American medical botany ?being a collection of the native medicinal plants of the United States, containing their botanical history and chemical analysis, and properties and uses in medicine, diet and the arts /by Jacob Bigelow.

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AMERICAN : BYF

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MEDICAL BOTANY, oS
BEING A COLLECTION
NATIVE MEDICINAL PLANTS
UNITED STATES,

BOTANICAL HISTORY AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS,
AND PROPERTIES AND USES

IN

*

MEDICINE, DIET AND THE ARTS,

WITH

COLOURED ENGRAVINGS, |

BY JACOB BIGELOW, M. D.

; eer
RUMFORD PROFESSOR ANT LECTURER ON MATERIA MEDICA AND BOTANY
IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

: BOSTON: 7
PUBLISHED BY CUMMINGS AND HILLIARD, AT THE
BOSTON BOOKSTORE, NO, 1 CORNHILL.

UNIVERSITY PRESS....HILLIARD AND METCALF.
ss ‘< 1818.

Mo. Bot. Garden,
1893

es

G, Tals lor. SPL OMAN

V3ET7

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT:

District Clerk’s Office.
BE it remembered, that on the twenty eighth day of October, A. D. 1818, and in the forty third
year of the Independence of the United States of America, Jacob Bigelow, M. D. of the said die
trict, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he ¢laims as author, in the

viz.
“ American Medical Botan: cal vy id chemical anlpsioeand property of the United States,

containing their botanical history and chemical het ge medicine, diet
and the arts, with coloured By so ow, Ma. D, d Professor and Lec-
turer on Materia Medica and in Harv:

In to the Act of the Cor of the ee ots aves ds aa
couragement learning, seeurin: ies maps, charts books, to authors an
proprietors of such copies, duri iat lives Coca tioned :” and also to an act entitled, “ An
act supplementary to an Lect enttfiod: un ace Sr tee tates jearning, by securing the
copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times

em mentioned ; s thereof to the arts of ing, engraving and
etching historical and other prints,

JOHN W. DAVIS, pg hee cercidags

+

ADVERTISEMENT.

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

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

vi ADVERTISEMENT.

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

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

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

ADVERTISEMENT, Vil

physician and a botanist, whose premature death has terminated a
dereer of honourable usefulness and of active, liberal and efficient
prosecution of science. His friends cannot remember without re-
gret a man, who had the rare quality of being learned without
ostentation, who was ambitious of usefulness more than of fame,
and who sought rather to be valuable to others than just to him-
self,

As the materials for the rest of the American Medical Bota-
ny are now principally collected, and most of the drawings
finished ; the remaining numbers will be issued with as much
promptness and regularity, as is consistent with their faithful
execution. |

PREFACE

TO THE SECOND VOLUME.

As frequent use is made in these pages of
observations drawn from the. auxiliary sciences, as

affording some light on the medicinal properties of
plants, it may be proper to examine how far tes-
timony of this kind is entitled to receive credit in
our inquiries and examinations.

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

2

x PREFACE,

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

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

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

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

_ Fixed oils are emollient and laxative. Also
nutritious, - es

_ Folatile oils on the contrary are acrid, stimu-
lating, heating, and antispasmodie. ibigliesdh co eit

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

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

| Bitter Extractive substances are usually tonic.

Resins, which are bitter and acrid, are com-

monly cathartic.

PREFACE. xi

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

Morphium, obtained by Serturner, is a yery
strong narcotic.

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

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

ce PREFACE,

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

PREFACE. Xi

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

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

XVL PREFACE.

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

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

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AMERICAN

MEDICAL BOTANY.

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PYROLA UMBELLATA,

Winter Green.

—

PLATE XI.

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

sie

46 PYROLA UMBELLATA.

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

* It is somewhat remarkable, that the genus Chimaphila was first
established upon characters, which hardly exist in either of the plants
it is intended to comprehend. ‘The principal grounds of distinction,

suggested by Michaux and adopted by Pursh, seem to consist in a
sessile stigma, and anthers opening by a subbivalve foramen. Now
the stigma is not sessile, since that term implies the absence of a style,
and the anthers do not open by any subbivalve foramen, differing
from the rest, but by two tubular pores, precisely as in the other spe-
cies of Pyrola. Mr. Nuttall, in his interesting work on North Ameri-
can genera, has amended the character of Chimaphila, by bringing
into view the calyx, filaments, &c. while he has added to the char-
acteristics of Pyrola, a duwny connexion of the valves of the cap-
sule. In the calyx, however, the two species of Chimaphila are at
different extremes from each other ; one of them having a five leaved
calyx, the leaves overlaying each other at base; the other having a
re toothed calyx only, while the remaining species of Pyrola, being

five parted, come between them. I have not been able to find the
tomentum spoken of by ere in all the spiked species, and par-
ticularly in P. secunda.

If the genus Pyrola were ever to be dismembered, it should be

- into at least four distinct genera, as follows ;

1, Style declined, stigma annulate.

P. rotundifolia, P. asarifolia, &c.

WINTER GREEN. 17

The genus Pyrola belongs to the class De-
candria, and order Monogynia. It ranks among

2, Style straight, stigma peltate.
P. secunda, P. uniflora, &c.
3. Style incrassated, calya five leaved.
P. maculata.
_ 4. Style immersed, calyx five toothed.
~~ P, umbellata.

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

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

-species in which it is longest, to that in which it is shortest. In the
_same plate are added some of the varieties of the calyx and stamens.
. “The following remark of Sir James Edward Smith, the learned
president of the Linnzan society, is from Rees’ Cycloperia, rt.
_ Pyroxa. “ We can by no means assent to the establishment of that
able writer’s (Pursh’s) Genus Chimaphila, there being surely no di-
versity of habit to support it, nor any character but a difference in
the length of the style ; which the other species of Pyrola shew to af-
ford admirable specific, but no generic distinctions.

3

18 PYROLA UMBELLATA.

the Bicornes of Linneus and the Erice of Jus-
sieu. Eaiiea/ Sins

_ The generic character is as follows. Calya
mostly five parted ; petals five ; anthers inverted,
opening by two tubular pores ; capsule five celled,
fice valved.

The species umbellata has its leaves wedge
shaped and toothed, flowers. somewhat wmbelled,
calyx five toothed, and style immersed.

Its more minute description is as follows :

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

WINTER GREEN. 19

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

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

The leaves of Pyrola umbellata, when chewed,
communicate to the mouth a taste which partukes
of both sweet and bitter. The stalk and roots
possess the same taste, combined with a moderate
degree of pungency. A Dissertation “De Pyrola
umbellata,” published at Gottingen, by Dr. Wolf,
in 1817, coutains an elaborate chemical examina-
tion of this plant. As the result of his trials, this
author concludes, that 100 parts of Pyrola umbel-
lata contain about 48 of a bitter extractive princi-

20. PYROLA UMBELLATA

ple, 2.04 of resin, 1.38 of tannin, a slight portion
of gum, and the rest of fibrina and earthy salts.

"The resin is adhesive, brownish, readily soluble in
ether and alkalis, burning with flame and a res-
inous odour, and leaving a white cinder.

From my own trials the quantity of resin in
this plant appears to be very small. A saturated
tincture of adeep brown colour does not give a
precipitate on the first addition of water. Itis
only after some time standing, and partly perhaps
from the evaporation of the alcohol, that a turbid-
ness begins to appear in the solution. Itis prob.

able that spirit is a better menstruum than water

for the soluble portions of this plant, although the
latter is capable of sian the ae _— of
its virtue. |

The Pyrola sribsaliats; seins ential ia
as a medicine until within a few years past, has
at the present day acquired a reputation of con-

- siderable extent in the treatment of various dis-
eases. Its popular celebrity seems to have origi-
nated in its application to the treatment of fever
and rheumatism ; but the attention of physicians
has been chiefly drawn towards its use in other
complaints. The instances in which this plant
has received favourable testimonies on medical
authority, of its successful use, both in America

WINTER GREEN. 21

and Europe, are principally the following. 4. As
a palliative in strangury and nephritis, 2. Asa
diuretic in dropsy. 3. As an external stimulant,
susceptible of useful application to various cases.

In the first of these cases, the Pyrola is entitled.
to attention and confidence. Some practitioners
in this country haye employed it with advantage
in the same cases, in which the Arbutus Uva ursi
is recommended*. Dr. Wolf, the German writer
lately cited, has reported a number of cases of
ischuria and dysuria, arising from various causes,
in which the Pyrola, given in infusion, produced
the most evident relief, and took precedence of a
variety of remedies which had been tried. His
method of administering it was to give a table
spoonful of a strong infusion, with a little syrup,
every hour. In all the cases he has detailed,
small as the dose was, it gave relief in a very short
time. In one case its effect was so distinctly
marked, that the disease returned whenever the
medicine was omitted and was removed on re-
suming its use. A tonic operation attended its
other effects, so that the appetite was improved
and digestion pia i? the eae i its
—

8 See Dr. ‘Mitchells I Inaugural Dissertation. Philadelphia, 1803, :

22 PYROLA UMBELLATA.

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

WINTER GREEN, 23.

Several other cases of dropsy are detailed in
Dr. Somerville’s paper, in which the Pyrola was
administered by himself and by other practioners
with decided advantage. Dr. Satterly and Dr.
Marcet are among those who have added their
observations to the testimonies in its favour. Dr.
Somerville found his patients to remark, that an
agreeable sensation was perceived in the stomach
soon after taking the Pyrola, and that this was
followed in some instances by an extraordinary
increase of appetite. He considers it as haying
in this respect a great advantage over other diu-
retics, none of which are agreeable to the stomach,
and most of them yery offensive to it. He fur-

ther states, that no circumstance had occurred

within his own experience or information, to for-

bid its use in any form, or to limit the dose.
Dr. Wolf has given one yery satisfactory case

of the utility of our plant in ascites. He also

found it to alleviate altogether the ardor urine

attendant on gonorrhea. =
‘Such are the most important facts which to my

knowledge have been published respecting the

internal use of the Pyrola umbellata. I have

administered this plant on various occasions, and —
attended to its mode of operation. In a number
of dropsical cases, when first given, it made a dis-

‘D4 PYROLA UMBELLATA,

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

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

WINTER GREEN. 25

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

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

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Pyrola umbellata, Lin. Sp. pl. Genin, Flora Sibirica.
Roru, Flora Germanica.—Bot. Mag. t. 778.—Muicuaux, Flora
Americana, i. 251.—Pyrola fruticans, PaARKINSON, Theatrum,
509.—J. Bau, Hist. plant. iii. 536.—Chimaphila corymbosa,
Poursh, i. 300.—NutTratx, Genera, i, 274. mass

MEDICAL REFERENCES. -

Mircuett, Inaugural Dissertation—SomMERvVILLE, Medico-
Chirurgical Transactions, vol. v.—Woxr, Dissertatio Inauguralis.

PLATE XXI.

Fig. 1. Pyrola wmbellata.
Fig. 2. Pistil of Pyrola rotundifolia.
Fig. 3. Pistil of Pyrola secunda.
Fig. 4. Pistil of Pyrola uniflora.
Fig. 5. Pistil of Pyrola maculata.
A

26

PYROLA UMBELLATA,

Fig. 6. Pistil of Pyrola wmbellata.
Fig. 7. Section of the same, shewing the length of the style.
Fig. 8. Five toothed calyx of P. wmbellata.

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

culata.
Fig. 10. Anther magnified of P. secunda.
Fig. 11. Diito of P. rotundifolia.
Fig. 12. Stamen magnified of P. umbellata..
Fig. 13. Ditto of P. maculata.

XXIT .

( } fi : } ‘ be
GYaullherta Va rOCUMLE NA.

GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS.

Partridge Berry.
PLATE XXII.

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

28 GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS.

ed for ready absorption and slow perspiration, so
that it derives from the dews and rain, what the
earth fails to supply it.

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

fall, and spring. :

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

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

PARTRIDGE BERRY. 29:

The species procumbens has a prostrate stem
with ascending branches. Leaves im a terminal
tuft, obovate with a few ciliate serratures. Flowers
axillary.

Class Decandria, order Monogynia, Natural
orders Bicornes Linn. Erica: Juss.) fa) vacac Beay,

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

30 GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS.

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

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

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

PARTRIDGE BERRY. B1

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

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

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

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

32 GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS.

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

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

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Gaultheria procumbens, Linn. Sp. pl.—Mucwavx, Flor. i. p.
249,.—Pursn, i. 283.—Nutraut, Gen. i. 263. —ANDREWwS, Bol.
Repository, t. 116.—Witx1p. rb. 123.—Vitis Idea Canadensis
Pyrole folio, Tournerorr, Inst. 608.—Anonyma —
arcuatis, CoLDEN, WVoveb, 98.

PARTRIDGE BERRY, 33

>

MEDICAL REFERENCES.
Kam, Ameenitates Academice, iii. 14.—Barr. Coll. i. 19.

PLATE XXII.

Fig. 1. Gaultheria procumbens.

Fig. 2. The bractes or outer calyx.

Fig. 3. The true calyx.

Fig. 4. Stamen of the natural sixe.

Fig, 5. inther magnified, the dark places shewing the mode of
opening.

Fig. 6. Calyx and pistil.

Fig. 7. Fruit.

Fig. 8. Longitudinal section of the fruit.

Fig. 9. Transverse section of the capsule.

m Si
UMa te fi Bo sud ‘

PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM.

May Apple.

PLATE XXII,

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

This plant is one of the Ranunculacee of Jus-
ieu and Rheades of Linneus ; and is in the first
order of the Class Polyandria,

Its generic character consists in a calyx of
three leaves ; from six to nine petals ; and a one-cel-
led berry crowned with the stigma. Only one spe-

MAY APPLE, 85

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

The May apple has a jointed. running root
about half the size of the finger, by which it
spreads extensively in rich grounds, where it gets
introduced. The stem is about a foot in height, and
invested at its base by the sheaths which covered
it when in bud. It is smooth, round and erect,
dividing at top into two round petioles from three
to six inches long. Each petiole supports a large
peltate, palmate leaf, smooth above, slightly pu-
bescent beneath, deeply divided into about seven_
lobes, which are wedge shaped, two parted and
toothed at the extremity. On the inside the leaf is
cleft almost to the petiole. In barren stems which
support but one leaf this does not take place, and
the leaf is very perfectly peltate. In the fork of
the stem is a solitary flower on a round nodding
peduncle one or two inches long. Calyx of three
oval, obtuse, concave leaves, cohering in the bud’
by their scarious margins, and breaking off at
base when the flower expands. Petals from six
to nine. Linnzeus makes them nine in his gene-
ric character, but in this climate 1 have found
them more frequently seven even in luxuriant
specimens growing in very rich soil. They are
obovate, obtuse, concave, smooth, white with sli ght

36 PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM.

transparent veins. Stamens shorter than the pe-
tals, curving upwards ; the anthers oblong, twice
as long as their filaments. Germ oval, compress-
ed, obseurely angular. Stigma nearly sessile,
convex, its surface rendered irregular by nume-
rous conyolutions and folds. The flower is suc-
ceeded by a large ovate yellowish fruit, which is
one celled, many seeded and crowned with the
stigma. Its early period of ripening has given
rise to the trivial name of May apple.

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

‘The medicinal properties of the Podophyllum
peltatum are those of a sure and active cathartic,

MAY APPLE. 87

in which character it deserves a high rank among
our indigenous productions. We have hardly any
native plant which answers better the common
purposes of jalap, aloes and rhubarb, and which
is more safe and mild in its operation. The root
is the part to be employed, and should be given
in substance in fine powder. I have commonly
found twenty grains to operate with efficacy, and
not to be attended with pain or inconvenience.
In irritable stomachs it sometimes occasions nau-
sea and vomiting, but this effeet, as is well known,
may ensue from any cathartic medicine. The late —
Professor Barton informs us, that although. the
root is an excellent cathartic, the leaves are poi-
sonous, and the whole plant has something of a
narcotic quality. Its botanical affinities would
justify, a priori, a suspicion of this kind. In the
various trials which I have made with it, 1 have
not observed any such property in the root. The
leaves I have never subjected to experiment for
any purpose. | |

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

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

38 PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM,

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

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

For medicinal use the root of the May apple
is advised to be dug in the cold season, when veg-
etation is not active, viz. in the autumn and win-
ter. At this part of the year the secretions of
perennial plants are concentrated in their roots,
and the same weight of their substance is less di-
luted with the watery or ascending sap, than it
is at any other period. This constitutes a rea-
son why the roots of all perennial plants should,
as fur as practicable, be taken up during the cold
season. But from what I have been able to ob-

serve, the difference of their virtue in different
months is much less than is commonly supposed.

iInever knew a medicinal plant whose efficacy
was destroyed in consequence of being taken up
eyen at midsummer, although it may be in some
degree lessened. It is probable that those roots

/ MAY APPLE. 39

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

son.*

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

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

tant part of the plant.

40 PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM.

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Podophyllum peltatum, Linn. Sp. pl.—Muicuavx, Flora, i.
$09.—Poursh, ii. 366.—Lamarck, Iilust. gen.—Trew, Ehret. t.
29.—Anapodophyllum Canadense, Caressy, Car. i. 24.—Aco-
nitifolius humilis &. Menrz. pug. f. 11.

MEDICAL REFERENCES,

Scnepr, 86 —B. S. Barron, edit. of Cullen, $375.—Tuacu-
ER, Disp. 307,—CHarmMan, Mat. Med. 209.

PLATE XXIII.

Fig. 1. Podophyllum peltatwm.
Fig. 2. Calyx.

Fig. 3. Stamens.

Fig. 4. Germ and stigma.
Fig. 5. Fruit.

Nomar ‘

Stier

we

ICTODES FRTIDUS.

Skunk Cabbage.

PLATE XXIV.

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

trate the earth, it seems calculated to bear the
6

42 ICTODES FOTIDUS.

cold of high latitudes. I have found the flowers a
second time formed, and shooting from the ground
in Noyember. ‘The strong and unpleasant odour
which every part of the plant emits on being
broken, and which is precisely similar to that of
the Viverra mephitis ; has given it by an almost
common consent, in every part of the country, the
appellations of Skunk weed and Skunk cabbage.

The structure of this singular vegetable has
caused it successively to be assigned to the gene-
ra drum, Dracontium and Pothos, with none of
which it fully agrees. Of the Aroidex, to which
it is related, it approaches most nearly in its flow-
er to Pothos ; while its fruit has more affinity to
Orontium. The Rev. Dr. Cutler many years ago,
in the Transactions of the American Academy,
pointed out the distinctive characters of this plant,
and pronounced it a new genus. No name, how-
ever, substantiated by a character, has to my knowl-
edge been given it, in any botanical work, except
the name of Symplocarpus, a term lately adopted
by some American’ botanists on the alleged au-
thority of Mr. Salisbury. As this name by its ety-
mology implies a resemblance of the fruit to
Symplocos, a genus with which the plant has not
the least affinity ; it appears to me inadmissible.
Although I am ayerse to multiply the confusion

SKUNK CABBAGE. 43

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

The genus Tetodes: has for its character a
hooded spathe, spadix covered with perfect flow-
ers, calyx with four segments, petais none, style
pyramidal, seeds immersed in the spadix. Only
the present plant can be assigned ‘to this genus.
It belongs to Tetrandria, monogynia; andis found

among the Piperite of Linnzus and Aroidee of °2“««

Jussieu. The root is large and. abrupt, with nu-
merous, crowded, fleshy fibres. The spathe which
emerges from the ground some time before the
leaves, is ovate, swelling, various in width, cucul-
late, spotted and sometimes nearly covered with
dull brownish purple, the top acuminate and in-
curved, the edges infolded, auriculate at base, and
at length coalescing. Within this is the oval
spadix, ona short peduncle, covered with perfect
tetrandrous flowers, and of the same colour with

4s ICTODES F@TIDUS,

the spathe. Calyx leaves four, fleshy, wedge
shaped, truncate, the top and edges inflected, the
whole crowded together so as to form a compact
covering for the spadix. Stamens four, opposite
the calyx leaves, with subulate filaments equal in
length to the calyx, and oblong four celled anthers,
Style four sided, tapering ; stigma minute, pubes-
cent ; germ roundish, concealed. within the spadix,
After the spathe decays, the spadix continues to
grow, and with it every part of the flowers except
the anthers. When the fruit is ripe, the spadix
has attained many times its original dimensions,
while the calyx, filaments and style are larger,
yery prominent and separated from each other.
Within the spadix at the base of each style is a
round, fleshy seed, as large as a pea, white, tinged
with green and purple, invested with a separate
membranous coat, and with a prominent corcu-
lum situated in a depression at top. 7 |

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

SKUNK CABBAGE. 45°

Mr. Nuttall, who has observed the germination
of this plant, informs us that the seed does not ap-
pear to possesss any other cotyledon, than a
sheathing stipule, similar to that which is after-
wards produced in the plant. The principle bulk
of the seed is formed: by what he considers a
vitellus, having the embryo exactly resembling
the future plant, situated in an umbilical depres-
sion at its top. ‘The attachment of this body to
the embryo is at first by a minute funiculus,
which enlarges and becomes more distinet dur-
ing the progress of germination ; but the most sin-
gular circumstance respecting it is the length of
time for which it continues attached to the grow-
ing plant, apparently inert at the base of the can-
dex for twelve or even eighteen months, =

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

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

46+ ICTODES FETIDUS.

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

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

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

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

SKUNK CABBAGE, 47

consistence and an animal odour. They contain
fixed oil in abundance, which is easily forced out
from them by expression. Their principal bulk
appears to be albumen, and when reduced to
powder they are less easily soluble in boiling
water, than grains which are less oleaginous.
They burn with an oily smoke, leaying behind a
large coal. ie
The sensible properties of the Sktodne sect
a strong affinity with those of assafcetida and the
other fetid gums, practitioners have been led to
expect from ita similar antispasmodic power.
Experience has justified these expectations in a
variety of disorders of the spasmodic and nervous
kind. The Rey. Dr. Cutler of Massachusetts
was the first who recommended its use in asth-
matie cases. In his account of indigenous Amer-
ican vegetables, he tells us that the roots: dried
and powdered form an excellent remedy in asthma,
and often give relief when other means prove in-
effectual. It may be given, he says, with safety
to children as well as adults ; to the former in dos-
es of four, five or six grains, and to the latter in
doses of twenty grains and upward. In a private
letter he states, that he made use of it in his own
case of asthma for several years, and generally
fonnd relief. In the winter he used the dried

| 48 ICTODES FOTIDUS.

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

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

SKUNK CABBAGE. 49

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

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

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Arum Americanum, Caressy, Car. ii. t. 71.—Dracontium
feetidum, Lin. Syst. pl.—W1xn. ii. 288.—Pothos foetida, M1-
cHAUX, Amer. ii, 186.—PRsH, ii. 398.—Bot. Mag. 836.—Sym-
plocarpus fetida, NurTALL, genera, i. 105.

MEDICAL REFERENCES.
Currer, Trans. Amer. Acad. i. 407. THACHER, Dispensa-
tory, 150. : es. :
2S > MISSOURI
BOTANICAL
GARDEN.

50 I€TODES FETIDUS.

PLATE XXIV.

Fig. 1. Ictodes Jtidus in flower, the spathe inclosing the spadix.

Fig. 2. The spadizx taken out of the spathe.

Fig. 3. The leaves, stalks, Fc. .

Fig. 4. The spadix in fruit, one quarter being cut away to show
the seeds,

Fig. 5. A flower magnified.

Fig. 6. The same opened.

Fig. 7. Petal and Siamen,

Fig. 8. Style.

Fig. 9, 10. Seeds.

ae 3 < a

(i

Pa coltmunred

STATICE CAROLINIANA.

Marsh Rosemary.

PLATE XXV.

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

52. STATICE CAROLINIANA.

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

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

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

MARSH ROSEMARY. 53

vaallinieats seen in sapineenshan sacha Chenopo-
dium, &c.

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

This species has generally been’ considered a
variety of the Statice limonium, which is a com-
mon plant in the salt marshes of Europe. In-
deed, several of the maritime species of this genus
approach each other so closely in their characters,
that they have been considered the same by able
botanists. The American plant, to which the
name of Caroliniana was’ given by Walter in his
Flora of Carolina, is distinguished from the Eu-
ropean principally by its sinaller flowers and plain
or flat leaves. From the Statice Gmelini, an
Asiatic species, ehirenan gents still less in its
general form. |

The genus Statice beloiige to the class Pentan-
dria and order Pentagynia. Its natural orders
are Aggregate of Linneus and Plumbagines of PCcc<! rp
Jussieu. It is characterized by a calya: mono- Gis
phyllous, plaited and searious. Petals five with

54 STATICE CAROLINIANA.

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

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

MARSH ROSEMARY. 55

ways, minute intermediate teeth. The upper
part of the calyx is scarious and of a pink colour.
Petals spatulate, obtuse, longer than the calyx,
pale bluish purple. Stamens inserted in the
claws of the petals, anthers heart shaped. Germ
small, obovate, with five ascending styles shorter
than the stamens. Seed oblong, invested with
the persistent calyx. Rge Abe Pad
The root, which is the officinal part of the
Marsh Rosemary, is one of the most intense and
powerful astringents’ in the vegetable materia
niedica. It communicates’ to the mouth an high-
ly austere and astringent taste, combined with a
good deal of bitterness. Few vegetable substan-
ces, when chemically treated, give more distinct
and copious evidence of the presence of both
tannin’ and gallie acid. The sulphate of iron
strikes a fine purple colour with the solution,
and soon deposits a precipitate, which, on’ expo-
sure to the air, becomes of an inky blackness.
Gelatin also throws down a copious, whitish, in-
soluble precipitate. Resin hardly exists in ‘this
root, nor any thing else exclusively soluble in al-
cohol. The vale — sea salt is ee :
made obvious. ae
Dr. Mott, Professor of Sling in the Univer-
sity of New York, has published anv interesting

«66 STATICE CAROLINIANA.

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

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

MARSH ROSEMARY, 57

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

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

Dr. Mott informs us, that i in elie chronic stages
of dysentery, after the inflammatory diathesis,
great tenesmus, Se. are removed ; a strong: de-
coction of the root has restored patients to health,
after various tonics and astringents had been used
to no effect. | ph STE

BOTANICAL REFERENC CES.

Statice Caroliniana, Waurer, Flora Car. 118.—Pursn, i.
212,—NUTTALL, i, 206.—Statice limonium, MUHLENBERG, Cat-
alogue, $3.—ELLI0TT, Carolina, i. 374, ae

MEDICAL REFERENCES.
“Morr, Inaugural Dissertation. _—Tuacuer, Disp. 345.—Bar-
LIBS, Papers of the Mass. ng Societys vol, i.
3

58

STATICE CAROLINIANA.

PLATE XXV.

Fig. 1. Statice Caroliniana.
Fig. 2. 4 flower magnified.
Fig. 3. Calyx ditto.

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

F A
xy eat
iy yi | fir i F
As) \4 4) jh
\j/ ¥ \
‘ \ ‘eS Be Ai
; : he KL)
FA, j\ YEW = he
J A eo oF PIN

tf gY Gg
ducbevosa

locleficas

ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA.

Butterfly Weed.

lf

PLATE XXVUI.

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

60 ASCLEPIAS TURBEROSA.

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

This genus has a five parted calyx ; a jive part.
ed reflewed corolla ; a nectary of five erect, cucul-
late leaves, each producing an inflected horn from
ils cavity ; stamens united, with ten pollen masses
hanging by pairs in their cavities. The species
tuberosa is hairy, its leaves alternate, oblong-lance-
olate ; its branches cymose.

Class Pentandria, order Digynia. Natural or-
ders Contorte, L. Apocinew, Juss. (4 lu peevdacees/ Gan

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

BUTTERFLY WEED. 61

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

62 ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA.

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

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

BUTTERFLY WEED. 63

The root of the Butterfly weed when dry is
brittle and easily reduced to powder. Its taste is
moderately bitter, but not otherwise unpleasant.
Its most abundant 'soluble portions are a bitter ex-
tractive matter and fiecula. No evidence of as-
tringency is afforded on adding solutions of isin-
glass or copperas, and hardly any traces of resin
on adding water to alcohol digested on the root.
The decoction afforded a flaky precipitate to alco-
hol; when the infusion did not. Boiling water
may be considered the proper menstruum for this
~ plant. pss (ut
»- 'Phis fine vegetable is eminently intitled to the
attention of physicians as an expectorant and dia-
phoretic. It produces effects of this kind with
great gentleness, and without the heating tenden-
ey which accompanies many vegetable sudorifics.
Tt has been long employed by practitioners in the
Southern States in pulmonary complaints, particu-
larly in catarrh, pneumonia and pleurisy, and has
aequired much confidence for the relief of these
inaladies. It appears to be an expectorant pecu-
liarly suited to the advanced stages of pulmonary
inflammation, after depletion has been carried to
the requisite extent. Dr. Parker of Virginia, as
cited by Dr. Thacher, having been in the habit of

employing this root for twenty fiye years, consid-

64 ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA.

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

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

BUTTERFLY WEED. 65

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

that it facilitated expectoration and relieved the
dyspnea and pain in the _—* more than any
other medicine.

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

agrees with the stomach and bowels.
9

66 ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA.

BOTANICAL BEFERENCES.

Asclepias tuberosa, Lin. Sp. pl.—Pursu, i. 183.—Micnavx,
i. 117.—Enuiorr, Car. i. 325.—Asclepias decumbens, a variety,
Lin. Pursn, &c.—Apocynum Nove Anglie hirsutum radice
tuberosa, floribus aurantiacis, HegMAN, Hort. 646. t. 647.—D11.-
LENIUS, Elth, 35, t. 30, f. 34.

MEDICAL REFERENCES.

B. S. Barron, Collections, 48.—THacuer, Disp. 154.——
Cuarman, Therapeutics and Mat. Med. i, 346.

PLATE XXVI.

Fig. 1. Asclepias tuberosa.

Fig. 2. 4 flower.

Fig. 3. 4 flower dissected, showing the mass of hein and one
nectary with its horn.

Fig. 4. Magnified section of the mass of anthers, showing the sit-
uation of the pistils inside, Sc. A pair of pollen masses
is drawn out at the top.

Fig. 5. .Pistils magnified, and calyx.

XXVIL

flca

é

A.

of

: U1 eis lea

= teres ne

MAGNOLIA GLAUCA.

Small Magnolia.
PLATE XXVILI.

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

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

68 MAGNOLIA GLAUGA,

ry appears to be in a sheltered swamp in Man-
chester, Cape Ann, about thirty miles north of
Boston. It here attains to but small size, and is
frequently killed to the ground by severe winters.
It is common in the Middle and Southern States,
and Michaux informs us, that it is one of the most
abundant trees in the morasses of Florida and
Lower Louisiana. According to this author how-
ever, it is not usually met with far in the interior,
or to the west of the mountains. Its common
names are various, and change with almost every
district. In Massachusetts it has no other name
than Magnolia ; in the Middle States it is called
Swamp sassafras and Beaver iree; while in the
Southern States it is denominated Sweet bay and
White bay. tis naturally a tenant of deep boggy
swamps, and is somewhat irregular in its growth.
It acquires more symmetry of form when cultiyat-
ed in an upland soil, although its transplantation
is difficult. To insure it sussessful cultivation in
a dry soil, the tree should be raised from the seed.

- This tree begins to flower in different parts of
the United States in May, June and July. The
flowers are highly fragrant, and may. be perceived
by their perfume at a considerable distance. A
few of them shut up in a room over night commu-
nicate to thé air a heavy and almost insupportable
odour,

SMALL MAGNOLIA. 63

The Magnolias are found in the class Polyan-
dria and order Polygynia ; the Coadunate of Lin-
neus and Magnolia of Jussieu.) /4)4.,, ee

This genus has a calya of three leaves, a ¢o-
rolla of six petals or more ; capsules two-valved,
imbricated, forming a cone ; seeds berried, pendu-
lous.

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

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

70 MAGNOLIA GLAUCA.

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

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

_ As a medicinal article, the Magnolia is to. be
considered an aromatic tonic, approaching in its
character to Cascarilla, Canella, and articles of their
class, Considered simply in regard to its tonic

SMALL MAGNOLIA. 7A

powers, it is probably of a secondary order, though
from the additional properties which it possesses
of a warm stimulant and diaphoretic is found use-
ful in certain disorders. Chronic rheumatism is
one of the diseases in which it exhibits most effi-
cacy. Not only the bark, but the seeds and cones
which are strongly imbued with the sensible qual-
ities of the tree, are employed in tincture with
very good success in this disease.

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

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

72 MAGNOLIA GLAUCA.,

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.
Magnolia glauca, Lin. Sp. pl.—Mucwavx, i. $25.—Pursn,
ii. $81.—Micuavx, Fin. Arb, forest, iii, 77.—Magnolia lauri
folio subtus albicante. Carzssy, Car. i. t. 39.—TREW, sel. t. 9.

—Dittentws, Hort, 207. t. 168, f. 205.—Laurus tulipifera &c.—
Ratus, hist. 1690.

MEDICAL REFERENCES.
Kam, Travels, i, 205.—MArsHatt, Arbustum, 83.—Hum-

PuRIES, Med. Commentaries, vol. xviii.— Barr. Coll. 46.—PRIcE,
Inaugural Diss. Philad. 1812.

PLATE XXVII.
Fig. 1. 2 flowering branch of Magnolia glauca.
Fig. 2. The fruit and seeds.
Fig. 3. Stamen magnified.
Fig. 4. 4 germ and style ditto.

2

OFGUA

et Se eS Se

CORNUS FLORIDA.

Dogwood,
PLATE XXVi1.

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

flowers and the appearance of their fruit.
10

¥

74 CORNUS FLORIDA.

The Cornus florida, or flowering Dogwood, is
the largest and most splendid of its genus, and is
one of the chief ornaments of our forests. Asa tree
it is rather below the middle stature, not usually
reaching the height of more than twenty or thirty
feet. It is however among the most conspicuous
_ objects in the forests, in the months of April, May
and June, according to its’ latitude, being then
covered with a profusion of ‘its large and ele-
gant flowers. In Massachusetts, especially about
Boston, it is not a common. tree, only scatter-
ed individuals appearing here and there in the
woods. In the Middle States it is extrémely com-
mon, especially in moist woods. Michaux informs
us, that in the Carolinas, Georgia and the Floridas
it is found only on the borders of swamps, and
never in the pine barrens, where the soil is too
dry and sandy to sustain its vegetation. “It is al-
so not yery common in the most fertile parts of
the Western States, being chiefly found where the
soil is of secondary quality.* == 8

* Mr. William Bartram, in his travels in Georgia and Florida, gives
the following account of the appearance of this tree near the banks of
the Alabama river. We now entered a very remarkable grove of
Dogwood trees, ( Cornus florida, ) which continued nine or ten miles
unalterable, except here and. there a towering Magnolia grandiflora.

The land on which they stand is an exact level ; the surface a shallow,
loose, black mould, on a’ stratum of. stiff, yellowish clay. These trees

_. DOGWOOD, 75

The genus Cornus is characterized by the fol-
lowing marks. Petals four, superior ; irvolucrum
of four leaves, or wanting ; drupe with a two-cell-
ed nut. ‘The species florida is arboreous, with its
flowers in heads surrounded by an incolucrum of
obovate leaves with recurved points.

‘Class -Tetandria, order Monogynia, natural or-
der Stellate, Lin. Caprifolia. Fuss. Cerneetewls isp

_.The Cornus florida is of slow growth, and pos-
sesses a very compact wood, covered witha rough,
broken bark. ‘The branches are smooth, covered
with a reddish bark, marked with rings at the
place of the former leaves. — The leaves, which
are small at the flowering time, are opposite, peti-

oled; oval, acute, entire, nearly smooth, paler be-

were abont twelve feet high, spreading horizontally, their limbs, meet-
ing’ and interlocking with’each other, formed one vast, shady, cool
grove, so denseand humid. as to exclude the sun-beams, and. prevent
the intrusion of almost every other vegetable, affording us a most de-

‘ ee PE: f

#Et # o

sirable shelter from. the fervid sun-beams at noon day. This admi-
rable grove lias by way of eminence ac¢juired the nan of Dog woods.

During a progress of near seventy miles through this high forest,
there constantly presented to view, on one hand or the other, spa-
cious groves of this fine flowering tree, which must in the spring sea-
gon, when covered with blossoms, present a most pleasing spectacle,
when at the same time a variety of other sweet shrubs display
their beauty ; as the Halesia, ‘Stewartia, Aisculus, Azalea, &e. en-
tangled with garlands of Bignonia, Glycine, Lonicera, &e. &e. at the
same time the superb Magnolia grandiflora standing in front of the
dark groves, towering far above the common level.” Travels, p. 599.

76 CORNUS FLORIDA.

neath, and marked, as in others of the genus, with
strong parallel veins. The flowers, which are
very small, grow in heads or sessile umbels, upon
peduncles an inch or more in length. At the
base of each bunch is the large spreading involu-
crum, constituting the chief beauty of the tree when
in flower. ‘This involucrum is composed of four
white, nerved, obovate leaves, having their point
turned. abruptly down or up, so as to give them an
obcordate appearance. This point has frequently
a reddish tinge. Calyx superior, somewhat bell-
shaped, ending in four obtuse spreading teeth.
Petals four, oblong, obtuse, reflexed.. Stamens

four, erect, the anthers oblong with the filaments

inserted in their middle. Style erect, shorter
than the stamens, with an obtuse stigma. - The
fruit is an oval drupe of a glossy scarlet’ colour,
containing a nucleus with two cells and two seeds.

_ The bark of the Cornus florida is a powerfal
bitter, possessing also an astringent and somewhat _
aromatic taste. Both tannin and the gallie acid
are abundantly developed. in its solutions by their
proper tests. In my experiments with the bark
of young twigs, but a small quantity of pure resin
was made manifest. | It would seem that the prin-
cipal seat of the bitterness i is Ina amerhey of ex-
tractive matter. | menace hin

DOGWOOD. — > a7,

In a valuable inaugural dissertation on the
Cornus florida and Cornus sericea by Dr. Walker
of Virginia, much attention appears to have been
bestowed on the chemical properties of their bark.
He found that water distilled from the bark in
powder had a transparent, whitish appearance,
with a slight aromatic odour, and no perceptible
taste. When the heat was increased, the fiuid
had a lemon colour, with an unpleasant smell and
an acerb taste. These effects were probably pro-
duced by the volatilization and partial decom po-
sition of portions of the bark in consequence of
the heat being continued until the mixture was
evaporated nearly to dryness. — | 339 |

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

73 | CORNUS FLORIDA.

periment, was found to possess an intensely bitter
taste with astringency, of a clear red colour, and
turning to a deep, black on the addition of iron.
On evaporation, it yielded.a drachm and an half of
residuum.—Dr. Walker attempted to ascertain the
quantity of resin by macerating the alcoholic ex-
. tract, in repeated portions, of sulphuric ether.
The ether acquired a dark colour and a bitter
taste, and was found to have dissolved three quar-
ters of the extract. When tested with iron, it was
found that the remaining quarter only was chang-
ed to a black colour. | 7

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

DOGWOOD. 79
oak gall has had the experience of ages in favour
of its permanence and immutability. It is not
until some indigenous article, producing an equal
intensity of colour, has undergone a series of tri-
als from time and exposure, sufficient to establish
beyond a doubt its durability, that its substitution
in the manufacture of ink should be considered
expedient or even justifiable. | |

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

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

80 CORNUS FLORIDA.

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

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

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

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

DOGWOOD. Si

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

_ BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Cornus florida, Lin. Sp. pl.—Gronovrus, Virg. 17 alk Sl
travels, ii. $21.—WANGENHEIM, Amer. pe 51, t. 17.—L’Herr-
Tier, Corn. 2, 3.—SCHMIDT, Ard. [ 62—Botanical Mag. t. 526.
—PURSH, i. 108.—Muicnavx, FIL. Arbres forestiers, i iii. 138, trans-
lated, i. 255 —Exirorr, Car. i. 207.—Cornus mas Virginiana,
&c»—PLUKENET, Jlm. 120, t. 2, f. 3.—-CaTessy, Car, t. 27.

MEDICAL REFERENCES.
Water, Inaugural Dissertation, Philad. 1803,—Barr, Coll.
12.—Tacusr, Disp. sont anv ul supra,
. "PLATE XXVIL. :

Fig. 1. 1. Cornus florida, a branch w ith flowers. and one with lear on
Vig. 2. Fruit.
Fig. 5. A flower,

PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM.

Ginseng.
PLATE XX1X.

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

XXIX.

—_—

ap
A AWAL GUCNGUY he terg oT]

é é

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

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

the fruits of their labour, if they are taken. The
for the pur-

emperor employs his own servants
09, had ten

pose of collection, and in the year 17

84 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM.

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

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

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

GINSENG, 85

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

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

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

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

86 ‘' PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM.

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

_ Father Jartoux became so fara convert to the
virtues of the plant, that he tells us that after hay-
ing taken half of a root, he found his pulse quick-
er and. fuller, his appetite improved, and. his
strength increased so as to bear labour better
than before. On another occasion, finding him-
self so fatigued and wearied as to be searce able
to siton horseback, a mandarin in company per-
ceiving his distress, gaye one of the roots. He
took half of it, and.in an hour was not sensible
of any weariness. “1 have observed,” says he,
“ that the green leaves, especially the fibrous part
of them, when chewed, would produce nearly the
same effect. The Tartars often bring us the
leaves of Ginseng instead of tea, and I always
find myself so well afterwards, that I should read-
ily prefer them before the best tea. Their de-

GINSENG. 87

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

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

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

88 PANAX QUINQUEF OLIUM.

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

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

«As to the flower,’ says esd “ not posiap seen
it, I can give no deseription of it. Some say itis
white and very small; others have assured me
that the plant has none, and that nobody ever saw
it. rather believe that it is so small and so little
remarkable, that none of them ever took notice
of it.

GINSENG. 89

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

The foregoing description of Jartoux is intro-
dueed as being a very intelligible deseription of
a plant, in language not the most botanical. The
drawing, which ecru: damian the si aoe is
ve satisfactory. © ae St I 4

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

“Soon after this the French commenced. the
collection of the root in Canada for exportation,
For this purpose they employed the Indians, who

12

90 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM.

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

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

GINSENG. 91

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

Linnaeus has given to the genus of plants,
which includes the Ginseng, the name of Panax,
a Greek word, intended to express the oputed
character of the Chinese. panacea,

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

The species quinguefolinm has" pee pau
leaves.

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

seven leafets. _ The partial: leaf-st nee are given

92 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM.

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

GINSENG, 98

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

The foregoing character leaves little doubt
that the American” plant is precisely the same
with the Asiatic, although Loureiro and some oth-
ers have disputed their identity. The description
of Jartoux, which has been given, as well as his
drawing of the plant, agrees in every respect, ex-
cept that his plant had four branches or leaves,
instead of three.’ ‘This is accounted for by sup-
posing he ‘had chosen a luxuriant ‘specimen.—It
is somewhat remarkable that the names of the
Chinese, and of the North American Indians,
should signify the same thing im their'respective
Janguages, ‘viz. a resemblance to the jigure of a
man, 'This resemblance, however, it must be con-
fessed, even in the ee is rather of a
humble kind. - rie
. The genus Panax owas blanc byt Fiimnindis in
his class: Polygamia, and ‘by ‘late writers in Pen-
tandria, Digynia. The plants of this family were
salso’ referred by Linneus to his natural order
‘Hederacee, or somewhat heterogeneous assem-
plage of vegetables ; and by Jussieu to his Aralie. job 1/erv ad
Later botanists have placed them among the Um- /

04 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM.

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

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

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

* Panax trifolium, a a beautiful little plant, with neatly the herb of
Anemone nemorosa, has always three styles and a tricoccous ber-

ry. P.quinquefolium varies from one to three styles, though the
usual number is two.

-

GINSENG, 95

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

Ginseng i is principally ‘sold 2 our druggists
as a masticatory, many people hayi ‘ing acquired an
habitual fondness for chewing it. ‘At is certainly
one of the most innocent articles for this purpose.

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

_Panax quinquefolium, Lin. Sp. pl.—Mucnavx, Flora, ii, 256.
—Porsu, i i. 191.—Woopvinte, Med. Bot. i. t. 58.—Botanical
Mag. t. 1025.—Aureliana Canadensis, Caressy, Car. Suppl. 2g :
16.—Breynivs in Prod. rar. p. 52.—Araliastrum foliis: ternis
quinquepartitis, Ginseng sen Ninsin_ officinarum.—Trew, Fir.
eo eee ee

. MEDICAL REFERENCES. |
-Bovrvetin, Hist. de? Acad. 1797.—Jarrovx, tr.in Phul. Trans.
xxviii, 237.—Larrreav, Memoires concernant la precieuse plante
de Ginseng. Paris, 1718.—Sarrasin, Hist. Acad, 1718.—Katm,
travels, tr. iii. 114,—OsBEck, China, p- 145.—HEBERDEN, Med,

Trans, iii. 34,—FOTHERGILL, Gent. Mag. xxiii. 209.— CULLEN,
Mat. Med. Vol. ii. &ee

96 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM.

PLATE XXIX.

Fig, 1. Panax quinquefolium.

Fig. 2. 4 flower magnified.

Fig. 3. Umbel in flower, the ecternal fruit nearly grown.
Fig. 4. Germ, calyx and styles magnified. :

Fig. 5. Root.

PUALYX

— « 4
Re
= y ) (7?
¥. fp iti . i vf
oS
aN

| Ply gala ‘ J ‘ce weg

POLYGALA SENEGA.

Seneca Snake root.

PLATE XXX.

se Seneca snake root has attracted so gen-
eral an attention from the medical public, as to
have become an article of exportation to Europe,
and one which holds a regular place in the drug-
gist stores. The plant which produces it has
nothing to boast on the score of elegance, and
little to attract attention independent of its me- —
dicinal virtues. It grows in most latitudes of the
United States, especially in the mountainous tracts.
The specimen, from which our drawing was taken,
was gathered on the borders of Lake Champlain.

The genus Polygala has a five leaved calyx,
two of the leaves wing like, and coloured, Capsule

obcordate, two celled, and two valved,
13

*

“

98 POLYGALA SENEGA.

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

Class Diadelphia, order Octandria; natural

orders Lomentacew, Linn. Pediculares, Juss. Prlygn/ Eulnde

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

fo

_

/
f
Zz

SENECA SNAKE ROOT. 99

‘The rose coloured variety of this plant, as it
has been considered by Michaux, proves to be a
distinct species. Some species which I possess
from Carolina have branching, pubescent stems,
and very long, loose spikes. ‘The flowers are sey-
eral times Liber than those of P. senega.

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

‘Medicinally administered, the. Seneca snake
root is sudorific and expectorant in “small doses,
and emetic and cathartic in large | ones. Its most
usual mode of exhibition is in decoction, which
may be made of suitable strength by boiling an
ounce of the root ina pint and an half of water,

till itis reduced toa pint. This preparation may

4100 POLYGALA SENEGA.

in most eases be given in doses of a table spoonful
and upward without disturbing the stomach,

_. The first reputation of the Seneca root was one
which it divides with a multitude of other plants,
that of curing the bite of the Rattlesnake. A re-
ward was given by the legislature of Pennsylva-
nia to Dr. Tennent for the promulgation of this
supposed property. When, however, we consider
the number of cases of recovery from the bite of
this serpent, under every variety of treatment, we
cannot avoid the conclusion, that these injuries
are not necessarily dangerous, and that spontane-
ous recoveries are perhaps as frequent as those |
which. are promoted by medicine. , 3

More certain. success attends the use prs i %
—— in pneumonia and some diseases related to
_ Tn the advanced stages of pneumonic inflam-
senee venesection and the other usual rem-
edies have been carried to their proper extent; and
the cough still remains dry and painful, while the
debility of the patient forbids further depletion ;
in these cases, I have often found a decoction of —
the. Seneca root. to afford very marked relief by |
promoting expectoration, and relieving the tight-
ness and oppression of the ehest. . Various medi-
cal writers have spoken favourably of its employ- —

SENECA SNAKE ROOT. 404

mentin these cases, among whom are Lemery and
others, in the Memoirs of the French Academy, |
It has been found injurious, from its stimulating
_ properties, when given at too early a stage, or
during the prevalence of much acute meumared
tion, ax mtd
» Benefit has been derived in asthma from the ~
use of this plant. The following is Dr. Bree’s
opinion, quoted from his treatise on that disease.
“ Decoetion of seneka is eminently useful in the
first species, administered to old people, but in the —
paroxysm of young persons, I have found it too
irritating. ‘This distinction applies to convulsive —
asthma purely uncomplicated, but the disease is |
frequently observed 'in middle aged and elderly
persons, to take the character of peripneumonia ~
notha in the winter and spring, and seneka is then”
the most ‘useful medicine that I have tried. In ~
such cases, it should be united with acetated am- —
monia, during the febrile state, and ‘as this. state”
eives way; the addition of squill, and camphorated —
tineture of opium, will’ be found to promote ex- —
peetoration, » perspiration, and urine ina” most
powerful manner.” 9) 08) vig
In croup, this medicine was’ iteredinied: into —
notice: by Dr. Archer of Maryland. He speaks —
with much confidence of its utility in that disease,

A402 POLYGALA SENEGA.

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

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

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

SENECA SNAKE ROOT. “403

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

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

The most common mode of exhibition of this
root is in decoction, as already mentioned. It is
also given in powder i in doses of twenty or ‘thirty |

‘grains. Dr. Tennent likewise employed a wine
of Senega made by digesting four. ounces of the
root in a pound of wine, of which three spoonfuls 2

were given at a dose.

104 POLYGALA SENEGA.
BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Polygala senega, Lin. Sp. pl. Watrer, Car, 178.—Woon-
VILLE, ii. ¢. 93.— Bot. Mag. t. 1051.—Micwavx, ii. 53,—Pursn,
ii.464.—Poly gala caule simplici erecto, &c. Gronovius, Virg. 80.

MEDICAL REFERENCES. |

TENNENT, Diseases of Virginiaa—Lemery, DuwaMeEL, &c.
Hist. de ? Acad, 1739, 136.—ArcuEr, Med. & Phys. Journal, i, 83,
106.—PErcivaL, Med. Journal, iv. 67.—BREx on Astima, 258.
—Massie, Inaug. Diss. Philad. 1803.—Tuacuer, Disp. 319.—~
M. Eng. Journal, vii. 206.

PLATE XXX.

Fig. 1. Polygala Senegae
Fig. 2. A flower magnified.
Fig. 3. Calyx of the same.
Fig. 4. Corolla magnified.
Fig. 5. Capsule.

Fig. 6. 4 seed,

LE AALE

merraneappne Tremere

Ss :
Pt

SIAR D ENE

N

Pre eel are

AMERICAN

MEDICAL BOTANY.

LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA.

Tulip Tree.

PLATE XXXL

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

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

408 ' LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA.

Cultivated trees are common in Boston and its
‘vicinity, but I have never met with it in the woods
of this part of the pat nor to: the north of it ©
Nar gd eh he sie wilingg

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

- “Lhe names of. Pulip. ee White. nee anne

wood, and. Poplar are applied to this tree in diffe-
rent parts of the United States. Its flowering
sen is inthe months of May.and June.

The genus Liriodendron, to which» Linneus
has assigned four species of trees, is characterized
by @ double calya, the. outer of two, the inner of
three leaves 3 nal wing seeds imbricated into a
ees idiot Daten:

‘TULIP TREES. 4). 409

The species tulipifera, the only one in Amer-
ica, is remarkably isgeeaeinage - ‘its lobed and
truncated leaves. «>

Together with seven) to our aeiiham
ering trees and shrubs, the Liriodendron is found
int the class Polyandria.and order Polygynia, and
the: natural. orders Coadunate of Linnzeus, ong
Magnolie of Jussieu. © gih

_ The branches of the Tulip tree are alae a grey-
ish colour inclining to red: The buds which ter-
minate them in. winter are very curiously. con-
structed. They are obovate, and. flattened or
compressed into: a sharp edge at» the. extremity.
They are made up of a number of concentric
sheaths, each of which contains a single minia-
ture leaf between it and the next interior, sheath.
This leaf, instead of embracing the next sheath, is
folded up and bent down upon one side of it.
When vegetation begins in the spring the sheaths
swell to a large size before bursting, and at length
liberate the leaves one ata time, the remains of
each sheath becoming’ converted into a stipule.
_.» 'Phe leaves of the Tulip tree have:a form alto-
gether peculiar, and whieh is not resembled by
any other production of our forests. ‘They are
divided into four pointed lobes and terminated by
a shallow notch, the extremity being nearly

440 LIRIODENDRON 'TULIPIFERA.

square, and the middle rib énding abruptly, as if
eut off. In the large leaves, the two lower lobes
are furnished with a tooth or additional lobe on
their outside. They are attached by lone pedun-
eles and have a beautifully smooth and bright
green surface. There is one variety of this tree
which has the lobes of its leaves not pointed, but
very obtuse. The flowers are large, solitary, and
terminal. ~The outer calyx has two triangular
leaves which fall off as the flower expands. The
inner calyx consists of three large, oval, concaye,
veined leaves, of a pale green colour, spreading at
first, but afterwards reflexed. Petals six, some-
times more, obtuse, concave, veined, of'a pale yel-
lowish green, marked with an irregular, indented
crescent of bright orange on “both ‘sides ‘toward
the base. Stamens numerous, with long linear
anthers opening outwardly, and short filaments.
Pistil a large, conical, acute body, its upper half
covered with minute; blackish, recurved stigmas ;
its lower furrowed, being @ mass of coalescing
styles and germs. «The fruits 4. cone of imbri-
cated seed vessels, which are woody and solid,
their upper portion formed by a long lanceolate
scale. Seeds two, blackish, ovate, one or both
epsbertineriinns waisilirsasie x on. imcviees, ote x

TULIP TREE... ._.. 144

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

_ The bark both of sicinaht and. ledenalbes acts
on the system as a stimulating tonic and diapho-
retic, having properties resembling the Cascarilla

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

TULIP TREB oie e's 143

material. A common use of it ree the
United States is in the manufacture of carriages
to form the pannels of coach and chaise bodies.
For this purpose it is particularly | fitted _by_ its.
smoothness, flexibility and toughness.* ...
The.true or heart wood of this. tree is. 3.of a ah
lowish colour and differs in, proportion in different
trunks. We are told that two varieties of the,
tree exist, denominated the yellow and the white,
and which appear to be in some measure produc-,
ed by the mode and placeof growth. The yellow
variety is most yaluable, haying least alburnum
and being less subject than the other to decay.
» The Tulip tree has been long. since, introduc-
ed from this country into the forests and fields of
Europe. Its use, ornamental appearance, and the
facility with which it is raised, haye rendered it one
of the most prominent and interesting objects of
forest Bionenee esi gues” aavebeeit) ates dno

large in the ‘splendid work of the a on the Forest
trees of ‘North America. Those who appreciat the value of a cor-
rect knowledge of. the \prious internal « resources of our country, 1 will
be gratified that a translation of this important work, with the origi-
nal _— is hoiw eh ieheraag Paid and —- noantscr

ig or ead! wisieg Wail of
rot alt dard? .9tt alin? spit rv Ie a
4 ti & 4 de “f ais aa

414 LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA.

- BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Liriodendron tulipifera, Linnuus, Sp. pl.—Curris, Bol.
Mag. t. 275.—Mucwavx, i. 526.—Micwavx, ¥11. Jrbres Soresti-
ers, iii, 202,—Pursu, ii. 382.—Liriodendron foliis angulatis trun-
catis, Trew, Enret, 2. t. 10. Tulipifera virginiana &c.
Caressy, Car. i. t. 48,—PLUKENET, t. 117. f. 5. &c.

MEDICAL REFERENCES.

Rusu, Trans. Phil. Col. i. 183.—Barr. Coll. 14.—Ciay-

TON, Phil. Trans, abr. viii. 332,.—RoGErs, Inaugural dissertation,
1802.

PLATE XXXI.

Fig. 1. 41 branch of Liriodendron tulipifera.

Fig. 2. Stamens presenting different sides.

Fig. 3. Pistil.

Fig. 4. Fruit.

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

PL .AAXII.

CEPA COPOOCPC EE

Aninin %. Smith

JUGLANS CINEREA.

Butternut.

PLATE XXXII.

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

446 JUGLANS CINEREA.

parts of Carolina and Georgia, but that he has not
met with it in the lower or level portions of the
Southern States... It is variously. known by the
names of Butternut, Oilnut and White Walnut. .
»() The genus Juglans or Walnut appertains. to
the Linnean class Monecia and order Polyan-
dria. Its natural orders are Amentacee of Aitnay
neus and Terebintacew of Jussieu.

ov This genus has its’ barren iowaal in amenis
with a sia-parted calya ; its fertile flowers with
a four-cleft superior calya.; .a.four-parted corolla;
two styles ; and a-coriaceous Pe: with a furrow-
ed nut... rows! owt oici zebivih obyis

The species cinerea ene its leafets numerous,
se niinletasdeetitsn at hase, downy under-
neath, serrate, . Fruit oblong-ovate with a termin-
al projection; viscid and hairy ; nui oblong, acumi-
mae with a rough, indented and ragged, surface.

» The Jeaves of the Butternut tree when fully
bisa are very. long, consisting of fifteen or seven-
teen leafets, each of which is two or three. inches
Jong, rounded at. base, , acuminate, finely serrate
On dePAFe: sisi ai isnisd ol 20

» The flowers, appear in, Ate. before ‘as “ates
are expanded to. their. full size... The barren flow-
ers hang in large aments from the sides of the
last year’s shoots, near their extremities, The

BUTTERNUT.) | 447

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

genet sht Pitic ti rant

418 ' JUGLANS CINEREA.

- The bark of the branches affords a large quan-
tity of soluble: matter, chiefly of the extractive
kind, In a concentrated tincture I have not been
able:to detect any appearance of resin. No evi-

ce of tannin is produced by the test of gelatin.

A brownish black colour is caused by the sulphate
ofivon.' The distilled water possesses the taste
of the bark in a considerable degree. We are
_ authorized to conclude that water is: an adequate
solvent for this article, and experience has shewn
that the watery extract is one of its best prepar-
aflonsutiiedin 5 be jencente : |

‘The sap of the Bektérnet tree is saccharine,
like that of: the Maple, and may be procured. in
large quantities. In the third yolume of the Mas-
- sachusetts Agricultural Repository is an account

of an experiment made on this tree by Mr. M. P.
Gray. He':states that four trees, the trunks of
which were only from eight to ten inches in dis
ameter, produced-in one day nine quarts of sap,
from which'was made one pound and a quarter of
sugar. » This quantity, it appears from: his state-
ment, is equal if not superior to’ that. which the
— affords in the: same’ Vicinity. |

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

BUTTERNUT. 419

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

. From numerous trials which IT haye sti sith
this: medicine, it appears to me: to: possess the
qualities of an useful and innocent laxative. When
fresh and: properly prepared, itiis very certain in
its effect,'and leaves the bowels ina) good: state.
In eases of habitual costiveness:it is'to be prefer-
red. to more» stimulating eathartics, and many
persons whose state of health has rendered them
dependent on the use: of laxative medicines, have
given this the — after -_ trial: ssi ‘a /yari-
ag of other. sainsiarmactom ofis Joot wi} miei poe

120 JUGLANS CINEREA.

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

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

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Juglans cinerea, Linnzus, Sp. pl._—Jacquin, Ic. rar. i. t.
192.—W mpENow, arb. 156.—W ANGENHEIM, Amer, 21. t.9.f.
21.—Micuavx, ii. 191.—Pursn, ii. 636.

Juglans oblonga Rerz. Obs, i. p. 10.—Juglans cathartica,
Micwavx, FIL. rbres forestiers, i. 165. -

MEDICAL REFERENCES.

‘Tuacuer, Disp. 245.—Barr. Col. 23. 52.—Rusu, Med.
Obs. is 112. :

PLATE XXXII.

‘Fig. 1. 4 branch of Jugians cinerea in flower, the leaves not fully
expanded,

Fig. 2. 4 scale or barren flower from the ament magnified,

Fig. 3. 4 fertile flower magnified.

Fig. 4. The fruit.

PL. AXLGTT

: q CO 7
fe SEO BOPCLe!’ Annin © Smith Se

a

:
j

VERATRUM VIRIDE.

American Hellebore.

PLATE XXXII.

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

the full height of a man.
46

122 - VYERATRUM VIRIDE, |

_ This plant'is not only found in boggy mead-
ows, but by the sides of brooks in rocky and
mountainous situations, from Canada to Carolina.
Its flowering time is from May to July.
9) The Veratrum album or White Hellebore, a
well known medicinal plant found in most coun+
tries of Europe, has a very close resemblance to
the American species, It is, however, a smooth-
er plant, and differs. somewhat in its flowers,
hractes and stalks. , betel
» » The genus Veratrum, on account of the diyer-
sity of its flowers, was placed by Linnus in. his
class Polygamia and order Monecia. 'Those more
recent botanists; who omit this class, have trans-
ferred the genus to Hewandria trigynia,
-. The generic character of Veratrum consists
in a six-parted corolla without calya. Stamens
inserted in the receptacle. Capsules three, many
seeded. I part of the flowers barren. . The spe-
eles viride has a downy panicle with the partial
hractes longer than their pedicels. Segments of
the corolla thickened on the inside at base. hs
einoidbiie root of this plant is thick and. fleshy, its
upper portion tunieated, its lower half solid and
sending forth: a multitude of: large whitish radi-
cles. «The stem is from three to five feet high,
roundish, solid, striated’ and’ pubescent. Through-

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

«The root of the! Veratrum has a: bitter taste
accompanied with acrimony, and leaves a durable
impression on the mouth and fauces when: it has
been»chewed or swallowed.» It abounds: witha.
resinous juice, which adheres closely to: a knife
with which» the) root has: been: ¢ut, ‘This resin
dissolves abundantly in alcohol. When water. is
added to the solution, a» white’ :turbidness gradu-
ally appears rendering the liquid opaque, but with-
out sediment. |» The» decoction has. an intensely
bitter taste. It is not: rendered turbid by alcohol
although some slight flocculi are. ‘separated after
standing.’ It is probable that this: bitterness. re-
Sides -in» an’ extractive ‘principle: The distilled
water of the root: hasia slightly unpleasant. taste,
witliout bitterness or pungeneyais sed YF . bavery
~» This plant in:its: medicinal powers! resembles
the Veratrum album) or’ White. ‘hellebore. of Eu-
rope.’ It is‘an acrid emetic anda: powerful stim-
ulant, followed: by! sedative: effeets. As a’ medicine
or as a poisonous plant, it has been known. from
an early: period.’ The :aborigines' of the country
were fully’ apprized of ‘its: activity.» Josselyn in
his voyage to New England which took place not
long-after the’ first: settlement-of. ‘the country, in-
forms us that:the young: Indians! had a custom. of
electing their chiefs byassortof ordeal instituted

AMERICAN HELLEBORE. 425

with the roots of this: plant, which he denominates
“white hellebore.”: Ax came vei ‘this root ‘was
repeatedly given:to each individual, and. he whose
stomach made the most: vigorous) resistance: or
soonest recovered from its effects was considered
the stoutest of the party: and entitled to lopiamied
therést: 69) | caulaceath
» Kalm tells us: that: the iui’ of » this , eubibly
ate time of his trayels, employed a decoction of
this plant externally: in) the) cure of seorbutic af-
fections, and for the destruction of vermin. He
further states, that corn before planting was soak-
ed in astrong decoction of the Veratrum to protect
it against the birds, which infest: our: fields and
devour: the grain after it sis: deposited in: the
ground. When the corn» is; thus: prepared, it :is
observed; that: those birds which: swallow it be-
come giddy and (fall to: the, ground, an.example,
the writer: informs.us; ‘whiely has the effect, to
: — the ee mel — from the
place. « asad aad ti stasia
- gai Smee ae s alsheigs scieiailct by sha: amie,
white hellebore/as’a:remedy» forsgout, that plant
being for a time supposed -the basis of the. cele-
brated Eaw meidicinale; the. attention of some.
practitioners has! been’ turned. to investigating the
properties of the American plant, which so close-

426 _ WERATRUM VIRIDE. ~

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

AMERICAN HELLEBORE. 127

the powder being thrown out in the first efforts to
vomit, before a perfect solution of its active nae
in the stomach could have taken place. sas
_ A course of experiments with this article was
made sometime since in the Boston Almshouse
by Dr. John Ware, the résults of which he has
obligingly communicated to me. \ nape vesnie Db
better stated than in his own words.
“I gave this plant,” says he, “in the first ee
with a view to ascertain its action on the stomach
and alimentary eanal, |The doses in which it was
administered amounted to from two to ten grains.
I began with a small ‘quantity, and’ increased it
very gradually in order to’ guard against ‘the “oe-
currence of those violent’ and dangerous ‘effects
which I had been led to apprehend from the de-
scriptions given of the operation of the white helle-
bore. A slight and general ‘account of the ex-
periments will give the eeeeonenys view of
the effects of this root as-an emetic. ai ays
“Tt was administered in about: shi eases. In
the first case two ‘grains were’ given ;' andl ond
produced slight:and temporary nausea. iad
» “In three:instanees three ‘grains were admin-
istered; in two of these vomiting was ‘produced ;
in one of them to a considerable | degreein ‘the
other slight—in the third no effect whatever was

128. _ VERATRUM VIRIDE. -

produced,—Of gr. iv. Four doses, of which only
one operated, and then the operation was incon-
siderable.—Of gr. vi. Fifteen doses were given—.
ten of these operated perfectly well; as complete
and thorough yomiting was produced. as follows
from the case of any other. emetics—in the elev-
enth; case nausea.only. ensued—and in the. re-
‘maining, no effect, whatever was. perceived—Of
gr. viii. Four doses—of these, two failed entire-
ly and two operated satisfactorily.—Of. gr. x. On-
ly.one dose was given—this. operated very. thor-
» “I did not find, as I had. expected, that: this
substance was uncommonly violent or distressing
in its operation. Patients, in general, did. not
complain of any thing unusual, and when. they
were particularly questioned as to their sensa-
tions; they told of nothing more than those usual-
ly occurring during the effects of a brisk: emetic.
It'seemed to produce. yomiting rather more. se-.
verely than,an ordinary dose of ipecac—but not.
more than one of antimony. Indeed, its opera:
tion'may fairly be said to be about as violent: and
distressing as that of any other emetic whose ef.
fects in evyacuating-the stomach are equally thor-
ough, dn a few instances, however, there was a
complaint of, very violent and painful retching—

AMERICAN HELLEBORE. 129

and of dizziness‘at the time and for a short time’
after—still these effects were ‘not commen nor ex.
cessive, 9" eonob nasitr AND, 2 Yor aldiviohs
“+ As to its iddowenidat nailaineiiodie diseased
states of the system; there were few opportuni:
ties of administering it where any considerable de=
rangement existed. In’ those’ cases which did ‘oc-
cur it did w not! — tor We’ inferior to the common’
emetices. pve} eentit jo~eveob 6th, “ter
oo The saipewal “operation dia watiseett tobe
mucly ineréased by the inerease’ of thé’ dose’ of the’
medicine. Doses of six grains appeared, wheti
they took eflect, to’ prodace vomititig #8 thorough
and complete, astliat which followed from’ larger
doses ; except:that the larger were perhaps more
speédyin operating. «1 could’ find no ‘cause! for
the failure’of so’ many of those cases ‘in which the’
dose amounted to six or eieht’ erains, except ‘an
insensibility in the patient to the''stimulus of the
medicine ; ‘and:this was rendered more probable
from the-eireumstance that generally in those in-
stances, the substance failed in producing any ef
feet whatever; nausea did not often occur when
vomiting was not-to follow it, and in no. instanee’
was it very clear: that:purging was produced. © >
“Indeed this appeared to be rather a singular’
cirenmstance relating ‘to this substance, and one
17

130 ~ VERATRUM VIRIDE. >

in which it differs from most or all other enteties.
These articles, when they fail of producing vomit-
ing, generally occasion a determination down:
wards, and thus produce all the phenomena of ca-
thartie medicines, This effect is also frequently
produced when they have operated in their pecu- |
liar way. But in no instance did this appear to
be the case with the Hellebore. Some patients,
indeed, said that it operated upon them: by stool
very slightly—but on strict inquiry I did not
think that the medicine had had any effect in this
way, and that what was told me proceeded from a
desire in the persons to attribute some sort of ef-
feet to what had been given them. — 3

- “In thé greater number of the cases, the: Helle-
bore was longer before it produced vomiting than
is the case generally with other emetics. It did
not often operate in’less than three quarters: of an
hour or ati hour=-but sometimes’ the interval was
— to two or three Wourest-beithi in one case,

noon, its effet were not welt deste baleen
nine and. ten o’clock in the evening.» "This tardi-
ness int inifesting its effects/on the system cor-
‘responds with’ what has’ been ‘observed with re-
ise to — — ls | :

AMERICAN HELLEBORE. 434

“I made a few experiments with the powder of
the Veratrum album in order to compare its pow-
ers with those which existed in our native species.
It was given in six eases—of two doses of three
grains—neither produced any effect—one of four
was not more effectual—six grains produced some
vomiting, but not to any considerable extent—seyen
no effect whatever—and. eight produced in about
four hours after taking it considerable effect. If
these experiments are to be depended upon, the
foreign _— is mot, more» aonselied than the
native species: |

a 1 Sandahaniionhtent to snaniitiil cai esis
ie power the Hellebore was. possessed of over cu-
tanéous diseases. It has the reputation in the
country of some.eflicacy in these complaints. The
ointment and decoction were applied in a number

of cases, and it certainly proved to be an applica-
tion of considerable power. its effects. in some
eases:amounted to a remoyal of the disease en-
tirely—and in most, some diminution of it fol-
— “which was more or less durable. oe
»o#In one case where there was Slatin aboist
ve wrists and other parts of the body, supposed
to be the itch—the ointment (made by simmering
together a dram of Hellebore in an ounce of lard)
after being applied for some time, removed the

132 ’ VERATRUM VIRIDE. —

disease: The cure; — was — and
tediewe: izoin aili ave a4 ines ‘i deide Hide)

© ® second ease was due of ‘a boy who had on
the back of his head, what appeared to be the com-
mencement of Tinea capitis: The ointment made
in the same way as that before mentioned, except
that simmering was omitted; removed’ it\in the
course of a fortnight. It returned again’ in the
course of a few weeks and was again’ destroyed by
the same application. It did not recur ‘so long
as‘ had an opportunity of observing: the: —
which was, however; not long. — i

“© “Ty one elear case of iteh, the ointment hailed
of producing any beneficial effect; and it was’ ne-
cessary to hayé recourse to the usual remedy. —

o) @An Dann ovcsbeltndlsetilebbultemctin dota
ing eruption upon the hands and fingers, accom:
panied by a venereal taint of the: ‘system, was very:
much relieved: by this ointment.» Its final: remoy-
aly however, could not be ‘attributed to this, since
the patient was. —— the influence of —— at
~~ same time.» lo oben: abe ta ee aval gy seed:

In some ache cases both theointment and
dnoostions were used with success fora time, but:
the effects. they produecd were ee and
anpiaeneee: oi eux oT lo odouth.@ iy

etd THEN va rit iit selga

AMERICAN HELLEBORE,. 133

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

A384 . -YERATRUM VIRIDE. ~

of otherwise., Some experienced such severe et:
fects as to-deter them after one trial from a repe-
tition of the experiment. In general the “parox-
ysm of gout was completely intial by the. ~~
— of the medicine.

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

AMERICAN HELLEBORE. 135

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

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

Of the substance of the root freshly ty
Giom two to six grains will be found a sufficient
dose. For medicinal use, however, in most cases
it is probable that. the oe pa rare éhore
described promises more. lia

The external ES of hs ointment» iid
decoction sometimes produces the same effect on
the stomach: as the internal use of the plant. In
one instance a patient was nauseated and vomit-
ing brought on by the: ointment applied to an
ulcer ofthe leg.:. I have known similar conse-
quences from a strong decoction in cutaneous. af-
fections.. Might the. topical a oft this
plant be of any service insgout 2.0 een) be

436 VERATRUM VIRIDE.

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Veratrum viride, Arron, Kew. iii. 422,—W1LLDENOW, Sp.
pl. iv. 896.—Pursu, i. 242.—Rexs’ Cyclopedia, ad. verb.—Ve-
ratrum album, Micwavx, ii. 249.—Helonias viridis, Bot. Mag.
1096. ;

MEDICAL REFERENCES.

Kau, travels, ii. 91.—JossELyNn, Voyage to New England.
p. 60.—THacuer, W. Eng. Journal. |

\

PLATE XXXII.

Fig. 1. Leaf and flowers of Veratrum viride.
Fig. 2. Petal magnified,

Fig. 3. Stamens.

Fig. 4. Pistils.

Fig. 5. Capsule.

Fig. 6. Section of the capsule, showing the seeds.
Fig. 7. 4 seed.

PL. AAAIV,

GENTIANA CATESB.EI.

Blue Gentian.

PLATE XXXIV.

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

tumnal plant, common in the Northern and Mid-
18

438 GENTIANA CATESBEI.

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

The genus Gentiana has a monopetalous corol-
la ; a capsule one-celled and two-valved, with two
longitudinal receptacles. The species Catesbwi
has a rough stem; leaves ovate-lanceolate 3 seg.
ments of the calyx longer than the tube ; mouth of
the corolla open, its outer segments subacute, in-
ner segments bifid and fimbriate. :

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

BLUE GENTIAN. 139

structure of the fruit, and so great the apparent
affinity of the plants, that botanists have hitherto
kept the genus entire, even though the variety of
form as well as of number in the calyx, corolla,
and stamens might perhaps justify a subdivision.

This genus belongs to the natural order Ro-
tacew of Linnzeus, and to Jussieu’s Gentian.

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

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

140 GENTIANA CATESB&I.

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

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

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

BLUE GENTIAN. 444

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

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Gentiana Catesbeei, Watrter, Flora Carol. p. 109,—Ex11-
orT, Botany of the Southern States, i. $40.

MEDICAL REFEREN CE.

ee loc. cit. —

‘PLATE XXXIV. setae!

"Fig. 1. Gentiana Catesbei.
Fig. 2. 4 flower with the corolla drawn open to show the
_ inner plice,
Fig. 3. Stamens and pistil in hain natural situation,

| Fig. 4. Stamens sepurate.
“Fig. 5. Pistil. “

LAURUS SASSAFRAS.

Sassafras Tree.

PLATE XXXV.

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

Pi AILTV.

~~ 3 # s
Coe ‘st oe :
or So Se.
Ee see ‘Safeg Cid Ate Pat Su
a fo

SASSAFRAS TREE, 148

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

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

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

{44 LAURUS SASSAFRAS,

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

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

SASSAFRAS TREE. 445

more pleasant. The flavour and ‘odour reside in
a volatile oil which is readily obtained from the
bark by distillation. It is of a light colour, be-
coming darker by age, very pungent, and heavier
than water, so that it sinks in that fluid when the
drops are sufficiently large to overcome the re-
pulsion at the surface. The bark and pith of the
young twigs abound with a pure and delicate mu-
cilage. A very small quantity of the pith infused
in a glass of water gives to the whole a ropy con-
sistance, like the white of an egg. . This mucilage
has the uncommon quality that it is not precipi-
tated, coagulated, or rendered tarbid by alcohol.
It continues in a perfectly transparent state when
mixed with that fluid, though it does not unite
with it. When evaporated to dryness, it leaves a
light coloured, gum-like residuum.
The volatile oil and the mucilage appear .to
contain all the medicinal virtue of the tree. _
The bark and wood of the Sassafras were
formerly much celebrated in the cure of various
complaints, particularly syphilis, rheumatism and
dropsy. Its reputation, however, as a specific in
those diseases, particularly the first, has fallen
into deserved oblivion, while it is now recognized
only with regard to its general properties, which
are those of a warm stimulant and diaphoretic.
19 bes

146 LAURUS SASSAFRAS.

It is retained by the Dispensatories as an ingre-
dient in several preparations, particularly the
compound decoction of guaiacum, formerly called
“decoction of the woods;” and the compound
~ decoction of Sarsaparilla, formerly the “Lisbon
diet drink.” ‘These preparations are useful as
sudorifics in rheumatism, some cutaneous diseas-
es, and the sequele of syphilis. They derive,
however, more of their efficacy from their other
ingredients, than from the Sassafras, a principal
part of the efficacy of which is dissipated by boil-
ing. |
The most proper mode of employing the Sas-
safras is in the form of its volatile oil, which may
be given in very small quantities as an antispas-
modic, stimulant and sudorific. It is too acrid to
be taken unmixed, and should therefore be dis-
solved in spirit and mixed with water or syrup.
The mucilage of the pith of this tree is pe-
culiarly mild and lubricating, and has been used
with much benefit in dysentery, and in catarrhal,
as well as calculous affections. Some eminent
surgeons have employed it as a lotion in the most
inflammatory stages of ophthalmia, to which its
softness renders it extremely well suited.
The wood of the Sassafras tree is of a light.
texture, but is said to be durable when exposed

SASSAFRAS TREE. 4147

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

BOTANICAL REFERENCES. |

Laurus Sassafras, Linn. Sp. pl.—Pursn, i. 277.—NvTrait,

i, 259.—W ooDVILLE, iv. t. 234,-MicHaux, FIL. -rbres fores-
tiers, iii. 173.—Laurus foliis integris, trilobisve .—Trew, Ehr.

t. 69, 70.—Cornus mas odorata, &c.—PLUKENET, Alm, ee
329 ee Car. i. t. 55. i

Morray, Pegi iv. ii ee travels, ii—HorrmMan
Obs. Phys. Chem. 31.—Cunten, Mat. Med. ii. 200.—CuiayTon,
Phil. Trans. Abr. viii. 332.—Bremane, Sassafrasologia in 1627.

«PLATE XXXV.
‘Fig. 1. Laurus Sassafras a branch with perfet lowers of

the natural sixe.

Fig. 2. stamen ee
Fig. 3. Pistil, ditto.

Fig. 4. Fruit. :

APOCYNUM ANDROS EMIFOLIUM.

Dog’s Bane.

PLATE XXXVI.

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

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

The present species is glabrous, its stem erect

and branching ; cymes lateral and terminal; co-
rolla spreading.

| rs “( : COS
—Yooeyrum a

.

DOG’S BANE. 149

Class Pentandria, order Digynia ; natural or-
ders Contorte, Linneeus ; Apocinew, Jussieu.

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

tacle.

150 APOCYNUM ANDROSEMIFOLIUM.

_ Every part of the Apocynum when wounded
emits copiously a milky juice. When chewed,
the root communicates an unpleasant and in-
tensely bitter taste. It exhibits, when dry, the
following chemical phenomena.—If a solution in
ether be mixed with alcohol, the aleohol, though
not turbid at first, becomes so when the ether
evaporates. An aqueous infusion or decoction is
of a deep red colour and intensely bitter. A. so-
lution in aleohol is nearly destitute of colour, but
retains the whole bitterness of. the plant, and is
not disturbed by the addition of water. When
submitted to distillation a slight oily film floats on
the surface of water in the receiver.—From these
facts we may conclude that the Apocynum con-
tains, 4. A bitter extractive principle. 2. A col-
ouring prineiple soluble in water and not in al-
cohol. 3. Caontchoue. 4. A volatile oil,

An various parts of the Eastern States this
plant has been shewn to me by country practi-
tioners under the name of Ipecac. This name
is applied to it from its power of acting on the
stomach in the same manner as the Brazilian
emetic. Several physicians, among whom is Dr.
Richardson of Medway, inform me that they have
found about thirty grains of the root to evacuate
the contents of the stomach as effectually as two

DOG’S BANE. 4514

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

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

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

152 APOCYNUM ANDROSEMIF OLIUM.

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

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

DOG’S BANE. CAO? 453

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Apocynum androsemifolium, Lin. Sp. pl._—Curris, Botani-
cal Magazine, t. 280.—Darwin, Botanic Garden, ii. 182.—Mr-
CHAUX, Flora, i i. 121.—Pursn, i. 179.

MEDICAL REFERENCE.
Kaun, Travels, iii, 26.

PLATE XXXVI.
Fig. 1. Branch of Apocynum androscemifolium.
Fig. 2. Pair of follicles, —
~ ‘Fig. 3. Cone formed of the united stamens.
Fig. 4. Stamen detached. Hearty
Fig. 5. Side view of the calyx, nectaries ‘ond aereitsi, bs
Fig. 6. Front view of the same.
Fig.7. flseed.

eer . me ts ae eleeee
te Ge? fy ere. ee ie 22 Aes Tee
20 *
$ 7t4 ea PEP PTR REE Begs FAa ete ae Y

DIRCA PALUSTRIS.

Leather Wood.

PLATE XXXVI,

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

PL AXLAIVET

aly Nad

Y

DLirea foateastra :

—
eee ane

LEATHER WOOD. 155

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

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

The genus contains but a single species.

Class Octandria, order Monogynia. Natural
orders Veprecule, Lin. Thymelea, Juss.

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

156 DIRCA PALUSTRIS, .

lyx. The corolla is. funnel-shaped, with a con-
traction near the. base and another in the middle,
its border dilated, and slightly and irregularly
toothed. Stamens eight, much longer than. the
corolla, the alternate ones longest, the filaments
eapillary and inserted into the tuhe; the anthers
roundish, Germ ovate placed. obliquely, the
style appearing to issue from one side. The
style is capillary, curved, and longer than the
stamens. The fruit. is a small. oval, acute, red,
one-seeded berry, 7

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

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

LEATHER WOOD. 157

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

A yariety of observations on this shrub have
been made by my pupil, Dr. John Locke, who
first called my attention to the examination of its
properties. He found on experiment that not
only the distilled water, but the decoction also
was void of acrimony, and that in the boiled bark
this property was very much diminished, though
still present. The watery extract had consider-
able bitterness, but scarcely any of the peculiar
acrimony of the plant. ‘Taken in doses of a
drachm, it did not produce any very sensible ef-
fect. Aleohol without heat acquired but slight
sensible properties from the bark. Nothing
came over by distillation with alcohol, but the
alcohol remaining in the retort had acquired the
acrimony. ‘The spirituous extract procured by
evaporating this decoction was equal to one twen-
ty fourth of the bark from which it was obtained.
It contained the acrimony in a concentrated form,
producing a more powerful effect on the’ fauces
than the fresh bark. It was ew but not com-
pletely soluble in water. |
_ Dr. Locke gave the freshly dried root to various
patients in doses of from five to ten grains, which
quantity in most instances proyed powerfully

158 DIRCA PALUSTRIS.

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

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

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

LEATHER WOOD, 1459

count of the tenacity of its fibres it is difficult of
subdivision, After beating ina mortar it resem-
bles fine lint more than powder. Its vesicating
properties appear too feeble to. —_— maoh
utility. :
I have introduced the Direni in ‘this alse. not
so much because it has been yet applied to any
medical purpose of great importance; but be-
cause it would be improper, in a work like the
present, to pass over unnoticed a shrub of such
decided, activityecd eed evitl at to silt oA P

ate

BOTANICAL REFERENCES. —

“ninea palustris, Li ‘dhanitides academicer, i iii. 7 1 6. _ gas
Dvwamen, rb. vi. t, 212.—Pursn, i. 236,—Mrenavx, i. 268,—
Bartram, Travels, 309.—Kaum, Travels, ii. 148. _ neni

MEDICAL seer dcg a
B.S. Barrow, Coll, 32. ere

‘PLATE XXXVI

Fig. 1 1 1 branch with lowers Rirva poles,
Fig. 2. A branch in Nite

+O Rig, 3. Fruit.

| Bigs 4. Germ and style much magnified.

higei a Fig. 5. Magnified corolla, laid open.
Fig. 6. Flower magnified.

RUBUS VILLOSUS.

Tall Blackberry.

PLATE XXXVI.

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

PL. XXXVI

TALL BLACKBERRY. 164

ing in his lands, although it offers some amends
for the intrusion by the abundance and fine
flavour of its fruit. It is commonly called tall or
high blackberry in distinction from the R. trivia-
lis or low blackberry, which it greatly resembles
in the quality of its fruit. It is in flower in June
and its fruit is ripe in August and September.

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

Class Icosandria, order Polygynia ; natural or-
orders Senticose, Lin. Rosacee, Juss.

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

with a hairy, prickly stalk. The pedicels are
21

162 RUBUS VILLOSUS.

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

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

TALL BLACKBERRY. 163

of resins, but exhibits a flocculent appearance like
‘that of | congulated mucilage. These flocculi,
however, when collected and dried, exhibit the
common resinous properties on exposure to heat.

I subjected the dried bark to distillation, but the
distilled water was nearly insipid, possessing only
a very slight flavour of the root. )

The properties of this bark are those of a very
powerful astringent. I have tried its operation
sufficiently to become satisfied of its efficacy both
internally and externally used in a variety of cases
which adinit of relief from medicines of its class.
It is true that our list of vegetable astringents has
become very numerous and the cases which re-
quire them are perhaps less frequent than was
formerly imagined ; yet as we continue to im-
port and consume various foreign medicines of
this kind, we ought not to exclude from attention
native articles of equal efficacy. Professor Chap-
man, of Philadelphia, expresses a very decided
opinion in regard to the powers of this substance.
“ Of the vegetable astringents,” says he, “this I
have reason to believe is among the most active
and decidedly efficacious in certain cases. To
the declining stages of dysentery after the symp-
toms of active inflammation are removed, it is
well suited, though I have given it, 1 think, with

164 RUBUS VILLOSUS.

greater advantage under nearly similar circum-
stances, in cholera infantum. ‘To check the in-
ordinate evacuations which commonly attend the
protracted cases of this disease, no remedy has
ever done so much in my hands. Even two or
three doses will sometimes so bind the bowels
that purgatives became necessary. Being so
powerfully astringent, this medicine ‘is useful in
all excessive purgings, and especially in the di-
arrhea of very old people, as well as when it oc-
curs at the close of diseases. During my atten.
dance in our public institutions I had abundant
opportunities of testing its efficacy in these cases.”
The fruit of the blackberry is among the
most delicious productions of the uncultivated
forest. To an agreeable combination of sweetness
and acid it adds an aromatic fragrance which is
surpassed by few of the lighter fruits produced
among us. It differs in size and perfection in-
different seasons, warm and dry summers being
most favourable to its perfect maturity. Our
markets, however, are rarely destitute of this fine
fruit in the months of August and September.
Some other species of Rubus are closely allied
to this in the qualities of their fruit and bark,
particularly the Rubus procumbens, commonly
called low or running blackberry or dewberry.

TALL BLACKBERRY. 165

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

BOTANICAL REFERENCES,

Rubus villosus, Arron, Kew, ii. 210.—WILLDENOW, ii. 1085,
—Micuavx, i. 297.—Pursu, i. 346:

MEDICAL REFERENCES,
_ Crarmay, tah eon X and Mat. Med. ii. 174 Tancmen,

‘PLATE xxxvun

Fig. 1 specimen of Rubus wilanys i im n Hower.
Fig. 2. Stamen.

Fig. 3. Pistils.
Hi Fig, 4, The ripe fruit. entity

CASSIA MARILANDICA.

American Senna.
PLATE XXXIX.

Tas tall and luxuriant plant is found in rich
soils in the vicinity of water from New England
to Carolina, and westward to the banks of the
Missouri. The most northern situation in which
I have known it decidedly indigenous, is on the
banks of the Quinebaug river near the southern
boundary of Massachusetts. It is, however, cul-
tivated in gardens for medicinal use much further
to the north. It is a vigorous herbaceous peren-
nial with stalks four or five feet high, haying
their summits covered in July and August with
brilliant yellow flowers. 3

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

PL XANGA.

ARG

A

Annin & Smith Sf

AMERICAN SENNA, 467

curved and beaked. Legume two-valved.—The
species Marilandica has eight or nine pairs of leaf-
ets, which are oblong-lanceolate, and mucronate ;
an obovate gland on the petiole. Racemes axillary
and terminal ; legumes linear and curved.
Class Decandria, order Monogynia. Natural
orders Lomentacee, Linn. Leguminose, Juss.
The stems, which grow in bunches and often
attain the height of five or six feet, are round,
striated, and invested with a few scattered hairs.
Petioles compressed, channelled above, bearing
from eight to ten pairs of leafets, which are ob-
long, smooth, somewhat hairy at the edges, pale
on the under side, supported by short crooked
pedicels, and mucronated with a rigid bristle at
the end. On the base of the petiole is a large
ovate pedicelled gland, of a shining green, ter-
minating in a dark point at top, which is some-
times double. Each petiole is also furnished with
a pair of linear-subulate, ciliate, deciduous stip-
ules, The flowers grow in axillary racemes, ex-
tending quite to the top of the stem. ‘The pe-
duneles are slightly furrowed, pedicels supported
by bractes like the stipules, and marked with mi-
nute, blackish, glandular hairs. Leaves of the
« calyx yellow oval, obtuse, the lateral ones longest.
Petals five, bright yellow, spatulate, concaye, very

168 - GCASSIA MARILANDICA,

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

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

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

AMERICAN SENNA. 4169

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

* There is no doubt that the true Alexandrian Senna is the
product of the Cassia Senna of Linneus and of Willdenow. La-
marck has occasioned an unnecessary confusion on this subject, and
misled other botanists, by changing the Linnzan name C. senna to

~€. lanceolata ; while he has appropriated the name C. senna to’ ‘the
variety 6 of Linnaeus, which is the Italian senna, since very properly
named C. Italica, See Rees’ Cyclopedia, Art. Cassia, &c. The
African plant is accounted the most active, although the Italian Sen-
na cultivated in Jamaica, sesordlg to Dr. —— wre Telly
equal to it in efficacy. awe

The greater part of the Senna consumed in the United States is
imported from the East Indies. Smaller quantities occasionall y reach

us from different ports of the Mediterranean and Red seas. The
common India senna has a lanceolate leaf narrow and acute; pe-
tioles without glands, bearing from five to nine pairs of leaves; and
a flat oblong curved legume. _ Medicinally considered, it is one of
the most valuable sorts, operating with mildness and certainty. The
facility and cheapness with which it is obtained in — has long
‘caused it to predominate in our markets. |

The India senna, which I have assalante has heen very pure,
consisting only of leaves of Cassia. The Egyptian has frecuently a
‘slight admixture of foreign leaves which are nauseous and bitter.

The Cassia senna would doubtless succeed in our Southern
states. The product, consisting of the whole leaves of the plant,
must necessarily be large, and would well reward the attention of

planters. Ripe seeds may probably be found among the senna of the

shops which will vegetate, if not too old. According to Roxburgh
and Carey, the Arabian senna cultivated at the Bengal garden is a
biennial plant, _ er ae :

470 CASSIA MARILANDICA.

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

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Cassia Marilandica, Lin. Sp. pl—Martryn, Cent. t. 23.—
Micuavx, Flora, i. 261.—Pursu, i. 306.—Nvrratt, i, 280.—
Cassia mimosz foliis, &c.—Dinentivs, t. 260, f. 839.

MEDICAL REFERENCES,
B. S. Barron, Coll. 32.—Tuacuzr, Disp, 178.—Cuar-
MAN, Therapentics,
PLATE XXXIx.
Fig. 1. Cassia Marilandica.
Fig. 2. The three upper stamens.
Fig. 3. The fourth and fifth ditto.
Fig. 4. The sixth and seventh ditto.
Fig. 5. The three lowest ditto.
Fig. 6. 4 legume.

NICOTIANA TABACUM.

Tobacco.
PLATE XL.

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

472 NICOTIANA TABACUM.

. The genus Nicotiana has a funnel-shaped co-
olla, with iis border somewhat plaited. Stamens —
inclined ; stigma emarginate. Capsule two-celled,
iwo or four-valved. The species Tabacum, re-
presented in our plate, has its leaves ovate-lanceo-
late, sessile, decurrent ; flowers panicled, acute.

Class Pentandria, order Monogynia. Natural
orders Lurid, Linn. Solanacee, Juss.

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

TOBACCO, 473

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

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

174 NICOTIANA TABACUM,

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

Tobacco was in use among the aborigines of
America, at the time of its dicovery. They em-
ployed it as incense in their sacrificial fires,
believing that the odour of it was grateful to their
gods. The priests of some tribes swallowed the
smoke of this plant to excite in them a spirit of
divination, and this they did to a degree which
threw them into a stupor of many hours continu-
ance. When recovered from this fit of intoxica-
tion, they asserted that they had held a confer.
ence with the devil, and had learned from him the.
course of future events. Their physicians also
got inebriated with this smoke, and pretended
that while under the influence of this intoxication
they were admitted to the council of the gods,
who revealed to them the event of diseases. - Hur-
riot. pea BS: 5 |

TOBACCO, 475

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

476 NICOTIANA TABACUM.

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

~ Even in this country, where the use of Tebac-
co originated, we find our puritanic ancestors
guarding against its abuse by salutary statutes.
In the old Massachusetts colony laws is an act
laying a penalty upon any one “who shall smoke
tobacco within twenty poles of any house ;” or
who shall “take tobacco in any inn or common
victualling house, except in a private room, so as
‘that neither the master of the said house nor any
other guest shall take offence thereat.’—In the
earliest records of Harvard University soon after
its foundation, is a regulation of this kind. “No
scholar shall take tobacco, unless permitted by the
president, with the consent of their parents and
guardians, and on good reason first given by a
physician, and then in a sober and private man-
Wer2’61) ac ; | i
While the legal authorities in various parts of
the world took upon them to control the abuse
of this fascinating weed, the literati of different
countries entered warmly into the discussion of
its merits and its faults. Among its advocates
were Castor Duranti and Raphael Thorius, both of
whom wrote Latin poems expressly in its praise.

TOBACCO. , 177

The performance of. the latter is entitled. a
“Hymn to Tobacco,” and is very lavish in ascrip-
tions to this plant, which he styles the “gift of
heaven and the ornament of earth.’ So warm,
were the prejudices of its advocates, that it ob-
tained the reputation of a general panacea, and
the catalogue of diseases which it was announced
to cure, amounted almost to a complete nosology.

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

Dr. Venner in a work sities Via recta él
nitam longam, published at London in 1638, gives
a brief summary of the injuries done by Tobacco.
“It drieth the brain, dimmeth the sight, vitiateth

23

478 NICOTIANA TABACUM.

the smell, hurteth the stomach, destroyeth the
concoction, disturbeth the humours and spirits,
corrupteth the breath, induceth a trembling: of
the limbs, exsiccateth the winde pipe, lungs and
liver, annoyeth the milt, scorcheth the heart and
eauseth the blood to be adusted. In a word, it
overthroweth the spirits, perverteth the under-
standing, and confoundeth the senses with sudden
astonishment and stupiditie of the whole body.”

_ A poetical phillippic, called “Tobacco batter-
red,” was published in the reign of King James
by Joshua Sylvester, in which he compares 'Tobac-
eo to gunpowder, and pipes to guns ; making the
mischief of the two equal. But the most cele-
brated of all inyectives against Tobaceo was the
* Counterblast” of King James I. | That) weak
monarch gave vent to his prejudices against this
herb in a publication, in which he professes to
disprove all the alleged grounds for the toleration
of Tobacco, and warns his subjects in a most
earnest manner not to sin against God, and harm
their own persons and goods, and render them-
selves scorned and contemned by strangers, who
should come among thems. by persevering in a
custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose,
and baneful to the brain?

TOBACCO, 4179

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

— Sever Varieties of Nicotiana Tabacum weigalpy a the
United States, of which the principal are the broad leaved or sweet
scented, and the narrow leaved.

180 NICOTIANA TABACUM.

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

TOBACCO. 481

heat above that of boiling water.. A quantity of
watery fluid came over, on the surface of which
was a film of unctuous substance, which he calls
the empyreumatic oil. Mr. Brodie found that
two drops of this oil applied to the tongue of a
young cat with an interval of fifteen minutes
occasioned death. A single drop suspended in
an ounce of water and. injected into the rectum
of a cat, produced death in about five minutes.
One drop suspended in an ounce and a half of
mucilage and thrown into the rectum of a dog,
produced. violent symptoms, and a repetition of ©
the experiment killed -him. |
Tobacco has been used both as a seniac int
prophylactic, and as a medicine. In the former
eases it has not been taken internally, but only
kept in contact with absorbing surfaces. It is
well known, that to the mouth it 1s applied in
substance and in smoke; and to the nose in the
form of powder. The opinion which at one time
prevailed of its power to prolong life and to
secure immunity from diseases is now pretty
fully abandoned. It has no prophylactic reputa-
tion except as a preservation for the teeth, and in
some degree as a protection against the conta-
gion of epidemics. In both these cases it is
entitled to'a certain degree of confidence, though

182 NICOTIANA TABACUM.

it is probably inferior to many other ss oad
for both these purposes. mit dads
As, to its effeets upon longevity, the great
frequeney of its use and the facts and observations
of Sir John Sinclair render it. improbable that
when moderately taken, it has any influence in
Wearing out the constitution, or abridging the usu-
al period of life. . But like all other narcotics its
excessive use or abuse must impair the health
and engender disease. Of the different modes of
using ‘Tobacco, I imagine that smoking is the
most injurious, and the most capable of abuse,
since in. this process the active principles of the
Tobaceo are yolatilized with the smoke, and are
extensively applied to the: wes as well as the
inouth and nose and fauces.
As a medicine, this plant: has: ‘been cenit
iain variety of ways for the alleviation and cure
of diseases. Externally it has been applied with
benefit in tinea’ capitis and in complaints occa-
sioned by the presence of insects, In the form
of a cataplasm applied to the pit'of the stomach
it occasions severe vomiting, |The prostration of
strength and other distressin g symptom 8 which
attend this application, must prevent its general
employment. Still-it may be remembered as an
auxiliary in cases where other emetics have failed

TOBACCO. 183

to operate. A. surgeon in the U.S. army inform-
ed mé that the soldiers had an expedient to ex-
empt themselves from duty, by wearing a piece
of tobacco under each armpit; until the most
alarming symptoms of — illness ee in
the whole system..:)) §) i028) oipigvom
Dr. James Currie has. sian a ease of epi-
lepsy cured by the external use of Tobaeco. A
: cataplasm was applied to the stomach for’ several
days about half an-hour before the expected. re-
turn of the paroxysm. A violent impression was
produced each time upon the system, the’ parox-
ysm prevented and the diseased association
effectually broken up. Two cases of. obstinate
and dangerous intermittent’ were cured in’ the
game manner by a decoction of half a drachm of
Tobacco in four ounces of water, thrown up as an
estan a short, = before the time of the
jee ais enema “was ar recom-
wedded in colic, nepliritic complaints, Sc. Of
late years it has, been. extensively employed in
strangulated hernia. In eases of this complaint
where the taxis has -been ineffectually attempted
and the usual auxiliaries have failed, an injection
made by infusing half a drachm of Tobacco in
eight ounces of beiling water’ for ten minutes, is

184 NICOTIANA TABACUM.

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

When the infusion is not used, an. dicaialiaee of
Tobacco smoke into the reetum frequently pro-
duces the same consequences. . The smoke may
be made to penetrate farther than any liquid, and
it is equally efficacious, from the «aetivity of the
volatile parts. It was formerly much used in the
restoration of persons apparently dead from
drowning, but of late years it has gone more into
disuse. From the sedative effect of Tobacco, the
tendency to syncope and. the great: prostration
of strength which it occasions in ordinary cases ;
it is probable that its employment in cases of
asphyxia from: drowning, must assist in. extin-
oe rather than: in ———— the, mated of
life. 0H fi
Asa fiusatiny 5 Tobacco bie deed aiiieiined
internally i in doses so small.as not to offend the
stomach, with very good. effeet.. Dr. Fowler has
published a collection of facts relative to its use,
principally in dropsy and dysury, from which he

TOBACCO. 185 _-

concludes it is a safe and efficacious diuretic. In
thirty one dropsical cases in which he employed
it, eighteen were cured and ten relieved ; and out
of eighteen cases of dysury, ten were cured and
seven relieved. Dr. Ferriar and. several subse-
quent: practitioners have found it a valuable diu-
retic, although Cullen does not speak very en-
couragingly of its use. At the present day it
does not seem to be extensively in use, having
passed into neglect rather because more fashiona-
ble remedies have superceded it, than because it
has really been weighed and found wanting. It
will always deserve trial in obstinate dropsical
cases (and such eases it must be confessed are not
rare) in which the more common remedies have
been tried without benefit. Of the various for-
mulas recommended by Dr. Fowler, the Wine of
“Tobacco is the only one preserved in the Edin-
burgh and Massachusetts pharmacopeeias, being
the one which is believed to extract most fully
the virtues of the Tobacco. It is made by di-
gesting for a week, an ounce of the dried Tobac-
co in a pound of Spanish white wine. ‘The dose
is from thirty to eighty drops. Dr. Fowler him-
self however believed the most effectual mode of
administering the Tobacco, was in the form of
pills of a grain each. (i heqaacint
24

486 NICOTIANA TABACUM.

- Tobacco has been employed with some suc-
cess in the locked jaw, both of warm and cold
climates. Mr. Duncan, surgeon of Grenada, has
published in the Edinburgh Journal the account
of a very distressing case of this kind, which was
relieved and finally cured principally by enemas
of Tobacco smoke. These applications generally
produced syncope and deathlike sickness in the
patient, but by prudent management of them, the
disease was entirely overcome, and recovery took
place. Dr. Holmes of Worcester county, Mass.
exhibited the infusion of Tobacco, to a patient
under violent tetanus, after the more common
remedies had been fully tried without effect.
The spasms were completely remoyed and the
patient recovered. 7

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

TOBACCO. 187

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

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.
Nicotiana tabacum, Lan. sp. pl.—Arron, Kew. i. 241.—
Woopvitie, Med. Bot. t. 77. BLACKWELL, ¢. 146.—Pursu, i.
141.—NuTrTaLL, i. 132.

' MEDICAL AND OTHER REFERENCES.

Murray, ‘Apparatus, i. 681.—WA¥FER, Travels, 102—Har-
niorr, Voyage to Virginia.—HaxteyT, 7 5.—EvERARD, de her.
ba panacea, §¢. 1585.—CuRYSsosTOM Macnenvs, Exercita-
tiones 14, de Tabaco.— Kine James I. Works, London, 1616—
Suort, Discourses on Tea, Tobacco, §c.—BienTEMA, Tabacolo-
gia in 1690.—Haun, Tabacologia, Jenc.—GERARD, Historie of
Plants, 360.—V AUQUELIN, Annales de Chimie, 1809.—Edinburgh
‘Med. Comment. xl. 327.—DESGRANGES, Journal de Medicine,
1791.—CuLLen, Mat. Med.—FowLer, Med. Reports on Tobacco,
Svo, Lond.—TatHam, on the Culture and Commerce of ‘Tobacco,
Lond. 1800.—Med. and Phys. Journal, Vol. 24, 25, et passim.—
Duncan, Repr. in N. Engl. Journal for 1814.—FERR1AR, Med.
Hist. i. 75, and ii, 152.—Porr. ii. 72, 85, §c.—WATTERSTON;
“amoir on the Tobacco plant, Washington, 1817. Petra ica

PLATE XL.

Fig. 1. Nicotiana tabacum. ee
“Fig. 2. Capsule. es i
Fig. 3. Ripe capsule opening at top.
‘Fig. 4. Transverse section.

ge i Be 8
‘Note A.

= memoir on the cultivation and use of Asclepias Syraica, by

J. A. Moller, may be found in Tilloch’s Philosophical Magazine,
Vol. viii. p. 149. Its chief uses were for beds, cloth, hats and
paper. It was found that from eight to nine pounds of the silk
occupied a space of from five to six cubic feet, and were suffi- |
cient for a bed, coverlet and two pillows.—The shortness of the
fibre prevented it from being spun and woven alone. It how-
ever was mixed with flax, wool, &c. in certain stuffs to advan-
tage. Hats made with it were very light and soft. The
stalks afforded paper in every respect resembling that obtained
from rags. The plant is easily propagated by seeds or slips.
A plantation containing thirty thousand plants yeilded from six
seamen to — eames a of silk. 3

Mote B.

_ Tobacco was discovered in Cuba, Florida and Mexico, near-

ly three centuries ago, and was soon after introduced from this

continent into Europe. Whether or not any species of it was
cultivated in the East before the discovery of America, is a
point of no consequence in regard to its American nativity.
The extent of country throughout which it was used by the ab-
origines of this continent, renders it probable that it must have

been cultivated in various parts of America for none Coached’
previous to its discovery.

NOTES. 189

The following account of the present mode of cultivating
Tobacco in our Southern States is extracted from .4n Historical
and Practical Essay on the Culture und Commerce of Tobacco. By
William Tatham. London, 1800,

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

sé'The process of preparing new lands begins as early in the
winter as the housing and managing the antecedent crop will
permit, by grubbing the under growth with a mattock ; felling
the timber with a poll-axe ; lopping off the tops, and cutting the
bodies into lengths of about eleven feet, which is about the cus-
tomary length of an American fence rail, in what is called a
worm or pannel fence. During this part of the process the ne-
gro women, boys, and weaker labourers, are employed in piling
or throwing the brush-wood, roots, and small wood, into heaps
to be burned ; and after such logs or stocks are selected as are |
gttitable to be mailed into rails, make clap-boards, or answer for
other more particular occasions of the planter, the remaining
logs are rolled into heaps by means of hand-spikes and skids ;
but the Pennsylvania and German farmers, who are more con-
versant with animal powers than the Virginians, save much of
this labour by the use of a pair of horses with a half sledge, or a
pair of truck wheels. The burning of this brush-wood, and the
log piles, is. a business for all hands after working hours 5 and
as nightly reyels are peculiar to the African constitution, this

190 7 NOTES.

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

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

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

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

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

NOTES. 194

hills are in this manner guessed by the eye; and in most instan-
ces they approach near to lines of four feet one way, and three
feet the other. The planter always endeavours to time this
operation so as to tally with the growth of plants, so that he
may be certain by this means to pitch his crop within season. ©
« The third kind of hoe is the broad or weeding hoe. This
is made use of during the cultivation of the crop, to keep it
clean from the weeds. It is wide upon the edge, say from ten
inches to a foot, or more ; of thinner substance than the hilling
hoe, not near so deep in the blade, and the eye is formed more
bent and shelving than the latter, so that it can be set upon a
more acute angle men the helve: at Sopeieod by oes the
os TE: } aio ued be iBWIRY 32H) ait

of the Season for Planting...

4, és <The tern, season for planting, signifies a shower of rain
of sufficient quantity to wet the earth to a degree of moisture
which may render it, safe to draw the young plants from the
plant bed, and transplant them into the hills which are prepared
for them in the field, as described under the last head; and
these seasons generally commence in April, and. terminate with
what is termed the long season in May ; which (to make use of
an Irishism) very frequently happens in June ; and is the our
portunity which the planter finds himself necessitated to seize
with eagerness for the pitching of his crop; aterm which com-
prehends the ultimate. opportunity which the spring will afford
him for planting a quantity.equal to the capacity of the collec-
tive power of his labourers when applied in cultivation,
__« By the time which these seasons approach, nature has so
ordered vegetation, that the weather has generally enabled the
plants (if duly sheltered from the spring frosts, a circumstance
to which a planter should. always be attentive in sclecting his
plant patch) to shoot forward in sufficient strength to bear the
vicissitude of transplantation.

192 NOTES.

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

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

Of Planting.
«The office of planting the tobacco is perfor med by two or

more persons, in the following manner : The first person bears,
suspended upon one arm, a large basket fall of the plants | which
have been just drawn and brought. from the plant bed to the
field, without waiting, for an. intermission of the shower, al-
though it should rain ever so. heavily ; 3 such an opportunity
indeed, instead of being shunned, i is eagerly sought after, and is
considered to be the sure and certain means" of laying a ‘good
foundation, which cherishes the hope of a bounteous return.
_ The person who bears the basket proceeds thus by rows from
‘Ail to hill ; and upon each hill he takes care to drop one of his
plants. Those who follow make a hole in the centre of each
hill with their fingers, and having adjusted. the tobacco plant | in
its natural position, they knead the earth round the root with
their hands, until is of a sufficient consistency to sustain the
plant against wind and weather, In this condition they leave
the field for a few days until the plants shall have formed their
radifications ; and where any of them shall have casually per-
ished, the ground is followed over again by successive replant-
ings, until the crop is rendered complete:

NOTES. 193

of Hoeing the Crop.

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

«6 The more direct use of the weeding hoe commences with
the first grow th of the ‘tobacco after transplantation, and never
ceases ‘until the plant is nearly ripe, and ready to be laid by, as

: they term the last weeding with the hoe ; for be who would
“have a good crop of tobacco, or of maize, ‘must not be sparing
of his labour, but must keep the ground constantly stirring dur-
ing the whole growth of ‘the crop. And it is a rare instance
to see the plough introduced as an assistant, unless it be the
flook plough, for the purpose ‘of introducing a sowing of wheat
for the following year, even while the present crop is growing 5 3.
and ‘this is frequently practised” in fields of maize, and some-
times in fields of tobacco, which” may be ranked amongst the
best fallow crops, as it leaves the ground perfectly clean and
naked, permitting neither grass, weed, nor vegetable, to remain
standing i in 1 the space which it ‘has itty ao :
ae 38 ;

194 NOTES.

jf Of Topping the Plant. —
© This» cnnicnd) simply, is that of ats off with the

thumb: nail* the leading ‘stem or sprout of the plant, which
would, if left alone, run up to flower and seed ; but. which, from
the more substantial formation of the leaf by the help of the nu-
tritive juices, which are thereby afforded to the lower parts of
the plant, and thus absorbed through the ducts and fibres of the
leaf, is rendered more weighty, thick, and fit for market. The
qualified sense of this term is applicable to certain legal restric-
tions founded upon long experience, and calculated to compel an
amendment in the culture of this staple of the Virginia trade, so
that it shall at all times excel in foreign markets, and thus just-
ly merit asuperior reputation. I do not exactly recollect the
present limitation by law, which has changed, I believe, with
the progress of experience; but the custom is to top the plant
to nine, seven, or five leaves, as the sone ana soil nie seem
racket to bear.» ae : fils
of the ke and ae

«The sucker is a superfluous sprout which is wont to make
its appearance and shoot -forth from the stem or stalk, near to
the junction of the leaves with the stem, and about the root of
the plant ; and if these suckers are permitted to grow, they in-
juré the marketable quality of the tobacco by compelling a division
of its nutriment during the act of maturation. The planter is
therefore careful to destroy these intruders with the thumb nail,
as in the act of topping, and this process is termed suckering. —
_ «This superfluity of vegetation, like that of the top, has
been often the subject of legislative care ; and the policy of sup-
pip: the aii name - the — a has dictated the

i pol kw
* 6 ‘Many. of the. Vigginiana, let fy ‘tue, ‘til. grow ge a"
harden it in the can#le, for this purpose : not for the use of gouging
out people’s eyes, as.some have thought fit to insinuate.”

NOTES. 195

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

«The practice of dalttvating: etikersi is on dass. sia
not only discountenanced as- fraudulent, but the constables are
strictly enjoined ea officio to make. diligent search, and to em-
ploy the posse comitatus in. destroying such crops; a law
indeed for which, to the credit of the Virginians, there is. seldom
occasion; yet some few instances have occurred, within my day,
where the constables have very honourably carried it into exe-
cution in a manner truly exemplary, and productive of public
good. |

hd the Worm. !

_ «There are several species of the worm, or rather saa ge-
nus, which prove injurious to the culture of tobacco; some of
these attack the root, and some the leaf of the plant ;— but that
which is most destructive,.and. consequently creates the most
employment, is: the horn worm, or large green_ tobacco worm.
This appears to me to - ‘be the same species with that which
Catesby has described in the. second volume of his Natural His-
ona Gee ENR
the great horned caterpillar. or

_« ¢This caterpillar,’ says ee ‘is about four inches long, be-
sides the head and tail ; ‘it consists of ten joints, or rings, of a
yellow colour; on the head, which is black, grow four pair of

196 NOTES,

horns, smooth and of a.reddish brown towards the bottom, jagged
or bearded, and black towards the tops,on each of the rings arise
short, jagged, black horns, one standing on the back, and two on
each side; below which is a trachea on each side; likewise the
horn of the back of the last ring is longest: the flap of the tail
is of a bright bay colour. It hath eight feet, and six pupille.’
__ There. are, besides this kind, others without horns ; all of
them. of a green. colour. so far as I recollect. And. this, in |
Catesby’s description, differs in respect to colour ; this tobacco
worm or horn worm, as the planters call it more. particularly,
being. of a pale delicate green ; an effect I apprehend which pro-
ceeds from the colour of its food when it feeds upon growing. to-
bacco. plants. The act of destroying these worms is termed,
worming the tobacco, which i is a very nauseous occupation, and.
takes up much labour, _ It is performed by picking every thing
of this kind. off the respective leaves with the hand, and destroy-
ing i it with, the foot. ee
uv add To Ofte. ‘Term. ‘sFiring?. a a
— py comes very. rainy seasons, and in some kinds of unfa- .
vourable soil, the plant. is, subject, toa malady called firing.
atmosphere, and the too moist condition of the plant: I do not
recollect whetes, #8 Pa eaten, does not produce an ef-
planter, a as sit spots, the leaf with, a hard brown spoty, which per-
ishes, and becomes : 50, far a Joss upon the commodity. L appre-
hend there are two stages when the plant i is,ina certain degree,
subject to this evil effect : the first i is whilst growing in the field,
the latter when, hanging i in the tobacco house. _ know of no other,
remed yt than constant working the ground while the seed is grow-
ings ¢ and careful drying, by the use of che in, the tobacco hones

~ Fi 4 ey
‘ 8 4 ‘ ce kree .
his 2303 Mee at bith (che. ES Fi seated er Ree yas has
$ ret “tas pats + Si f

NOTES. 197

Of the Ripening of the Crop.

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

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

of Cutting and wag the Crop.

« When the crop is adjudged sufficiently 1 ripe to proceed to
cutting, this operation is assigned to the best and most judicious :
hands who are employed i in the culture; and these being pro-
vided each with a strong sharp knife, proceed along the respec-
tive rows of the field to select such plants as appear to be ripe,
leaving others to ripen ; “those which are cut are sliced off near
to the ground, and such plants as have thick stalks or stems are
sliced down the middle of the stem in order to admit a more free
and equal circulation of air through the parts during the process

498 NOTES.

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

: Of Gathering the Crop in.

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

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

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

four feet in length, and about an inch and a half diameter.
These are termed the tobacco sticks ; and their use is to hang
the tobacco upon, both by lodging the ends of this stick upon
the poles of the scaffold which have been previously prepared in
the field, in order to render it sufficiently pliable and in condi-
tion to carry into the tobacco-house, to which it is now coavey-

NOTES. — 4990 =
es such means as the platen iddwiits power paktalieaide
pending it in the same way in the house,’so that the air may)
pass through it in the process of curing. Instead of this partic-"
ular method, those who prefer to do so, lay it a short while in

bulk upon poles, logs, &c. in the field, before they convey it un-
dercoven”: sidsilq molt vebats ot tosite Insioifive bad ead mise

sitiee ad? yd erro oli borsdlas od qlersolias bas qliens ofomt
egniiiad alt Wollol oly e19

aditnid YO

aibnaiongmies qatiad ad} 10'L”

fom doubly molds sragaig odd bonteibus of Yaasesoe ai di
vane ail Je diag vidd saitstilion! ql obata yeni 18% od.
eee et Je oo ndot to gov od? gurradias sot gaitage1g ae
panadot ad? Yo eaoslg euarinyai blotiace to beri 8 io919 03 Yiemol
tT noitandie 3u9in9 707. 2 16Ro of noqqsd {Sit doidwe banerg
sol Yas woe & slog gneie leqovee to has sito gaigbot, yd oupb ei
‘te bao-sadio od} guitest fog jnsinsvies 5d yar daisy: sonst yo
inode: ie edt ed be Progque slo seiorennl & ogy eolog dave
bisfiace olodw adt yriioa. yd 10 bese silt aiotl took avi 4
Ji minps: essnsiemuntio li edsot ogi
a) bidRaeoe od? Io dung gid) paiarol al: ke

tye, Je af 140) joods beaaly

+ tee ce eae, Sait

ett SN

SS © bldtinoe sa¥ nage 508 £1093 ¢ een . oh =
sdiad Le “sana us HE ue oe al A sidan» a. Hes

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dw o} awit at oat ' ee ae

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

Pyrola wmbellata,—
Gaultheria procumbens,
Podophyllum peltatum,
Ictodes foetidus,
Statice Caroliniana,
Asclepias tuberosa,
Magnolia glauca,
Cornus florida,

Panax quinquefolium,
Polygala senega,
Liriodendron tulipifera,
Juglans cinerea, —
Yeratrum viride,
Gentiana Catesbai, —
Laurus sassafras,
Apocynum androscemifolium,
Dirca palustris,

Rubus villosus,

Cassia Marilandica,
Nicotiana tabacum,
Notes,

Winter green,
Partridge berry,
May apple,

Skunk cabbage,

Marsh rosemary,
Butterfly weed,
Small magnolia,
Dogwood,
Ginseng,
Seneca snake root,
Tulip tree,
Butternut,
American Hellebore,
Blue gentian,
Sassafras,
Dogsbane,
Leather wood,
Tall blackberry,
_ American senna,
Tobacco,

Page.
15

QT
34
41
51
59
67
73
82
97

107

115

121

137

142

148

154

160

166

171

188