as a diuretic, and its alleged benefit as a
hydrogogue. Little seems to have been known of its real virtues,
by those who have noticed it asa medicine. Schoepf, it is true, has
enumerated it among the articles of the vegetable Materia Medica
148 Medeoia Virginica.
of this country: but he only asks the question whether it is allied to
Tpecacuanha in its powers, referring to Linneus’s Flora Lapponica,
and to Gronovius. Undoubtedly it is not entitled to any regard as
an emetic; and it seems probable that its hydrogogue powers alone
are worthy of any consideration. The late Professor Barton speaks
dubiously in his publication on this subject, of its use in dropsies,
which he mentions it has had the credit of curing. But I learned from
him a year before his death, that some trials made by himself, in
consequence of various information received from respectable
sources of its virtues as a diuretic, resulted in the confirmation of
the good accounts of the plant. They induced him to think more
favourably of its powers. Though I have had no experience with it,
as a medicine, I beg leave to recommend it for further experiment. |
Of the manner and dose in which it has been used, I know nothing.
Medeola Virginica, | 149
TABLE XXXVIII,
Represents the entire plant.
Fig. 14. The upper portion with the terminating whorl of leaves,
flowers, and incipient fruit.
2. The lower portion (separated from Fig. 1, at the mark +)
with the inferior whorl of leaves. The shaggy marks of
the graver along this portion of the stem, intended to re-
present the flocculent investment, which in the plant
itself covers just thus much of the stalk.
3. The root and lower portion of the stem, severed from the
upper (Fig. 2.) at the mark o.
4. Peduncle supporting the germ, and three stigmas.
5. A stamen.
6. A petal.
7. The ripe berry.
VOL, It. 20
/
Ladle
RUBUS VILLOSUS.
COMMON BLACKBERRY-BUSH.
High or Standing Blackberry. Hairy American Bramble, Ait.
Germ. Hisrign Biabecr: —(Willd. )
Resvus Villosus. Willd. Sp, Pl. 2. p. 1085. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. 1. p. 346. Hort. Kew.
ii. p. 210. Nutt. Gen, Am, Pl. i. 308. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 56. Comp.
FI. Ph. i. p. 232.. Muhl, Cat. 2d. ed. p. 52. Dyck. Ed. Disp. 366. Thach. Disp.
3d. ed. 340, Big. Florula Bost. 122, Mich. Fl. Boreal. Am. i, 297.
RUBUS.
Gen. Pl. 864.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Rosaceae.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Lenticosae.
Artific, Syst. Lin. Classis Icosandria. Ordo Polyg gynia.
Rugvs, T. L.* Ronce, Framboisier. Calix patens 5-fidus. Petala 5. Stamina nume-
rosa brevia, Semina numerosa baccata, supra receptaculum commune densé
collecta in baccam compositam. Frutices aculeati vel quandoque inérmes,
452 Rubus villosus.
rarius herb semper inermes; folia simplicia aut ternata aut digitata, aut pin-
nata in Rubis quibusdam Commersonianis habitu similibus Ross; flores ter-
minales aut et rarils axillares, racemoso-paniculati aut rarius solitarii, in R.
odorato corymbosi et abortu dioici. R. Chamaemorus sub terra monoica et ex-
tus dioica, radicibus maris et feminz junctis, caulibus distinctis, observante
post Solandrum Linnzo. Juss. Gen. Plant. ed. 1789. p. 338.
Cal. Patens, 5-fidus. Pet. 5. Bacca composita, acinis monospermis.
Gen. Ch. Cal. Perianth inferior, of one leaf, flattish, in five oblong, spreading, sim-
ple, permanent segments. Cor. Petals five, roundish or oblong, somewhat
spreading, inserted into the calix, and usually about the length of its segments.
Stam. Filaments numerous, shorter than the corolla, inserted into the ca-
lix ; anthers roundish, compressed. Pist. Germens numerous, altogether su-
perior ; styles small, capillary, one springing from the side of each germen;
stigmas simple, permanent. Peric. Berry compound, consisting of several
roundish pulpy grains, each of one cell, collected into a convex head, hollow
underneath, inserted upon a conical spongy permanent receptacle, and at length
deciduous. Seeds solitary, oblong, compressed.
Oss, ‘The separate juicy grains, which compose the general berry, are usually
so attached to each other, that they cannot be disunited without lacerating. In
R, saxatilis they are distinct. R. Chamaemorus is not, as Linneus first thought,
dioecious, but monoecious; Dr. Solander having observed that the male and
female flowers grow from one root, though on separate stems. Each flower
of this species has indeed both stamens and pistils, though, in one or other
flower, one part is imperfect.
Ess. Ch. Calix in five simple segments. Petals five. Berry superior, composed of
single-seeded grains, deciduous. Receptacle permanent. Ency.
Rvugvs villosus; pubescens, hispidus, aculeatusque; foliis 3-5-digitatis, foliolis ovato-
oblongis, acuminatis, serratis, utrinque pubescentibus, caulibus petiolisque acu-
leatis, calice brevi acuminato, racemo laxo, pedicellis solitariis.
: Willd. and Pursh.
Rubus villosus. 153
Pubescent, hispid and prickly; leaves 3-5-digitate, folioles ovate-oblong, acumi-
nate, serrate, every where pubescent; stems and petioles prickly, calix short.
acuminate, raceme loose, pedicels solitary. B.
PHARM.
Rusti villosi, Radix, herba et fructus.
Tue term Rubus is an ancient Latin word, said to be of the same
origin as ruber, which is supposed to be the Celtic rub, red; the
prevalent colour of the fruit of many different species of rubus being
red. The genus comprises a great number of plants, valuable for
the grateful esculent quality of their fruits; and contains also about
fifteen species,* which may be considered as medicinal. ‘The whole
number enumerated by Willdenow is thirty-one; but it is now
known to be much greater, at least fifty species being ascertain-
ed as existing in Europe, the West Indies, Peru, Chili, Japan, China,
in the islands of the Pacific, and on the continent of India. Those
indigenous to this country are about nineteen or twenty, of which
by far the most frequent, is the common blackberry, now to be
particularly mentioned. It is however so universally and so well known,
that it does not require a minute description. The root is creep-
* 1. Rubus chamemorus. 2. R. trifidus. 3. R.arcticus. 4. R. saxatilis. 5. R. mo-
luccanus. 6. R. quinquelobus. 7, R. occidentalis. 8. R. parviflorus. 9. R. cesius,
10. R. corylifolius. 11. R. fruticosus. 12. R. ideus. 13. R. rosifolius, 14. Rubus pro-
cumbens, 15. R. villosus.
154 Rubus villosius,
ing, irregularly gibbous, perennial, woody, and of a reddish-brown
| colour, imparting a madder-brown or claret colour to water boiled
on it. The stems are biennial, from three to seven feet high, weak,
somewhat shrubby, of a reddish-brown colour, armed with large
prickles. The smaller branches and new shoots are more slender,
herbaceous, greenish, with here and there a tinge of brown or red,
and also covered with prickles and fine hair. The leaves are in five’s
and three’s, oval, acuminate, finely and sharply serrate, villous on
both sides, and soft to the fingers, strongly veined and varying in
size..The petioles are prickly, and also covered with hair. The
flowers are large, white, borne in terminal panicles or racemes, con-
sisting of a five-petalled corolla and numerous stamens. The fila-
ments are very slender, and the anthers small. The fruit is first
green, then red, and, when full ripe, of a deep shining crow-black,
and deliciously flavoured when suffered to ripen on the bushes.
_ The blackberry is every where found in our states, by way sides,
in old fields, along the margins of stone quarries, &c. delighting in
dry arid soils, It flowers from May to July, and ripens its fruit in
August.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
Popular confidence in the medicinal virtues of the blackberry,
has induced me to introduce it in this work; and popular partiality
Rubus villosus. 455
may account for the numerous tales of its wonderful powers. Due
abatement on this account must therefore be made, from the re-
port of its efficacy as an antilithic, a vulnerary, a febrifuge, a re-
frigerant, &c. !
Few native articles possess a greater share of the favouritism of
domestic practitioners ; and in many sections of our country, black-
berry tea is resorted to as a general corrective of all vitiated humours,
a strengthener of the stomach and bowels, in short, as a perfect
panacea. Like most other favourite articles in family use, its vir-
tues have been overrated; but I am persuaded that there re-
mains a sufficiency of creditable testimony in its favour, proving that
its real medicinal virtues are valuable, and eminently serviceable in
such disorders as require the exhibition of articles of an astringent na-
ture ; forthis plant, in every part,is decidedly astringent, but the root
especially partakes of this property. It is the root which is generally
used, made into a tea; and the fruit in juice or syrup. The root is brought
to our markets in the spring and fall of the year, and sold for medi.
cinal purposes. A decoction made by boiling a handful of the cut or
bruised portions, in a pint and a half of water, down to a pint, is the
usual form of using it. Thus prepared, it is given in diarrhaeas and
dysenteries by the peasantry ; and, as I have been uniformly inform-
ed by intelligent persons, with great success. The decoction is
somewhat bitter, but not disagreeable, and is marked by a slight
but grateful aroma. Its tonic effect, of which I have heard some
156 Rubus villosus.
praise, is certainly very inconsiderable, or at least evanescent; and
in cases of mere debility, unless proceeding from a general laxity
of the system, accompanied with slight disorders of the alimentary
canal, it cannot be resorted to with any reasonable prospect of suc-
cess. As to its reputed powers as an antitithic, I really do not
think them worth consideration.
I have had some little experience with this article, and about
a year since prescribed it in two cases of colera infantum with
success. It was during my attendance in the Philadelphia Dis-
pensary; and patients of the class which resort thither, are
prone to follow the prescriptions of their physicians, when they
order herb teas, so that I had a fair opportunity of seeing the
power of this article. The fruit which is gratefully acidulous,
is kind and healing to the disordered stomach and bowels of per-
sons labouring under dysentery, recent or protracted. It may be
eaten by such persons, in its full ripe state, when not too long gather-
ed, not only with impunity, but evident advantage ; being found to
promote the natural and healthy secretions of the body. To chil-
dren labouring under the bowel complaint, during dentition or at
other times, it is particularly grateful and beneficial. It is amore
common practice, however, to give in such cases, and in the dysen-
teries of adults, a preparation known in families by the name of
blackberry jam, or often a syrup, recent or preserved, made from
the full ripe fruit. Of the efficacy of the former I have seen many
Rubus villosus. 157
instances, among which is my brother, who, while labouring under
a severe attack of dysentery, experienced the most sudden and salu-
tary change in his disorder, on my giving him the jam plentifully.
As nothing can be more grateful to the stomach of persons, adults
or infants, affected with this disease, it should always be resorted to
when procurable, and given almost ad libitum. The fine aroma of
the fruit is preserved both in the syrup and the jam, and a few
spoonfuls of it will be found to relieve the painful tenesmus.
A jelly made of the fruit when on the turn from red to black, has
been said to be useful in gravelly complaints ; but this, I think, is not
entitled to any credit.
The dose of the decoction, is a teacup full for an adult, and
two or three tea-spoonfuls for a child, three or four times a day.
Schoepf describes, ina medicinal point of view, the Rubus frutico-
sus, (certainly the present plant) and the Rubus occidentalis or wild
raspberry, together. They are undoubtedly closely allied in their me-
dicinal virtues, as they are in their botanical structure and habit. I have
seen raspberry jam (prepared from the Rubus idus or garden rasp-
berry) used in the manner mentioned above, for the blackberry :
but it proved much inferior; whether the jam and syrup prepared
from the wild American raspberry, be more closely allied in its vir-
tues to those made of the blackberry, I know not, but it is worth an
experiment, A syrup prepared from the juice of the garden rasp-
VOL. Ii. 24
458 Rubus villosus.
berry, is ordered by the London Pharmacopeeia, for officinal use. And
I think the blackberry of our own country, is deserving of the same
attention. J had designed to give in this number a figure of the Ru-
bus procumbens, or dewberry, which is closely allied to the plant
now under consideration, in a medicinal point of view. I unfortu-
nately, however, let the period of its florescence pass by, and it will
consequently be excluded from these two volumes, though I shall not
omit to figure it, should the work be continued. What has been
said of the root, and of the fruit of the blackberry, however, may very
justly be considered as applicable to the root and fruit of the dewber-
ry. Indeed, the two plants are not unfrequently used indiscriminately,
TABLE XXXIX.
Fig. 1. Represents a flowering branch of the Rubus villosus, a spe-
cimen having been selected, containing a few flowers.
They are often very numerous and form a kind of pa-
nicle, |
2. Represents the fruit, which is a compound berry, with the
acini frequently projecting irregularly beyond the line of
the circumference. It must here be remarked, that black-
berries are often found, particularly late in the season,
smaller, and less oblong, or more globular than this—
which, however, is the genuine form of the fruit.
8
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HEUCHERA AMERICANA.
ALUM-ROOT. AMERICAN SANICLE,
Hevcnera Americana. L. Sp. Pl. 238. Hort. Cliff. 82. Gron. Virg. 29. Roy. Lugdb.
437. Mill. Dict. Knip. Cent. 5. n..42. Murray, Nov. Com. Gott. vol. iii. p.
66. Herm. Parad. 131. t. 151. Pluk. Alm. 332. t. 58. f. 3. Houttuyn. Pfl.
Syst. Lin. v. p. 840. Willd. Sp. Pl. i. p. 1328. Muhl. Cat. 2d. ed. p. 29. Hort.
Kew. i. p. 320. Royen. 437. Boerh. i. p. 208. Bart. Col. ed. 3d. par. i. p.
9. par. 2. p. 2. Coxe’s Disp. 3d. ed. 350. Dyck. Ed. Disp. 416. Pursh, FI.
Am. Sep. i. p. 187. Mich. Fl. Am. Boreali. i. p. 171. Elliot. Sketch. i. p. 337.
Nutt. Gen. Am. Pl. i. p. 174. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 36. Comp. FL Ph. i. p.
133. Stoke’s Bot. Mat. Med, ii. 41.
HEUCHERA.
Gen. Pl. 447.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Sawifragae.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Succulentae.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Pentandria. Ordo Digynia.
460 Heuchera Americana.
Hevcnera, L.* Calix 5-fidus. Petala 5-parva. Stamina 5. Capsula 2-locularis. Folia
H Americanae radicalia et flores in scapo paniculati terminales. H. Dichoto-
mae caulis dichotomus et pedunculi 2-flori foliis oppositis axillares.
Juss, Gen. Plant. ed. 1789. p. 308.
Caps. 2-locularis, 2-rostris. Pet. five, calici inserta.
Gen. Ch. Cal. Perianth of one leaf, with five roundish, narrow, obtuse segments. Cor.
Petals five, lanceolate, inserted into the margin of the calix, and of the same
length with it. Stam. Filaments five, awl-shaped, erect; anthers roundish.
Pist. Germen roundish, cloven half way down, ending in two straight styles,
the length of the stamens; stigmas obtuse. Peric, Capsule ovate, acuminated,
half cloven, of two cells, with two beaks which are reflexed. Seeds numerous,
small:
Ess. Ch. Petals five. Capsule with two beaks and two cells.
Hevcuera Americana; viscido-pubescens; scapo foliisque aperiusculis, foliis mo-
dice rotundato-lobatis dentatis ; dentibus dilatatis obtusis mucronatis, pedun-
culis panicule tres dichotomis divaricatis, calicibus brevibus obtusis, petalis
lanceolatis longitudine calicis, staminibus longe exsertis. Pursh.
Viscid and pubescent; scapes naked, thyrsus elongated ; radicle leaves on long
petioles, with rounded lobes. Pers.
SYNONYMA,
Hevcuera cortusa. Mich.
Hevcuera viscida. Pursh. .
Cortusa Americana. Herm.
Miretxa Americana, flore squallide purpureo, villoso. Boerh.
PHARM.
Hevcuerz Americana, Radix.
Heuchera Americana, 464
Tue genus Heuchera was named in honour of John Henry
Heucher, professor of medicine in the University of Wittemberg,
who was the author of a botanical and some medical publications.*
According to Pursh there are five species natives of North Ame-
rica; though Dr. Muhlenburg and Mr. Nuttall only enumerate three.
H. Americana is the only species with which I am acquainted. It is
indeed the only one growing in Pennsylvania and Jersey; and it is
in this neighbourhood quite common.
The root is horizontal, irregular, knotty, slightly compressed, of a
yellowish colour, and an intensely astringent taste. There are no
stems. The scapes are numerous from a single root, naked, terete,
smooth under the ground, and just where they emerge from it, of
a bright carmine colour. Higher up they become very hairy, and of
a green colour, frequently attaining a height of two or three feet.
The common height is about fourteen inches. The leaves are all
radical, cordate, five to seven lobed, having the lobes rounded and
toothed, and the teeth garnished with a small point. The flowers
are small, borne on a long, loose, terminal and pyramidal panicle or
thyrsus. Calix five-parted. Petals minute, rose-coloured, inserted
* He published in 1711, « Index Plantarum Horti Medici Academie Wittemberg-
ensis,” arranged according to the system of Rivinius. And in 1712, he published a
treatise entitled, « De igne per ignem extinguendo, sive de prastantissimo Cam-
phore usu in febribus acutis.”
4162 Heuchera Americana,
into the tube of the calix. Filaments more than twice the length of
the calix, delicate, yellow, and inserted into the calix. Anthers small,
red, globose, two-celled. Germ bifurcated at the summit, and end-
ing in two diverging slender styles. Capsule consists of two long
beaks, containing a great number of very small blackish or deep
brown seeds.
The whole plant is every where covered with a soft pubescence,
which on the branches of the panicles and upper parts of the scapes,
is viscid or clammy; and the margins of the leaves are finely
fringed. The viscid pubescence caused Pursh to alter the specific
name here used, to that of viscida. The plant inhabits shady woods,
thickets, among rocks, and stony places in fields, near water, seem-
ing always to prefer a moist soil, and one tolerably rich. It is in full
flower in May, June, and at this season may be found in every state
of the union, Pursh says, it varies with nearly smooth leaves,
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
The Alum-root, as its name implies, is an astringent; and for this
property, which it possesses in an eminent degree, the plant is here
figured and described. Little seems to be known, as yet, of its pro-
perties, further than this. And it is not used, so far as I know, in
Pennsylvania, Jersey or Maryland, as a medicine. It is said by Pro- |
fessor Barton, to be one of the articles of the Materia Medica of the
4
Heuchera Americana. 163
Indians, who use it asa styptic, and in the treatment of obstinate slug-
gish ulcers.
Dr. Barton further says, “it is the basis of a powder, which has
lately acquired some reputation in the cure of cancers.’’* In such
cases he supposed its efficacy was owing to its astringency.
Of the medicinal virtues of the plant in question, my own personal
experience does not entitle me to speak, not having ever employed
it in any way. ‘To those who feel inclined to make experiment
with native articles of the class of astringents, it may be confidently
recommended as worthy of notice.
* Collections.
164 Heuchera Americana.
TABLE XL.
Fig. 14. Represents the root, leaves and lower portions of the scapes.
The petioles are generally of unequal lengths, and often
much longer than here represented.
2. The upper portion of a flowering panicle.
3. A flower separated, of its natural size.
4, The germ and styles.
5. The flowers opened, shewing the stamens and petals inserted
into the calix.
6. The same, greatly magnified.
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HEDEOMA PULEGIOIDES.
PENNYROYAL.
Germ. Poleyblattrige Cunile. (Willd.)
Hepeoma Pulegioides. Sp. Pl. i. p. 593. Sub. Melissa Palegioides, Sp. Pl. ii. p. 30.
Gron. Virg. 167. Kalm. it. ii. p. 314. Houttuyn. Lin. Pfl. Syst. v. p. 136.
Willd. Sp. Pl. i. p. 123. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. ii. p. 414. Mich. Fl. Am. Boreal.
i. p. 13. Muhl. Cat. Pl. Am. Sep. 2d. ed. p. 5. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 15 and 63.
Comp. Fl. Ph.i. p. 13. Big. Floru. Bost.7. Elliot, Sketch. i. p. 27. Nutt.
Gen. Am. PI. i. p, 16.
HEDEOMA.
Persoon Synopsis, ii. p. 151.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Labiatae.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Labiatae.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Diandria. Ordo Monogynia.
Cal. basi gibbus. Cor. ringens. Stam. 2-sterilia.
HxpeEoma pulegioides ; pubescens, foliis oblongis serratis, pedunculis axillaribus ver-
ticillatis, calicis labio inferiore bisetso setis ciliatis. Pers. and Pursh.
Pubescent; leaves oblong, serrate; peduncles axillary and verticillate ; the
lower lip of the calix biseted ; the bristles ciliated. B.
VOL, Ii. 22
166 Hedeoma pulegioides.
SYNONYMA.
Conta pulegioides. Willd. Sp. Pl.
Mexissa pulegioides. Sp. Pl. i. p. 595.
Mexissa floribus verticillatis, glomeratis, secundum longitudinem canlis, foliis tomen-
tosis. Gron. =
PHARM.
HepEom pulegioidis, Herba.
DESCRIPTIO UBERIOR.
PxLanTa spithamea, brachiata. Folia lanceolato-ovata, scabriuscula, uno alterove dente
notata: superiora angustiora. Verticilli secundum totam longitudinem plantz.
Bracteae utrinque bine floribus majores, preter alias minutas. (Mant.) Calix
decemstriatus, scaber: L. superiore trifido acuminato, inferiore setaceo. Co-
rolla alba, fauce violacea: Lab. superiore vix emarginato. Stamina duo, co-
rolla breviora, fertilia, et filamenta alia duo minora castrata. ( Willd.)
Pennyroyan needs but little description, being so universally
known. The root is annual, small, branched, fibrous and of a yel-
low colour. The stem is from nine to fifteen inches high, obscurely
angular, but often quite terete, pubescent, and very much branched ;
branches erect. Leaves small, opposite, lanceolate, or ovate, atten-
2
Hedeoma pulegioides. 167
uated at the base, into slender petioles, sparsely dentated, promi-
nently veined, particularly beneath, and pubescent. Flowers very
small, pale-blue, verticillate on short peduncles. Calix striated and
pubescent, having the upper lip divided into two setous, ciliated seg-
ments ; the lower lip into three larger, and destitute of ciliation.
The flowers appear in July, and the plant continues to bloom till
the last of autumn. It is distributed extensively over every part of
the United States, growing always on dry, and seems to prefer arid
and calcareous soils. It is very abundant by road sides, and is fre-
quently seen growing in the crevices and ruts of turnpikes.
The whole plant gives out when pressed between the fingers or
agitated, a strong, pungent and grateful scent, which is extremely
reviving and pleasant. Great quantities of the herb are brought to
the Philadelphia Market, and vended at a trifling price, for medical
purposes; and the ready sale it meets with, proves how extensively
it is used in domestic practice.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
Pennyroyal is introduced into this work, an account of the high
degree of popular confidence it enjoys,as an emenagogue. Whether
the herb is entitled to all the reputation it possesses, in pro-
ducing a return of the suppressed catamenia, I cannot undertake to
168 Hedeoma pulegioides.
say ;. but certainly there are few persons who have used it, that do
not bear testimony of the efficacy of Pennyroyal tea, as the decoc-
tion is usually called, at least in common or slight cases of obstruc-
tion, or interruption of the menses. Hot water readily extracts
the peculiar warm, pungent and aromatic property of the plant; and
sweetened with honey, molasses, or sugar, it is a grateful beverage.
It is generally administered simultaneously with the pediluvium ; and,
I have always heard, and from many highly creditable sources, with
complete success. From what I can learn on the subject, little de-
pendence should be placed on this practice, except in recent cases of
suppression. It is well known that the Mentha Pulegium, that is, Pen-
nyroyal or Pennyroyal-mint of Europe, has no inconsiderable repu-
tation in similar cases. It must not be forgotten, that the American
plant known by the name of Pennyroyal, or wild Pennyroyal, is entirely
distinct from the Pennyroyal of Britain, and belongs indeed to a very
distinct genus. Ihave mentioned this fact here, because it appears
that some of the writers in the American Dispensatories, seem to
speak of them as identical. The same observation applies to a late
work on the Materia Medica.*
An infusion of Pennyroyal is said by Kalm, in his travels through
this country, to be used by persons who have taken cold, and have
pains in the limbs.
I have heard that the Hedeoma pulegioides is sometimes given in
spirituous tinctures, but I know of no instance in which it has been
used. The plant yields an essential oil, for which see Appendix.
* By Dr. Chapman.
Hedeoma pulegioides. 169
TABLE XLI.
Fig. 4. Represents an entire plant of a very common size, of the He-
deoma pulegioides. .
2. The calix, separated.
3. A front view of a separated flower, the size of nature.
4. The same, greatly magnified.
5. A side view of the separated flower.
6. The same, greatly magnified.
trom Nature by WPC Barton
Drawn
(Dittamy )
o
CUNILA MARIANA.
DITTANY.
Mountain Dittany. Wild Basil. Mint-leaved Cunila. Maryland Cuanila.
Cuniza Mariana. Lin. Sp, Pl. 30. Also, Sp. Pl. i, 568. Gron. Virg. 64. Ed. n. 88.
Schoepf, Mat. Med. Am. 5. Hort. Kew. i. 31. Mich. Fl. Boreali-Am. i. 13.
Vahl. enum. i. 213. Pluk. Mant. 34. t. 344. fol. 35. pl. 1. Hist. ox. iii. 413.
s. 11. t. 19.f. 7. Stokes’s Bof. Mat. Med. 1.43. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. ii. 406.
Muhl. Cat. Pl. Am. Sep. ed. 2d. p. 3. Elliot’s Sketch. i. p. 27. Bart. Prod.
Fl. Ph. 15. Comp. Fl, Ph. i. p. 13. Nutt. Gen. Am. PI. i. 15.
CUNILA.
Gen. Pl. 35. Schreb. 46.
Nat. Syst. Juss, Labiatae.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Verticillatae.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Diandria. Ordo Monogynia.
Cunia, L. * Coniele. Calix cilindricus 10-striatus 5-dentatus. Corolla bilabiata, supe-
172 Cunila Mariana.
rits erecta plana emarginata, inferits 3-loba. Semina intra calicem villis clau-
sum. Flores corymbosi aut verticillati, axillares and terminales.
Juss. Gen. Plant. ed. 1789. p. 111.
Cal. cylindricus, 5-dentatus, fauce villosus. Cor. ringens: labio superiore erecto, plano,
emarginato, Stam. 2-sterilia.
Calix cylindrical, 10-striate, 5-toothed. Corolla ringent, with the upper lip erect, flat,
and emarginate. Stamens 2-sterile. The two fertile stamens with the style
exserted, nearly twice the length of the corolla. Stigma unequally bifid. Seeds
four. Mutt.
Gen. Ch. Cal. Perianth one-leafed, cylindrical, striated, with five somewhat unequal
teeth, permanent. Cor. one-petalled, ringent ; upper lip erect, flat, emarginate ;
lower lip three-parted ; segments rounded, middle one emarginate. Stam.
Filaments two, fertile, two without anthers; anthers roundish, didymous. Pist,
Germ superior, four-parted; style filiform; stigma bifid, acute. Peric. The
calix closed at the throat with shaggy hairs. Seeds four, egg-shaped, minute.
Ess. Ch. Calix five-toothed, corolla ringent; upper lip erect, flat. Two of the fila-
ments barren. Seeds four.
Cun Mariana ; foliis ovatis serratis sessilibus, corymbis terminalibus dichotomis.
Willd. and Pursh.
Leaves ovate, serrate, sessile ; corymbs terminal, dichotomous.
SYNONYMA.
Saruresa origanoides. Sp. Pl. 1. 568. Gron. 88. ed. 2d.
Tuymus, &c. Gron. 64. ed. 1.
€aLAMINTHA Mariana mucronatis rigidioribus, &c. Pluk. Mant.
CaLaMinTHa erecta Virginiana, &c. Hist. ox.
Cunila Mariana. 473
PHARM.
Cun1L# Marian. Herba.
‘Qua. Fragrans, spirans, odore ocymum referens.
Vis. excitans, nervina.
Usus. febres intermittentes; cephalalgia; succus expressus cum lacte ad morsura ser-
pentum. Schoepf.
DESCRIPTIO UBERIOR.
Raprx fibrosa perennis. Caulis acute quadrangulatus, ramosus, fulvus. Folia sub-
sessilia, ovata, acuta, serrata basi sub-cordata subtus pallida. Corymbi termi-
nales et axillares dichotomis, pedicellis capillaribus, bracteolis linearibus.
Cal. cylindric, five-fidus, laciniis brevibus equalibus acutis ; 10-striatus, pilis
nitentibus. Os calicis villosum: semina quatuor. Habitat in montosis siccis,
et sylvis aridis umbrosis, florens Julio.
Tue genus* to which this handsome little plant belongs, is peculiar
to America; and it contains properly, now that Hedeoma is separated
from it, only the single species here figured—the second species, C.
capitata of Vahl, being more nearly allied, it is said, to Ziziphora.
The root of dittany is small, fibrous and yellowish, resembling that
of the common pennyroyal. The stem is delicate and slender, four-
* Cunila is the MOViAN, of Plin. Nicand.
VOL, II. 23
474: Cunila Mariana.
sided, very smooth, much branched, and of a reddish-yellow, rarely
purplish colour. The branches are given off opposite, or nearly so, to
each other. The leaves are small, punctated, sub-sessile, opposite,
ovate, acute, round-cordate at base, sharply serrated, of a dry texture,
and waved on the margin and disk. They are very glabrous above,
and of a fine green colour, and bluish-green, on their under surface.
Flowers numerous, in terminal and sometimes axillary dichotomous
corymbs, situated on short, filiform, yellow or reddish peduncles.
Calix striated. Corolla bluish-purple. Mr. Elliot describes it as white
in the mountains of Carolina. Stamens and style exserted, twice the
length of the corolla. Stigma bi-cleft, and didymous, The time of
flowering is from July to the last of September.
The dittany is always found on dry soils, in shady and _ hilly
woods, and, in the southern states chiefly inhabits mountainous
tracts of land.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES,
The earliest notice of the medicinal virtues of dittany, is in the
work of Schoepf, who describes it as a stimulant and nervine, and
as useful in intermittent fevers; in head-ache; and the expressed
juice with milk as an application to the bites of serpents. At the
time that Schoepf wrote, this country was more uncultivated than
Cunila Mariana. A475
now, and the bites of venomous serpents more frequent. Hence the
country people resorted to a variety of plants for the purpose of
healing those bites, and preventing their injurious effects on the sys-
tem. It appears, that among other supposed specifics, the dittany
was considered as useful. As, however, the properties of the plant
are not sufficiently active to promise any good in such cases, this
part of his account may be passed over. Of its use in intermittents,
I know nothing; but in slight fevers and colds, the dittany tea is
much used, as I know from observation and enquiry, with a view to
excite perspiration. It still retains a considerable share of popular
confidence as a nervine, being frequently resorted to, to relieve ner-
vous head-achs, and various hysterical affections. I have never used,
_ nor prescribed dittany tea; but as a warm, grateful, refreshing, and
slightly stimulating ¢isan, it may be safely recommended. Mr. Elliot
says, an infusion of the leaves of this plant is often given in the
southern states, in fevers, with a view to excite perspiration. The
dittany belongs to the class of stimulating, warm, and grateful aro-
matics, which comprises the mints, the monardas, and pennyroyal;
and does not, probably, differ essentially in medicinal virtues, from
any of these.
4176 Cunila Mariana.
TABLE XLII.
Fig. 14. Represents a flowering specimen, broken off a few inches
above the root, of Cunila Mariana.
2. A flower, separated.
3. The corolla, opened.
(All the size of nature.)
lable 43
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LO IBIKILILA CAIRIDINAILIS .
(Cardimal Plant .)
*
LOBELIA CARDINALIS.
CARDINAL PLANT. CARDINAL FLOWER.
Germ. Die rothe Kardinals blume.
Dutch. Kardinaals bloem.
Engl. The Scarlet Lobelia, or Cardinals’ Flower.
French. Lobelie Cardinale; La Cardinale.
Ttal. ior Cardinale: Cardinalizia.
Span. Escurripa.
Port. Cardealina.
Lospetia cardinalis. L. Hort. Cliff. 426. Hort. Ups. 276. Roy. Lugdb.421. Gron.
Virg. 134. Mill. Dict. n. 1. sub. Rapuntio. Kniph. Cent. 4. n.42. Knorr,
delic. ii. t. L. 2. Moris. Hist. ii. p. 466. s. 5. t. 5. f. 54. Hern. Mex. 879. t.
880. Houttuyn. Lin. Pf. Syst. x. p. 65. Willd. Sp. Pl. tom. 1. par. 11. p. 944.
Mich. Fl. Boreali-Am. vol. ii. p. 151. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. vol. ii. p. 448. Bot.
Mag. 320. Rob. ic. 137. Knorr, delic, ii. t. L. 2. Bart. Comp. Fl. Ph. vol.
ii. p. 62. Muhl. Cat. 2d ed. p- 22. Nutt. Gen, Am. PI. vol. ii. p. 77. Drake,
Pict. Cin. p. 87. Schoep. Mat. Med. Am. p. 128. Bart. Collections, ed. 3d
par. 1. p. 40. Hort. Kew. iii. p. 284. Cutler, in Am. Acad. i. p. 484. Rupp.
al. Hall. p. 248. Park. Parad. t. 355. f. 6. Stokes, Bot. Med. vol. i. p. 344.
VOL. II. 24:
178 Lobelia cardinalis.
LOBELIA.
Gen. Pl. 1363.
Cal. 5-fidus. Cor, 1-petala, irregularis, sepius fissa. Caps. infera, 2-3-locularis.
Calix 5-cleft. Corolla monopetalous, irregular, on the upper side cleft nearly to its
base. Stamina united into a tube. Stigma 2-lobed; involucrate; involucrum
(or indusium) bearded. Capsule inferior or semisuperior, 2 or 3-celled, open-
ing at the summit. Seeds minute, scabrous.
Oxs. Suffruticose, shrubby, rarely arborescent, most commonly herbaceous;
leaves alternate; flowers minutely bi-bracteolate, solitary and axillary, or ter-
minal and racemose; raceme bracteate; flowers bilabiate, 5-cleft, upper lip
cloven, segments linear, lower trifid, lacinie ovate cr obovate, palate chan-
nelled or bidentate, often bimaculate. "Tube of the anthers curved at the sum-
mit, bearded and perforated, at length admitting the egress of the stigma.
Colour of the flowers scarlet, fulvous, or more commonly blue. Nutt.
Nat. Syst. Jussieu. Lobeliacez. (Ann. du mus.)
Nat. Ord. Lin. Campanacee.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Monadelphia. Ordo Pentandria,
LoBELIA cardinalis; erecta, simplex, pubescens; foliis ovato-lanceolatis, acuminatis,
eroso-denticulatis, racemo subsecundo multifloro, genitalibus corolla longio-
vibus. Willd. and Pursh.
SYNONYMA.
Rapuntium galeatum Virginianum coccineo flore majore. Moris.
Rapuntium maximum coccineo spicato flore. Herm. Max.
Flos cardinalis Barberini. Cal. ap. Hern,
Trachelium Americanum. Park. Parad.
Lobelia coccinea, Stokes. :
2
Kobelia cardinalis. 179
PHARM.
LoBELI® cardinalis, Radix.
Few native plants equal in beauty this gaudy flower. Indeed, it
is far more showy and elegant than a multitude of exotics so indus-
triously cultivated. Wherever seen, it is greatly admired, and per-
haps it only requirés to be generally known, in order to obtain a
high station in the catalogue of favourite plants.
It is a native of all our marshes and meadows, from one end of
the union to the other; and in the autumn, the season of its flower-
ing, it decorates them with its beautiful, long-blooming carmine
flowers, forming a gorgeous contrast with the showy blue flowers of
its congener, the L. siphilitica. Pursh describes a white variety.
The root resembles that of many species of the genus, as the in-
flata, siphilitica, Claytoniana, &c. It is perennial, whitish-yellow,
fibrous, of a nauseous pungent taste, affecting the fauces in a manner
similar to that of the inflata, producing a taste resembling that of
tobacco. The stem is erect, pubescent, simple, from two to four feet
high, terminating in a long spike of brilliant carmine-coloured
flowers, those towards the top coming into bloom successively after
the lower ones have decayed, so that the plant continues a long time
in flower. The leaves are broad-lanceolate, of a fine shining green,
i180 Lobelia cardinalis.
and erosely denticulate on the margin. The period of flowering is
from the last of July till September, during which time it may be
abundantly found in marshes, low meadows, the borders of rivulets,
springs, and in watery thickets, in every state in the union.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
This. acrid, lactescent plant, is introduced in this work on account of
its reputed efficacy as an anthelmintic. Little, however, seems to be
known with certainty, of its powers ; the chief claim it has to notice
as a medicine, being derived from the circumstance of the Cherokee
Indians using it successfully to expel worms. The earliest notice of it
which has met my eye, is. to be found in the valuable little work of
Schoepf. That writer intimates that it has been used in the same
manner as the L. siphilitica, in siphilis ; and though this circumstance
may not add to its medical importance, it evinces an early im-
pression of the activity of the plant, and of a similarity in its
virtues, to those of the better known species just alluded to. Dr.
Drake has enumerated the Cardinal Plant among the anthelmintic
vegetable productions of Ohio: but he does not say whether he has
ever used it, or ever seen it employed with a view to such an effect
onthe system. Of the medicinal powers of this plant, I am not able
to state any thing from my own experience; but am of opinion that
its sensible properties, its reputed powers, and the well known ac-
tivity of the genus.to which it. belongs, fully entitle it to further
notice.
Lobelia cardinalis. 484
TABLE XLII.
Fig. 4. Represents the upper portion of a flowering specimen of Lo-
belia cardinalis, the size of nature.
2, An outline of one of the lower leaves, which are largest to-
wards the root, and gradually lessen in size as they are
situated higher up on the stem.
3. A flower separated.
4, The petals removed, shewing the column of stamens, and
pistil with the calix.
5. The stamens removed, exhibiting the pistil. The filaments
are carmine, and the anthers lead-blue.
a iia lanitclcia
latle. dd
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CTHUIE IN OPODITM AN THE LMIIN TIC UML ;
(Jerusalem Oak,
CHENOPODIUM ANTHELMINTICUM.
JERUSALEM OAK,
Worm-seed. Worm Goose-foot.
*
Germ. Der wurmtreibender Gansefuss; warmsamen, wurmmelde ; wurmmelte.
Dutch. Wurmdryvend ganzevoet. Wurm-melde.
_ Engl. Shrubby Goose-foot.
French. L’Anserine vermifuge. Ansérine anthelmintique.
Portu. Chenopodio vermifugo. 2
Span. Anserinaanthelmintica. Ceniglo antelmentico.
anvomodroy EAMIVTAYOYOY,
CuENnopopiuM anthelminticum. Kalm, Canad. ii. p. 283. Mat. Med. p. 73. Dill.
elth. 77. t. 66. t.76. Houttuym. Lin. Pfl. Syst. 5. p. 809. Willd. Sp. Pl. vol. i.
p- 1304. Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. vol. i. p. 198. Lin. Sp. Pl. 5320. Mat. Med. 190.
Ameen. Academ. iv. p.532. Clayton, Virg. 145. Gron. Virg. ed. n. 39. Schoepf,
~ Mat. Med. Am. p. 51. Barton’s Cullen, vol. ii. p. 414. Drake’s Pict. Cincin.
p. 87. Nutt. Gen. Am. Pl. vol. i. p. 199. Thacher’s Disp. 3d ed. p. 180.
Dyck. Edin. Disp. p. 226. Wilkins, Med. Mus. vol. v. Coxe’s Disp. sd ed.
p. 258. Mubl. Cat. ed. 2d p. 28. Barton’s Collec. ed. 3d, par. 1. page 39 and
63. Chapman’s Therap. and Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 70. Bart. Comp. FI. Ph.
* vol. i. p. 149. Flore Medicale Francois. Elliott, Flor. Can. and Georg. vol.
i. p. 351. Walt. Fl. Car. p. 111. Mich. Fl. Boreal. Am. i. p. 173. Hort. Kew.
i. p. 513. Berg. p. 177. Merry, account from, in Chir. Rev. xviii. par. ii.
Murray, iv. p. 275. Chalm. i. p. 71. Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med. ii. p. 19.
184 Chenopodium anthelminticum.
CHENOPODIUM.
Gen. Pl, 435.
Nat. Syst. Juss. 4iriplices.
Nat. Ord. Lin. Oleracez. ;
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Pentandria. Ordo Digynia.
Sem. 1-lenticulare, superum. Cal. 5-phyllus, 5-gonus.
Calix 5-parted, with 5-angles. Corolla none. Style bifid (rarely trifid.) Seed 1-lenti-
cular, horizontal, covered by the closing calix.—Leaves alternate, often angu-
lar in the outline. Flowers glomerate, paniculate. uit.
CuEeNnopopivum anthelminticum ; foliis ovato-oblongis, dentatis, racemis aphyllis.
Leaves oblong-lanceolate, sinuate and dentate, rugose; racemes naked; style
one, 3-cleft. Elliot.
SYNONYMA.
CuEenopopivoM lycopi folio, perenne. Dill,
Borrys prealta frutescens, &c. Clayt. and Gron.
PHARM.
Cuxnopopit anthelmintici—Herba, succus spissatus, semina, ol. essential.
*
Tuts is a very common looking plant, of repulsive habit, and ex-
cessively disgusting odour. It closely resembles two or three species
Chenopodium anthelminticum. 185
of the same genus,* and has been confounded, especially with one,
the Chenopodium ambrosioides, from which it is dificult for com-
mon observers to distinguish it. The root of Jerusalem oak is pe-
rennial. The stem is herbaceous, upright, very much branched,
deeply grooved, and from two to four, or five feet high. It is said
by some to exceed this stature, though it has not happened to me to
meet with it more than three feet high. The leaves are arranged
alternately, and somewhat irregularly; are sessile, very conspicuously
veined, of a yellowish-green colour; and, under a lens, covered on
their under surface, with terebinthinate globular dots. The flowers,
as in most of the species, are very small and numerous, being borne
on long, axillary, dense, leafless spikes. One ofthe principal charac-
teristics of this plant is discoverable in this leafless structure of the
spikes; and in this respect it differs remarkably from the C. ambro-
sioides, with which it is so frequently confounded. The calix is mo-
nophyllous, five-cleft, persistent, shewing the stamens conspicuously
beyond the extremities of the teeth. Filaments white, anthers yel-
lowish-white. Style trifid. The flowers of this plant appear in the
beginning of July, and continue till the last of August. I have, how-
ever, sometimes found flowering specimens as late as September.
Its favourite haunts are in loose soils, near rubbish and fences. It
is, however, notso common a plant as either of the other species, in
the middle and northern states. To the south it appears to be fre-
* Chenopodium is derived from x», (nves,) and meus, (wedes.) Anserine derived from
anser, a goose; hence the name goose-foot.
VOL. I. 25
186 Chenopodium anthelminticum.
quent and abundant, and to acquire a greater size than here. Pursh
says this species “ grows plentifully in the streets of Philadelphia,”°»—
He must certainly, in this instance, have observed carelessly, else he
would have ascertained that it is the Chenopodium ambrosioides
which is so common in our streets, by the gutter ways, and in the
suburbs on vacant lots among rubbish. The late Professor Barton
always considered that plant the C. anthelminticum, as did Pursh.—
The least attention, however, to the characters of the two species,
will prove that they have both erred in this instance. The odour
of the C. ambrosioides, is different from that of the plant under
notice. It is much less subtle, pungent and disagreeable, and
does not continue so powerful on the dried plant as in the other
species,
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES,
The very peculiar odour emanating from every part of this plant,
I have already noticed, with a view to point out the distinction be-
tween it and the ambrosioides. This odour is so disgusting, that it
seems in some measure to detract from the value of the article as a
medicine, because of the difficulty of inducing children to swallow
any preparation from it. It has been compared to the odour of vale-
rian; which, however, is much more tolerable. The whole plant and
the seeds, are alike imbued with the peculiar scent. The medicinal
2
Chenopodium anthelminticum. 187
preparations are—the expressed juice; the bruised seeds, in an elec-
tuary ; a decoction of the leaves in milk; and an essential oil, extract-
ed from the seeds. The latter is the most common form of admin-
istering the article; and, as it conveys the essential properties of the
plant in the smallest bulk, seems to be entitled to a preference to
the other methods. In whatever manner it be given, the effect looked
for, is an expulsion of worms from the alimentary canal. The an-
thelmintic virtues of this species of goose-foot, were early noticed by
Kalm, Clayton, Schoepf, and others, and are now very generally ac-
knowledged, so that the article constitutes one of the legitimate
catalogue of medicines. It is conspicuously noticed in all our dis-
pensatories and works on Materia Mediea; and is undoubtedly very
estimable.
The essential oil, under the name of worm seed oil, enjoys a great
share of popular favour, and hence has unfortunately been an object
of a very reprehensible cupidity in the adulteration of it. A spurious
kind of oil is sold under the above name, which appears to be
made from the Chenopodium ambrosioides, with the addition of a
considerable proportion of turpentine spirit. This preparation is in-
efficacious as an anthelmintic, and is easily known by the absence of
the very remarkable odour of the true plant, and the oil prepared
from its seeds.
Of the expressed juice of the recent leaves, a table spoonful is re-
188 Chenopodium anthelminticum.
commended to be given on an empty stomach morning and even-
ing, repeating the dose till worms be discharged. A wine glass full
of the decoction of the plant in milk, in the proportion of a handful
of the leaves to a quart of milk, is the dose for a child; and when
the oil is administered, from five to eight or ten drops may be given
to a child two years old on a lump of sugar, and this continued twice
or thrice a day for three days; a mercurial purge is then to be
given. If the effect be not produced, and worms be still suspected
to exist, the same plan is to be pursued till successful. In this
manner I have used this article, and found it efficacious, produc-
ing a full discharge of worms; but have not had it in my power to
try it in any other form. M. Biétte says, it is given in France, in
marmalade or beer, as a vermifuge ; and Chalmers particularly re-
commends an electuary prepared with the pulverized seeds, mixed
with honey. Of this a table spoonful morning and night for three
successive days, is the dose he recommends for a child.
Chenopodium anthelminticum. 189
TABLE XLIV.
Fig. 4. A flowering specimen, the size of nature, of Chenopodium
anthelminticum.
2. A flower, greatly magnified.
3. The fruit enveloped by the calix, magnified.
4. Three seeds, the size of nature.
5. A seed, greatly magnified.
Table. 43.
ali i
0 Nature by WP
Barton
PAN?
UINQUEFOLIU?
iS ¢md.
a |
ees
a
Slop x.
PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM.
GINSENG.
Germ. Finfblattrige Kraftwurz, Kraftwurzel.
French. Ginseng.
Chin. Jin-chen
Japan. Nindsin; dsindsom.
Tartare. Mandchon Orkoda,
froquois. Garent-oquen.
Danish, Ginseng, ginsem,
Portu, Ginsano.
Spanish. Jin-seng.
Panax quinquefolium. L. Sp. Pl. 1512. Gron. Virg. 147. Mat. Med. 222. Kaim, it.
iii. p. 334.. Mill. Dict. n. 1. Blackw. t. 513. Regn. Bot. Mich. Am. ii. p.
256. Lafit. Ginseng. 51. t. 1. Catesb. Car. iii. p. 16. t. 16. Waill. Sex. 43.
Trew. ehret. t. 6. f. 1. Houttuyn. Lin. Syst. Pfl. x. p. 333. Pursh, Fl. Am.
Sep. vol. ii. p.191. Catesb. Car. iii. t. 16. Bot. Mag. 1333. Woodville, Med.
Bot. i. t. 58. Breynius, Prod. p. 52. Sarrasin, Hist. Acad. 1718. Bourdelin,
Hist. de PAcademie, 1797. Jartoux, in Phil. Trans. xxviii. p. 237. Osbeck,
China, p. 145. Barton’s Cullen. Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 115. Heberden, Med.
Trans. vol. iii. p. 34, Nutt. Gen. Am. PI. vol. i. p. 176. Muhl. Cat. ed. 2d p.
101. Bart. Comp. FI. Ph. vol. i. p. 136. Coxe’s Disp. ed. Sd, p. 467. Raii.
Hist. p. 1338. Cutler, in Am, Acad. i. 492. Fothergill, J. in Gent. Mag,
192 Panax quinquefolium.
xxiii. p. 209. Geoffr. ii. 115. Hill. 589. Stokes’s Bot. Mat. Med. ii. p. 157.
Lewis, i. 467. Disp. by Duncan, p. 269. Monro, iii. 119. Rutty, p. 219.
Spielm. p. 357. Vog. p. 219. Dale, p. 235. Pearson, R. ii. p. 195. Mur. i. 330.
PANAX.
Gen. Plant. ed. Schreb. n. 1604.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Araliz.
By Nat. Ord. Lin. Hederaceze—later botanists, Umbellatz.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Pentandria. Ordo Trigynia. According to Wilide-
now and others, Polygamia Diecia.
Umbella simplex. Bacca cordata, 2-sperma. Polygama. Pursh.
Hermaph. umbella. Cal. 5-dentatus, superus. Cor. 5-petala. Stam. 5-styli 2. Bacca dis-
perma infera.
Masculi. umbella. Cal. integer. Cor. 5-petela. Stam. 5. Willd.
Flowers polygamous; umbel simple. Cali 5-toothed. Corolla of 5-petals. Berry in-
ferior, subcordate, 2, sometimes 3-seeded. Calix in the male flower entire.
: Nutt.
Panax quinquefolium ; radice fusiformi, foliis ternis quinatis, foliolis ovalibus acumi-
natis, petiolatis, serratis—Willd. and Pursh.
Root fusiform, leaves ternate and quinate, leaflets oval, acuminate, petiolate,
serrate,
SYNONYMA.
Avreiana Canadensis. Lafiteau and Catesby.
ARALIASTRUM quinguefolii folio, (majus ninsin vocatum.) Vaill.
ARALIAsTRUM foliis ternis quinquepartitis. Trew.
Aral Canadensis. Tourn.
Panax quinquefolium. 193
PHARM.
Pan. quinquefol. Radia,
Tue root of Panax quinquefolium is about three or four inches in
length, and usually of the thickness represented in the plate. It is
of a whitish-yellow colour, and consists of one, two, or three tap-
shaped portions. It is wrinkled transversely by parallel ruge or
lines, and the whole surface is covered with small, whitish radicles.
Itis perennial ; and each year’s stalk leaves, after dying away, an an-
gular mark, as represented in the upper portion of the root figured,
where these marks are numerous. It is generally deep-seated in the
ground; and growing most commonly at the roots of trees, is not
very easily obtained. The stem is erect, terete, green below, but
tinged with purplish-red towards the end, whence the petioles arise.
These are three in number, diverging in a regular manner, having
the flower-stalk situated in the fork, produced by the union at their
base with the top of thestem. The petioles are about two or three
inches long, round, and as in the genus Aralia, swelling into a kind of
knob at their base, where they have a slight motion with each
other, and support three compound leaves. The leaflets are
mostly five in number, but sometimes only three on one of the
petioles, as represented in the plate. I have not seen any specimens
with seven leaflets, though botanists state that they are sometimes met
with. They are ovate, acuminate, doubly serrate, deep green above,
VOL, Ii. 26
494: Panax quinquefolium.
paler underneath, and smooth on either side ; they are supported
by partial footstalks, from a quarter to half an inch in length, flat-
tened and grooved, and tinged with red at the point of union with
the general footstalk. The flowers are very small, and borne in a
globose umbel ona peduncle, at first short, but afterwards becoming
elongated as the flower advances towards fruit: and when the fruit is
finally ripe, it attains the length represented in Fig. 7. The involu-
crum consists of numerous, small, yellowish, pointed leaves, which be
come reddish when the fruit is mature. The calix is cut into five
sharp teeth, and is persistent, being generally found on the apex of
the ripe berry. The corolla is white, consisting of five oval, fugacious
petals. The stamens in perfect flowers are five in number, crowned
with heart-shaped anthers ; and the pistils consist of an irregular,
‘ inferior, oblong or cordate flattened germ, and two persistent
arcuate styles; though occasionally there are three styles, and often
but one will be found; in which case the berry will become single,
and irregularly shaped, as shown in some of those in Fig. 7. The
berries are of a fine vermillion colour, commonly reniform, with an
apex or crown, as exhibited in the upper berries of the group in Fig.
7. and, as there represented, the inner flowers are but just ex-
panded, while the immature or green berry, and the ripe fruit are to
be found on the same stalk. It is not uncommon to find abortive or
barren flowers. :
Ginseng is not a common plant in the northern and eastern states
2
nal
Panax quinquefolium. 195
of the union. It is much more frequent in the western states, always.
however, being thinly scattered over a large tract of country. It de-
lights in rich, shady, mountainous regions, where it retires to the
deepest recesses of shade and protection, and, as already mentioned,
is generally found near the roots of trees. In the vicinity of Phila-
delphia, it is certainly a rare plant: yet I have been successful in
finding it both on the high rocky banks of the Wissahickon creek,
under deep shade, and in the unbrageous woods above the falls of
Schuylkill on the west side, where it grows in company with other
rare plants, as Dentaria diphylla, D. concatenata, Caulophyllum thalic-
troides, Triosteum perfoliatum, Viola Pennsylvanica, Orchis specta-
bilis, Obolaria Virginiana, &c. The specimens from which the figure
was made, I collected, the flowering one in July, and the fruiting one
in September last, at which time I found five individuals of this
scarce plant within a quarter of a mile of each other. —
The root of this plant is the celebrated Ginseng of the Chinese,
which has, till within a few years past, constituted an article of ex-
tensive and profitable commerce to the inhabitants of North America.
It is not, however, now exported to China, owing either to the quan-
tities obtained in that country, or to some fancied deterioration in
the article ; and I have been informed by a supercargo, that a quan-
tity carried out to Canton a year or two since in a vessel in which he
sailed, was thrown overboard on their arrival there, to avoid pay-
196 Panax quinquefolium.
ment of duties, which exceeded the price the article could com-
mand, :
Ginseng was formerly considered as the peculiar production of
Chinese Tartary, and was not, until the enquiries and investigations
of M. Sarrasin,* Lafiteau,t Bartram,t and Kalm,@ discovered to exist
in North America. The high value of this article in China, and
the virtues it was reputed to possess, rendered it a subject worthy
of enquiry, whether the plant found in this country was iden-
tical with the Tartarian species. Accurate examinations of the two
plants, in comparison With each other, soon satisfied botanists of their
identity; and the Chinese have long accredited the roots of our
Panax quinquefolium, sent to them for consumption, as the veritable
Ginseng of Tartary. Accordingly they eagerly purchased it from us,
and hence it became an article of extensive traffic with them. Those
roots were found to meet with the readiest sale, which were clarified
after the manner used in China, to purify or render it transparent.
The most authentic account we have of the Eastern plant
which produces the esteemed Ginseng of the Chinese, is by Father
* See Memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences, 1718, where this writer has
given a copious account of American Ginseng.
t A Jesuit and missionary among the Iroquois of this country.
$Jobn Bartram.
§ Travels.
Panax quinguefolium. 197
Jartoux, a missionary at Pekin, who was licensed to make a
journey through the mountains of Chinese Tartary, with a view
to acquaint himself with the plant, and the manner of collecting
and preparing it. According to this writer, it is found in greatest
abundance between the 39th and 47th degree of north latitude,
inhabiting the sides of deeply shaded mountains, and the banks of
streams of water, and near the roots of trees. In all the situa-
tions where he met with it, it seemed to court the deepest shade.
The Emperor of China monopolises the privilege of collecting all
the Ginseng in his dominions, and with a view to preserve his
right unmolested, he encloses and guards with great vigilance,
“whole provinces. Notwithstanding the rigorous punishments in-
flicted on those who venture to infringe his right of collecting this
precious herb, the inhabitants frequently enter the interdicted tract
of country in vast numbers, and load themselves with the roots of
Panax, carrying with them for subsistence, during a long time,
nothingbut parched millet, and sleeping on the bare ground. From
those employed by the Emperor himself to collect the roots, he ex-
pects a gratuitous portion, of two ounces of the best procured, from
each individual; and pays for all above this quantity its weight in
silver. This plan insures him an annual receipt of 20,000 Chinese
pounds at about one-fourth of its real value in the market. The col-
lectors steep the roots in a decoction of rice or millet, scour them
with a brush, and then expose them to the fumes of the boiling li-
quor by placing them on sticks above it, till they become dry witha
198 Panax quinquefolium.
semi-transparency, or resembling horn. The yellow colour so much
valued by the Chinese in this root, is acquired during this process.
When dried by fire or the sun’s rays, the roots are equally good,
but destitute of the yellow colour.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
As it is from the Chinese we first learned the medicinal vir-
tues of Ginseng, it may be proper to specify the effects they attribute
to it, previously to giving an opinion as to its real powers. It is al-
most impossible to conceive of a substance capable of producing a
series of more beneficial effects, on the human system, than those
which the fashion, prejudice, or caprice of the Mandarins ascribed to
the Ginseng. The Chinese physicians have, it is said by Jartoux,
written volumes on the root, in praise of its various extraordinary
powers, and it forms the base or chief ingredient in all their prescrip-
tions for the highest classes of the population, and is never or rare-
ly administered to the poor, because of its high price* as has al-
ready been stated. They consider it asa sovereign remedy in all the
diseases incidental to their climate and country; and yield no confi-
dence to any medicine which is not combined with it. They say it
gives instantaneous relief in cases of excessive mental or corporeal
* The price at Pekin, is said to have been eight or nine times its weight in pure silver,
and sometimes more ; according to Kalm, the price at Quebec, in 1748, was five to six
livres a pound. The profit in China, must therefore have been immense.
Panax quinquefolium. 199
fatigue, attenuates and dissolves humours, facilitates difficult res-
piration, invigorates the stomach and digestive organs, sharpens:
the appetite, allays vomiting, cures hypocondriacal, nervous, and
hysterical affections, confirms the tone of the healthy system, and re-
novates the wasting and faded powers of senility,—in fact, that it is
a perfect panacea. Hence, the name of Panax, given to it by Lin-
neus, a term intended to express this catenation of important vir-
tues.* The Chinese, besides chewing it, use it in decoction,
in the proportion of a drachm of the root boiled a long time in a
covered vessel, containing a sufficiency of water for a dose. They
again add water, and boil it a second time to extract all the virtues
of the precious drug. .
It appears from Father Jartoux’s account,t that he himself
_ * Among other visionary effects ascribed to it, it is not surprising that they should
believe it to be an aphrodisiac. Writers on the Materia Medica, among whom, Cullen
is conspicuous, deny that the root has any such effect on the system: and this
author, in expressing his discredit of their accounts on the subject, says, he knew
a gentleman advanced in years, who chewed a quantity of the root every day, for
several years, but could perceive no aphrodisiac effect. Cullen, Mat, Med,
+ « No body can imagine that the Chinese and Tartars would set so high a value
upon this root, if it did not constantly produce a good effect.”—« I observed the state
of my pulse, and then took half of a root rdw; in an hour after, I found my pulse much
fuller and quicker; I had an appetite, and found myself much more vigorous, and
could bear labour much better and easier than before. But 1 did not rely on this trial
alone, imagining that this alteration might proceed from the rest we had that day ;
but four days after, finding myself so fatigued and weary, that I could scarce sit on
200 Panax quinquefolium.
could not withhold his credence from their extravagant tales; but
the experience of other Europeans, does not by any means coincide
with his statement. They, on the contrary, believe it possesses little
medicinal worth ; and refer the numerous beneficial effects ascribed to
it by the Chinese, to the imagination of a people remarkable for their
prejudices, civil, moral and religious. As a proof of this it may be
mentioned, that they set a higher value upon those roots which have
a fancied resemblance to the human form, (as in the root figured in
our plate) and ascribe greater powers to them than to those of dif-
ferent shapes. The Chinese name, and that given it by the North
American Indians, have both reference to this fancied figure of a man.
If Ginseng be admitted into the Materia Medica, it must be arrang-
ed with demulcents, being nearly allied to liquorice. It will be per-
ceived, on chewing the root, that the first impression on the palate is
that of a saccharine substance: and on further mastication it is some-
what mucilaginous and slightly bitter, with a little aromatic flavour.
It has little or no odour. According to Lewis, it is much sweeter and
more grateful than roots of fennel, which it is said to resemble; and
differs remarkably from those roots, in the nature and pharmaceutic
properties of its active principles; the sweet matter of the Ginseng
being preserved entire in the watery as well asin the spirituous ex-
horseback, a Mandarin who was in company with us, perceiving it, gave me one of
these roots ; 1 took half of it immediately, and an hour afterwards, I was not the least
sensible of any weariness. I have often made use of it since, and always with the same
success. I have observed also, that the green leaves, and especially the fibrous parts
of them, chewed, would produce nearly the same effect.” Phil. Trans. vol. xxviii. p. 239.
Panax quinquefolium. 204
tract; whereas, that of fennel roots is destroyed or dissipated in the
inspissation of the watery tincture, He further remarks, that the
slight aromatic impregnation of the Ginseng is in a great measure
retained in the watery extract, and perfectly so in the spirituous.*
This root may likewise be considered as a gentle and innocent
stimulant, producing stomachic effects, and with this view it may be
safely and perhaps quite advantageously used. It is not uncommon
to use it as a masticatory: and referring to the effects on the stomach,
this cannot be esteemed an injurious article.
Alcohol precipitates a gummy mucilage from its solution in water.
It contains no resin nor tannin. The extract is said to be a good pre-
paration for medicinal purposes, and is recommended by Dr. Fother-
gill as a demulcent in the tupis senilis, or tedious chronic cough of
old people.
* Mat, Med. p. 325,
VOL. Il. 27
202 Panax quinquefolium.
TABLE XLY.
Fig. 4. Represents an entire plant of Ginseng, severed from the
root, of the size of nature.
2, The root—this is a common form—sometimes there are three
fusiform processes, and often two or three such roots as
here figured, connected together.
3. A fertile flower, with an involucrate leaf appended to the
pedicel, much magnified.
4, A barren flower, also magnified.
5. A stamen.
6. The calix, with the stamens and styles visible above.
2
Dram trom Nature by WPCBarton.
TR se
ZANTHORHIZA APIIFOLIA.
~~
PARSLEY-LEAVED YELLOW-ROOT, OR YELLOW-WORT.
Shrub Yellow-root.
Germ. Sellérieblattrige Gelbwurz.
ZaNTHORHIZA apiifolia. L’Herit. stirp. i. p. 79. t. 38. Ait. Kew. i. p. $99. Willd.
arb, 414. Willd. Sp. Pl. Tom. 1. par. ii. p. 1568. Mich. Fl. Boreal-Am. vol.
i. p. 186. Muhl. Cat. ed. 2d, p. 33. Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 194.
Marshall, Arb. Am. 168. Woodhouse, in New York Med. Rep. ix. 291.
Juss. Gen. Pl. p. 234. Elliott, Fl. Geo. and Car. vol. i. p. 376. Barton’s
Cullen, vol. ii. p. 57. Nutt. Gen, Am. Pl. vol. i, p. 207. Dyck. Edin. Disp.
p. 504. Thacher’s Disp. ed. 3d, p. 386. Coxe’s Disp. ed. Sd, p. 669. Pursh, Fl,
Am. Sep. vol. i. p. 212. Barton’s Collections, 3d ed. par. i. p. 11.
ZANTHORHIZA.
Gen. Pl. ed. Schreb. 1581.
*
Nat. Syst. Juss. Ranunculacezx.
Nat. Ord. Lin.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Pentandria. Ordo Polygynia.
Cal. 0. Petala 5. Nectaria 5-pedicellata. Caps. 5. Monosperme.
Calix none. Petals five. Lepanthia five, pedicellate. Capsules five to eight, 1-seeded,
semi-bivalve.
ZanTHORHIzA apiifolia; frutex humilis tripedalis. Folia alterna impari-pinnata, fo-
liolis ovato-cuneiformibus, inciso-dentatis, terminali trilobo inciso. Flores
atroviolacei paniculati terminalis. W.
204 Zanthorhiza apiifolia.
SYNONYMA.
ZANTHORHIZA tinctoria. Woodhouse.
ZANTHORHIZA simplicissima. Marshall.
ZANTHORHIZA Marbosia. Bartram.
PHARM.
ZANTHORHIZ# apiifolie. Cortex et lignum radicis. Cortex caulis.
Tus small shrub is from two to three feet high; and is a native of
the southern atlantic states, where it is principally restricted to the
mountains. It is abundant on the banks of the Ohio and in the upper
districts of Carolina, near the mountains. The root is horizontal, send-
ing off numerous suckers. The stem is simple, the bark smooth, but
covered on the young shoots with angular fissures, and the wood is
bright yellow. The leaves are triternate, simply or doubly pseudo-
pinnate, crowded together at the upper portion of the stem. Leaflets
broad-lanceolate, or ovate-lanceolate, acute, doubly serrated, sessile,
of a yellow-green colour, smooth above, and slightly pubescent un-
derneath, supported by long petioles swelling at the base ihto an am-
plexicaule sheath. Flowers in divided racemes, drooping below the
leaves, of a dark purple colour, with obovate, bilobed, deep purple
nectaries. Germs superior, flattened, from five to nine in number,
crowned by styles which vary from two to eight. Capsules inflated and
compressed, one-celled, two-valved, opening at the apex, Seeds oval
Zanthorhiza apiifolia. «B05
and flattened. The period of florescence is April. The specific name
tinctoria was given to it by the late Professor Woodhouse in allusion
to its dying property, that of Marbosia by Bartram in honour of M. de
Marbois—but as L’Heritier’s name seems most appropriate I have
adopted it.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES,
The medical virtues of this shrub are those of a very pure tonic
bitter. Both the wood and bark of the root may be used, but only the
bark of the stems, according to Dr. Woodhouse. The shrub contains
a gum anda resin, both intensely bitter; the resin is more abundant
than the gum.
Dr. Woodhouse used the powdered stem and root in the dose of
two scruples for an adult, combined with other remedies, in many
of those cases in which bitters are recommended. It agrees well
with the stomach, and as astrong and pleasant bitter, it may be consi-
dered as a useful addition to the Materia Medica. It was the opinion
of the late Professor Barton, that the Zanthorhiza was a more intense
bitter than Columbo. He thought the bitterness of the wood of the
root was not so great as of the bark. Sulphat of iron does not alter
the colour ofan infusion of the bark of this root in hot water. Yet
its after taste of acrimony or pungency on the palate seems to jus-
tify the opinion, that it is a less pure bitter than Columbo—though
very nearly allied to it.
206 Zanthorhiza apiifolia,
CECONOMICAL USES.
The yellow juice of this plant imparts a drab colour to woollen
cloth, and a fine yellow to silk; neither cotton nor linen, however,
imbibes any of it. With a proper mordant, it would in all probability
be a valuable native dye. The infusion in hot water is very yellow.
The watery extract of the grated roots mixed with alum, and
added to Prussian blue, was used by Mr. John Bartram, for colouring
plants and the green plumage of birds. This mixture is said to have
produced a more lively colour than the mixture of Prussian blue and
Gamboge, and stands well in the shade, but acquires a dull olive
colour on exposure to heat ora strong light.
TABLE XLVI.
Represents a flowering twig of Zanthorhiza apiifolia, of its natural
size, drawn from a specimen taken from Bartram’s Gar-
den, Kingsess,
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LOBELLA SHPHYLITICA .
> . 2 q
(Bie Cardinal Plant;)
LOBELIA SIPHILITICA.
BLUE CARDINAL FLOWER.
Blue Lobelia, or Cardinal Flower.
French. Lobelie syphilitique; Cardinale bleue.
Ttalien. Lobelia sifilitica.
Span. La siphilitica.
Germ. Blaue Kardinals blume, Gemeine Lobelie.
Engl. Blue cardinal’s flower.
Dutch. Pokkige Lobelia.
Danish. Kopper-Lobeliz.
Losexia siphilitica. L.gHort. Cliff. 426. Mat. Med. 194. Amen. Academ. iv. p. 527.
Gron. Virg. 134. Kniph. Cent. 8. n. 60. Moris. Hist. ii. p. 466. s. 5. t. 5. f. 55,
Dodart. Mem. 297. Rob. ic. Houttuyn. Lin. Pfl. Syst. x. p. 66. L. Sp. Pl.
1320. Mant. 482. Hort. Kew. iii. 284. Woodville, i. 177. t. 63. Drake’s Pict.
Cin, p. 87. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. p. 30. Bart. Comp. FI. Ph. vol. ii. p. 61.
Boerh. i. 250. Chisholm, 25. Lew. Disp. by Dunc. 249. Pearson, J. account
from, in Ann. Med. Lustr. Il, i. 271. and Chir. Rev. vii. 161. Barton’s Col-
lections, ed. 3d, part i. p. 56. Lew. ii. 73. Monro, iii. 160; Sold. ii. 243. Murr,
i. 514. Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med. i. p. 242. Rush, i. 31. Schoepf, 128. Vog. 108.
Mather, in Phil. Trans, Abr. by Jones, part ii. 160. and by Hutton, vi. 86.
Chapman, Elem. Therap, and Mat. Med. i. p. 272. Mich. Fl. Boreal-Am, vol.
208 Lobelia siphilitica.
ii. p. 151. Elliot, Fl. Car. and Geor, vol. i. p. 266. Muhl. Cat. ed. 2d, p. 22.
Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. vol. ii. p. 447. Jacq. ic. 3. t. 597. Dyck. Edin. Disp. p.
306. Coxe, Disp. ed. 3d, p. 404. Thacher’s Disp. ed. 3d, p. 271. Walt. FI.
Car. p. 218. D. Dodart. Memoirs, &c. p. 297. Nutt. Gen. Am. PI. ii. p. 77.
Losexia siphilitica; erecta, simplex, pistilla ; foliis ovato-lanceolatis subserratis,
racemo folioso, calicibus hirsutis, sinubus reflexis, Willd. and Pursh.
Erect, simple, alittle hairy; leaves ovate-lanceolate, subserrate, raceme leafy ;
calices hirsute, with the divisions reflexed.
SYNONYMA.
RapuntTium Americanum ; flore diluté ceruleo. Tournefort and Boerh.
RapouncutLvs galeatus Virginianus, flore violaceo-majore. Moris.
Rapouncuxus Americanus, flore ceruleo. Dodart.
Lopes reflexa. Stokes.
‘TRaAcHELIUM Americanum, flore ceruleo. Rob. ic.
Tan tuttipang. Mather, in Phil. Trans.
PHARM.
Lopexis siphilitice. Radix.
Qvat. lactescens, acris, nauseosa.
Usvs. diuretica, pellens, purgans, emetica.
DESCRIPTIO UBERIOR.
Caulis simplex erectus pedalis, angulis pilis rigidulis a foliorum marginibus decurren-
tibus. Folia alterna sessilia latius lanceolata serrata scabriuscula. Flores
Lobelia siphilitica. 209
axillares solitarii brevissime pediculati coerulei. Cali serrato-denticulatus;
laciniis lanceolatis, sinubus reflexis, germen tegentibus (ut in Campanulis Me-
dio, etc.) Corolla coerulea angulata, laciniis subsequalibus carina ciliatis,
palato 2 gibbositatibus. Mant. 482.
We have already figured and described two species of the genus
to which this fine plant belongs; and, as in them, the root of this one
is perennial, fibrous, acrid, and nauseous. The stem is erect, angled
and simple, hirsute above, destitute of pubescence below, and from
one to three feet high. It is sometimes though rarely branched. The
leaves are crenulate, larger below than above; those near the root,
and the lower portion of the stem, are lanceolate, elliptical, sessile,
strongly veined, somewhat shining, and irregularly and finely denti-
culate on the margin. Those above are lanceolate and also denticulate, —
veined and smooth. As in the cardinal plant, the leaves gradually
diminish in size, particularly in length, from the bottom upwards,
giving the plant a pyramidal appearance when in full bloom. The
flowers are supported on short bracteated pedicels, arranged on
long, leafy, terminal, and sometimes axillary spikes. The flowers are
Prussian blue, blended with white on the under side, the buds being
tinged with yellow, and the inner side of the lacinie of the co-
rolla of a darker blue. The calix consists of five hastate, hispid
segments, ciliated on the margin, and reflexed at either side. The
bracteal leaves, at the base of the pedicels, are likewise ciliated. The
filaments are lead-blue, the anthers white, and projecting conspicu-
ously inside of the upper segment of the corolla. The flowers are
VOL. Il. 28
210 Lobelia siphititica.
apt to fade white, without great care, in drying for the herbarium.
This elegant plant displays its flowers in August and September,
and is a very common inhabitant of meadows, the margins of rivers
and small waters, and the borders of watery thickets.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
Lobelia siphilitica is a lactescent, acrid, and rank-smelling plant,
particularly the root, which alone, seems to be useful for medicinal
purposes. It has found its way into the works on Materia Medica,
by its reputed efficacy in curing siphilis among the Indians of this
country. The use of the plant with this view, was long preserved as
an important secret among them, until it was purchased by sir Wil-
liam Johnson, who made it known to Europeans, and since then it
has been repeatedly tried under every favourable circumstance by
physicians of eminence,* and the result has been, that its reputed
antisiphilitic powers are no longer credited. Indeed, it seems
probable, that the Indians themselves did not trust in the cure of
true siphilis to this herb, but used, in conjunction with it, the bark of
Wild cherry, (Prunus Virginiana) the root of May-apple, (Podophyl-
* Desbois de Rochefort and others have administered this root in Siphilis without
the least success: and Pearson, in his work on the effects of various articles in the cure
of siphilis, corroborates the worthlessness of the herb in that disease. Ihave myself
used it in more than five or six cases, without perceiving the slightest benefit.
2
Lobelia siphilitica. 244
lum peltatum) and many other plants.* They, in general, had re-
course to the advice of Europeans, when attacked with this disease,
not reposing entire confidence in their own inefficient plan of treat-
- ment. Dr. Barton was of opinion that the plant had cured gonorrhea,
and speaks confidently on this point, believing that it operated bene-
ficially in this complaint, by the diuretic virtues, which it certainly
possesses. Dr. Chapmant mentions that some of the western physi-
cians resort to it for the cure of dropsy with success; but does not
himself speak of any personal experience on this point. It appears
to act frequently as a sudorific, a purgative, and an emetic.
The root is to be given in decoction in the proportion of half an
ounce to one or two pounds of water; and also in extract, of which
from five to twenty grains made into pills, may be given. It is neces-
sary to omit the medicine when purging or vomiting is induced. ‘The
directions given for its use, with a view to cure siphilis, are as follow:
“a decoction is made of a handful of the roots in three measures of
water. Of this, half a measure is taken in the morning fasting, and re-
peated in the evening; and the dose is gradually increased till its pur-
ative effects become too violent, when the decoction is to be inter-
mitted for a day or two, and then renewed till a perfect cure is effect-
ed. During the use of this medicine, a proper regimen is to be en-
joined, and the ulcers are also to be frequently washed with the de-
* Barton’s Collections. + Elem. Therap. and Mat. Med.
212 Lobelia siphilitica.
coction, or if deep and foul, to be sprinkled with the powder of the
inner bark of the New Jersey tea-tree, (Ceanothus Americanus, )??*
This plan is said to cure the disease ina very short time; but we have
already given sufficient reasons for want of confidence in it.
TABLE XLVII.
Fig. 1. Represents the upper portion of Lobelia siphilitica, in flower.
2, An outline of a leaf near the bottom.
3. A flower separated, with the leaf always appended to the
peduncle.
4. The corolla, cut open.
—
5. The calix, with the column of stamens and pistil.
6. The pistil and germ.
(All the size of nature.) ©
* Woodville, Med. Bot.
F
(Poke,)
PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA.
POKE.
Pigeon-berries. Garget. Poke-weed. Cocum. Jalap Cancer-root. Skoke, or Coakum.
Germ.
Dutch.
Engl.
French.
Italian.
Span.
American-Nightshade.
Gemeine Rermesbeere. Die Americanische Scharlachbere oder Rermesbeere ;
Americanischer Nachtschatten; Virginische Purgaze.
Tienmannige lakplant.
The branching Phytelacca or Virginian Poke. The mountain Calale or
Pok-weed.
Morelle agrappes; Grand morelle des Indes; Vermillion plante ; Herbe dela
laque ; Mechoacan du Canada; Rasin d’Amerique.
Pianta lacca.
Hierba carmin.
Puyrotacca decandra. L. Hort. Cliff. 177, Hort. Ups. 117. Mat. Med. 118. Gron.
Virg. 161. Mill. Illus. Reg. Bot. Blackw. t. 515. Du Roi. Harbk. ii. p. 7.
Hal. Helv. n. 1007, Dill. elth. 318. t. 339, £. 309. Mill. Dict. n. 1. Pluk. Alm,
353. t. 225. f. 3. Houttuyn. Lin. Pfl. Syst, vi. p. 693. Bart. Collections, 3d
ed. par. ii. p. 27. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. 52. Bart. Comp. FI. Ph, i. p. 219,
Pursh, Fl. Am. Sep. vol. i. p- $24, Mich. Fl. Boreal-Am. vol. i. p. 278. Drake’s
Pict. Cin. p. 85. Stokes, Bot. Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 566. Bry. 126. L. Sp.
Pl, 631. Hort. Kew. ii, 122. Bot. Mag. t. 931. Cutler, 447. Dill. Hort. 318.
214: Phytolacca decandra.
t. 239. f. 309. Boerh. ii. 70. Sloane, Cat. 84. Raii. Hist. 662. Park. theatr.
347. Munt. Phyt. 23.t. 112. Dale, 168. 173. Schoepf, 71. Vog. 114. Murr.
iv. 335. Geoffr. suite, i. 403. Lew. Disp. by Duncan, 345. Chom. 787. Rush,
i. 259. Clayt. in Ph. Tran. abr. by Hutt. viii. 331. Ameen. Academ. vol. iv.
p. 524. Muhl. Cat. ed. 2d, p. 47. Puihn. Mat. Med. Venenar. p. 95. Nutt. Gen.
Am. Pl. vol. i. p. 293. Coxe’s Disp. ed. 3d, p. 477. Edin. Disp. by Dyck. p.
337. Big. Med. Bot. vol. i. p. 39. Thach. Disp. ed. 3d, p. 312.
PHYTOLACCA.
Gen. Pl. 800.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Polygonece.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Decandria. Ordo Decagynia.
Cal. 0. Pet. 5-calycina. Bacca supera, 10-locularis, 10-sperma.
Calix 5-leaved, petaloid. Berry superior, 10-celled, 10-seeded.
Puytouacca decandra ; foliis ovatis utrinque acutis, floribus decagynis,
Willd, and Pursh.
Leaves ovate, acute at each end; flowers decandrous decagynous.
SYNONY MA,
PuytTotacca Americana ; majori fructu. Clayt. Chom. Boerh.
PuyTotacc% vulgaris fructus et flores. Dill.
SoLanumM racemosum Americanum. Raii, Sloane, Pluk.
SoLanumM magnum Virginianum rubrum. Park.
Brrtum Americanum, Munt.
Phytolacca decandra. 215
PHARM.
PuyToLaccz decandre. Herba recens, succus, radix, bacce.
Tue Poke is a well-known, large, rank plant, growing abundantly in
every part of the United States, in wastes, rubbish, and near fences
and road sides. It grows to the height of six or eight feet, and
sometimes attains even a greater stature. The root is very large,
often five or six inches in diameter, and consists of a solid, but
soft, fleshy, fibrous mass of whitish colour. It is branched in one
or two large portions; when dried, it becomes light and spongy.
The stem is thick, round, much branched and very glabrous; the
branches are large, and spread in various directions, giving the plant
a breadth of four or five feet. The leaves are ovate, narrowed at
each end, acute, strongly veined on the under surface, and very
smooth on both sides. They are frequently tinged near the base
and along the costa with purple, and when old are quite reddish,
Those situated on the lower portions of the stem and branches are
very large, often nine or ten inches in length; the upper are
considerably smaller; and all of them are supported on short foot-
stalks. The stems are at first green, but become afterwards of a fine
purple hue. The flowers are small, numerous, and borne on long
racemes, sometimes erect, and often drooping, as is the case with the
berries. The corolla consists of five small, ovate, concave petals,
folding inwards ; there is no calix. Stamens, ten in number, shorter
216 Phytolacca decandra.
than the petals, with double white anthers. The pistils are ten, con-
sisting of a flattened, globose, ten-furrowed green germ, and ten short
recurved styles. The berries are deep blackish purple, and very
shining, crowned with the persistent styles. They are full of a fine
purplish red juice. The pedicels of the flowers are variously co-
loured, being sometimes white, green and yellow, and often red;
and when the berries are quite ripe, are of a fine carmine hue. This
plant commences flowering in July,and sometimes continues in bloom
during the whole summer. It is common to find flowers, and the
green and ripe berries for a length of time, on the same stalk. It is
a native of the South of Europe, some parts of Africa, and North
America.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS.
We are indebted to M. Braconnot* for an excellent chemical ana-
lysis of this vegetable. According to this chemist, the Poke contains
an unusual quantity of vegetable alkali in neutral combination with
a peculiar acid allied to the malic, but in his opinion, a mean between
this and the oxalic acids. In his experiments with the colouring
matter of the berries, M. Braconnot discovered that a yellow liquor,
formed by the combination of the purple juice of the ripe berries
and lime water, was a very delicate test of the presence of an acid.
* Annales de Chimie, vol. lxxii.
Phytolacca decandra. 217
A few drops of lime water added to the juice produces a change to
a yellow colour; the purple is again reproduced by a similar por-
tion of acid. M. Braconnot’s comparative experiments with respect
to the sensibility of litmus paper and this yellow liquor, resulted in
the fact, that one-fourth the number of drops of weak acid were suf-
ficient to restore the pristine purple of the yellow compound, which
were necessary to redden litmus paper. The yellow liquor, however,
must be used as soon as made, as it changes in a short time. For
a more detailed account of the chemical analysis, I refer to the me-
moir of M. Braconnot, already quoted, and to the dissertation of Dr.
Shultz.
(ECONOMICAL USES.
The turiones of this plant are cut near the ground when about
three or four inches high, and brought in great abundance to the
Philadelphia market, as a table vegetable. These young shoots,
when they have had a rapid growth, and the acrid juices of the plant
have not become evolved by air and light, are innocent; and, by
some persons esteemed delicious. When well boiled and dressed
in the same manner as asparagus, they are easily digested. Yet
this practice is not without danger; and I have known an in-
stance in a family in Lancaster, in which very violent narcotic effects
were induced in several persons who had eaten of the young
yYOL. I. 29
218 Phytolacca decandra.
shoots of Poke. The probability is, that in the instance alluded to,
the shoots were too old, and had acquired the proper active juice of
the plant.
It is common to make a red ink from Poke-berry juice, with the
addition of alum. The colour, however, is evanescent, and the alum
does not appear to be a sufficient mordant. We are indebted to Dr.
Adam Seybert, the author of American Statistics, for a discovery of
the means of fixing the colour of these berries. Yet, I am sorry to
be unable to refer to his experiments, which were only published in
a newspaper, not known to me; and the author being absent, I can-
not obtain any information on the subject.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
Many. medicinal virtues have been attributed to Poke: but we shall
select those only which are prominent and authenticated. The
tincture of the ripe berries in brandy, seems to have acquired a well
founded reputation as a remedy for chronic and siphilitic rheuma-
tism, and for allaying syphyloid pains; and its effects have been
compared to those of the volatile tincture of guaiacum. It is con-
fidently recommended in cases which indicate the use of that arti-
cle, as a safe and efficacious remedy, under judicious management.
The late Professor Barton believed it to be a more yaluable medi-
2
Phytolacca decandra. 219
cine than the guaiacum—and recommended, as did Dr. Shultz,* the
simultaneous exhibition of calomel and other preparations of mercury
with it. He says he has “employed the ripe juice of the berries,
inspissated to the state of an extract, in sonie cases of scrophula;?
but does not state the result of his trials. The tincture of Poke is
much used in this city by some highly respectable practitioners, in
rheumatism, and with undiminished confidence in its efficacy.
Poke has had no inconsiderable reputation as a remedy for cancer;
but, notwithstanding some high names were enlisted in support of
the accounts of its efficacy, it has deservedly lost its character as a
cancer-remedy. It is most likely that it was found serviceable in ill-
conditioned, sluggish ulcers, which are too frequently mistaken for
real cancer, and thus give undue reputation to the curative article
employed. That Poke in extract, and in form of ointment, has done
good in obstinate cutaneous affections, there seems no fair reason
to doubt. It is true the accounts of the efficacy of these prepara-
tions, have been greatly exaggerated; but still there remains a suffi-
cient portion of respectable testimony, to accredit the claims of the
article as a good local stimulating remedy in such affections. That
it has cured obstinate cases of tinia capitis, is not probable; for it
is not reasonable to suppose that this very pertinacious disease of
the sealp, would yield to an article of so little activity in local ap-
plications, as either the ointment or extract of Poke.
* See Inaugural Diss, Univer, Penn.
220 Phytolacca decandra.
Some of the physicians of the eastern states, repose great confi-
dence in the pulverised root of Poke, as an emetic. They inform us
that in doses of ten or twenty grains, it operates as a certain vomit. It is
certain that Poke root produces emesis and catharsis violently, as
many active semi-narcotic plants do: and it is not to be doubted that in
some instances, convulsions and narcotic symptoms have supervened
to the violent vomiting and purging, produced by the internal use of
Phytolacca. Indeed, the convulsions then induced have been long
noticed, and Puihn particularly mentions this effect, as well as the
drastic purgative power of the root. The slowness of the emetic ope-
ration of Poke, together with the ambiguous narcotic symptoms ac-
companying it, will, in all likelihood, prevent any general recourse to
the article as an emetic.
It is to be regretted that Poke is mentioned in Thacher’s Dispen-
satory, on the authority of some physicians of Savannah, to be ade-
quate to the cure of siphilis without the use of mercury, thus adding
another ideal virtue to a plant already extolled beyond its medicinal
worth. Unfortunately the preposterous idea of curing this virulent
disease by means of herbs alone, (sarsaparilla, for instance) has found
some few proselytes in this country: but surely the idea of substi-
tuting Poke for mercury, ought not to have obtained the countenance
of the respectable compiler of the American New Dispensatory.
The extract of Poke is much used by country practitioners, as a dis-
cutient in indolent tumours: and it is said they are in the habit of in-
.
Phytolacca decandra. 224
fusing the root in wine, in the proportion of an ounce of the former
to a pint of wine, and using it to produce vomiting, in the dose of
two spoonfuls. A strong infusion of the leaves taken internally,
has also been recommended in hemorrhois. On its efficacy here,
however, I cannot help suspecting, there is but little reason to rely.
The Poke ointment is made by boiling the fresh leaves in hogs lard
and bees wax, and straining while hot; or it may be made by pow-
dering the dried leaves, and mixing the powder with lard or simple
cerate. The tincture may either be made by infusing the ripe ber-
ries in brandy or wine, or by dissolving the extract of the leaves in
their green or dry state, in spirit.
An extract may be made by slowly evaporating the expressed
juice of the recent leaves collected in July, to a proper consistence.
The ointment and extract produce a sense of heat and smarting,
when first applied.
The roots should be collected for medical use in the autumn, and
sliced transversely; then dried and kept in covered bottles, As they
lose their activit¥*in time, a fresh supply should be annually collect-
ed. The leaves ought to be gathered when the berries are ripe, and
used as already directed.
222 Phytolacca decandra.
TABLE XLVIII.
Fig. 1. Is a flowering twig of Phytolacca decandra, with a bunch of
green berries, taken from the upper portion of a plant.
2. A cluster of ripe berries, with a portion of the coloured stem,
taken from the lower part of the same plant.
(Both the size of nature.)
3. The germ, stamens and pistils, magnified.
Lg
AB oyd. 0.
ne
rawn fromMalurn by WECBarton.
Star. )
Fy
Blazing
Blaze
LIATRIS DUBIA.
BLUE-BLAZING STAR.
Rattle-snake’s master, Button snake-root.
LIATRIS.
Gen. pl. 1263.
Recept. nudum. Pappus plumosus, coloratus. Cal. oblongus, imbricatus.
Nat. Syst. Juss. Corymbifera.
Artific. Syst. Lin. Classis Syngenesia. Ordo Aqualis.
Liaarris dubia; radix tuberosa, radiculis comosis. Caulis rectus, lineatus, hispido-pu-
bescens. Foliis linearibus levibus, punctatis, imis multoties majoribus; supe-
rioribus, basi ciliatis. Spica longa floribus pedunculatis. Pedunculi pubescenti
uniflori elongati, foliolis aliquot instructis. Calix oblongus vel sub-globosus ;
squamis lanceolatis, subacutis, erectis, verrucoso-punctatis, imis ciliatis,
Corolle tubulose, 5-fide ; laciniis lanceolatis. Semina oblonga, angulata, basin
versus attenuata. B.
Tus plant is one of a genus nearly all the species of which vary
considerably, particularly in those marks usually supposed charac.
924: Liatris dubia.
teristic, as the sessile or pedicellated flowers. After a very careful
examination of the specimen from which the figure was drawn, by
the descriptions of Pursh, Michaux, and Willdenow, together with a
close scrutiny of all the specimens of the genus in the Muhlenber-
gian Herbarium, I cannot, to my own satisfaction, refer the plant to
any of the named species. Yet it is most probably not remote
from the spheroidea, scariosa, or graminifolia. In this hesitation I have
thought it best to add the doubtful mark, and let the figure and de-
scription I have given, establish its proper place among the described
species.
The root is tuberous, and sends off a great number of long, slen-
der, whitish, dry, fibrous portions. The stem is erect, in the speci-
men figured, three and a half feet high, striated with whitish lines,
covered with a sparse semi-hispid pubescence. The lower leaves are
longer, and much wider than the upper, somewhat arcuate, very much
dotted or pitted, glabrous, entire, sessile, and not scabrous on the
margin. The costa is prominent, yellowish. The upper leaves are
much smaller and quite linear, ciliated for the most part at the base,
but some of them ciliated two-thirds of their length. The spike is very
long, and leafy, the flowers being situated on long, leafy, pubescent
pedicels. The calix is somewhat cylindrical or sub-globose, the scales —
lanceolate, subacute and erect, slightly spreading at the bottom
where the lowermost scales are ciliated. The corolla is tubulous and
divided into five lanceolate, acute segments; and, together with the long,
exserted anthers, are of a most brilliant and delicate violet colour.
Liatris dubia, 225
All the leaves, peduncles, and calix scales are deeply pitted or dot-
ted, and in the dried specimen, have a verrucose appearance. The
plant flowers in the last of September.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
All the tuberous rooted species of the genus Liatris are active
plants, and seem to be uniformly diuretic. The Liatris macrostachya
is already noticed in Dr. Barton’s Collections, and Schoepf de-
scribes the L. scariosa, by the name of Rough-root Jobelia, as
an acrid, sub-bitter plant, possessed of diuretic virtues, and
as useful in Gonorrhea. He states that the root has been pre-
scribed with this view in weak decoctions, to considerable extent.
Pursh says the same plant, and L. squarrosa, are known among
the inhabitants of Virginia, Kentucky, and Carolina, by the name
of “Rattle Snake’s Master ;’? and tells us, that when bitten by
that animal, they bruise the bulbs of these plants, and apply
them to the wounds, while at’ the same time they make a
decoction of them in milk, which is taken inwardly, in the same
manner as Prenanthes serpentaria. I have also two specimens
of Liatris from Mr. Collins, the one received from Mr. Lyon, and col-
lected by him in Ohio and Tennessee, under the name of Rattle-snake
plant, the other collected by Mr. Collins himself, in Cove, or North
Mountain, in the western part of Pennsylvania, last summer, where
VOL, I. 30
226 Liatris dubia.
he learned the plant was used for curing the bite of the Rattle-snake.
These two specimens do not materially differ from the plant here
figured, which was received by me, under the same name of “ Rat-
tle-snake root.” They are not improbably varieties of the L. sca-
riosa, graminifolia or spheroidea; but neither of them agrees well
with the description of scariosa.* For the present, these remarks
are thrown together principally with a view to elicit information re-
specting the medicinal species of this beautiful genus of plants; and as
the plate here given, is a supernumerary one in this number, the
above imperfect account will, it is hoped, be excused.
* The following remarks are from Plukenet, accompanying his Fig. of L. scariosa:
Fig. 4. Tab. 177.
Eupatoria adfinis Americana bulbosa, floribus scariosa, calicibus contectis.
Huic in capitulis saltem persimilis exhibitum, in Hist. III. exic. Reech. sub nomine Xar-
dro, ut bidesis, pag. 196. Planta pappescens non lactescens Virginiana. D. Banister.
Liatris dubia, 227
TABLE XLIX.
Fig. 1. Represents a portion of Liatris dubia, near the root, of the
natural size.
2, An upper portion of the same specimen, also the size of
nature.
3. A flower separated, very little magnified.
4. The stamens.
5. The same, greatly enlarged.
FOE
OROBANCHE UNIFLORA.
ONE-FLOWERED CANCER-ROOT.
Germ. Einblumige Sommerwurz.
OroBANCHE uniflora. L. Sp. Pl. 882. Walt. Car. 166. Rai. Supp. 595. Gron. Virg.
70. Pluk. Mant. 89. t. 348. f. 3. Mitch. 25. Houttuyn. Lin. Pf. Syst. 8. p.
152. Mich. Fl. Boreal-Am. vol. ii. p. 26. Muhl. Cat. ed. 2d, 61. Pursh, FI.
Am. Sep. vol. ii. p.431. Willd. Sp. Pl. vol. iii. par. 1. p. 352. Bart. Comp.
FI. Ph. vol. 2d, addenda. Bart. Prod. Fl. Ph. p. 66.
Genus Orobanche (see Orobanche Virginiana, p. 25.)
ORoBANCHE uniflora; scapis nudis unifloris calice ebracteato, corolla recurvata,
Willd. and Pursh.
Scapes naked, one-flowered ; calix without bracts, corolla recurved.
SYNONYMA.
OroBANCHE aut Helleborine affinis Marilandica, &c. Raii.
Denraria s. Aublato cordi affinis, &. Gron.
GENTIANA minor aurea, &c. Pluk.
Apuyxion. Mitch.
PHARM,
ORoBANCHE uniflore. Radix.
230 Orobanche uniflora.
One species of this genus has already been figured and described
in this work, under the name of Cancer-root; and a second is now
noticed for reasons presently to be given.
This little plant, like its congener just alluded to, is a leafless para-
site on the roots of trees and shrubs. It is above a span high, several
scapes proceeding from the same root. The root is gibbous or irre-
gularly knobby, and sheathing the scapes at their origin from it. It
is of a yellowish colour. The scapes are tortuous and round, about
the thickness of bobbin, and finely pubescent every where, but espe-
cially towards the upper part; and ofa delicate yellowish-white hue,
almost imperceptibly tinged with pink near the flower. ‘The flowers
are secund, or leaning towards one side, snow-white, consisting of a
recurved monopetalous corolla, and a five-leaved ebracteate calix, also
white, both finely and densely pubescent. The corolla is divided into
ovate, obtuse segments, on the lower of which, two yellow diverging
nectaries are perceptible, adding a little relief to the white flower.
The filaments of the stamens are white, and the anthers yellowish.
The germ is ovate, glabrous, and of a tan-colour. This singular little
plant delights in very shady situations in rich woods, and has but a
very slight attachment by its root, to the substance on which it grows;
it is in flower about the beginning or middle of May, and soon fades
when culled. Itis, when somewhat advanced, of a yellowish hue, but I
have always found the plant in its fresh state, of the colour described
above. Pursh mentions that it is but two or three inches high, of a
tan-colour, and the flowers pale-purple. This is much smaller than
Orobanche uniflora. 234
I have been accustomed to meet with it (and in this neighbourhood
it is far from being rare) and [ have never seen specimens having
purple flowers. Itis likely the one described by Pursh, is a variety.
It must be noticed, however, that Gronovius, Willdenow and Pluke-
net, describes the flowers as pale blue.* It is possible, therefore, that
the plant growing in this vicinity, and which I have figured, may be
a white variety of the blue-flowered species. Which is the type of
the species I cannot undertake to decide.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES.
I have discovered, since the publication of Nos. 5 and 6, in which
Orobanche Virginiana is described, that the present species is col-
lected with the other, and used with it under the name of Cancer-
root. My enquiries have satisfied me, that those who use the Cancer-
root already described, attribute equal power to the present species.
I have therefore, given a figure of the plant in an additional plate,
more with a view to direct attention to it, than in the belief, that it
has yet any undisputed claim to be ranked among medicines. Yet,
I aim inclined to suspect most of the species of this genus to be pos-
sessed of active properties.
* Orobanche uniflora—Vagina spathacea, Flos pallide ceruleus, cernuus. Sp, Pl.
232 Orobanche uniflora.
TABLE L.
Fig. 1. Orobanche uniflora, in flower.
2. The calix, with the germ and style.
3. The germ and style, separated.
(All the size of nature.)
THE END.
INDEX
TO THE
SYSTEMATIC NAMES AND SYNONYMS.
The synonyms are in Italics.
A
Aristolochia serpentaria . - 41
Acorus Calamus a 4 4 - 63
Asarum Canadense - - on AS
Aristolochia pistolochia - - - 41
Acorum legitimum - - a 63
Anapodophyllum Canadense - o8
Asarum latifoliwm ee - 85
Asarum Carolinianum -— - - ib.
Anemone Gronlandica - - - 97
B
Baptisia tinctoria - - - 53
Blitum Americanum -— - - - 213
VOL. II
C ~~
| Coptis trifolia . - Pa
-Cunila mariana - - ™
Chenopodium anthelminticum .
Calamus aromaticus - -
Cortusa Americana - - -
- Cunila pulegioides - - -
_Calamintha erecta, &c. - - -
E
Epifagus Virginiana - -
Eupatorium connatum - -
Eupatorium perfoliatum - -
Eupatorium Virginianum - -
234 Index to the systematic names and synonyms.
F
Frasera Walteri - - ~ (103
Frasera Caroliniensis - ~ ~<a
Frasera officinalis —- - - ib.
Frasera verticillata - - - ib.
G
Gyromia Virginica - - w-- 446
H
Hydrastis Canadensis - - eet * 3
Heuchera Americana - - 159
Hedeoma pulegioides - . - 165
Hydrophyllum verum, &ce. - — - 17
Helleborus trifolius . - a= OF
Heuchera cortusa - - - 159
Heuchera viscida - - - — Sa
L
Laurus benzoin - - - 91
Lobelia Cardinalis as - - 177
Lobelia siphilitica - - - 207
Liatris dubia Fs “ < - 223
Laurus pseudo-benxoin . - - 91
Laurus estivalis - - - --.
Lobelia coccinea - - - 477
Lobelia reflexa - ~ ws - 807
2
M
Medeola Virginica -
Medeola verticillifolia -
Mitella Americana -
Melissa pulegioides - -
O
Orobanche Virginiana
Orobanche uniflora -
if
Podophyllum peltatum
Polygala seneka = - -
Panax quinquefolium -
Phytolacca decandra
Podalyria tinctoria -
Polyrhixos Virginiana
Pistolochia Virginiana -
Polygala Virginiana— -
Phytolacca Americana -
Phytolacce vulgaris, &c. -
R
Rubus Villosus - -
Rapuntium galeatum, &c.
Rapuntium maximum, &c.
Rapuntium Americanum — -
229
Index to the systematic names and synonyms.
Ss
Spigelia Marilandica : : 75
Sophora tinctoria - = - aw BS
Spigelia oppositifolia - - - 75
Spigelia Americana - - oe
Satureja origanoides - - - 171
Solanum racemosum Americanumt - 213
Solanum magnum Virginianum, &c. — ib.
Typha aromatica - - . 63
Trachelium Americanum - -
235
Ww
Warnera Canadensis Wm - 17
Z
Zanthorhiza apiifolia - - 203
Zanthorhizxa tinctoria - - - ib.
Zanthorhiza simplicissima - . ib.
Zanthorhixa Marbosia - - > the
INDEX
TO THE
ENGLISH AND VULGAR NAMES.
A
American Asarabacca
Allspice-bush -
American Columbo
Ague-weed - .
Alum-root -
American Sanicle -
American-Nightshade
B
Beech-drops .
Broom -* -* =
- 1038
- 125
- 159
- 13
Bone-set - - - - - 195
Blackberry - - - - - 151
Blue Lobelia - - - -- 207
Blue Cardinal Flower - - - ib.
Button Snake-root = - . = 22§
Blue-blazing Star - - - - ib,
Branching Phytolacca, or Virginian
Poke -« - - <i eee
C
Cancer-root . . - . 25
Calamus . - - - - 63
Carolina Pink-root - - - 75
238
Carolina Pink «
Colt’s-foot - - .
~ Canada Snake-root
Columbo - * .
Columbia - -
Columbo-root = - -
Cross-wort - .
Cucumber-root - -
Cardinal Plant -
Cardinal Flower -
Cocum - - -
Coakum - .
Duck’s-foot - .
Dittany - -
Fever-bush < -
Fever-wood - °
Sites ~
Ginseng . -
Garget - - -
_ Horse-fly-weed —- ©
High Blackberry — -
- 145
- 151
Index to the English and vulgar names.
Hairy American Bramble
I
Tpecacuanha - = z
Indigo-weed - - - .
Indian Pink - - -
Indian Ginger - - :
Indian Lettuce
Indian Sage - - -
Indian Cucumber - °
Jalap - - . “ -
K
Kidney-leaved Asarabacca
M
Mandrake - - - -
Myrtle-grass_ - - -
Mouth-root - * &
Marietta Columbo - -
Mountain Dittany - -
Maryland Cunila -,— -
Mint-leaved Cunila - -
Mountain Calale, or Pék-weed
O
Officinal Milk-wort > *
One-flowered Cancer-root
- 151
85
111
229
Index to the English and vulgar names.
P
Pink-root . - -
Pennyroyal - -
Parsley-leaved Yellow-root
Poke - - - -
Pigeon-berries - -
Poke-weed -— - -
R
Rattle Snake-root «
Rattle Snake’s Master
Ss
Snake-weed Root -
Snake-root Birth-wort
Sweet-flag - . .
Sweet-smelling Flag
Sweet Cane - -
Sweet Grass -
Sweet Myrtle-grass -
Spice-wood - -— -
- -
Spice-berry - -
Seneka Snake-root -
Senega Rattle-snake-root
Standing Blackberry’ -
Shrubby Goose-foot -
Scarlet Lebelia - -
Skoke - oe
111
- 223
239
T
Thorough-wort — - - - - 125
Thorough-stem - - - ib.
Thorough-wax . - - - ib.
U
Unsteetla - . - - ee i.)
y
Virginian Broom-rape - - 25
Virginian Snake-root —- - = 41
Vegetable Antimony - - - ~- 195
Ww
Wild Lemon . - - ~ 9
Wild Indigo - - - - 53
Worm-grass - - - .= "76
Wild Ginger - - - - 85
Wild Allspice - ~ ‘ at. oe
Wild Columbo - - - 103
Wild Belli... 4 ce eS
Worm Seed - - - - 185
Worm Goose-foot - ~ . yw.
¥
Yellow-root - - - - 7
Yellow-wort - - - - - 208
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