Reprinted from Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 55, Number 1 January, 1974 46 JOURNAL OF THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM [voL. 55 BIGELOW’S “AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANY” GUNTHER BUCHHEIM AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANY by Jacob Bigelow (1787-1879) is a three- volume work in which 60 species of American medicinal plants are de- scribed and illustrated. Its publication dates are usually given as “1817- 1820.” These are the inclusive title-page dates of the volumes: vol. 1 is dated 1817, vol. 2: 1818, vol. 3: 1820. However, this work was originally published in six parts, and not in volumes: two parts forming each vol- ume. With the exception of volume 1 part 1, the other five parts are provided with part titles, each being an integral part of the first gathering of each part. These part titles are in the form of a half title and are un- dated, thus they are of no value in elucidating the dates of publication. The copy of this work in the Duke University, Medical Center Library, Trent Collection, at Durham, North Carolina (NcD-MC) was loaned to the Hunt Botanical Library for this study through the kindness of Dr. G. S. T. Cavanagh, librarian. This copy is distinctive in that the six parts are preserved in their original green boards, and with the paper untrimmed; features that proved to be of high bibliographical impor- tance, especially for determination of dates, collation, and paper size. The outside front covers give the title as AMERICAN | MEDICAL BOTANY | WITH | COLOURED ENGRAVINGS. | BY JACOB BIGELOW, M.D. | Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; of the American Philosophical | Society, &c. Rumford Professor and Lecturer on Materia Medica and | Botany in Harvard University. After the volume and part number, there follows enumeration of the plants described in each part (10 species), together with the plate num- bers. The place of publication, and name of publisher and printer, is the same as on the title-pages. Significantly, the dates imprinted on each cover differ from those on the title-pages. Although Graesse, Trésor de livres rares et précieux 1: 424. 1950 [reprint], Jackson, Guide to the lit- erature of botany p. 360. 1881, and Savage (Comp.), Catalogue of the printed books and pamphlets in the library of the Linnean Society of Lon- don ed. 2, p. 67. 1925, list the correct inclusive dates (1817-1821), no reference is known which gives the correct publication dates of all the parts. The dates recorded on the front boards are: Vol. I. Part I: 1817; Vol. I. Part II: 1818; Vol. II. Part I: 1819; Vol. II. Part IT: 1819; Vol. III. Part I: 1820; Vol. HI. Part II: 1821. In conclusion, volume 1 was published in 1817-1818 (title-page dated 1817), volume 2 in 1819 (title- page dated 1818), and volume 3 in 1820-21 (title-page dated 1820). Additionally, a printed text is on the outside back covers of the parts belonging to volumes 1 and 2. That on volume 1, part 1 is an announce- 1974] BUCHHEIM, “AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANY” 47 ment by the publisher that part 2 of the same volume will shortly be published, followed by an advertisement of books, none of them botani- cal. Volume 1, part 2 represents a prospectus of the present work. It is dated May 1818 and states that “Two half volumes are already pub- lished.” Volume 2, part 1 bears advertisements of books either pub- lished by Cummings and Hilliard, or which are in the press. The first item mentioned is AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANY, Nos. 1, 2, & 3. That for Volume 2, part 2, reports an error on the front cover of Volume 2, part 1, where the plate numbers are reported as “I, II” etc. instead of “XXI, XXII” etc. It reports further that a work titled Outlines of Botany . . . by John Locke is in press [this work was published in 1819] and lists additional nonbotanical titles. Using these data, and considering the contents and _ bibliographical characteristics of both the NcD-MC and HBL copies, the following for- mal treatment has been prepared: American medical botany. 3 vols. Boston, 1817-1820 [1817-1821]. AMERICAN | MEDICAL BOTANY, | BEING-A COLLECTION | OF THE | NATIVE MEDICINAL PLANTS | OF THE | UNITED STATES, | CON- TAINING THEIR | BOTANICAL HISTORY AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS, | AND PROPERTIES AND USES | IN | MEDICINE, DIET AND THE ARTS, | WITH | COLOURED ENGRAVINGS. | [very short thick-thin double rule] | BY JACOB BIGELOW, M.D. | RUMFORD PROFESSOR AND LECTURER ON MATERIA MEDICA AND BOTANY | IN HAR- VARD UNIVERSITY. | [very short thin-thick double rule ] | VOL. I. | [5 dots in line] | BOSTON: | PUBLISHED BY CUMMINGS AND HILLIARD, AT THE | BOSTON BOOKSTORE, NO. 1, CORNHILL. | **** | UNI- VERSITY PRESS .... HILLIARD AND METCALF. | 1817. [Vol. II]: ...| VOL. II. |... | BOSTON BOOKSTORE, NO. 1 CORN- Bia, |». - | 1818. [Vol. III]: ...| MEDICINE, DIET, AND THE ARTS, | WITH COLOURED ENGRAVINGS, | [short double rule] | BY JACOB BIGELOW, M.D. | RUMFORD PROFESSOR, AND PROFESSOR OF MATERIA MEDI- CA IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY. | [short double rule] | VOL. III. | [short thick-thin double rule] | BOSTON: | PUBLISHED BY CUMMINGS AND HILLIARD, AT THE BOSTON | BOOKSTORE, NO. 1 CORNHILL. | [very short double rule] | UNIV. PRESS .... HILLIARD AND METCALF. | 1820. CoLiaTION: 8° in 4’s: Vol. 1: 1* 2? 3-14" (—14x) 15* 16-25‘; i—v vi-xi xii 17 18-32 33 34-38 39 40-51 52 53-59 60 61-65 66 67-74 75 76-83 84 85-89 90 91-95 96 97-110 111-113 114-124 125 126-132 133 134-141 142 143-148 149 150-154 155 156-160 161 162-168 169 170-176 177 178-186 187 188-191 192 193-197 198, Vol. 2: 1* 2-13* 14* 15-25*; i-v vi-vii viiiix x-xiii xiv (in NcD-MC copy as “xvi”) 15 16-26 27 28-33 3435-40 41 42-50 51 52-58 59 60-66 67 68-72 73 74-81 82 83-96 97 98-104 105-107 108-114 115 116-120 121 122-136 137 138-141 142 143-147 148 149-153 154 155-159 160 161-165 166 167-170 171 172-187 188 189-199 200. Vol. 3: 1* 2-12* 13° (—132) 14* 15-25* 26°; i-v vi-x 11 12-18 19 20-31 32 33-42 43 48 JOURNAL OF THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM [voL. 55 44-48 49 50-54 55 56-60 61 62-75 76 77-81 82 83-91 92 93-98 99-101 102-106 107 108-118 119 120-128 129 130-133 134 135-140 141 142-146 147 148-150 151 152— 155 156 157-162 163 164-173 174-175 176-177 178-179 180-187 188-189 190 191 192-193 194-195 196-197 198. ConTENTS: Vol. 1: Jur title, tiv registration certification for vol. 1, dated 18 October 1817. 1.r dedication to Reverend John Thornton Kirkland (1770-1840), president of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., dated “Boston, October, 1817,” 1ov (1. 1s-2.r preface. 2.v LJ. 3-14, text: description of species and their medical uses, including botanical and medical references and explanation of the figures depicted on each plate. 15,r part title for vol. 1 part 2, 15,v 0. 15,-25,r continuation of the text. 25,v—25,r notes. 25,v contents of vol. 1. Vol. 2: 1,r part title for vol. 2 part 1. iv O. iJ,r title, 7.v registration certification for vol. 2, dated 28 October 1818. 1,;-J,r advertisement by the author. Jv [. 2-2; preface. 2,-13, text. 14,r part title for vol. 2 part 2, 14,v (). 14.-24.r continuation of the text. 24,v—25,r notes. 25,v contents of vol. 2. Vol. 3: ir part title for vol. 3 part 1, Lv. Lr title, 1.v 0. 1;-2, preface. 2,-13, text. 14,r part title for vol. 3 part 2. 14,v 0. 414,-23.r continuation of the text. 23.v 0. 23,-23,r notes. 23,v 0. 24,-25,r appendix. 25,v 0. 25.rv systematic index. 25,-25,r index of Latin names. 25,v (J. 26,-26or index of English names. 26.v contents of vol. 3. Running titles vary with the plants described, the Latin binomial being used on the versos, the English name on the rectos. Language used: English. Piates: 60 colored (colorprinted and handcolored) or partly colored, mixed intaglio plates (engraving, aquatint, stipple engraving) of medicinal plants, numbered I-LX (XIX as “XI”), titled binomially at foot; 207 * 136 mm. (pl. 2); plates facing descriptions; indexed by Stapf, Index londinensis (pl. 14, Spigelia marilandica, erroneously stated to be in black and white). ILLUSTRATORS: Artist: the author, Jacob Bigelow. All plates unsigned. However, in the work itself (Vol. 1, p. xi; Vol. 2, p. vi) it is clearly stated that the figures have been prepared from original drawings made by the author himself, “with the exception of two or three presented by his friends” (Vol. 2: p. vi). Engravers: Annin, W. B. (dates unknown): 2 plates, and additionally 23 (or 21) plates in collaboration with Smith; Smith, (dates unknown): 23 (or 21) plates, all in collaboration with W. B. Annin. 35 (or 37) plates without indication of engraver (pls. 2-6, 8-28, 30, 41, 43-49; also pls. 31 and 58 in NcD- MC copy). Paper: Halfsheets; size of halfsheet 358 < 530 mm. [NcD-MC, untrimmed]; white, wove. Plates: white, wove. PRINTER: The firm of Hilliard and Metcalf, owner of University Press, Cam- bridge, Mass. PUBLISHER: Cummings and Hilliard, Boston booksellers. Dates OF PUBLICATION: The work was published in 6 parts. Vol. 1, part 1, pp. 1974] BUCHHEIM, “AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANY” 49 i-xii, 17-110, pls. I-X: 1817 (November or late in October). Vol. 1, part 2, pp. 111-198, pls. XI-XX: 1818 (May). Vol. 2, part 1, pp. i-xiv, 15-104, pls. XXI-XXX: 1819 (early in the year, no later than March). Vol. 2, part 2, pp. 105-200, pls. XXXI-XL. 1819 (before December). Vol. 3, part 1, pp. i-x, 11-98 pls. XLI-L: 1820. Vol. 3, part 2, pp. 99-198, pls. LI-LX. 1821 (January). Supporting evidence: A) Prepublication announcements in Portico (Baltimore) 4(1/2): 131. 1817 [July/Aug.] (“in press”) and in N. Amer. Rev. Misc. J. 5(15): 434. 1817 [Sept.] (“about to be published”). B) Registration certifica- tion on the verso of the title-pages of vols. 1 and 2 (18 Oct. 1817; 28 Oct. 1818). C) Prospectus dated May 1818 on outside back cover of vol. 1, part 2; year date 1819 on front cover of vol. 2, part 1 (NcD-MC copy). D) Publication announcements in NV. Amer. Rev. Misc. J. 6(16): 145-146. 1818 [Nov. 1817] (Vol. 1, part 1 “just issued”); Amer. Monthly Mag. Crit. Rev. 4(50): 388. 1818 [Mar. 1819] (Vol. 2, part 1); Med.-Chir. Zeitung 1819. 1V(97): 293-295. 1819 [6 Dec.] (Vol. 2, part 2); N. Amer. Rev. Misc. J. 12(30): 230-231. 1821 [Jan.] (Vol. 3, part 2). No announcement for vol. 3, part 1 and published in 1820 has been yet found by the present author; the earliest seen for this part is in N. Amer. Rev. Misc. J. 12(30): 230-231, 1821 [Jan.]. Reviews: Analectic Mag. 11(1): 1-9. 1818 [Jan.].— New England J. Med. Surg. 7(1): 61-70. 1818 [Jan.]; 10(2): 157-166. 1821 [Apr.].— NV. Amer. Rev. Misc. J. 6(18): 344-368. 1818 [Mar.]; 9(24): 23-26. 1819 [June]. — Ecl. Repert. 8(4): 487-497. 1818 [Oct.].— Med.-Chir. Zeitung 1818.1V(89): 161- 163. 1818 [5 Nov.]; 1819.III(60): 140-143. 1819 [29 July]; 1819.1V(97): 293-295. 1819 [6 Dec.].— Gétt. Gel. Anz. 1819.I11(144/145): 1433-1444. 1819 [9 Sept.]; 1820.11(111): 1111-1112. 1820 [10 July]; 1823.11(113): 1121— 1126. 1823 [17 July]. —Neue Entdeck. Pflanzenk. 1: 386-393. 1820. — N. Amer. Rev. 13(32): 100-134. 1821 [July]. — London Med. Phys. t 47GQTT): 242-244, 1822 [Mar.] —Allg. Lit.-Zeitung (Halle & Leipzig) 1822.1V(36): 281-284. 1822 [Mar.].— Bull. Sci. Nat. Géol. 3([9]): 59. 1824 [Sept.J.— Bull, Sci. Méd. (Paris) 3([9]): 69-75. 1824 [Sept.]. — Boston Med. Surg. J. 20(26): 412. 1839 [7 Aug.]. VARIANTS: Two states of leaf 2; of volume 2 are known, differing only in the pagination of the verso: xvi [misprint for xiv] and xiv [correct pagination]. The original incorrect pagination occurs in the NcD-MC copy, the corrected version e.g. in the HBL copy. Copies Stupiep: HBL, NcD-MC; other copies known: AzU, BM, BMNH, CaBVaU, CSfA, CSmH, CSt, CtHT, DLC, DLNM, E-UL, FU, G, GOET- UB, GRO-UB, IaAS, IaDaM, ICF, ICJ, IEN-M, In, InNd, K, KyLaT, KyU, LE (vol. 2, part 1 only), Linn., LNT-M, MB, MBAt, MBC, MBHo, MBM, MdBM, MdBP, MeBat, MH-A (Harv. Herb. Libr.), MH-M, MiEM, MiU, MnS, MSaP, MWA, MWCH, MWiW, NB, NBLiHi, NBMS, NcAS, NcD, NcU, Nh, NhM, NjP, NN, NNA, NNNAM, NNS, NRU, NYBG, OC, OCIGC, OKU, 00, OrU, PPA, FRAP, PPC, PPK, PH, PPHor, PPL-R, PU, RPB, RPM, ScCMu, ScU, TNV, ViRMC, ViU, ViW, VtU, W (vol. 1 only), WIS-R.— US library holdings according to NUC (The National Union Catalog. Pre-1956 imprints) 57: 283. 1969, and Shaw and Shoe- maker (American Bibliography) 1817: 44. 1963. 50 JOURNAL OF THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM [voL. 55 Notes: The continuous sequence of roman and arabic page numbers is worth being mentioned. The gap in pagination in volume 1 (pp. xiii-xvi are lacking) proves that the preliminaries were printed later than the text proper and that the original estimate of 16 preliminary pages was not realistic. Leaves 14, of vol. 1 and 13, of volume 3, both blank, are present in the NcD- MC copy. The pagination, however, indicates that these blank leaves were in- tended to be cut out, as was done in the HBL copy. The wrong folding of gathering 1 of volume 2 in the NcD-MC copy results in the following irregular arrangement: 1, 1, 1, 13; ii-iv i-ii vii viii v vi. In volumes 2 and 3 of the HBL copy the part titles for part 1 are inserted at the wrong places: Vol. 2: 12-14 21-23 11 24; iti—v vi-vii viii-ix x—xiv i-ii 15 16. Vol. 3: fe-14 21 11 22-24; ai-v vi-x i-ii 11 12-16. This work is considered Bigelow’s most important contribution to medical botany. It is outstanding for the mixed intaglio processes used for the prep- aration of the copper plates, being a combination of engraving and aquatint and sometimes stipple engraving. Of the 60 species figured, four are illustrated here for the first time (Gentiana catesbaei Walt., Solidago odora Ait., Statice caroliniana Walt. [= Limonium carolinianum (Walt.) Britton] and Polygala rubella Willd. [= P. polygama Walt.]). Hunt Institute For BotanicAL DocUMENTATION CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15213 AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANY, BEING A COLLECTION OF THE 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. RUMFORD PROFESSOR AND LECTURER ON MATERIA MEDICA AND BOTANY IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY. — VOL, I. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY CUMMINGS AND HILLIARD, AT THE ROSTON BOOKSTORE, NO. 1, CORNHILL, Coad UNIVERSITY PRESS.-..HILLIARD AND METCALF. 1817. Mo. Bot. Garde, oe Ae ate | — a, a) PTOI GLO yy = - de se < 7 rd f OM Mb LES ; 3 c> i a~ / . | f wa District of Massachusetts, to wit : District Clerk’s office. Be it remembered, that on the eighteenth day of October, A. D. 1817, and in the forty second year of the independence of the United States of Ameri- ca, Jacob Bigelow, M. D. of the said district, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words follow- ing’, Vize - Be 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, with coloured engravings. By Jacos Bieztow, M. D. Rumford Professor and Lecturer on Materia Medica and Botany in Harvard University. Vol. 1.” In conformity to the act of the congress of the United States, entitled *“ An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned ;” and also to an act, entitled, * An act supplemen- tary to an act, entitled, An act for the encouragement of learning, by secur- ing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of | such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints.” eS JNO. W. DAVIS, Clerk of the district of Massachusetts. Ee eT ee aa Te TO THE REV. JOHN THORNTON KIRKLAND, D.D. LL.D. PRESIDENT OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY IN CAMBRIDGE; MASSACHUSETTS. DEAR SIR, Tue present flourishing state of the Institution, over which you preside, cannot be ascribed to any more efli- cient cause, than to the zeal and ability, with which you have watched over its interests. Those, who in any measure derive from this Institution their opportunities of being useful, may with justice direct their first acknowledgments to you. Being confident, that no attempt for the promotion of useful knowledge will be regarded by you with indiffer- ence, I am happy in offering to you, in the present vol- ume, a testimony of my respect and esteem. J.-B. Boston, October, 1817. oy PREFACE. Hye long meditated the commencement of a work on the medicinal vegetables of the United States, and feeling myself obligated for its completion, by the instructions from the Univer- sity in which I have the honor to hold a professor- ship; it may be proper to make at the outset some general statements of the motives and objects of such a publication. The Materia Medica, comprising the great body of medicinal agents now in use in the hands of physicians, cannot be said to need an increase in the number of its articles. It is already in- cumbered with many superfluous drugs; even its active substances are more numerous than can be of use to any one physician, so that it seems quite as susceptible of benefit from reduction as from augmentation in the number of its materials. Under these circumstances, the introduction of new medicines can only be authorized, where . Vi PREFACE. from the peculiarity of their powers, or the facili- ty of their acquisition, they are calculated to take the place of others previously in use. Of our present stock of medicinal agents, col- lected from various parts of the globe, a few ap- pear to be unique in their powers, and could not in the present state of our knowledge, be super- seded by other substances. A number more pos- sess active properties, yet of a kind, for which sub- stitutes might be found among the native produc- tions of almost every country into which they are imported. There are others which possess little activity or value, but which, froma sort of fashion, are still articles of commerce and consumption. In the management of diseases, the physician requires instruments of determinate power, on the operation of which, he may build definite expec- tations. Many such are already in his hands, Yet when we consider how small a portion of the vegetable kingdom has been medically examined, there can be little doubt that a vast number of active substances, many perhaps of specific effi- cacy, remain for future inquirers to discover. In this respect, every successive age is making acquisitions. But a century or two ago, the eiy- ilized world were unacquainted with the proper- ties of ipecacuanha, of jalap, and the Peruvian oe PREFACE, Vil bark. The powers of digitalis in certain diseas- es are of very recent observation, At the pres- ent day, we are speculating on the probable com- position of a vegetable medicine, which cures the gout, Medicinal substances frequently owe their first introduction to aceident. Many have been at first brought up as antidotes for the poison of serpents, as remedies for syphilis, or as specifics against imaginary diseases. Previously to this, they were neglected as useless, or avoided as dangerous. It is a subject of some curiosity to consider, if the knowledge of the present Materia Medica were by any means to be lost, how many of the same articles would again rise into notice and use. Doubtless a variety of new substances would de- velop unexpected powers, while perhaps the pop- py would be shunned as a deleterious plant, and ihe cinchona might grow unmolested upon the mountains of Quito. It is the policy of every country to convert as far as possible its own productions to use, as a mean of multiplying its resources, and diminish- ing its tribute to foreigners. The plants of the United States are various in their character in proprotion to the extent of latitudes and climates, which our country embraces. Among those which vill PREFACE. have been medicinally investigated, are many of useful properties and decided efficacy. Several de- partments of the Materia Medica may be amply supplied from our own forests and. meadows, al- though there are others, for which we must as yet depend on foreign countries. We have yet to dis- cover our anodynes and our emetics, although we abound in bitters, astringents, aromatics and demulcents. In the present state of our knowl- edge we could not well dispense with opium and ipicacuanha, yet a great number of foreign drugs, such as gentian, columbo, chamomile, kino, cat- echu, cascarilla, canella, &c. for which we pay a large annual tax to other countries, might in all probability be superceded by the indigenous products of our own. It is certainly better that our own country people should have the benefit of collecting such articles, than that we should pay for them to the Moors of Africa, or the In- dians of Brazil. : Independent of the frauds of adulteration, which may be practised by savages upon drugs, whose origin is hardly known to Europeans, the embarrassments occasioned by the chances of war and commercial restrictions, form serious objec- tions to an exclusive dependence on foreign med- icines. It is but a few years since some circum- PREFACE. 1X stances of this sort occasioned a sudden and enor- mous rise in the price of opium, and a general in- quiry, what could be substituted for opium when the usual supplies should have failed. _ In a work like the present, although we can- not hope to supply all the desiderata of an indi- genous Materia Medica; yet it will be satisfacto- ry to have done something towards an investiga- tion of the real properties of our most interesting plants, and to have facilitated a knowledge of them in those, to whom they may be useful. In a pur- suit of this kind, the botanist has views even be- yond the physician. ‘To him it is important not only to know what plants have properties, that are eminently useful, but also to know, what are the properties and uses of all the plants which sur- round him. In proportion as inquiries of this sort are pursued, the natural resources of a coun- try become developed, and its natural disadvanta- ges compensated. We are told that in China ey- ery plant is applied to some valuable purpose, and there is scarcely a weed that has not its de- terminate use.* A learned author} observes, that “no writer whatever has rendered the natural productions of the happiest and most luxuriant climate of the globe, half so interesting or instruc- * Macartney’s Embassy, vol. ii. chap. 1. + Sir J. E. Smith. 2 x -PREFACE. tive, as Linnzeus has made those of his own north- ern country.” Under the title of Amertcan Mepica Bora- NY, it is my intention to offer to the public a se- ries of coloured engravings of those native plants, which possess properties deserving the attention of medical practitioners. ‘The plan will likewise include vegetables of particular utility in diet and the arts; also poisonous plants which must be known, that they may be avoided. In making the selection, I have endeavoured to be guided by positive evidence of important qualities, and not by the insufficient testimony of popular report. _ In treating of each plant, its botanical history will be given ; the result of such chemical examina- tions as, I have been able to make of its constitu- ent parts, and lastly its medical history. The botanical account will be found more diffuse than is necessary for exclusive botanists. The chem- ical inquiries are made chiefly with a view to the pharmaceutical preparations of each plant, or to interesting principles it may contain. Its medic- al history will contain such facts, relative to its operation on the human system, as are known to me from my own observation, or the evidence of those, who are qualified to form correct _— on the subject, PREFACE. xi I am by no means ambitious to excite an in- terest in the subjects of this work, by exaggerated accounts of virtues which do not belong to them. Much harm has been in medicine, by the partial representations of those, who, having a point to prove, have suppressed their unsuccessful experi- ments, and brought into view none but favorable facts. If, from a desire of avoiding error, I have not always been able to establish fully the charac- ter of a native vegetable, it will be recollected that many foreign drugs, which have been for centuries in use, have still an unsettled reputation as to their powers and modes of operating. —— The figures of the present yolume have been engraved and coloured from original drawings, made principally by myself. Dissections of the flower and fruit have been added to each for the use of botanical students. The subsequent por- tions of the work will be issued as rapidly as is consistent with their faithful execution. At the end will be added an appendix or sup- plement, containing such facts relative to the plants already published, as may haye come to light since their publication. - ,), 137 i ‘if SAEE FECL > ee Sf, Lice fies “os Ni Z AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANY. DATURA STRAMONIUM. Thorn .ipple. PLATE I. Tue Datura Stramonium is a wandering an- nual plant, which follows the progress of culti- yation, and is rarely found remote from the vi- cinity of dwellings. It occurs in every part of the Atlantic coast from Maine to the Floridas, and is also found in the Western States in the neighbourhood of settlements. Its favorite haunts are the borders of fields and roadsides, among rubbish and in neglected spots of rich ground. It emigrates with great facility, and often springs up in the ballast of ships, and in earth carried nother. This circumstance ie : from one country to al in Europe has undese opinion, that it is originally an American plant. Its native country, however, is doubtful, from 3 Pip rvedly given rise to the ~ : 5 4 Se x 1 A AREAL ema # 48 DATURA STRAMONIUM, the want of authentic descriptions of sufiicient antiquity. One of the oldest satisfactory accounts of it is that of Gerarde in 1597, who has published a description and figure of this plant, and states that it was introduced inte England by himself, from seeds received fromConstantinople. [Note A. ] Its common name in Europe, derived from the form of its fruit, is Thorn apple. In this country its provincial names are Apple of Peru, De- vil’s apple, and Jamestown weed. Itis a plant of rank growth and luxuriant foliage, varying in height from one to six feet, according to the soil in which it grows. In Carolina it begins to flower in May, and in Massachusetts about the latter part of Ju- ly, and continues until the arrival of frosts. The Datura Stramonium belongs to the first order of the fifth class in the Linnzan artificial arrangement. In its natural order it is found among the Lurid of Linnzus and the Solanex of Jussieu. The following are the essential marks which characterize the genus Datura. The corolla funnel form and plaited. The calya tu- bular, angular and deciduous. The capsule four valved.—Under this genus are comprehended a number of species, a great p tives of warm latitudes. The species Stramoni- um is distinguished from the rest by the follow- THORN APPLE. 49. ing character. Capsules thorny, erect, ovate ; leaves ovate, angular, smooth—A. more particular de- scription of the plant is as follows. Stem erect, simple at bottom, much branched at top by repeat-. ed forks, smooth or slightly pubescent; hollow im the large plants, often solid in small ones. Leaves given off from the forks of the stem, five or six inches long, acute, irregularly sinuated and tooth- ed, with large acute teeth and round sinuses, the sides of the base extending unequally down the petiole. Flowers single, axillary, on short stalks, erect or nodding. Calyx composed of one leaf, tubular, with five angles and five teeth, deciduous by breaking off from its base. Corolla funnel shaped with along tube, five angled, its margin wayed and folded, and terminating in five acumi- nate teeth. Stamens growing to the tube by their filaments, with oblong erect anthers. Germ su- perior, hairy with the rudiments of spines, ovate ; style as long as the stamens; stigma obtuse, parted. at base. Capsule ovate, fleshy, covered. with thorns, four valved, four celled, opening at top. Seeds numerous, reniform, black, attached to a longitudinal: . ae which eee the centre of each cell. At least two distinct varieties of Datura Stra- monium are common in the United States. ‘One 20 DATURA STRAMONIUM. of these has a green stalk and white flowers, and agrees with the figures of Sowerby and Woodville, except that the anthers are somewhat longer and the dissepiment of the capsule thinner. The sec- ond variety, the one represented in our figure, has a dark reddish stem, minutely dotted with green ; and purple flowers striped with deep pur- ple inside. It is generally a larger plant, and its stem more universally hollow. This variety is probably the D. tatula of Linnzeus, answering to the description in the Species plantarum. ‘The distinguishing marks laid down between the two plants are not sufficient to make them distinct species, I have cultivated both together and watched them throughout their growth, without being able to detect any difference except in col- our. Their sensible and medical properties are the same, Sir James Edward Smith has lately informed me, that on consulting the herbarium of Linnzus, the original specimens of D. Stramoni- um and tatula did not appear to be more’than ya- rieties of the same plant. [Note B.] Every part of the Stramonium, when recent, has a strong, heavy, disagreeable odour, and a bitter, nauseous taste. Taken internally it proves a violent narcotic poison, affecting the mind and body in the most powerful manner. Its usual. THORN APPLE, 24 consequences when swallowed in considerable quantity, are vertigo and confusion of mind, in- sensibility of the retina, occasioning dilatation of the pupil and loss of sight, tremors of the limbs and loss of the power of voluntary motion, head- ach, dryness of the throat, nausea and vomiting, anxiety and faintness, and sometimes furious de- lirium. If the amount taken be large and not speedily ejected from the stomach, the symptoms pass into convulsions or lethargic stupor, which continue till death. When not fatal, its effects, like those of other narcotics, are temporary, dis- appearing in from one to two days, and frequent- ly in a shorter period.—The remedies to be re- sorted to in cases of poison from Stramonium, are a prompt emetic, followed by a free use of Vegeta- ble acids and strong coffee. Many stories have been related of the power of this and other species of Datura to produce mental alienation, without at the same time ma- terially affecting the body. [.NoteC.] These ac- counts are generally of somewhat ancient date, and not correspondent with the observations of later physicians. They, were suited to those days of credulity, in which the Royal Society of London grayely inquired of Sir Philberto Vernatti, “W heth- er the Indians can ,so prepare. the stupifying 22 DATURA STRAMONIUM. herb Datura, that they make it lie several days, months, or years, according as they will have it, in a man’s body ; and at the end kill him with- out missing half an hour’s time ?” : Like opium and. like other powerful medi- cines, this plant, when taken in small quantity, and under suitable regulations, proves a remedy of importance, and a useful agent in the hands of physicians. In common with some other narco- ties, it seems first to have been introduced freely into practice by Baron Storck of Vienna, as a rem- edy in Mania, Epilepsy, Convulsions, $c. Many subsequent physicians have given testimony to its eflicacy in certain forms of these disorders, yet the instances of its failure have doubtless been more frequent than those of its success. In Murray’s. Apparatus Medicaminum may be found a sum- mary of the reports of many medical men, who have tried it with various success in the diseases in question, as well as in others. Dr. Cullen has no doubt that it may be a remedy in certain ca- ses of mania and epilepsy ; but doubts if any per- son has learned to distinguish the cases to which it is properly adapted. Dr. Fisher, President of the Massachusetts Medical Society, has published in their communi- cations some remarks on the employment of Stra- THORN APPLE. 23 monium in epilepsy. He divides the cases of that disease into three kinds ; those of which the fits return daily ; those in which they recur at regular periods, as monthly, or give warning of their approach by previous symptoms ; lastly, those in which they do not observe any regular period, and do not give any warning of their ap- proach. In the two first kinds he asserts, that all the cases which came under his care, and which were not very few, had been cured by Stramoni- um. In those of the third kind he found it of no benefit whatever. Dr. Archer of Maryland has formed distine- tions nearly similar in the application of Stramo- nium to epilepsy. Ina case of Tic doloureux of long standing F found the extract, taken in as large doses as the stomach would bear, to afford decided relief. Sey- eral practitioners have spoken to me of its effica- cy in this formidable disease. It should be ta- ken in large doses, and the system kept for some time under its influence. , _ Within a few years, the thorn apple has at- tracted much notice, both in Europe and in this country, as an efficacious palliative in Asthma and some other affections of the lungs, when used by smoking, in the same manner as_ tobacco. 24 DATURA STRAMONIUM. The practice was first suggested by the employ- ment of another species, the Datura feroa, for similar complaints, in the East Indies. An En- glish gentleman, having exhausted the stock with which he had been supplied of the oriental plant, was advised by Dr. Sims to have recourse to the common Stramonium as a substitute ; and upon trial, experienced the same benefit as he had done from the former species. This instance of suc- cess led to further trials, and in a short time sey- eral publications appeared, containing cases of great relief afforded by smoking this plant in the paroxysms of Asthma. Many individuals, of dif- ferent ages, habits, and constitutions, had used it with the effect of producing immediate relief, and of terminating the paroxysm in a short time. The efficacy however of this medicine was called in question by Dr. Bree, a physician well known by his elaborate treatise on Asthma, who publish- ed in the Medical and Physical Journal a letter, containing the result of a great number of unsuc- cessful trials of Stramonium in asthmatic cases, It may be doubted whether any other physician has been so unfortunate in its use as Dr. Bree, since he affirms that not one case of those under his care was benefitted by it. Certain it is, that in this country the thorn apple is employed with THORN APPLE. 25 very frequent success by asthmatic patients, and it would not be difficult to designate a dozen indi- viduals in Boston and its vicinity, who are in the habit of employing it with unfailing relief in the paroxysms of this distressing complaint. The ca- ses, which it is fitted to relieve, are those of pure spasmodic asthma, in which it doubtless acts by its sedative and antispasmodic effects. In those depending upon effusion of serum in the lungs, or upon the presence of exciting causes in the first passages, or elsewhere, requiring to be removed; it must not be expected that remedies of this class can afford benefit. In several cases of plethoric and intemperate people, L have found it fail altogether, and venesection after- wards to give speedy relief. The part of the plant, which I have mio for smoking, is the leaf prepared in the same way as tobacco. ‘The root, which has commonly been the part used, is more woody and fibrous, and pos- sesses less of the juices of the plant, than its more pulpy and succulent parts. The root also, being strictly annual, has no opportunity to accu- mulate the virtues of the plant, beyond any other part. #23 In the seventh yolume of the Medico-Chirur- gical Transactions, for 1816, is a paper on the 4: 26 DATURA STRAMONIUM. properties of the Stramonium by Dr. Marcet of London, Physician to Guy’s Hospital. As the result of his experience, it appeared that this medicine taken internally had relieved acute pains of various kinds more effectually than any other narcotic substance. Its usual effects under his observation, when administered in appropriate doses, in chronic diseases attended with acute pain; were, to lessen powerfully and almost imme- diately sensibility and pain; to occasion a sort of nervous shock, which is frequently attended with a momentary affection of the head and eyes, with a degree of nausea, and with phenomena re. sembling those produced by intoxication ; to ex- cite in many instances nervous sensations, which are referred to the esophagus or bronchiz or fau- ces, and which sometimes amount to a sense like suffocation ; to have rather a relaxing, than an astringent effect on the bowels ; to have no mark- ed influence on the pulse, except in a few instan- ees to seem to render it slower; to produce but a transitory and inconsiderable dilatation of the pupil, and to haye but little immediate tendency to produce sleep, except from the state of com- parative serenity and ease, which follows the pre- ceding symptoms.—In some instances its bene- ficial effects were obtained without the patient experiencing any of the uneasy sensations above mentioned. THORN APPLE. a7 The cases in which Dr. Marcet employed the Stramonium, with their results, appear in the fol- lowing summary. In four cases of Sciatica, decid- ed benefit was obtained. ‘The efficacy of the med- icine was still more strongly marked in two cases of sciatica combined with syphilitic pains. It failed in two instances of diseased hip joint. It produced considerable relief of pain in a case of supposed disease of the spine, followed by para- plegia ; and likewise in one of cancer of the breast. It allayed materially the pain occasioned by an acute uterine disease. It was of great and repeated utility in a case of Tic doloureux, its util- ity in a second case of the same description was very doubtful, and in a third it entirely failed. There are some atithorities for the success of Stramonium in Chorea. Professor Chapman of Philadelphia has found it of use in dysmenorrhea, also with or without mercury in syphilitic and scrophulous ulcers of ill condition. The external use of Stramonium is of much older date than its internal exhibition. Gerarde in his Herbal, published in 1597, says, “The iu'yce of Thorne apples, boiled with hog’s grease to the forme of an unguent or salve, cureth all in- flammations whatsoever, all manner of burnings or sealdings, and that in very short time, as my- 28 DATURA STRAMONIUM. self have found by my dayly practise, to my great credit and profit.” . Others, since the time of Ge- rarde, have used this preparation, if not with the same gratifying success, at least with some bene- fit as an anodyne, sedative application. It miti- gates the pain in burns and inflammatory tumors, and promotes the cure of certain cutaneous erup- tions. In some irritable ulcers with thickened edges and a sanious discharge, I have found it re- markably efficacious in changing the condition and promoting the granulations and cicatrization. In painful hemorrhoidal tumors the ointment of Stramonium with the ointment of acetate of lead gives, in many cases, very prompt and satisfacto- ry relief, being in this respect inferior to no ap- plication, with which I have been acquainted. Applied topically to the eye, the preparations of Stramonium diminish the sensibility of the re- tina, and relax the iris. From this effect it is employed by many surgeons to dilate the pupil, as preparatory to the operation for cataract. The virtues of Stramonium appear to be seat. ed in an extractive principle, which dissolves in water and alcohol, but most readily in the for- mer. It is copiously precipitated from the infu- sion by muriate of tin. With sulphate of iron it gives a deep green colour, and with gelatin suf. a THORN APPLE. 29 fers no change. Water distilled from the plant has the sensible qualities in a slight degree, but does not seem to possess the medicinal powers of the plant. Dr.S. Cooper, in a valuable disserta- tion on this plant, says, that an ounce of the dis- tilled water was taken into the stomach with little or no effect. The same gentleman states, that upon evaporating the infusion of Stramonium, he observed a large number of minute crystals, re- sembling particles of nitre. Thinking it possible that these might be something analogous to the crystals, said to be obtained by Derosne from opi- um, and by him denominated the narcotic princi- ple, I repeated the experiment by carefully evap- orating separate decoctions of the green and dri- ed leayes. No crystals however were discoyera- ble at any stage of the process, either to the touch, or to the eye assisted by a strong magni- fier. The forms in which the Stramonium is prepar- ed for use are the powder, the inspissated juice, the extract, the tincture and the ointment. The powder should be made as soon as the plant is dry, and kept in close stopped bottles.—The in- spissated juice is made by compressing the bruis- ed leaves in a strong bag, until the juice is forced out, This is to be eyaporated in flat vessels at 80 DATURA STRAMONIUM, the heat of boiling salt water to the thickness of honey; it is then suffered to cool, put up in glaz- ed vessels and moistened with alcohol. The ew- tract is prepared by immersing a pound of the leayes in three gallons of water and boiling down toone. The decoction should then be strained and stand six hours to settle, after which it may be drawn off and evaporated to the proper consis- tence. When the seeds are used, the decoction should stand a longer time to separate the oil with which the cotyledons abound, before evaporation. A larger amount of extract may be obtained by boiling the portion, which has been used, a se- cond time in a smaller quantity of water, and mixing the two decoctions before evaporation. For the tincture one ounce of the dried leaves is to be digested for a week in eight ounces of proof spirit, and filtrated through paper. In making the ointment, a pound of the fresh leayes may be simmered in three pounds of hog’s lard until the leaves become crisp. It is then to be straineds and cooled gradually. The period for gathering the leaves is from the time the plant begins to flower, until the ar- rival of frost. As the preparations of Stramonium are liable to vary in strength according to the circumstances THORN APPLE. 314 under which they are made, it is always prudent to begin with the smallest dose, and repeat it about three times a day, increasing each dose un- til the effects begin to appear in the stomach or head. : The commencing doses of the Stramonium, when properly prepared, are as follows. Of the powdered leaves 4 grain. powdered seeds _ 4a grain. inspissated juice orextract 4 grain. extract of the seeds from 3 to = grain. tincture from 415 to 20 drops. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Datura Stramonium, Linnzxvus Sp. pl. Fl. Suec, 185 §c.— Gronovius Fl. Virg. 23.—(Eper. Fi. Danica +436.—B1Lack- WELL t. 313.—GmMeuin Iter i. 43.—Potxicn. Palatin. 224.— HorrmMann Germ. 77.—Rorn Fl. Germ. i. 92 &c.—W ooDVILLE t. 124.—Curvis Lond. vi. t. 17.—Smirn Fl. Brit. 254.—Engl. Bot. t. 1288.—Pursn ‘mer. 141.—Enniorr Carol. i. 275.— Stramonium foliis angulosis &c. HaLLer Helv. 586. Nuci metel- le congener planta, Camerarius Epitome 276.—Solanum feti- da pomo spinoso, oblongo, &c. BauHin pin. 168.—Stramonium spinosum, GrRaRDE Herbal 348. . MEDICAL REFERENCES. Srorck de Stramonio &c.—LInDENSTOLPE de venenis, 531.— Savvaces Nosol. 2. 430.—Grepine in Ludwigs Adversaria i. $45.—Mourray App. Med. i. 670.—CuLLen Mat. Med. ii. 281.— Fowter in Med. Comment. v. 161.—OpnneExius cit. in Med. Com- ment y. 161,—Parun in Phil. Trans. abr. vi. 53.—Rusu in Philad. 32 DATURA STRAMONIUM, Trans, i. $84.—Schoepf. 24.—WEDENBERG in Med. Comment iii. 18.—Brverty, Hist. Virg. p. 121.—Medical and Physical Journal, vol. xxv. & xxvi. in various places. CoorPER in Caldwell’s Theses, vol. i.—BartTon, Coll. Mat. Med. 46.—CuHapman in edif, Morray 146.—Tuatcuer, Disp, 205.—Marcet Medico-Chi- rur. Trans. Vii. PLATE I. Fig. 1. 4 branch of Datura Stramonium, the purple variety, with leaves and flowers. Fig. 2. Stamens and style. Fig. 3. Transverse section of the pericarp, shewing the cells, re- ceptacles and seeds. r , és afaloriim froyoliatim EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM. Thorough wort, ‘PLATE I1. Tux peculiar form and arrangement of the leaves in this plant render it very easy of distine- tion at sight by the most inexperienced botanist. It flowers from midsummer to September, and is found in all latitudes from Nova Scotia to Florida. {t inhabits meadows and boggy soils, growing most frequently in bunches, the stems being con- nected by horizontal roots. Its common names are Thorough wort, Thorough waa, Cross wort, Bone set, &c. The genus Eupatorium, belonging to the first order of the class Syngenesia or Compound flow- ers, and to the order Corymbifere of Jussieu, is characterized by its naked receptacle, its down simple or rough, its calyx oblong and imbricate, . 5 36 EUPATORIUM PERF OLIATUM, tially subsided in a short time.—In distillation, water came over very slightly affected with the sensible qualities of the plant, and not alterable by sulphate of iron. A dissertation of merit on this plant was pub- lished a few years since by Dr. Anderson of New York, in which he gives the details of numerous and elaborate chemical trials, made by him on dif- ferent parts of the plant. He concludes, among _ other things, from his experiments, that the ae- tive properties of the plant reside in greatest quantity in the leaves, and that its virtues are readily obtained by means of a simple decoction. The medical powers of Eupatorium are such as its sensible properties would seem to indicate, those of a tonic stimulant. Given in moderate quantities, either in substance or in cold infusion or decoction, it promotes digestion, strengthens the viscera, and restores tone to the system. Like other vegetable bitters, if given in large quantities, especially in warm infusion or decoction, it proves emetic, sudorific, and aperient, Even in cold infusion it tends to bring on diaphoresis, This plant has been long in use in different parts of the United States, for the same purposes for which the Peruvian bark, Gentian, Chamomile, &c. areemployed. It has been found competent THOROUGH WORT. 37 to the cure of intermittent fevers by various prac- titioners in the middle and southern states. Dr. Anderson has detailed six cases of intermittents, quotidian, tertian, and quartan, out of a large number which had been successfully treated with- in his own observation by the Eupatorium both in substance and decoction: In these cases the cures were certainly expeditious, and took place at as early a period as could have been expected from arsenic or the Peruvian bark. Dr. A. cites the experience of several distinguished practi- tioners, particularly Dr. Hosack of New York and the late Dr. Barton of Philadelphia, in con- firmation of his own, to shew that the Eupatorium is an efficacious remedy in the treatment of ya- rious febrile disorders, also of many cutaneous affections, and diseases of general debility. I have prescribed an infusion of the Eupato- rium in various instances to patients in the low stages of fever, where it has appeared instrumen- tal in supporting the strength and promoting a moisture of the skin, without materially increas- ing the heat of the body. I have also found the cold infusion or decoction a serviceable tonic in loss of appetite and other symptoms of dyspepsia, as well as in general debility of the system. 38 EUPATORIUM PERFOLIATUM. The warm infusion is a convenient substitute for that of chamomile flowers in facilitating the operation of an emetic. When employed as a tonic, this plant may be taken in powder in doses of twenty or thirty grains, or a teacup full may be used of the infu- sion, rendered moderately bitter. When intend- ed to act as an emetic, a strong decoction may be made from an ounce of the plant in a quart of water, boiled to a pint, BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Eupatorium perfoliatum, Lannxvs, Sp. pl.—Arron, Hort. Kew. iii. 160.—WitipENow, Sp. pl. iii. 1761.—Gronovivs, Virg. 119.—CoxpeEn, Novebor. 181.—SToKEs, iv. 17 1.—Porsu, ii. 516.—Eupatorium connatum, Micwavx, Fl. Amer. ii. 99.— Eupatorium Virginianum, &c.—PuuKeEner, f. 87. J. 6.—Ratvs, suppl. 189.—Morison, hist. iii. 97. MEDICAL REFERENCES. Scnoerr 121.—Gururie in Annal. Med. iii, 403.—Barr. Coll. 28.—Med. and Phys. Journal.—Tuacuer Disp. 217.—An- DERSON, Inaugural Thesis. — PLATE IL. Fig. 1. Eupatorium perfoliatum. Fig. 2. 4 flower magnified. Fig. 3. 4 floret magnified. Fig. 4. Tube of anthers with the style running through, ft. — CRO PAOV “4 PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA.. Poke. PLATE III. From the testimony of different writers it - appears, that the Phytolacca decandra is an inhab- itant not only of North America, but likewise of — the south of Europe from Portugal to Greece, and also of the Barbary states in Africa. Its origin is probably American, since I find that it was so considered in the time of Parkinson, who in his Theatrum Botanicum, published in 1640, de- nominates it “Solanum magnum Virginianum ru- brum.” This is one of the oldest accounts I find of it. Plukenet conjectures it may be the Cuechi- liz tomatl of Hernandez, but the description, like most others of that loose and superficial writer, are more promotive of obscurity than of knowledge, and it is not easy to draw from it any satisfactory evidence as to its Mexican origin. [Vote D.] 40 PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA. In the autumnal months no plant among us is more remarkable than the Phytolacca for its large size, and the fine colour of its clusters of berries. Its most general appellation is Poke, an abbrevia- tion, perhaps, of Pocan, the name by which it was known in Virginia a century ago. In New Eng- land it is more frequently called Garget, Cocum, Jalap and Pigeon berries. Jussieu has arranged this genus among his Atriplices, and Linnzus with the Oleracee. The number of its stems and styles, place it in the class Decandria and order Decagynia. Its generic character consists in having no calya, a corolla of five petals, and its berries superior with ten cells and ten seeds. ‘The species decandra is the only one which strictly agrees with its class and order, and is known by having ovate leaves, acute at both ends, and its flowers with ten stamens and styles, | The root of this plant is of large size, frequent- ly exceeding a man’s leg in thickness, and is usu- ally divided into two or three principal branches. Its substance is fleshy and fibrous, and easily cut or broken. Internally it is distinctly marked with concentric rings of considerable thickness, while its outer surface is covered with a very thin brown- ish bark, which seems to be little more than a cu- POKE, 41 ticle. ‘The stalks, which are annual, frequently grow to the height of six, and even nine feet. They are round, smooth, and very much branch- ed. When young, their usual colour is green, but in most plants, after the berries have ripened, they are of a fine purple. The leaves are scatter- ed, petioled, ovate-oblong, smooth on both sides, ribbed underneath, entire, acute. The flowers grow on long pedunculated racemes opposite to leaves. Peduncles nearly smooth, angular, as- cending. Pedicels divaricated, sometimes branch- ed, green, white, or purple, furnished with a small linear bracte at base, and two others in the mid- dle. Calyx none. Corolla resembling a calyx, whitish, consisting of five reund-ovate, concave, incurving petals. Stamens ten, rather shorter than the petals, with white, roundish, two lobed anthers. Germ greenish, round, depressed, ten furrowed, Styles ten, short, recuryed. ‘The flow- ers are succeeded by long clusters of dark purple — berries, almost black, depressed or flattened, and marked with ten furrows on the sides. The dried root is light coloured and spongy, with a mild and somewhat sweetish taste. A part of it is soluble both in water and alcohol, and nei- ther of these substances renders turbid the solu- tion in the other, unless the solution has been in- ; : 42 PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA, spissated by long boiling. The soluble portion ap- pears neither resinous nor mucous. It approach- es most nearly to extractive, but has characters somewhat peculiar to itself. A decoction of the root procured by boiling for ten minutes in dis- tilied water, exhibited after filtration the follow- ing results, It was transparent, nearly colourless, and did not alter litmus. It gave no precipitate with the sulphuric, nitric, muriatic, oxymuriatic, and acetous acids. It gave no precipitate with the sulphate of iron, but formed a copious one with the nitrates of mercury and silver, and the ace- tate of lead. Muriate of tin produced no effect at first, but after standing, a light. precipitate took place. Pearl ash, lime water, and muriate of ba- rytes rendered the solution turbid. Acetate of barytes occasioned no change. Oxymuriate of lime formed an immediate precipitate. The cold infusion exhibited nearly the same results as the decoction. The alcoholic solution underwent no change from muriate of tin, but threw down a dense precipitate with nitrate of mercury. From the above experiments it appears, that the soluble principle of the Phytolacca differs from common vegetable extractive, as defined by the chemists, in several respects, particularly in POKE. 43 © not being thrown down by the oxymuriatic. or other mineral acids, and in being but partially affected by muriate of tin. In the mnales de Chimie, vol. Ixxii, is a me- moir on the Chemical properties of the Phyto- lacca decandra by M. Braconnot. His experi- ments indicate the presence of an unusual quan- tity of vegetable alkali in this plant. He found that the ashes, procured by incinerating the stalks, afforded nearly 67 per cent. of dried alkaline car- bonate, and 42 per cent. of pure caustic potash. This alkali in the plant is neutralized by an acid having considerable affinity to the malic, but with a few shades of difference. With lime and lead malic acid forms flocculent precipitates, very easily soluble in distilled vinegar, but those with the phytolaccic acid are insoluble. M. Bracon- not thinks this acid may probably be a mean be- tween the malic and oxalic acids, or an oxygeniz-. ed malic acid. | . The same memoir contains an examination of the colouring matter in the berries of the Phyto- lacea. ‘The juice of these berries is of a very fine, bright purple colour, but this colour is ex- tremely fugacious and disappears in a short time from cloth or paper that has been tinged with it. A few drops of lime water added to this purple 44: PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA. juice change it to a yellow colour, but the small- est quantity of acid is sufficient to restore its pur- ple hue. Exposure to the air or large dilu- tions is sufficient to restore the original purple. -M. Braconnot considers the yellow liquor pro- duced by the juice of these berries and lime wa- ter as one of the most delicate tests of the pres- ence of acid. Into two glasses he put equal quantities of the juice made yellow and of an in- fusion of litmus of equal depth of colour. More than sixty drops of a very weak acid were required to redden the infusion of litmus, but less than fit teen restored the purple colour of the Phytolacea. Hence it follows, that the yellow liquor is four times as sensible to the presence of acid, as the infusion of litmus. It however requires to be us- ed immediately after it is prepared, since a few hours cause a spontaneous change in it, which be- gins with a precipitate, and ends with a mepeiya- tion of colour. — : . The effects produced on this —— colour by other reagents were as follows. Pure alkalis gave it a yellow colour, Alkaline subcarbonates a vio- let, that fades and becomes yellow by standing. Weak acids no perceptible change. Dilute oxy- muriatic acid a complete deprivation of colour with white flocculi, Alum nothing at first, but POKE. 45 after some days, a very light red precipitate. Mu- riate of lime no change. Muriate of tin a red se- diment inclining to lilac, leaving the fluid colour- less.. Nitrate of lead a precipitate of the colour of wine lees. Super oxided sulphate of iron, a dirty violet. Many of the above experiments I have repeat- ed, and added others. The yellow colour produe- ed by the alkalis borders on green. Pure stron tian produces the same change as potash and lime. Pure barytes wholly discharges the colour on standing a short time. Acetate of lead forms a searlet precipitate, leaving the liquid nearly col- ourless. The purple colour that tinges the cuticle of the stalks of the Phytolacea is stated in the above memoir, to be of the same nature as that in the berries, and to afford the same results. The taste of the berries is sweetish and nause- ous, leaving behind a very slight sense of acrimo- ny. M. Braconnot, found that at a moderate tem- perature, the juice underwent the vinous fermen- tation, and yielded alcohol by distillation. Dr. Shultz procured from half a bushel of the berries six pints of spirit sufficiently — to take fire and burn with readiness. 46 PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA. _ In its medicinal properties the root of the Phy- tolacca decandra approaches nearer to ipecac- uanha than any American vegetable, I have hith- erto examined. From abundant experience, the result of many trials made in Dispensary practice, Tam satisfied that, when properly prepared, it operates in the same doses and with the same cer- tainty, as the South American emetic, Ten grains of the powder will rarely remain on the stomach, and twenty or thirty produce a powerful operation, by emesis and generally by catharsis. In its mode of operation, this medicine has some peculiarities, a part of which are favorable, others disadvanta- geous. Its advantages are, that it operates with ease, and seldom occasions pain or cramp. Its dis- advantages are, 4. That it is slow in its effects, frequently not beginning to operate until an hour, and sometimes two hours after it is taken. 2. That it continues to operate fora greater length of time than is usual for emetics, although as far as I have been able to observe, it is readily checked by an opiate. ‘These disadvantages how- ever are not constant. I haye repeatedly known it commence operating in fifteen minutes, and cease after four or five ejections, The represen- tations of patients as to any unpleasant feelings under its effects, are not greater than we should POKE. 47 naturally expect, when it is recollected, that no emetic is altogether comfortable in its operation. Dr. Fisher of Beverly* informs me that whenever he has used the Phytolacca, it has performed its duty as an emetic perfectly well, and that in one patient, a female of irritable stomach, in whom previous emetics had always excited severe spasms, ten grains of the Phytolacca operated ef- fectually, and no spasm followed. I have sometimes observed slight narcotic symptoms during the operation of Phytolacca, particularly vertigo. But others have not always met with this symptom. Dr. George Hayward of this town, who has had much experience with this medicine, the results of which were communicat- ed to the Linnean society, and afterwards publish- ed in the New England Journal, October 4817, states that in doses of a scruple, he never notic- ed any dizziness, or stupor from it, although he had always been particular in his inquiries to know if any such symptoms took place. The aboye dose was administered by him in nearly thirty cases, in all of which, except in one case, it operated as an emetic and cathartic, usually three or four times, thoroughly, though not severely, generally commencing its operation on the stom- * Letter dated November, 1815. 48 PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA. ach in an hour, and rarely continuing longer than four. He found it to excite little or no nausea previous to its operation, and though it made a powerful impression on the system, it never pro- duced any disagreeable or unusual symptoms. Dr. Hayward also made trial of the powder of the leaves, which he found to possess the same properties with that of the root, but to be less ef- fectual and less certain in its operation, He al- so prepared a tincture, decoction, and wine of the root ; but all these were inferior to the medicine in substance, being less certain in their effect, and sometimes giving rise to troublesome symptoms, Dr. Shultz of Pennsylvania, author of an in- augural dissertation on the Phytolacca decandra, gave the expressed juice of the leaves, berries, and roots, in considerable quantity to animals. It operated by emesis and catharsis, attended with drowsiness. The juice of the root was most active. He also gave to a dog two ounces of the spiritous liquor distilled from the berries, It occasioned nausea and drowsiness, with slight spasmodic moe tions, but no vomiting. In the same dissertation, Dr. Shultz refers to seyeral instances of persons who had incautiously eaten large quantities of the root through mistake. Its effects were violent yomiting and purging, POKE. 49 prostration of strength, and in some instances convulsions. _ The Phytolacca has had some reputation in the treatment of rheumatism. Dr. Griffits, for- merly a professor in the University of Pennsylva- nia, found it of great use in Syphilitic rheumatism. Dr. Hayward however states, that he derived no advantage from its employment in rheumatic af- fections. The young shoots of this vegetable are desti- tute of medicinal qualities, and are eaten in the spring in some parts of the United States, as sub- stitutes for asparagus. At this time the succus proprius or returning juice of the plant is not yet formed. by exposure of the sap to the atmospheric air, in the leaves. The ripe berries are less nox- — ious than the green, and are devoured by several species of birds. In Portugal and in France they were formerly employed to improve the colour of red wines, until the interference of government became necessary to put a stop to the prac- tice. The external application of Phytolacca has been found useful in a variety of cases, by its ac- tion as a local stimulant. The ointment and ex- tract have commonly been employed for this pur- pose. These preparations usually excite a sense of 7 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 50 PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA, heat and smarting on being first applied. I have cured cases of psora with the ointment, and Dr. Hayward states, that he found it successful in cas- es where sulphur had failed. A case of tinia capitis of twelve years’ standing, which had re- sisted various kinds of treatment, was also cured by this application. The Phytolacca is one of those vegetables which has had its temporary reputation for the cure of cancer. For this purpose it has been re- sorted to in yarious parts of the world, and many men of science have been convicts to its efficacy: among whom were Dr. Colden and Dr. Franklin of our country. [Note K.] But like other vegetable specifies for cancer, it owes its character to an im- perfect discrimination of that disease, and a mis- application of the name. All that can be strictly inferred from the various accounts we haye had on this subject, is, that the plant has often proved useful in malignant ulcers by its stimulating and almost escharotic effects, frequently producing an eschar, and thus altering the condition of the ul- cerated surface. For internal use no preparation of the Phyto- lacea is to be preferred to the powder, of which from ten to fifteen grains is often a sufficient emetic. DRAGON ROOT. dt The root should be dug late in autumn or dur- ing the winter. It should be cut in transverse slices and dried. After being pulverized, it should be kept in close stopped phials. The stock should » be annually renewed, as its activity is impaired by age. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Phytolacca decandra, Linn £0s, sp. pl.—AITOoN, Hort. Kew. ii. 122.—Botanical Magazine, t. 931.—Micwavx, Fl. Amer. i. 278. Pursu. i. $24.—Phytolacca vulgaris, Ditentus, Hort. Elth. +. 239.—P. Americana—Borrnaave, Hort. Lug. ii. 70.—Solan- um racemosum Americanum, Ratus, Hist. 662.—PLUKENET, Phyt. t. 225. f. 3.—Solanum magnum Virginianum rubrum, Parkinson, Theatrum, 347.—Blitum Americanum, Mountin- Gus, Phyt. cur. t, 212. MEDICAL REFERENCES. Morray, appar. med. iv. 335.—Ka_M, travels in N. Amer. i. 197.—GRAFFENREID, Mem. Berne, iii. 185.—Scua@rr. 71.— Browne, Hist. Jamaica, 232,— Ameen. Acad. iv.—Muuer, Dict- ander the name. —SPROGEL. Diss. cir. ven. 24.—BECKMAN, com- ment, Gotting. 1779, 74.—ALLiont, Flor. Ped. ii. 132,—FRANK- LIN, works, vol. ii—CuTier, Mem. mer. Acad. i. 447.—Rusiy i, 259.—Tuacuer, Disp. 300.—Suvuxrz, Inaugural thesis.— Haxywarp, ¥. Engl. Journal, vi. PLATE Ul. Fig. 1. Phytolacca decandra in flower and in fruit. Fig. 2. Section of a berry. ARUM TRIPHYLLUM. Dragon root. PLATE IV. I, appears, that both North and South Amer- ica give rise to this species of Arum, which is so versatile in its constitution as to bear the winters of Canada, and the perpetual. summer of Brazil. In its structure it is one of our most singular veg- etables, and in colour one of the most variable, It grows in swamps and damp shady woods, and is universally known among us by the names of Dra- gon root and Indian turnip. The class to which the family of Arums be- long, is rendered somewhat obscure by the varia- tion of the species. Most botanists have placed them in the class Monecia, others in Polyandria, The species under consideration is undoubtedly Polygamous. In natural arrangements, the Arums PLAY. ee. Fe ST ee Oem vie, eel DRAGON ROOT. 53 are found under the Piperite of Linnzeus and the Aroidew of Jussieu. Lymcoer Vey The genus Arum may be characterized as fol- lows. Spathe one leaved, convolute at base ; spa- dia naked above, bearing the organs of fructification at base ; berries one celled. The species triphyllum is polygamous ; has its leaves ternate and entire; its scape bearing an ovate, acuminate, infleaed spathe ; its spadia: club- shaped, shorter than the spathe. : The root is round and flattened, its upper part tunicated like the onion, its lower and larger portion tuberous and fleshy, giving off nu- merous long white radicles in a circle from its upper edge. It is covered on the under side with a dark, loose, wrinkled skin. Leayes usually one or two on long sheathing footstalks, composed of three oval, mostly entire, acuminate leafets, which. are smooth, paler on the under side, and becom- ing glaucous as the plant grows older, the two late- ral ones somewhat rhomboidal, Scape erect, round, green or variegated with purple, invested at base by the petioles, and by their acute sheaths. This supports a large, ovate, acuminate spathe, conyo- luted into a tube at bottom, but flattened and bent over at the top, like a hood. Its internal colour is exceedingly yarious, even in plants growing to- a4 ARUM TRIPHYLLUM. gether. In some it is wholly green, in others dark purple or black. In most it is variegated, as in our figure, with pale greenish stripes on a dark ground. The spadix is much shorter than the spathe, club shaped, rounded at the end, green, purple, black, or variegated, suddenly con- tracted into a narrow neck at base, and surround. ed below by the stamens or germs. In the bar- ren plants, its base is covered with conical, fleshy filaments, bearing from two to four circular an- thers each. In the fertile plants, it is invested with roundish crowded germs, each tipt with a stigma. Plants which are perfectly moneecious, and which are the least common, haye stamens below the germs. ‘There are also frequently found irregular, reniform substances, much larger than the anthers, of which they seem to be a dis- ease. The upper part of the spadix withers with the spathe, while the germs grow into a large compact bunch of shining scarlet berries, Kvery part of the Arum, and especially the root, is violently acrid, and almost caustic, Ap- plied to the tongue or to any secreting surface, it produces an effect like that of Cayenne pepper, but far more powerful, so much 80, as to leave a permanent soreness of many hours? continuance, Of this any one may become satisfied by a simple DRAGON ROOT. 55 application of the root to his mouth, Its action does not readily extend through the cuticle, since the bruised root may be worn upon the external skin until it becomes dry, without occasioning pain or rubefaction. The acrid property, which resides in this and other species of Arum, appears to depend upon a distinct: vegetable principle in Chemistry, at present but little understood. It is extremely volatile, and disappears almost entirely by heat, drying, or simple exposure to the air. I have en- deavoured, with but partial success, to obtain it in a separate state, orin any perceptible combina- tion. The following were some of the methods by which it was attempted. Portions of the fresh contused root were sepa- rately digested in water, in proof spirit, in alcohol, in ether, in olive oil and in vinegar. The infu- sions were tasted at different periods, but none of them had acquired the least acrimony from the plant. The expressed juice of the root upon standing one minute had lost all its pungency. A quantity of the bruised root was placed in a retort and covered with water. Heat was gradu- ally applied, until a fluid began to collect in the receiver. This fluid had the peculiar odour of 56 ARUM TRIPHYLLUM, the root, but was wholly without acrimony. The same experiment was repeated with alcohol, and vinegar, and afforded similar results. In every case the liquid remaining in the retort was also without pungency. : Some slices of the root were digested in proof spirit in a close stopped phial. ‘The portions of root retained their acrimony at the end of some weeks, but had imparted none to the spirit. At the end of two years, the root was examined and found destitute of acrimony, as were also the whole contents of the phial. Suspecting that the acrid principle of this plant must escape in form of gas during the pro- cesses which have been mentioned, the fol- lowing experiment was made. A quantity of the bruised root and stalks were placed in a vessel of water. A glass receiver was filled with water and | inverted over them, and sufficient heat applied to raise the water nearly to the boiling point. From the beginning of the process, bubbles of air con- tinued to escape from the plant, and were collect- ed in the upper part of the receiyer. In the course of half on hour, a considerable quantity of permanent gas was obtained. A part of this gas, after cooling, was transferred to a phial, in which was a small quantity of atmospheric air, On pre- DRAGON ROOT. 57 senting a lighted paper to the mouth of this phi- al, it exploded with a very distinct report. An- other portion of the gas was agitated with lime water, which it rendered turbid. This circum- stance was probably owing to the mixture of car- bonic acid disengaged from the plant, or from the water by boiling. From the above experiments, which cireum- stances did not permit me to pursue, it appears that the acrimony of the Arum resides in a prin- ciple having no affinity for water, alcohol, or oil, being highly volatile, and, in a state of gas, in- flammable. The products of its combustion, as well as its other affinities, remain to be investi- gated.* The acrimony of the Arum when fresh is too powerful to render its internal exhibition safe, The roots, when dried whole, retain a small por- tion of their pungency, and in this state they have been given by some practitioners in the country for flatulence, cramp in the stomach, Se. also for *The acrimony of the Ranunculi, which appreaches that of the Arum, is lost by drying, yet is soluble in water, and passes over with it in distillation. That of Polygonum hydropiper disappears in de- coction and distillation, The same takes place with several other acrid plants which I have examined, Some i inquiries into the acrid principle of vegetables I am in hopes to render more mature at a fu- ture period, 8 58 ARUM TRIPHYLLUM. asthmatic affections. As topical stimulants, they promise to be useful when any method shall have been discovered of fixing and preserving their ac- rimony. The late Dr. Barton of Philadelphia ob- serves, that “the recent root of this plant boiled in milk, so as to communicate to the milk a strong impregnation of the peculiar acrimony of the plant, has been advantageously employed in cases of consumption of the lungs.” This statement how- ever should be qualified by the recollection, that the Arum imparts none of its acrimony to milk upon boiling, An impression of this kind can only have been received from a partial mixture of the substance of the root with the milk. The root contains a large proportion of very pure white fecula, resembling the finest arrow root or starch. To procure this, the fresh root should be reduced to a pulp, and placed ona strainer, Repeated portions of cold water should then be poured on it, which in passing through the strainer carry with them the farinaceous part, leaving the fibrous portion behind. The fecula thus obtained, loses its acrimony on being thor- oughly dried, and forms a very white, delicate and nutritive substance. Dr. M’Call of Georgia found these roots to yield one fourth part of their weight of pure amylaceous matter.—It is not uncommon DRAGON ROOT. 59 for a nutritious frecula to exist in pungent and poi- sonous roots. The Laplanders prepare a whole- some bread from the acrid roots of Calla palus- tris, and the juice of the Cassava, or bread root tree of the West Indies, is known to be high- ly deleterious while recent. [Vote F.] BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Linn 2zvs, sp. pl.— WILLDENow, iv. 480.—Arron, Hort. Kew. fii. $15.—Waxrer, Carol, 224.—Micnavx, Fl, ii. 188.—Pursn, ii. 399. Dracunculus s. Serpentaria triphylla, &c -—Bavuin, Pin. 195.—Arum s. Arisarum, &c.—Mortson, Hist, iii, 547, 8. 13, t. 5.—PLUKENET, t. 77, f. 5. also t. 376, f. 3. MEDICAL REFERENCES. Scueprr, Mat. Med. 133.—Rusu, ii. 301.—Barron, Coll. 29, ree Caxt, in Philad. Med. and Phys. Journal, ii. 84.—THAcH- Disp. 153.—Currer, Mem. Amer. Acad, i. 487. PLATE IY. Fig. 1. Arum triphyllum. Fig. 2. Spadix with anthers. Fig. 3. Spadis with germs. Fig. 4. Longitudinal section of the root. COPTIS TRIFOLIA. Gold thread. PLATE V, Tue dark sphagnous swamps, which in the northern parts of our continent are covered with a perpetual shade of firs, cedars and pines, are the favourite haunts of this elezant little ever- green. The coldest situations seem to. favour its growth, and it flourishes alike in the morasses of Canada and of Siberia. On our highest mountain tops it plants itself in little bogs and watery clefis of rocks, and perfects its fructification in the short summer allowed it in those situations. I haye gathered it upon the summit of the Ascutney in Vermont, and on the Alpine regions of the White mountains. It is here that in company with the Diapensia and Azaleas of Lapland, the blue Men- ziesia, the fragrant Alpine Holcus, and other plants 2 Sal it apane PLY. é op fos © fz yela GOLD THREAD, 61 of high northern latitudes, it forms the link of bo- tanical connexion between the two continents. When in situations like this, we seem transported to the frigid zone, and to be present at the point where the hemispheres approach each other, as if to interchange their productions.* In the second volume of the Ameenitates Ac- ademicz is a description and imperfect figure of this plant as brought from Kamschatka, by Hale- nius. He describes it by the name Heileborus trifolius, with the observation, “Minima est hee planta in suo genere, attamen spectabilis.” Sub- sequent botanists have ranked it with the Helle- bores, until Mr. Salisbury very properly separat- ed it from a family of plants, with which it wholly disagrees in habit, and constituted a new genus by the name of Coptis. ‘This genus is character- ized by the following marks. Calya none ; petals jive or six, caducous ; nectaries five or six, cu- cullate ; capsules from five to eight, pedicelled, beak- ed, many seeded. The species trifolia has ternate leaves, and a one flowered scape. * Non sine admiratione vidi non solum multas cum rarissimis nostris plantis Lapponicis communes, sed etiam alias, partim ignotas omnino, partim minime tritas; et denique quasdam etiam cum Cana- densibus easdem, argumento Canadam a Camscatca non longe dista+ re, uti sequentes antea in sola America boreali visee, nunc etiam in extrema ora Siberis.” Amenitaies Academice, ii. 310. a 62 COPTIS TRIFOLIA, In botanical arrangements, the Coptis will fol- low the Hellebores, from which it was taken, re- maining in the class and order Polyandria, Polygy- mia, with the Multisilique of Linneus and the Ranunculacee of Jussieu. ()., f The roots of this plant, from which the name of goldthread is taken, are perennial and creeping. On removing the moss and decayed leaves from the surface of the ground, they discover them- selves of a bright yellow colour, running in every direction, The bases of the new stems are in- vested with a number of yellowish, ovate, acumi- nate stipules. Leayes ternate, on long slender petioles ; leafets roundish, acute at base, lobed and crenate, the crenatures acuminate ; smooth, firm, yeiny. Scape slender, round, bearing one small, starry white flower, and a minute, ovate, acute bracte at some distance below. Calyx none. Petals five, six or seven, oblong, concave, white, Nectaries five or six, inversely conical, hollow, yel- low at the mouth. Stamens numerous, white, with capillary filaments and roundish anthers. Germs from five to seven, stipitate, oblong, com- pressed; styles recurved. Capsules pedicelled, umbelled, oblong, compressed, beaked, with nu- merous black oval seeds attached to the inner side. The root of this plant is a pure intense bitter, GOLD THREAD. 63 scarcely modified by any other taste. In distilla- tion it communicates no decided sensible quality to water. The constituent with which it most abounds is a bitter extractive matter, soluble both in water and alcohol. It seems destitute of resi- nous or gummy portions, since the residuum from an evaporated solution in alcohol is readily dissolv- ed in water, and vice versa. It is devoid of astrin- gency when chewed in the mouth, and it gives no indication of the presence of tannin or gallic acid when tested with animal gelatin, or with sulphate of iron. The abundance of the bitter principle is evinced by the acetate of lead and nitrate of sil- yer, both of which throw down a copious precipi- tate. The sulphuric, nitric, and muriatic acids occasion no change, and the muriate of tin gives only a slight precipitate, after some time standing. Of this article larger quantities are sold in the druggists’ shops in Boston, than of almost any in- digenous production. ‘The demand for it arises from its supposed efficacy as a local application in aphthous, and other ulcerations of the mouth. Its reputation however in these cases is wholly unmerited, since it possesses no astringent or stimulating quality, by which it can act on the ul- cerated spots, and where benefit has attended its use, it is doubtless to be ascribed to other articles H4: COPTIS TRIFOLIA. possessing the above properties, with which it is usually combined. As a pure tonic bitter, capable of strengthen- ing the viscera and promoting digestion, it is en- titled to rank with most articles of that kind now inuse. Its character resembles that of Gen- tian, Quassia, and Columbo, being a simple bitter - without aroma or astringency. The tincture, made by digesting half an ounce of the bruised root in eight ounces of diluted alcohol, forms a preparation of a fine yellow colour, possessing the whole bit- terness of the plant. I have given it in various in- stances to dyspeptics and conyalescents, who have generally expressed satisfaction from its effects, at least, as frequently as from other medicines of its class. A teaspoonful may be taken three times aday. In substance, it rests well on the stomach in doses of ten or twenty grains. It is however difficult to reduce to powder on account of the te- nacity of its fibres. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Coptis trifolia Sanissury, Lin. Trans. viii. 305.—Poursu, ii. 390.—Helleborus trifolius, sp. pl._— Wax». ii. 1338. Kam, Travels, tii. 379,—Lxerrcn. iter i. 190.—Patuas, Her. iii. 34.— OxrpER, F. Dan. t. 566.—Micuaux, Fl. i, $25.—Ameen. Acad, ii. 356, t. 4. f. 18, GOLD THREAD. 65 MEDICAL REFERENCES. Helleborus trifolius, Bart. Coll, N igella—Curier, Amer, Acad, i. 457.—Tacner, Disp. 283. PLATE Y., Fig. 1. Coptis trifolia with the root, leaves, flowers and last year’s fruit. Fig. 2. Nectaries, stamens, and pistils magnified, Fig. 3. Section of a capsule shewing the seeds. - o ARBUTUS UVA URSL Bear berry. PLATE VI. Fw shrubs are more extensively diffused throughout the northern hemisphere, both in the old and new continents, than this trailing ever- green, We are told that it abounds in the north- ern parts of Europe, in Sweden, Lapland, and Ice- land, and extends southerly to the shores of the Mediterranean, In Siberia it is also found, and is represented as abundant on the banks of the Wolga. In North America it grows from Hud- son’s bay as far south, at least, as the central parts of the United States. It occupies the most barren places, such as gravelly hills and dry, sandy woods, and coyers the ground with beds of considerable extent. ; Debi itd Bgl. Mea OAL Fig 1V. edt PLVI BEAR BERRY. 67 The family of plants bearing the name of Ar- butus have for their distinctive marks a five-part- ed calyx, an ovate corolla, pellucid at base ; and a@ superior, five-celled berry. They are closely connected to the Vaccinia or whortleberries, from which they differ principally in the situation of the berry, which in the Arbutus grows above the calyx, and in the Vaccinium below it.—Both these genera, at least the American species, prop- erly belong to the class Decandria and order Mono- gyuia. The Linnean natural order is Bicornes. Jussieu has them among his Erice. £32... -a¢ oi, The species Uva ursi, Bear’s grape or Bear- / berry is known from the rest by its procumbent stem and entire leaves.—It trails upon the ground, putting out roots from the principal stems, and tending upward with the young shoots only. The cuticle is deciduous, and peels off from the old stems. Leaves scattered, obovate, acute at base, attached by short petioles, coriaceous, evergreen, glabrous, shining above, paler beneath, entire, the margin rounded, but scarcely reflexed, and in the young ones pubescent. Flowers in ashort cluster on the ends of the branches. Peduncles reflexed, furnished at base with a short acute bracte under- neath, and two minute ones at the sides. Calyx of five roundish segments, of a reddish colour and 68 ARBUTUS UVA URSI, persistent. Corolla ovate or ureeolate, white with a reddish tinge, transparent at base, contracted at the mouth, hairy inside, with five short, reflex- ed segments, Stamens inserted at the base of the corolla with hairy filaments, and anthers with two horns and two pores in each. Germ round, style straight, longer than the stamens, stigma simple, Nectary a black indented ring, situated below the germ, and remaining till the fruit is ripe. Ber- ries globular, depressed, of a deep red, approach- ing scarlet, containing an insipid, mealy pulp, and about five seeds, which in the American plant co- here strongly together, so as to appear like the nu- cleus of a drupe. The leaves and stems of the Uva ursi are used in Sweden and Russia for the purpose of tanning leather. According to Linneus, large quantities are annually collected for this use. When chewed in the mouth, the leayes have an astringent taste, combined with some degree of bitterness. The result of such chemical trials as Thave made with them, shews that they abound in tannin, which is probably their chief active con- stituent. A solution of gelatin occasions a copi- ous precipitate ; sulphate of iron an equally co- pious one of a black colour. Nitrate of mereury and lime water gaye large precipitates from the BEAR BERRY. 69 decoction, the first of a light green, the last of a brownish colour. Of the existence of gallic acid, at least as it exists in galls, I have found no suffi- eient proof. The decoction does not redden vege- table blues, and the black precipitate with the sul- phate of iron soon subsides, leaving the fluid nearly colourless. The quantity of resin, mucous mat- ter and extractive, provided they exist in this plant, must be minute ; since the decoction was not ren- dered turbid by the addition of alcohol or ether, nor the tincture by the addition of water, although after standing twenty four hours, some slight floc- culiappeared. Muriate of tin produced no precip- itation from the decoction, though it gave one from the tincture. Acetite of lead and nitrate of sil- ver gave large precipitates, Water distilled from this plant, suffered no change with sulphate of iron, or muriate of tin. Professor Murray of Gottingen, finding a great- er amount of soluble matter taken up by water than by alcohol, considers the former as the best menstruum for this article. A similar inference from the American plant was made by Dr. John S. Mitchell in an inaugural dissertation, published at Philadelphia in 1803. For medical uses, Mur- ray prefers the decoction to the infusion. 70 ARBUTUS UVA URSI. The Uva ursi was probably known to the an- cients, as it grows in all the southern parts of Eu- rope. Clusius thinks it was the apurov oraduay of Galen, celebrated by him as a remedy in hemop- tysis, and described as follows. “Uva ursi in Ponto nascitur, planta humilis et fruticosa, folio Memeecyli, fructum ferens rubrum, rotundum, gustu austerum.” But it is well known that the brief and imperfect descriptions of the ancients were productive of little else than uncertainty in Botany. In modern times the Uva ursi was brought into notice about the middle of the eighteenth century by De Haen, as an efficient remedy in nephritic and even in calculous cases. It had been previously in use for these complaints in Spain, at Naples and Montpellier, and as a gener- al astringent, at a still earlier period. Its reputa- tion was still further augmented by subsequent dissertations, published upon its properties, and different sets of experiments were instituted to ascertain if it were not actually capable of dissoly- ing the stone of the bladder. The results most in favour of its solvent power were those of Girardi, who diminished the weight and consistency of uri- nary calculi, by digesting them in a preparation of this plant. It appears however that the prep- BEAR BERRY. 74 aration, which he employed, was an acid liquor, obtained by a destructive distillation of the leaves, and probably not superior to other weak acids in its solvent powers. On the other hand, Professor Murray found what might reasonably be expect- ed, that these calculi were not materially affected. by long digestion in a decoction of this plant at various temperatures. The attention of many medical writers has been called to the properties of this medicine, and their reports as to its suecess are extremely various. Among its greatest friends; are De Haen, Professor Murray, and Dr. Ferriar ; while of those whose opinion is more unfavourable, are Sauvages, Haller, Donald, Munro and Fothergill. Dr. Cullen adopts the opinion of De Heucher, that the symptoms of calculus generally are suscepti- ble of relief from astringents, and believes that on this principle the Uva ursi is capable of mitigat- ing complaints arising from that source.* In this country the Uva ursi has acquired the good opinion of practitioners of medicine in re- * In the preface to the third volume of Medical Observations and Inquiries, published at London, it is stated in very general terms, that the Uva ursi had been prescribed unsuccessfully by many of the mem- bers of the Society of Physicians in London, Dr. Woodville, in his Medical Botany, has unfortunately misquoted this passage, by read- ing “ successfully” instead of * unsuccessfully.” 72 ARBUTUS UVA URSI. peated instances, Professor Wistar of Phila- delphia, as cited by Dr. Mitchell, has in several eases found symptoms like those of urinary caleu- lus completely removed by this medicine. But these could not probably have been cases of real calculus. ‘The late Professor Barton found the plant of much service in his own case of nephrit- ic paroxysms, alternating with gout in the feet. From the various testimonies which have been given respecting the properties of this article, we are not warranted in believing it to possess any real lithontriptic power. At the same time it un- doubtedly proves a palliative for calculous symp- toms in,many cases, I have repeatedly watched its effects in parox- ysms of nephritis, brought on by gravelly concre- tions, and am on the whole inclined to believe in its tendency to allay sensibility in these cases, and to hasten the relief of the symptoms. It ought generally to be preceded by evacuations, and may be advantageously accompanied with opium.—In cases of dysury arising from a yari- ety of causes, I have given the decoction of this plant with very satisfactory success: in repeated instances. The other diseases in which this plant has been recommended are, catarrhus vesicx, leucorrhea BEAR BERRY. 73 and gonorrhea. Ali these complaints it has doubt- less cured, but is at the same time inferior to other medicines in use for the same purposes. Some years ago the Uva ursi was recommend- ed as a remedy in pulmonary consumption by Dr, Bourne of Oxford in England, and by other wri- ters in the periodical works. It was, stated to have a yery sensible effect in diminishing hectic fever, and abating the frequency of the pulse de- pendent on it. We do not find however that sub- sequent experience has justified the expectations formed of it in this disease. In Dr. Mitchell’s experiments on the pulse with this medicine, it appears that the pulsations were sometimes, not always, slightly increased af- ter taking it, but that in every case they soon sunk below the natural standard, and remained so for some time. Of the powder of the leaves of Uva ursi, om one to two scruples may be given to most patients. Dr. Ferriar’s dose in nephritis was from five to ten grains, but a larger quantity is more effec- tual, and is readily borne by the stomach. The decoction may be made from half an ounce of the leaves boiled for ten minutes in a pint of water. From a wine glass to a gill of this may be taken every hour. 40 74 ARBUTUS UUA URSI, BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Arbutus Uva ursi, Linnxus, Fl. Lapponica, 162, t. vi. f. 3.— Oxper, Fl. Dan. t. 33.—Woopvit.e, i. t. 70.—Smrru, Fl. Brit. 443,—Engl, Bot. t. 714. —Micnavx, Fl. i. 249.—Pursn, i. 282. —Uvaursi, J. Bauntn, i. 523.—Cxustvs, Hispan. 79,—LoneE1, Icon. i. 366.—P ark inson, theatr. 1457.—Vitis Idea, Raxvus, Hist. 1489, MEDICAL REFERENCES. Morray, Apparatus Med. ii. 64.—Grrarnt, de Uva ursind, &c.—De Harn, Ratio medendi, ii. 160, &c. —Sauvaces, Vosol. iii. 2, 200.—D. Munro, Mat. Med. iii. 288.—F oTHERGILL, Med, Obs. 144,—ALEXANDER, Exp. essays, 151.—F ERRIAR i. 109,— HEBERDEN 79, 360.—Davie, Med. and Phys. Journal, xv. 347.— BovrnE, in ditto, xiv. 463.—Scneprr, 67.—Mrrcuet, Inaugu- ral Thesis. PLATE YI. Fig. 1. Arbutus Vea ursi, the American variety, Fig. 2. The magnified corolla opened, shewing the insertion of the stamens, Fig. 3. Calyx, nectary, germ, and style magnified, Fig. 4. Calya and nectary. Fig. 5. Berry. Pl. Vil, : ; : : j ; { ' Sit HU UNA C attack Seth SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS. Blood root. PLATE VII. Anone the earliest visiters of spring the bota- nist will find in almost any part of the United States the Sanguinaria Canadensis. Its fine white flowers _proceeding from the bosom of a young, convoluted leaf, become visible in the woods, in Carolina, in the month of March, and in New En- gland, toward the end of April. Its most com. mon name is Blood root. It has also the appella tion of Puccoon, Turmeric, Red root, &e. It is the only species we at present possess of the genus Sanguinaria, distinguished by a two leaved calya eight petals, and an oblong capsule, with one cell and many seeds.—Class Polyandria, order Mono- Synia. Natural order Bhwodew, L, Papaveracee, Suse! wy), i 76 SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS, The flower and leaf proceed from the end of a horizontal, fleshy, abrupt root, fed by numerous radicles. ‘This root makes offsets from its sides, which separate as the old root decays, acquiring by this separation the abrupt or premorse form. Externally the colour of the root is a brownish red. Internally it is pale, and when divided emits a bright orange coloured juice from numerous points of its surface. The bud or hybernaculum, which terminates the root, is composed of succes- sive scales or sheaths, the last of which acquires a considerable size, as the plant springs up. By dissecting this hybernaculum in the summer or autumn, we may discover the embryo leaf and flower of the succeeding spring, and with a com- mon magnifier, even the stamens may be counted. The Sanguinaria is smooth throughout. The leaves grow on long channelled petioles. When spread out, they are reniform or heart shaped, with large roundish lobes separated by obtuse si- muses. ‘The under side is strongly reticulated with veins; itis paler than the upper, and at length becomes glaucous. The scape is round, rises in front of the petiole, and is infolded by the young leaf. The calyx consists of two concave, ovate, obtuse leaves, which are perfect in the bud, but fall off when the corolla expands. Petals eight, BLOOD ROOT. 77 spreading, concave, obtuse, the alternate or ex- ternal ones longer, so that the flower has a square appearance. This is its natural charac- ter, although cultivation sometimes increases the number of petals. Stamens numerous, with ob- long yellow anthers. Germ oblong, compressed, style none, stigma thick, somewhat two lobed. Capsule oblong, acute at both extremities, two valved. Seeds numerous, roundish, compressed, dark shining red, half surrounded with a peculiar white vermiform appendage, which projects at the lower end. | After the flower has fallen, the leaves continue to grow, and by midsummer have acquired so large -asize as to appear like a different plant. The root of this vegetable is the only part which I have submitted to chemical examination. The experiments made on this substance, gave evidence of the following constituent principles. 4, A peculiar resin. Alcohol comes off from the root strongly impregnated. with its colour and taste. This solution is rendered turbid by the addition of water. When evaporated to dryness, it leaves a residuum partially, but not wholly soluble in water. When successive quantities of water have been agitated with the powdered root until the infusion comes off colourless, alcohol acquires 98 SANGUINARIA €ANADENSIS. a colour from the remainder. Aither receives from the root a yellowish colour, and when eya- porated, leaves the resin nearly pure. In this state it is moderately adhesive, of a deep orange colour, bitter and acrid, diffusible, but not soluble in water, The resin may also be precipitated in small quantities from alcohol by water. 2. A bitter principle. Both water and alcohol acquire a strong bitter taste when digested on the root. From both these solutions a copious pre- cipitate is thrown down by the nitrate of silver and the acetite of lead. Muriate of tin gradually renders the solution turbid, but without a precipi- tate. Oxymuriatie acid renders the alcoholic so- lution turbid, but produces no change in the wa- tery solution for some time. At length a precip- itate forms and slowly subsides ; but produces no change in the watery solution. No precipitate was formed from the cold aqueous infusion in an hour by the sulphuric or nitric acids, by lime water, ni- trate of mercury, muriate of barytes, oxalate of ammonia, sulphate of iron, gelatine or bydro-sul- phuret of potash. After standing twenty four hours, a very slight precipitate was discovered from the lime water and nitrate of mercury only. 3. An acrid principle. The acrimony resides in part in the resin, but is also communicated to BLOOD ROOT. 79 water. It is diminished by heat, yet it does not come over with water in distillation. 4. Feeula. The infusion of the root in cold water is limpid. The hot infusion is viseid and glutinous and stiffens linen. From this solution the frecula is precipitated in a white powder by al- cohol. Nitric acid dissolves this precipitate, which may be again thrown down by alcohol. | 5. A fibrous or woody portion. ; The beautiful colour of the root seems to re- side more in the resin than in any other princi- ple, since the alcoholic solution has always more than twice as much colour as the aqueous. Pa- pers dipt in these solutions receive a bright salmon colour from the tincture, but a yery faint one from the aqueous infusion. This circumstance furnish- es an impediment to the use of this article in dyeing. The medical properties of the Sanguinaria are _ those of an acrid nareotic. When taken im a large dose it irritates the fauces, leaving an impression in the throat for considerable time after it is swal- lowed. It occasions heartburn, nausea, faintness, and frequeatly vertigo and diminished vision. At length it vomits, but i operation it is less certain than other emeties“in common use. The above effects are produced by a dose of from eight to twenty grains of the fresh powdered root. 80 SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS. ‘When given in smaller doses, such as produce nausea without vomiting, and repeated at fre- quent intervals, it lessens the frequency of the pulse in a manner somewhat analogous to the op- eration of Digitalis. This however is a seconda- ry effect, since in its primary operation it seems to accelerate the circulation. Exhibited in: this manner, it has been found useful in several diseases. In still smaller doses, or such as do not excite nausea, it has acquired some reputation as a tonic stimulant. i Professor Smith of Hanover, New Hampshire, in a paper on this plant, published in the London Medical Transactions, vol. i. states that he found the powder to operate violently as an emetic, pro- ducing great prostration of strength, during its operation, which continued for some time. He had not known it to act as acathartic. Snuffed up the nostrils, it proved sternutatory, and left a sensa- tion of heat for some time. Applied to fungous flesh it proved escharotic, and several polypi of the soft kind were cured by it in his hands. He found it of great use in th¢dmeipient stages of pulmona- ry consumption, given.in as large doses as the stomach would bear, and repeated. In cases of great irritation it was combined with opium. Some BLOOD ROOT. 81 other complaints were benefitted by it, such as acute rheumatism and jaundice. | Professor Ives of New Haven* considers the Blood root as a remedy of importance in many dis- eases, particularly of the lungs and liver. He ob- serves, that in typhoid pneumonia, “in plethoric constitutions, when respiration is very difficult, the cheeks and hands become livid, the pulse full - soft, vibrating and easily compressed,—the Blood root has done more to obviate the symptoms and remove the disease,” than any remedy which he has used. In such cases, he observes, “ the dose must be large in proportion to the violence of the disease, and often repeated, until it excites. vomit- ing, or relieves the symptoms.’ He infuses from a scraple to half a drachm of the powdered. root in halfa gill of hot water, and gives one or two tea- spoonfuls every half hour, in urgent cases, until the effect is produced. This treatment has often removed the symptoms in a few hours. Dr. Ives thinks highly of its use in: oRienany in phthisis, and particularly in hooping cough, He also states, that given in large doses, sufficient to produce full vomiting, it often removes the Croup, if administered in the first stages. It has been given, he remarks, “for many years in the * Letter dated Noyember 5, 1816, 44 82 SAUGUINARIA CANADENSIS. country, some physicians relying wholly on this remedy for the cure of croup.” Dr. Macbride, of Charleston, 8. C. who has contributed many judicious remarks on the medi- cinal properties of plants, to Mr. Elliott’s excel- lent Botany of the Southern States; informs me,* that he has found the Blood root useful in Hy- drothorax, given in doses of sixty drops, ter de die, and increased until nausea followed each dose. In a week or two the good effect was evident, the pulse being rendered slow and regular, and the respiration much improved. In the same letter he observes, “ In torpor of the liver, attended with colic and yellowness of the skin, a disease com- mon in this climate, I use the Puccoon with evi- dent advantage. We use it also in jaundice, but in this disease I do not trust exclusively to it. 1 prefer the pill or powder (dose from two to five grains) and vinous infusion, to the spirituous tine- ture.”? The tincture of Sanguinaria may be made by digesting an ounce of the powdered root in eight ounces of diluted alcohol. ‘This preparation pos- sesses all the bitterness, but less of the nauseat- ing quality, than the infusion. In the dose ofa small teaspoonful, it is used by many practitioners * Letter dated December, 1816. BLOOD ROOT. 83 as a stimulating tonic, capable of increasing the appetite and promoting digestion. BOTANICAL REFERENCES, Sanguinaria Canadensis, Lin. sp. pl-—Curris, Botan. Mag. é. 162.—Arron, Hort. Kew. ii. 222.—Watrer, Carol. 153.— Micuavx, Flora 1, 309.—Pursn, ii. 366.—Sanguinaria minor, Duents, Elth. f. 326 and S. major, f. 325 in t. 252.—Cheli- donium maximum acaulon Canadense Ratvus, Hist. 1887.—Ran- unculus Virg. albus. Parkinson, Th. 326.—Chelidonium ma- jus Canad. acaulon Cornurvs, Canad, 212, MEDICAL REFERENCES, Scnepr, 85,—Smiru, Trans. Lond. Med. Society, i. 179.— Barr. Coll. 28.—Curier, Mem. Amer. Acad, i. 455.—Tuacuer, Disp. 331. GERANIUM MACULATUM. Common Cranesbill. PLATE VIil. Tx common language the term Geranium in- cludes all that extensive tribe of plants comprised by the old genus of that name, and principally ‘characterised by their beaked fruit and five seeds which are scattered by means of awns. L’Heri- tier has divided this family into three distinct gen- era, under different orders in the artificial class Monadelphia. ‘These are Erodium, haying five sta- mens, five nectariferous scales and glands, and the awns of the fruit twisted and bearded. Pelargoni- um, which includes most of the Cape species so commonly cultivated among us, having about seven stamens, an irregular corolla, and a nectareous tube running down the peduncle. Lastly, Geranium having ten stamens, a regular corolla, fiye nec- Fl. Vin, i t yp ' 4 Dy, Cures s : LEEW DAM FEE Artie We COMMON CRANESBILL. 85 tariferous glands at the base of the longer fila- ments, the awns of the fruit neither bearded nor twisted. ‘To this division belongs the plant under consideration, which has the following specific character. Erect, hairy backward ; stem forked ; leaves opposite, three or jive parted, cut ; peduncles mostly two flowered ; petals, obovate, entire. Jussieu has formed a natural order by _ the name of Gerania, which — ee ae to the 4 Gruinales of Linnzeus. @,. tectascen te Sy Pi Although we have few species of Gerutiom in the United States, yet the present species, by its extensive diffusion, is a sufficient representative of the race. It is very common in low grounds, about Boston and Philadelphia, in the Carolinas, and in the western country upon the nga of the Ohio and Tllinois. _ % The root of Geranium maculatum is perennial, horizontal, thick, rough and knobby. In most plants it sends up a stem and several root leaves, The leaves are spreading, hairy, divided in a pal- mate manner into three, five, or seven lobes, which are variously cut and toothed at their extremi- ties ; those of the root are on long petioles, those at the middle of the stem opposite and petioled, those at the top opposite and nearly sessile. The stem is erect, round, hispid with reyersed hairs, 86 GERANIUM MACULATUM. dichotomous, with a flower stalk in the fork. Sti- pules and bractes linear, dilated at base. Pedun- cles round, hairy, swelling at base, generally two flowered. Calyx of five oblong, ribbed, mucron- ated leaves, with the parts, which are outermost in the bud, hairy. Petals five, obovate, not emargi- nate, of a light purple colour, which is deeper when the plant grows in the shade, marked with green at the base. Stamens ten, erect or curving outward, the alternate ones a little longer, with nectariferous glands at the base ; filaments dilat- ed and united together at base; anthers oblong, deciduous, so that the number frequently appears less than ten. Germ ovate; style straight, as long as the stamens ; stigmas five, at first erect, afterwards recurved. Capsule five seeded, sur- mounted by a long straight beak, from the sides of which when ripe are separated five thin, flat awns, which curl up, haying cast off the seed contained in the cell at the base of each. The root of the Geranium, which is the part to be used in medicine, is internally of a green col- our, and when dry is exceedingly brittle and easi- ly reduced to powder. It is one of the most pow- erful astringents we possess, and from its decided properties, as well as the ease of precuring it, it may well supersede in medicine many foreign ar- CUMMON CRANESBILL, ° 87 ticles of its class which are consumed among us. The experiments, which I have made upon this root, have been principally directed to the exami- nation of its astringent qualities. A drachm of the powdered root was steeped in two ounces of cold water and the infusion filtrat- ed. Successive portions of water were add- ed until the liquid came off colourless and _taste- less. The collected infusion had a pale greenish colour, and a styptic, austere taste. It did not redden vegetable blues. : To half this infusion was added a drachm of gelatin in solution, The liquor instantly became of a milky whiteness, and a copious white precipi- tate was thrown down. ‘This precipitate was dri- ed and assumed a semi-transparent, horny ap- pearance. Its weight was eleven grains. A drachm of kino treated in the same man- ner was rendered turbid, but gave a very scanty precipitate with the gelatin. To portions of the same infusions was added a solution of the muriate of tin. In both of them a_ greenish precipitate was formed, but that of the Geranium was much the most immediate and abundant. The sulphate of iron struck a dark purple col- our with the infusion of Geranium. ‘The com- 88 GERANIUM MACULATUM, pound remained principally suspended at the end of twenty four hours, and when used in writing had the appearance of common ink, but in a few days changed to a dull brown colour. ‘ Iical soitte KALMIA LATIFOLIA. Mountain laurel. PLATE XI. Te Swedish botanist, Peter Kalm, a pupil of Linnzus, who travelled in North America in 1748—9, has had the honor of giving name to one of the most elegant genera of flowering shrubs which our continent produces. The genus named Kalmia by Linneus, includes several species, of singular beauty, among which the Mountain lau- rel is much the largest and most elegant, as well as the one whose properties have received most atten- tion. Its occurrence in the United States is very frequent, and its common appellations of course va- rious. The names of Laurel, Lambkill, Ivy, Spoon- wood, and Calico bush, it seems, are applied to it in various parts of the country. This shrub grows in the southern parts of New Hampshire, and is oc- casionally met with throughout Massachusetts. In the Middle States it becomes more frequent. 134 KALMIA LATIF OLIA. and it is said to extend near to the southern lim- its of the Union. Michaux, in his account of the forest trees, states, that it is particularly abundant through the whole range of Allegany mountains, upon the borders and near the sources of rivers. It gradually diminishes however on both sides as these rivers approach to the sea, or to their con- fluence with the great western streams. The botanical character of the genus consists in a five parted calyx, a hypocrateriform corolla, containing ten depressions in its border, in which the anthers are lodged ; a capsule five celled. The specifie character is, that the leaves are scattered, petioled, oval and smooth ; the corymbs terminal, viscid and pubescent, Class Decandria, order Monogynia. Natural orders Bicornes, Linn. Rhododendra, Juss. — »,; Bis oat The height of the Kalmia latifolia is generally that of a shrub, sometimes however attaining to the altitude of a small tree. Its leaves are ey- ergreen, coriaceous, very smooth, with the under side somewhat palest. Their form is oval, acute and entire ; their insertion by seattered petioles, on the. sides and extremities of the branches. The flowers vary from white to red; they grow in termi- nal corymbs, simple or compound with opposite branches, and made up of slender peduncles. These MOUNTAIN LAUREL. _ £35 are invested with a glutinous pubescence, and sup- ported at base by ovate, acuminate bractes. The calyx is small, five parted, persistent, with oval, a- cute segments. The corolla is monopetalous, with a cylindrical tube, a spreading disc, and an erect, five cleft margin. At the circumference of the dise on the inside, are ten depressions or pits, accom- panied with corresponding prominences on the outside. In these depressions the anthers are found lodged at the time when the flower expands. The stamens originate from the base of the corol- la, and bend outwardly, so as to lodge their an- thers in the cells of the corolla. From this con- finement they liberate themselves during the pe- riod of flowering and strike against the sides of the stigma. The germ is roundish, the style lon- ger than the corolla and declined, the stigma ob- tuse. Capsule roundish, depressed, five celled and five valved, with numerous small seeds. | I have examined chemically the leaves of the Kalmia, gathered at the time the shrub was in fruit. The following constituent —— were found to exist in them. ; 1. Vegetable mucus. This exists in large quan- tities, and is dissolved in water both by infusion and decoction, rendering it extremely mucilagi- nous or ropy. When alcohol is added to this so- 436 KALMIA LATIF OLIA. ~ lution, the mucus separates in the form of a floc- culent coagulum, which is tough and stringy, and on drying has a brownish colour. When chewed, it soon fills the mouth with mucilage. Silicated potash rendered the upper stratum of the liquid dark and opaque, but without any pre- cipitate like that which takes place in the mucilage of gum. 2. Tannin. This is readily thrown down from the decoction and tincture by gelatin. The sul- phate of iron strikes with it a very black colour. 3. Resin. This also exists plentifully. It communicates to aleohol a reddish colour, and is instantly precipitated from it by water. When obtained pure, it is of a reddish cast, fusible, in- flammable and moderately bitter. I have not detected any extractive, properly so called, in these leaves. When the muriate of | tin is added to the decoction, it separates a very copious yellow precipitate. This however is ow- ing to the mucus. If alcohol be first added to the decoction, and the coagulum which it forms with- drawn ; the fluid no longer gives a precipitate with muriate of tin, — it readily yields one to gelatin. ‘Distillation with water affords a mild fluid with. little taste or odour. MOUNTAIN LAUREL. 437 The Kalmia latifolia, together with some oth- er species of its genus, has long had the reputa- tion, in various parts of the country, of being poi- sonous to certain domestic animals. Catesby says of it, that “deer feed on its green leaves with im- punity ; yet when cattle and sheep, by severe win- ters deprived of better food, feed on the leaves of this plant, a great many of them die annually.” : Kalm, the Swedish traveller, who gave name to this genus, says of Kalmia latifolia, “ The leaves are poison to some animals, and food for others ; experience has taught the people, that when sheep eat of these leaves, they either die immediately, or fall very sick, and recoyer with great difficulty. The young and more tender sheep are killed by a small portion, but the older ones can bear a stron- ger dose. Yet this food will likewise prove mor- tal to them, if they take too much of it. The same noxious effect it shews in regard to calyes which eat too much of the leaves; they either die, or do not recover easily. I can remember that in the year 1748 some calves ate of the leaves ; they fell very. sick, swelled, foamed at the mouth and could hardly stand ; however, they were cured by. giving them gunpowder and other medicines. The sheep are most exposed to be tempted with these leaves in winter, for after haying been kept im sta- 138 : KALMIA LATIF OLIA. bles for some months, they are greedy of all greens, especially if the snow still lies upon the ground, and therefore the green but poisonous leaves of the Kalmia are to them very tempting. Horses, oxen and cows, which have eaten them, have like- _ wise been very ill after the meal, and though none of them ever died of eating these leaves, yet most people believed, that if they took too great a por- tion of them, death would certainly be the result.” “ On the other hand, the leaves of the Kalmia are the food of stags, when the snow covers the ground and hides all other provisions from them. 'There- fore, if they be shot in winter, their bowels are found filled with these leaves, and it is very extra- ordinary, that if those bowels are given to dogs, they become quite stupid, and, as it were, intoxi- cated, and often fall so sick, that they seem to be at the point of death ; but the people who have eaten the venison have not felt the least indisposi- tion.” — Travels in North America, voli. _ There is a common belief, that the flesh of the American Pheasant or Partridge is at certain times imbued with a poisonous quality. This circumstance has been attributed (I know not with what evidence) to their feeding in winter upon the buds of the Kalmia. Mr. Wilson, the ornitholo- gist, informs us, that he has sometimes found the MOUNTAIN LAUREL. 439 crops of these birds distended almost entirely with laurel buds; but that he has eaten freely of the flesh of these very birds, without any ill conse- quence whatever. On the human system, the Kalmia has been also said to manifest a deleterious influence. The late Professor Barton has adduced some evidences of its noxious character.* He states that the In- dians make use of a decoction of the leaves to de- stroy themselves. In an Inaugural Dissertation on two species of Kalmia, the latifolia and angus- tifolia, by Dr. G. K. Thomas, we are told that the leaves of these shrubs possess a decidedly narcotic property. Ihave not recently seen Dr. Thomas’ Dissertation, and therefore quote from memory and from extracts. From his experiments howev- er it appeared, that a very small quantity was suffi- cient to produce sensible inconvenience. Thirty drops of a strong decoction, given six times a day, are said to have occasioned so much vertigo, as to render it necessary to diminish the frequency of its exhibition. ; From my own experience, I am not disposed to think very highly of the narcotic poe of - ® Dr. Racton states, that a few drops of the tincture ‘poured upon the body of a large and vigorous ee wast the aia ina very short time. Bh ; 440 KALMIA LATIFOLIA. Kalmia. I have repeatedly chewed and swallowed a green leaf.of the largest size, without perceiving the least effect in consequence. I have also seen the powder, freshly made from leaves recently dri- ed, taken in doses of from ten to twenty grains, without any subsequent inconvenience or percep- tible effect. The taste of these leaves is perfectly mild and mucilaginous, being less disagreeable than that of most of our common forest ‘leaves. I am inclined to believe that the noxious effect of the Kalmia upon young grazing animals may be in some measure attributed to its indigestible quality, owing to the quantity of resin contained in the leaves. An ointment made of the powdered leayes has been recommended in tinea capitis and some oth- er cutaneous affections. I have seen an eruption, very much resembling psora, removed by it. The wood of the Kalmia is hard and dense, ap- proaching in its character to that of box. It is much used for the handles of mechanics’ tools, §e. and it has even been employed as a material for musical instruments. As anornamental shrub, this species stands in the highest rank, and by the fre- quency of its growth and the brilliancy of its flow- ers, it contributes in a great degree to the ele- gance of the natural scenery in those mountains MOUNTAIN LAUREL. 444 and woods, which it inhabits. When cultivated in gardens, it requires a soil which is somewhat moist, and a shady or northern aspect. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Kalmia latifolia, Lin. Sp. pl—Curris, Bot. Mag. t. 175.— Micuavx f. Irbres forestiers, iii. 147, t. 5 —Pursu i. 296.—Cha- meedaphne foliis tini, &c.—Caressy, Carolina, ii.t. 98.—Ledum floribus bullatis. &c. Trew, ¢t. 38.—Cistus chamzrhododendros, &c. PLUKENET, Pihyt. t. 379,f. 6. MEDICAL REFERENCES. Kau, travels, i. 335, &c.—Bart. Coll. i. 18, 48; ii. 26.— THacueEr, Disp. 247.—Tuomas, Inaugural dissertation. PLATE XIIl. Fig. 1. Branches of Kalmia latifolia with flowers and fruit. Fig. a. Stamens. Fig. 3. Calyx and pistil. bea SPIGELIA MARILANDICA. Carolina Pink root. . PLATE XIV. We are told by different writers, that this fine plant is a native of all the southern states from Pennsylvania to Georgia and Louisiana, growing in rich soils, especially about the borders of woods. It does not bear the severity of a nor- : thern winter. For my living specimens I was in- debted to my excellent and learned friend, the late Dr. James Macbride, of Charleston, 8. C. The genus Spigelia has a funnel shaped corol- la and a capsule, which is double, two celled and many seeded. The species Marilandica is peren- nial, with a simple stem and opposite leaves. Class Pentandria ; order Monogynia. Natural orders Stellate, Lin. Gentian, Juss. 4,,/» The root of the Spigelia Marilandica is peren- _ mal, with many fibrous branches. The stalks proceed several from a root; they are simple j Je ; Soo a Cede 5 PLATV: a eo Tan 2. “Wp eyeloa e Rocin Soran CAROLINA PINK ROOT. 143 four sided and nearly smooth. Leaves opposite, sessile, ovate, acuminate, entire, smooth, with the margins and veins sometimes pubescent. The stalk commonly terminates in a simple one-sided raceme of flowers, although I have seen luxuriant specimens with two. The peduncles are extreme- ly short, so that the raceme may without impro- priety be denominated a spike. Calyx persistent, with five linear-subulate, finely serrulate leaves, which are reflexed in the ripe fruit.” Corolla five times as long as the calyx, scarlet or crimson without, orange coloured within, the tube inflated and angular at top, the border divided into five acute, spreading segments. Stamens very short, inserted into the mouth of the corolla between the segments ; anthers oblong-heart shaped. Germ small, superior, ovate. Style longer than the co- rolla, jointed near its base and bearded at the ex- tremity. Capsule double, consisting of two, co- hering, one celled, globular portions, seated on a common receptacle. The Spigelia is a mucilaginous plant, witha mild and not very disagreeable taste. The infu- sion and decoction of the root and leaves afford a fiocculent precipitate with alcohol. They are discoloured but not precipitated by silicated pot- ash. They have little sensibility to gelatin, al- 19 4144 SPIGELIA MARILANDICA. though the tincture is made turbid by it. After the decoction was filtrated from the mucus, which had been coagulated by alcohol, it gaye a precipitate with nitrate of mercury, but none with muriate of tin. Sulphate of iron caused a dark green precip- itate from the decoction, and but little change in the tincture. No distinct evidence of resin pre- sented itself. A substance which may perhaps be considered a variety of extractive matter, ap- pears to exist in this plant, as the tincture was affected in nearly the same manner by- the salts of tin and mercury above mentioned, as the fil- trated. decoction. | ; Water may be considered an adnate solvent for the chief proximate principles of this plant. The medicinal reputation of the Spigelia is founded on the powers which it is supposed to possess as a vermifuge. This reputation is now so generally established, that the plant has_be- come a considerable article of commerce to yari- ous parts of the world, from our southern states. This is a sufficient evidence, that the medicine has, to a certain extent, satisfied public expecta- tion, and obtained the sanction of practitioners. But beyond this, it is difficult to speak confident- ly on the subject. The Spigelia belongs to a class of medicines, which are frequently prescrib- CAROLINA PINK ROOT. 145 ed, without positive proof of the existence of the cause which they are intended to remove ; which often fail altogether in the hands of the most sue- cessful practitioners ; which frequently succeed merely because they are backed with medicines of a more active class ; and whose apparent suc- cess is sometimes the consequence solely of a dis- eased state of the body.* Our plant is however entitled to trial, especially where it can be obtain- ed fresh, and in full strength. A physician of the southern states; for whose opinion I have much respect, Dr. Norcom of Edenton, N. C. inform- ed me some years since, that the Spigelia was * From the list of equivocal anthelmintics, I would except those which have a cathartic operation, also a number of mineral origin. But fam fully persuaded, that many reputed vermifuges have en-> joyed a reputation which they donot deserve. The Dolichos pruriens has received the commendations of practitioners and medical writers, on the presumption that its spiculze exert the same stimulant effect on the bodies of worms in the alimentary canal, that ‘they do on the au- man skin externally. I was long ago inclined to doubt the power of these spicule to withstand the digestive process of the stomach. My suspicions were confirmed upon finding that simple macera- tion in warm water for an nour, dissolves their virus, and renders them incapable of producing their usual stimulus of itching, when applied to the skin, Some late experiments by my pupil, Dr. Chan- dler, have shewn that the gastric juice destroys their ie in the same manner. It is not necessary in this place to revert to the Fern root of Mad- -ame Nouffer, and various other exploded anthelmintics of its kind. 146 SPIGELIA MARILANDICA. most active when recently dried, and that its eflicacy was always impaired by keeping more than six months. Dr. Garden had previously made observations somewhat similar. If this be the case, we may account for its failures in the hands of those who obtain it at a distance when half a dozen years old. _ Drs. Lining, Garden, and Chalmers of Caroli- na, are the writers who first introduced the Spi- _gelia to notice, and who have spoken most une- quivocally in its praise. Each of these physi- cians has represented it as an anthelmintic of superior efficacy. It appears that under certain cireumstances, itis capable of operating as a ca- thartic, and that in these instanees, the most ad- vantage has been experienced from it. Dr. Gar- den says, that he had given it in hundreds of cases, and that he “never found it do much good except when it proved gently purgatiye.” As the action of the Spigelia upon the bowels is quite uncertain, most practitioners either unite, or fol- low it with calomel or some purgative medicine. We are told that the pink root, when in its most active state, if given in large quantities, indu- ces narcotic symptoms, such as stupor, headach, dilated pupil, ec. Dr. H. Thompson, who took Jarge doses of the root to try its effect on himself, CAROLINA PINK ROOT. 147 found that it produced an increased quickness of the pulse, drowsiness, flushing of the face and stiffness of the eyelids. Dr. Chalmers attributes to its too free use the cases of two ehildren, who died in conyulsions. Dr. Macbride informs us that its narcotic effects are seldom or never at- tended with danger, and that some physicians consider them an evidence of the favorable opera- tion of the medicine. The opinion that this effect is owing to the root of some deleterious plant — taken up with the Spigelia, seems to be void of foundation. ‘4 8 As in most other perennial plants, the root of the Spigelia possesses a greater share of activity than the herb. Of this root ten grains may be given in powder to a child four years old, twenty to one which is seyen, and a drachm to an adult. If no inconyenience ensue, it may be repeated two or three times a day. If the infusion is prefer-. red, an ounce of the root may be infused in a pint of water, and half the quantity taken by an adult or one or two spoonfuls by a child. - BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Spigelia Marilandica, Lin. Sp. pl.—Curtis, Bot. Mag. t. 80.—Woopvitte, ii. t 105.—Watter, Flor. Car. 92.—M1- CHAUX, i, 147.—Pursn, i. 139.—Exuiorr, i. 236.—Lonicera 148 SPIGELIA MARILANDICA. Spicis terminalibus, &c. Gronoy. Virg. 30.—Periclymeni Vir- giniani flore cocoineo planta Marilandica, &c. CaTesBy, ii, t. 78. MEDICAL REFERENCES, _ Cratmers, on the weather and diseases of South Carolina, i. 67.—LininG, Essays, phys. and lit. i. 436. GARDEN, ditto, iii. 145.—Home, Clin, exper. 420.—Murray, App. Med. i. 548— Macsrineg, in Ellioti’s Car. 237.—THomrson, Inaug. Diss. PLATE XIV. Fig. 1. Spigelia Marilandica. Fig. 2. The capsule with the reflected calyx. Fig. 3. Corolla opened. | ASARUM CANADENSE. 3 Canada Snake root. Wild ginger. al PLATE. XV. Tux properties of this mild aromatic have been so far misconceived, probably from its re- lation to an European species, that it would be improper in a work of this kind, to pass over it | without notice of its real character. It affords a striking exception to the rule, that botanical affin- “ities are capable of indicating the medicinal qualities of vegetables. This plant in its effect on the human system, is widely different from the European asarabacca, although it approaches it so nearly in its form, that Michaux styles it “ vix dis- ; tinctum ab Europeo.” The Asarum Canadense grows in old woods and mountainous tracts from Canada to Carolina. ‘It is one of the humblest plants, presenting only two leaves with their stalks, which appear to con- stitute the whole of the plant aboye the ground. 150 ASARUM CANADENSE. On plucking the plant, the two leaves are found connected below, with an obscure flower in their fork, which had rested on the surface of the ground, or been buried. under the decayed leaves and soil. Its flowering time is from May to July. This plant, from the number of its stamens, is placed by Linneeus and Michaux in the class Dodecandria. Pursh, who has omitted this class in his Flora, has transferred the Asarums to Gy- nandria, from the circumstance that the stamens are inserted on the germ. This place however is not better suited to the. Asarum, than to a multi- tude of other plants whose germ is inferior. _ _-Linneeus’ natural order for this plant is Sar- ~ mentacew and Jussieu’s Aristolochiw. /4)'/% /ivecone 1 Generic character. Calya: three or four cleft, superior ; corolla none; anthers growing to the middle of the filaments. Capsule coriaceous, _ Specific character. Leaves two, reniform ; calyx woolly, cleft to the base; its segments spreading at top. — ale . The root of the Asarum is creeping, fleshy, and somewhat jointed. Leaves kidney shaped, pubescent on both sides, with long, round, hairy petioles. Flower solitary, growing from the fork of the stem, on a pendulous hairy pedunele. Ca- WILD GINGER. 154 lyx very hairy or woolly, consisting of three broad, concave leafets, which are mostly of a brownish or dull purple on the inside at top and bottom, and terminated by a long, spreading, inflected point, with reflexed sides. The colour varies greatly according to the amount of light which the plant enjoys, being sometimes nearly green. Stamens twelve, inserted on the germ at a dis- tance from the calyx, the alternate ones longer. Anthers growing to the filaments below their ex- tremity. Near the divisions of the calyx are three short, curved, filamentary substances, which may perhaps be called nectaries. Germ inferior, somewhat hexagonal, marked at top inside with a dark red line; style conical, striate, parted at top— into six recurved, radiating stigmas. The root of the Asarum has an agreeable aro- matic taste, which is intermediate between that of ginger and the aristolochia serpentaria. This quality has given it the names of Wild ginger and Snake root in different sections of the country. The name Colt’s foot is also applied to it. The chemical trials, to which I have subjected the root, bring to view the following substances :— 4. A light coloured, pungent, volatile oil, possess- ing the characteristic taste and smell of the plant in a high degree. 2. A resin, which is of a red- 20 152 ASARUM CANADENSE, dish colour and very bitter. These two constitu- ents communicate to alcohol the active properties of the plant. 3. Feeula. 4. A gummy mucus. These exist in such quantities as to impede the filtration of the decoction. Astringency hardly exists in this root, as a gelatinous solution gave no evidence of tannin, and the sulphate of iron pro- duced a green colour hardly bordering on bJack. It has been asserted, and the statement copied from one book to another, that the Asarum Cana- dense is a powerful emetic. I presume that sub- sequent writers have taken their opinion from _ Cornutus, who, in his plants of Canada, informs us, that two spoonfuls of the juice of the leaves of the Asarum, ( meaning the European plant, rather than the American,) are found to evacuate the stomach powerfully. I can hardly doubt, that if such an operation has really been produced from the Canadian species, it must have taken place in irritable stomachs, to whom two spoonfuls of any crude vegetable juice would have proved emetic. Having seen the root of this plant used in the country in considerable quantities as a sudorific, I was long since induced to doubt its. emetic power. Subsequent experience has satis- fied me that the freshly powdered root, given to the extent of half'a drachm, and probably in still WILD GINGER. 453 larger quantity, excites no yomiting nor even nausea. ; Still however the plant deserves not to be dis- carded from use. The aromatic flayour of the root is more agreeable than that of the aristolochia serpentaria, which article it seems to resemble in its medicinal powers. Several country prac- titioners, who have employed it, have spoken to me favourably of its effect, as a warm stimulant and diaphoretic. As a substitute for ginger, in common domestic use, I know of no indigenous ‘ article which promises so fairly as this. Alcohol is the proper solvent for the active properties of this plant. The tincture has a dark red colour, and a highly concentrated taste of the root. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. © Asarum Canadense, Liv. Sp. pl.—Micnavx, i. 279.—Pursn, ii. 596.—Asarum foliis reniformibus, mucronatis, binis, Grono- vius, 72.—Asaron Canadense, CornuTus, Canad. 24, t. 25.— Asaron Americanum, PARKINSON, theatr. 266. * “MEDICAL REFERENCES, - Scna@rr, 72.—Barr. coll. 26, 48.—Coxe, Disp. 368. 154 ASARUM CANADENSE. PLATE XV. Fig. 1. Asarum Canadense. Fig. 2. The germ with the stamens and nectareous filaments. Fig. 3. A petal. Fig. 4. 4 stamen a litile magnified. Fig. 5. Style and stigmas magnified. IRIS VERSICOLOR. Blue Flag, or Flower de luce. PLATE XVI. Is the Hortus Elthamensis, published by John J. Dillenius in 1732, there are figures of two plants under the name of “ Iris Americana versi- color,” the one with an entire, the other with a crenate style. To one of these, the plant repre- sented in our plate apparently belongs. This plant however is so subject to variation in the colour of its flowers, the erenatures and direction of its stigmas, Se. that it has received from differ- ent botanists dissimilar names. The Linnean characters of Iris versicolor and Virginica are hardly sufficient to distinguish them from each other. Our plant is the Iris yersicolor of Muh- lenburgh’s catalogue, by his own declaration. In the character of its stem however, it agrees equally well with Iris virginica of Linnzeus and Michaux. It may be doubted whether the plant figured in 456 IRIS VERSICOLOR. the Botanical Magazine, f. '703, is more than a va- riety of this species. ‘The characters taken from the comparative length of the stem and leaves, of the inner petals and stigmas, and the direction of the stem and of the stigmas ; are all subject to variation. Michaux, Elliott and Pursh make the Virginica synonymous with Iris hexagona of Wal- ter, which seems permanently distinguished by the deep furrows in the angles of its capsule. The Iris versicolor is found throughout the United States in the borders of swamps and in wet meadows, of which it forms a principal orna- ment in the month of June. No race of vegeta- bles can be better marked than the elegant genus to which this plant belongs. They are essential- ly distinguished by a corolla, parted into sia seg- ments or petals, of which three are reflexed and three are erect. The stigmas resembling petals. The species in our plate has ensiform leaves, its stem acute on one side, its capsules elon: three sided, with obtuse. angles, | oy: pes Class Triandria,—Order Monogynia. —Natur- all orders, Ensate, Lin. Ivides, Juss. .¢4.4c20.. The root is fleshy, horizontal, sending risen a multitude of fibres. Stem two or three feet high, round on one side, acute on the other, frequently branched, and bearing from two to six flowers. BLUE FLAG. 457 Leaves sword shaped, striated, sheathing at base. Bractes becoming scarious. Peduncles of various length, flattened on the inside. Germ three cor- nered, with flat sides and obtuse angles. Outer petals of the flower spatulate, beardless, the bor- der purple, the claw variegated with green, yel- low and white, and veined with purple. Inner petals erect, varying in shape from spatulate to lanceolate, usually paler than the outer, entire or emarginate. Style short, concealed ; stigmas three, petal-form, purple or violet, resting on the outer petals, their extremeties bifid, crenate, and more or less reflexed ; their lower lip short. Stamens concealed under the stigmas, with oblong-linear anthers. Capsule three celled, three valved; when ripe, oblong, turgid, three sided, with round- ish angles. Seeds numerous, flat. The young leaves of this and some other spe- cies of Iris, afford an excellent view of the spiral filament, which lines the sap vessels of the leaf. If a leaf, which has just emerged from the ground, be carefully broken across, and the segments gradually drawn asunder, these fine filaments will unroll themselves, and their spiral structure: be- come very obvious to the microscope. Ze The root of the Iris versicolor has a nauseous taste, and when swallowed or held in the mouth, 158 IRIS VERSICOLOR, eyen in small quantities, it leaves behind a pow- erful sense of heat and acrimony in the fauces. Its most active chemical constituent appears to be a resin, which separates in the form of a white precipitate, when water is added to the alcoholic solution. The decoction suffers little or no change with alcohol, gelatin or salts of iron. Mu- riate of tin affects it slightly, the nitrate of mer- eury more abundantly. Its taste is much weaker than that of the tincture. Water distilled from the root has a highly nauseous taste and odour. The root:of the Iris versicolor given medicin- ally is ‘an active cathartic. Mr. William Bartram, in his travels in Georgia and Florida, informs us, that on his arrival at Ottasse, an Indian town on the Tallapoose, he found the natives “ fasting, tak- ing medicine, and praying, to avert a grevious ca- lamity of sickness which had lately afflicted them, and laid in the grave abundance of their citizens. The first seven or eight days, during which time they eat or drink nothing, but a meagre gruel made of alittle corn-flour and water ; taking at the same time, by way of medicine or physic, a strong decoction of the roots of the Iris versicolor, which is a powerful cathartic. They hold this root in high estimation, and every town cultivates a little plantation of it, having a large artificial BLUE FLAG. 459 pond just without the town, planted and almost overgrown with it.” , | Having myself formerly made use of this root in dispensary practice, I can bear testimony to its efficacy as a medicine, though not altogether to its convenience. A small quantity of the re- cent root, or a few grains of the root newly dried, are generally certain and active in their operation on the bowels. They are however apt to occasion a distressing nausea like sea sickness, with a pros- tration of strength of some hours’ continuance ; so that I think the plant will not be like to come into favor as a cathartic, at least when better ones are at hand. ‘The activity of this article is dimin- ished by age. : The stimulating properties of the Tris render it capable of exciting many of the secretions, as well as excretions. But I know of no purpose for which it seems better calculated, than that of a diuretic. The late Dr. Macbride of Carolina as- sured me, that he had found great benefit in drop- sical affections from a decoction of the roots of this plant in combination with those of Eryngium yue- cifolium. In consequence of his recommenda- tion, I administered the tineture of the Iris in small doses to several persons affected. with ana- sarca and with hydrothorax. It was evidently of 24 460 IRIS VERSICOLOR. service to a majority of those who took it, for a cer- tain time. That it did not always cure the dis- ease, is areproach which it must divide with diuret- ic remedies of much older celebrity. The Iris gracilis, a species described in the Florula Bostoniensis, the Iris pseudacorus of Eu- rope, and several others of the genus, appear to possess properties very similar to those of the plant described. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Iris versicolor, Lin. Sp. pl.—Dinuentus, Elth. t. 155.— Curris, Bot. Mag. t. 21, a variety—Pursn, i, 29. —ELiorr, Car.i. 45. Waurer, Car. 67. MEDICAL REFERENCES, Bartram, travels, 454, Lond. edit—CwurierR, Mem. ‘Amer. Acad. 405—6.—Macsring, in Elliott’s Car. i, 45. PLATE XVI. Fig. 1. Tris versicolor. Fig. 2. Style and stigmas with a stamen. Ch Pte. s fete ANIA 106: “ x Me, oe HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. Henbane. PLATE XVII.* Tiere is little doubt that the Hyoscyamus of this country is an imported plant. It is yet rare in most parts of the country, and appears to be strictly limited to the bounds of cultivation. Its seeds are very tenacious of life, and will spring up under favourable circumstances, after having been dormant for a long time. Hence the plant occa- sionally appears in old grounds which have been newly disturbed, as in grave yards, old gardens and cellars. About ten years since, a drain, which intersects the common in Boston, was opened for the purpose of repairs. In the following season a distinct row of very luxuriant plants of Henbane covered the whole of this drain, although none of them had been observed to grow in the vicinity * For the drawing which accompanies this article, I am indebted to Dr. S. Bass of Salem. 162 HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. the preceding year. The seeds, which produced these plants, had probably been buried for more than fifteen years. This species, together with others of its genus, was well known to the ancients under the same fame which it now bears. Its medicinal and deleterious properties were also understood by them. In modern arrangements the Hyoscyamus in common with Datura, Atropa and other injurious vegetables of its kindred, is found in the class and order Pentandria Monogynia, and the natural or-— der Luride. Its Jussicuean order is Solanew.o/( In. this genus the corolla is funnel shaped = and obtuse, the stamens inclined, the capsule two celled and covered with a lid. The present species has the lower leaves sinu- ated and clasping, and the flowers sessile. It is biennial and flowers in June and July. The whole herb has a glaucous or sea green colour, is hairy and viscid, and emits a rank, offen- sive smell. The stalk is one or two feet high, round, branching and rigid. The first leaves spread upon the ground, and have some. re- semblance to a young thistle. They are large, _ oblong, frequently contorted, clasping, cut into HENBANE. 463 acute lobes, and pointed ; the upper ones general- ly entire. The flowers form a revolute, one sided spike at the end of the stem or branch, leaving, as they fall off, a straight row of capsules. The calyx has five short acute segments. ‘The corolla is funnel shaped, irregular, with five spreading, obtuse seg- ments, of a pale yellow or straw colour, with a beautiful net work of purple veins. Stamens in- serted in the tube of the corolla, with large oblong anthers. Style slender, longer than the stamens, declined, with an obtuse stigma. Capsule two celled, roundish, covered with a lid, and invested with the persistent calyx, the segments of which extend beyond the calyx, and become rigid and prickly. The seeds are numerous, small, unequal, brownish, and are mois ges the Been! separation of the lid, . From such chemical seo enet as I have- made with the dried leaves of the Hyoseyamus, I am inclined to believe, that their chief soluble portion is a variety of extractive matter. The watery and alcoholic solutions do not disturb each other, and the usual tests of tannin produce in-— considerable, or no alteration in either. Of yari- ous metallic salts which affected the solutions, the 164: HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. nitrate of mercury gave the largest: ete in. my experiments. The Hyoseyamus has long been iba as a narcotic poison. This character it uniformly ex- erts in regard to mankind, although many brute animals are exempt from its influence.* Diosco- rides speaks of it as producing drowsiness and de- * Horses, goats, sheep and swine are said to eat it without inju- ry. Brute animals are frequently less susceptible of the influence of poisons than mankind. In the experiments which have been made’ on them to test the effect of doubtful medicines, the positive evidences of activity which they furnish, are in general more to be depended on, than the negative. That is, if an animal suffers from the action of any substance, a man would be like to suffer somewhat in the same way. Yet if the animal escapes with impunity, it does not fol- low that the man would be equaily fortunate. ‘There is scarcely any narcotic plant which is not devoured by some species of quadruped. Professor Pallas has stated, that the hedgehog can devour Cantharides by hundreds without inconvenience, whereas one of these insects may occasion serious trouble to a man. . The following case happened un- der my own observation. A large eagle, ( Falco ossifragus, ) intend- ed for a cabinet of natural history, was subjected to a variety of ex- eriments, with a view to destroy him without injuring his plumage. A number of mineral poisons were ‘successively given him without effect, even in large doses. At length a drachm of corrosive subli- mate of mercury was inclosed in a small fish and given him to eat. After swallowing the whole of this, he continued, to appearance, per- fectly well and free from inconvenience. The next day an equal quantity of arsenic was given him without any better success. So that in the end, the refractory bird was obliged to be put to death by mechanical means. HENBANE, © 165 . 'The instances recorded of deleterious conse- quences, ensuing from the Hyoscyamus incau- tiously taken, are exceedingly numerous. In a number of cases the roots have been introduced. by mistake among culinary vegetables, and have occasioned alarming symptoms in whole families at once. Ina case cited by Wepfer, the monks of a whole monastery, in consequence of some roots being boiled among those of chicory with their food, were seized with raving delirium, ac- companied by intense thirst, impaired vision and other violent affections. Dr. Patouillat has re- corded in the Philosophical Transactions, vol. 40, the case of nine persons, who were affected with loss of speech, convulsions, and at length with vi- olent delirium. These symptoms subsided on the subsequent day, when it was found that some roots of Henbane had been dug up in the garden the preceding day by mistake for parsnips, and boiled in the soup on which the family had dined. Sir Hans Sloane, in the same Transactions for 4733, has given an instance of effects equally dan- gerous, occurring in some children who ate the capsules of this plant, supposing them to be fil- berds. Even the odour of this noxious vegetable seems capable of exciting its characteristic ef- fects. In a case cited by Murray from the 166 HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. Gazette de Sante of 1773—4, some servants who slept in a barn, where the Henbane had been scattered for a defense against rats, awoke, with head-ach, dizziness and yomiting. In instances where death has ensued from swallowing this plant, the stomach has been found to exhibit marks of inflammation, and dark or gangrenous spots. The principal use which is made of Hyoseya- mus in medicine, is as a substitute for opium, in cases where that article disagrees with the pa- tient, or is contraindicated by particular symp- toms. It appears to be free from the constipat- ing qualities of opium, and in some instances it is found to fulfil the indications which call for an anodyne and soporific remarkably well. Among medical writers who have spoken favourably of its operation are Dr. Whytt, who employed it in ya- rious neryous diseases, and Mr. Burns, author of different obstetric works, by whom it is recom- mended as preferable to opium in certain puer- peral complaints. Mr. Benjamin Bell states, that he found great advantage from its use in trouble- some cases of chordee, after opium had failed to give relief. It must be acknowledged however, that Hyos- eyamus is far less uniform and equal in its opera- HENBANE. 467 tion than opium, and that although in some con- stitutions it mitigates pain, quiets irritation, and procures sleep; yet in others it produces un- pleasant nausea, confusion of ideas, head-ach, and sleep which is laborious and unrefreshing. It is rather a secondary medicine, to be resorted to af- ter the failure of opium, than one which we may confidently apply to at first, with reliance on its anodyne effects. The Henbane was found efficacious in the dis- ease of colica pictorum by Stoll and several others. Its external application in the form of a cata- plasm of the bruised leaves has given relief in va- rious tumors and painful affections. For internal use the extract should be prepar- ed in the same way as that of stramonium. From one to three grains of this extract is a suitable commencing dose, which may be gradually in- creased until its effects are perceived. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Hyoscyamus niger, Linn. Sp. pl.—WooDvIL1E, i. t. 52.— Smairu, Engl. Bol. t. 591.—Pursn, i. 141.—Hyoscyamus flavus, Fucustvs, Hist. 791.—Hyoscyamus vulgaris, BAUHIN, J. ili, 627. MEDICAL REFERENCES. Srout, ratio med. iii. 13, 423.—CULLEN, Mat. Med. ii. 271. Foruerciit, Med. Soc. Lond. i. 310.—Home, clinical exp’ts, 22 168 HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 197.—WitHeErinG, Med. Comment. Dec. II, vie 367.—Ki1NG- LAKE, Lond. Med. and Phys. Journal, v. 438.—Brown, ditto, iii. 406.—Murray. App. Med. i. 655, &c. &c. PLATE XVII. Fig. 1. Hyoscyamus niger. Fig. 2. Corolla laid open. Fig. 3. Calyx. Fig. 4. Calyx of the fruit laid open to shew the capsule within it. Sen i tea SI ae aiathaneere cmt c en COPIA POT a PUMA PIC Ag? _ SOLANUM DULCAMARA. Bitter sweet. PLATE XVII. Waerner the plant represented in our plate is originally of American growth, or has been in- troduced since the discovery of this continent, it is now difficult to say. It is certainly a hardy vegetable, and although its natural soil is at the water side, yet it easily becomes habituated to shady, fertile ground of almost any elevation. The most luxuriant specimens are found about brooks and ditches and in sheltered situations, where the roots have free access to water. In these places the stalks frequently extend some way on the surface, sending down a multitude of radicles into the mud below. When the plant grows in higher ground and more exposed to the light, its growth is restricted, and the flowers are less bril- liant in colour. | | 170 SOLANUM DULCAMARA. The names of Bitter sweet and Woody nighi- shade are the most frequent English appellations of this vegetable. The former of these is also ap- plied to the Celastrus scandens, a very different plant. The frequent changes which always take place in the application of yulgar names, renders a reliance on them unsafe, and indeed makes it useless to collect or preserve more than a few of the principal ones. The genus Solanum is remarkable for the great variety and almost opposite character which takes place among its species. The common Po- tatoe, the Egg plant, the Tomato, the Jerusalem cherry, and the Black nightshade, are all species of this multiform genus. The common character which binds them together, consists in a rotate corolla ; the anthers cohering, with a double open- ing at top; the berry two celled. The species Dulcamara is distinguished from others by its stem, which is shrubby ; unarmed and flexuous ; its leaves auriculated ; and its panicles resembling cymes. ; Class Pentandria.—Order Monogynia,—Natu- ral orders Luride, Linn. Solanew, Juss. § /+ ace _ The Bitter sweet is entitled to the character of a vine rather than shrub. The stem is woody, slender, climbing in large plants to the height of (Ly artAay: BITTER SWEET. 174 five or six feet. Leaves petioled, ovate, acute, en- tire, furnished at the base with two appendages, which give them somewhat of'a hastate form. The lower and upper leaves are frequently without these appendages. The flowers form a loose, nod- ding cluster or panicle, shaped like a eyme, and taking its origin opposite to a leaf. Calyx of five short, purplish, persistent segments. Corolla ro- tate, becoming reflexed as it grows old, divided in- to five acute segments, which are purple, and marked with two whitish dots at the base of each. The filaments are much shorter than the anthers, and inserted in the short tube of the corolla. An- thers yellow, erect, cohering, so as to form a con- ical tube around the style. Germ oval; style longer than the stamens; stigma simple. The berries are oval, of a bright scarlet colour, and continue to hang in bunches after the leayes have fallen. | The taste and smell of the Dulcamara are less nauseous than those of many other species of So- lanum. Water seems a perfect solvent for its most sensible constituents. The chief soluble portion seems to be a kind of mucous extractive, which is taken up by both water and aleobol, though most by the former. The nitrate of mer- cury and muriate of tin, gave precipitates from 472 SOLANUM DULCAMARA. both, though most from the water. The chemic- al evidences of astringency were very slight. From the experiments of Hartmann and Kuhn, cited by Murray, we may infer that water is a better solvent for this plant than alcohol. An ounce of the twigs or stalks treated with alcohol afforded two drachms and two scruples of extract. The same quantity treated with water gaye three drachms and. thirty five grains. The Solanum duleamara has formerly receiy- ed the commendations of many authors, some of whose names are of high authority in medicine. The diseases in which it has acquired confidence, are chronic rheumatism, gout, secondary syphilis, incipient phthisis,’ asthma, jaundice. But what- ever may be its efficacy in these complaints, it has in modern practice given place to more active medicines. Its most permanent and merited rep- utation at the present day, is deriyed from its ap- plication to external complaints, and particularly to cutaneous diseases. In dissertations upon the properties of this plant by Linneus and by Car- rere, its use is highly commended in herpes, in scabies, and in some of the secondary forms of syphilis. Professor Murray has added his own testimony to that of these writers, and speaks de- BITTER SWEET. 4173 cisively of his success with it in cutaneous diseas- -es of an inveterate character. z In the more recent and splendid works of Willan and Bateman on Diseases of the Skin, we find some important testimony of the efficacy of the Duleamara in cutaneous affections. ‘The former of these authors has inserted in his work a letter of Dr. Crichton, physician to the West- minster hospital, who had employed the article for a considerable number of years. This gen- tleman states, that out of twenty three cases of Lepra Grecorum, in which he had used it, two only had resisted its action. He does not assert that it is equally efficacious in other cutaneous diseases, although it had appeared to him to do good in psoriasis and pityriasis. His mode of employing it was as follows : Take of stalks of Duleamara, one ounce ; wa- ter, a pound and a half; boil to a pound, and strain when cold. Of this decoction the patient took two ounces at first, morning, noon and night, but the quan- tity was afterwards increased, until it amounted to a pint per day. At the same time the skin was ordered to be washed with a stronger decoction. which proved an auxiliary to the cure. Dr. Crichton found that in delicate people and hyster- 174 SOLANUM DULCAMARA. ical women, it often produced syncope and slight palpitation of the heart, now and then nausea and > giddiness. But if the dose was diminished, or any aromatic tincture added, it ceased to produce uneasy symptoms. The good effects of the rem- edy were seldom perceived until after the first eight days. Dr. Bateman considers, that “one of the most effectual remedies for lepra under all its varieties is the decoction of the leaves and twigs of the So- lanum dulcamara.” Ue administers it in the same way with that just described. “When,” says he, “there is a degree of torpor in the super- ficial vessels, the same decoction made with a larger proportion of the shrub, is advantageously employed as a lotion; but if there is any inflam- matory disposition, this and every other external stimulus must be prohibited.” I have employed the Bitter sweet, both in sub- stance and in decoction in a number of cutaneous affections. It appears to be a valuable auxiliary to mereury in the treatment of syphilitic erup- tions. I haye also known herpetic eruptions to yield to its internal and external use. The Amer- ican plant however, when gathered in full vigour, does not set easily on the stomach in large doses. { have known vomiting produced by a few grains BITTER SWEET. — 475 of the powdered leaves, and by a small cup of the decoction. The strength of the plant seems to vary in some degree with the time of gather- ing, and mode of preserving. Dr. Cullen found different parcels of the article to exhibit yery dif- ferent degrees of strength. Writers are not agreed as to its immediate effects on the head and stomach, probably from the different age and con- dition of the medicine employed by them. From my own observation I am induced to consider the appearance of slight narcotic symptoms, as an ey- idence of the goodness of the medicine, and as a criterion for regulating the dose. The formula of Dr. Crichton for the decoction appears to be a good one, but in the case of delicate constitutions, the commencing dose should not exceed an ounce, which may be afterwards increased according to ‘circumstances. The addition of a little cinna- mon renders the decoction less apt to offend the stomach. a | BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Solanum dulcamara, Linn avs, Sp. pl.—WoopviL.1E, t. 33.— Smrrn, Engl. Bot. t. 565 .—Pursn, i, 156.—Solanum scandens, seu dulcamara.—Tournerort, a 43. ee sive amaradulcis, J. BAUHIN, ii. 109. ee 23 176 SOLANUM DULCAMARA. MEDICAL REFERENCES: BooerRHAAVE, Hist. hort. L. B. 506.—L1inN=US, Ameen, Acad. iv. 39, and viii. 62.—Murray, App. med. 603.—CArrEeRE, sur fa Douce-amere, 1780, and in Med. and Phys. Journal, i. 307.— CuLten, Mat. Med. ii. 554—W1.an, on Cutaneous diseases, 145. —BaTEMAN, on ditto, 35.—OnFima, des poisons, 192: PLATE XVIII. Fig. 1. Solanwm dulcamara. Fig. 2. Corolla. Fig. 3. Tube of anthers laid open. Fig. 4. Stamen, Fig. 5. Calyx and pistil. —Leotela Anflala er rm P ve 3 f 4 od LOBELIA INFLATA. Indian tobacco. PLATE XTX. In the United States there are many species of Lobelia, which are interesting for their beauty, singularity or use. We have few plants more elegant than the cardinal flower, and few more ; curious in structure than the Lobelia Dortmanna. In medicinal powers, the subject of this article is entitled to take precedence of the rest. It is an annual plant, found in fields and road sides, from Canada to the southern states. It flowers from — ~ midsummer until the arrival of frosts. The genus Lobelia has a five cleft calyx ; a monopetalous, irregular corolla, with a cleft tube ; _ the anthers cohering ; the capsule two or three —eelled. ; — The species inflata is branching and hairy, with ovate, serrate leaves, and turgid capsules. , 176 : LOBELIA INFLATA. ‘The connexion of the anthers into a tube has caused some ambiguity and difference of opinion, as to the place which this genus should occupy, ‘in the Linnean system. Linneus placed it in his order Monogamia of the class Syngenesia. Most of our late botanists have very properly remoy- ed the plants: of this order from the compound flowers, with which they have no natural affinity, to Pentandria, which place their number of sta- mens authorizes them to occupy. Pursh has pla- ced the Lobelias under Monadelphia. The Nat- ural order which contains them is the. pane: Ragen of Linneeus and | Sussiond fet seem O/ ‘ j Ans JA The Lobelia inflata varies in height from six / facdivs to two or three feet. The small plants are nearly simple, the large ones much branched, Root fibrous. Stem erect, in the full sized plant much branched, angular, very hairy. Leaves scattered, sessile, oval, serrate, veiny and hairy. Flowers in spikes or racemes, pedunculated, each one in the axil of a small leaf. Segments of the © calyx linear, acute, standing on the germ, which is oval and striated. Corolla bluish purple, the tube prismatic and cleft aboye, the segments spreading, acute, the two upper ones lanceolate, the three lower ones oyal. Anthers collected in- to an oblong, curved body, purple ; filaments INDIAN TOBACCO, 179 white. Style filiform ; stigma curved and inclos- ed by the anthers. Capsules two celled, turgid, oval, compressed, ten angled, covered with the ca- lyx. Seeds numerous, small, oblong, brown. The Lobelia inflata when broken, emits a nulky juice. When chewed, it communicates to the mouth a burning, acrimonious sensation, not un- like the taste of green tobacco. It exhibits the following noticeable ingredients upon chemical examination. 4. An aerid principle. ‘This is ev- ident to the taste in the tincture, decoction, and distilled water. 2. Caoutchouc. Sulphuric ether dissolves more of. the plant than alcohol, and ac- quires a higher colour. The solution in alcohol is scarcely rendered. turbid by water, that in ether is disturbed by alcohol, and grows thick as the ether evaporates. 3. Extractive. No gummy or astringent qualities were manifested in my exper- when tiie Greet eRe pest ag cheered ae The great acrimony of the leaves and capsules, combined with a narcotic property, appears to be the foundation of their medicinal power. Dr. Cutler informs us, that if the leaves be held for some time in the mouth, they produce giddiness and pain in the heatl, witha trembling agitation of the whole body, and at length bring on nausea and vomiting. These effects are analagous to # 180 LOBELIA INFLATA. those, which the chewing or smoking of tobaccs occasions in persons unaccustomed to its use. When_ swallowed in substance, it exeites very speedy vomiting, accompanied with distressing and long continued sickness, and even with dan- gerous symptoms, if the dose be large. A melan- choly instance of death, occasioned by the use of this plant, in the hands of a quack, is detailed in the sixth volume of the Massachusetts Reports, in the trial of Samuel Thomson, an empiric practising in Beverly, for the murder of Ezra Lovett. In this trial it appeared, that the patient, being con- fined by a cold, sent for the pretended physician, who gaye him three powders of Lobelia in the course of half an hour, each of which yomited him violently, and left him in a great perspiration during the night. The next day two more pow- ders were administered, each of which operated by vomiting and occasioned great distress. In like manner two other powders were given. the subsequent day, leaving the patient in a state of great prostration. _ Several days after this, the physician came again, and finding his patient still worse, administered: several more powders, which occasioned great distress, and at length ceased to operate. Finding that the stomach was not sensible to the emetic effect of the Lobelia, INDIAN TOBACCO. 484 the physician repeated the dose, and when the pa- tient complained of great distress at the breast and said he was dying, the doctor assured him the medicine would soon get down, or operate as a ca- thartic. However, on the same evening, the pa- tient lost his reason and became convulsed, so that two men were required to hold him. To relieve which, the doctor forced down two more of his powders, and the patient, as was to be expected, grew worse, and. continued so until he expired. The doctor, who had thus terminated the dis- ease and the patient at once, was arrested and put upon trial for murder ; but the homicide proving a legitimate one from the want of sufficient evi- dence of malice propense, he was acquitted and set at liberty. etiad. 24s From the violence of its effects, and the dis- tressing nausea which it occasions, it is probable that the Lobelia will never come into use for the common purposes of an emetic, while other emet- ies can be obtained. It has however been found to exert a beneficial influence on particular diseas- es, and on this account is entitled to a place im the Materia Medica. Dr. Cutler, and a number of physicians in Essex county and elsewhere, have found benefit from its use in asthma, some in dos- es of a table spoonful of the saturated tincture, 182 LOBELIA INFLATA. others in doses of a teaspoonful. Indeed the for- mer dose appears to be a very large one, and greater than most stomachs would bear with im- punity. I have tried this medicine in several . cases of asthma with some advantage. It has not however in general succeeded in affording re- lief of the paroxysm, until full vomiting was pro- duced, which effect, with me, has happened after taking one or two teaspoonfuls. A communication from Dr. Cutler, on the op- eration of this plant, is inserted in Dr. Thacher’s Dispensatory. The venerable writer having him- self suffered from asthma for ten years, had, dur- ing the paroxysms, resorted to many medicines for relief, without experiencing much benefit from any. He was at length induced to make trial of a tincture, prepared by himself from the Lobelia inflata. “In a paroxysm,” says he, “which per- haps was as severe as I had ever experienced ; the difficulty of breathing extreme, and after it had continued for a considerable time, I took a ta- ble spoonful. In three or four minutes my breath- ing was as free as it ever was, but I felt no nau- sea at the stomach. In ten minutes I took anoth- er spoonful, which occasionéd sickness. After ten minutes I took a third, which produced sensi- ble effects upon the coats of the stomach, and a INDIAN TOBACCO. 483 very little moderate puking, and a kind of prickly sensation through the whole system, even to the extremities of the fingers and toes. But all these sensations very soon subsided, and a vigour seemed to be restored to the constitution, which I had not experienced for years. 1 haye not since had a paroxysm, and only a few times some small symptoms of asthma. Besides the violent at- tacks, I had scarcely passed a night without more or less of it, and often so as not to be able to lie in bed. Since that time I have enjoyed as good health, as perhaps before the first attack.” Dr. Cutler considers his disease to be what Dr. Bree in his “ Practical inquiries on disorder- ed respiration” calls the first species, “an asthma from pulmonic irritation of effused serum.” | Dr. Randall informs me, that he has given the Lobelia to many persons of different ages suffer- ing from asthma and eatarrh, and with considera- ble variation in the form and degree of the dose. In asthma he finds it as successful as any article he has tried. When given in doses of a drachm of the saturated tincture, and two or three times repeated at conyenient intervals ; also in the form of other preparations of similar strength, he has found it usually to remove the paroxysm in a short time, and to restore the patient to qui- 24 184 LOBELIA INFLATA. etude and ease. In eatarrh, when given in small doses and frequently repeated, it has op- erated as a sure and speedy expectorant, pro- ducing effects in their most important character, very similar to those of antimony and squills. Dr. Randall has not observed any narcotic effect to ensue from moderate doses, nor found it to pro- duce irritation'of the coats of the bladder, as has been suggested by some practitioners. In_ his hands it has not produced any more unpleasant consequence than frequent nausea, and occasional emesis, with a copious flow from the glands of the mouth. | cere) Bradstreet of Newburyport aequaints me, that besides asthmatic cases, he has given the sat- urated tineture in two or three instances of dys- pepsia, also in some cases of a rheumatic nature with beneficial consequences. He considers its sensible effects to be very like those of common tobaceo, but its medicinal action more speedy and diffusible, and of shorter duration. He thinks that it affects those accus- tomed to the use of tobacco as readily as others. The Lobelia has been recommended as a rem- edy in hooping cough and croup. In the former of these complaints, I can say nothing of its use from experience, but in the latter disease I am INDIAN TOBACCO. 185 persuaded, it affords no benefit, having seen it largely tried by different practitioners in a number of fatal cases, where it only produced a distress- ing nausea, without, in any degree, facilitating the respiration, or relieving the disease. The active properties of the Lobelia are readi- ly extracted both by water and aleohol. The tine- ture however is most easily kept, and is the most convenient form for exhibition. The Essex dis- trict medical society have recommended a formu- la for this composition, which directs two ounces of the dried plant to be digested in a pint of di- luted alcohol. Of this tincture, a teaspoonful giv- en to an adult, will generally produce nausea, and sometimes vomiting. In certain instances how- ever, much larger doses have been given, without producing any other effect than a flow of saliva. BOTANICAL REFERENCES, Lobelia inflata, Lin. Sp. pl.—Acr. Upsal. 1741, p. 23, t. 1.— Gronovius, Virg. 134.—Wrixp. Sp. pl. i, 946.—MicHavx, ii. 142,—P urs, ii, 448. MEDICAL REFERENCES. ~ Currier, Mem. Amer. Acad. i. 484.—ScnmPF, 128.—BarT. Col. 36, 56.—TnacuEer, Disp. 267.— Massachusetts Reports, vol. Vie 486 LOBELIA INFLATA. PLATE XIX. Fig. 1. Lobelia inflata. Fig. 2. Corolla with the stamens projecting from the cleft in the upper side. Fig. 3. Capsule cut across. SOLIDAGO ODORA. Sweet scented Golden rod. PLATE XX. No part of vegetation in the United States is so conspicuous and gaudy in the autumnal months, and at the same time furnishes to the botanist so difficult a task of discrimination, as the multitu- dinous and Protean genera Solidago and Aster. Each of these genera contains many well defined species, sufficiently marked by their external characters, sensible qualities, habits and places of growth. But between them, is a great multitude of subspecies, liable to variation from external circumstances, changing their appearance with their places of growth, and running together by so many points of resemblance, that it is a labour yet remaining for botanists to separate those species which are in nature distinet, from those which are varieties only. 188 SOLIDAGO ODORA. The genus Solidago is characterized by a na- ked receptacle, the down simple, rays of the corolla about five, scales of the calyx imbricated and close. It is a very natural genus, easily distinguished at sight by its crowded tufts of compound flowers, which are almost always of a deep golden yellow.* The species odora has its stem nearly smooth, leaves linear-lanceolate, entire, smooth, with a- rough margin, and covered with pellucid dots. Racemes panicled, one sided, Class Syngenesiq.—Order Superflua,—Natural orders Composite, Lin. | Corymbiferw, Juss. The sweet scented Golden rod grows in woods wilh fields throughout the United States, and flow- ers in September. It has a smooth appearance, and is among the smaller species of its family. The root is woody, much branched and creeping. Stem slender, from two to three feet high, smooth or slightly pubescent below, pubescent at top. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, closely sessile, broad at base, entire, acute, with only the midrib distinct, rough at the margin but otherwise smooth, and coyered with pellucid dots, like Hy- pericum perforatum. The flowers grow in a com- pound, panicled raceme, with each of its branches ”* The only exception which I now recollect is Solidago bicolor, _ whose ray is white. SWEET SCENTED GOLDEN ROD. 189 supported by a small leaf. These branches or peduncles are very slender and rigid, each giving off a row of ascending, downy pedicels, with small, linear bractes at their bases. Scales of the calyx oblong, acute, smooth, or slightly pubescent, the lower ones shorter and closely. imbricating the rest. F'lorets of the ray few, with oblong, obtuse, ligules. Those of the dise funnel shaped, with acute segments. Down simple to the naked eye, feathery under the microscope. Seeds oblong. — This plant is the Solidago odora of Muhlen- berg, and agrees with the character of Aiton. The Solidago odora of Michaux is possibly a differ- ent species. Willdenow’s plant was undoubtedly different. The folia puncticulosa, which. consti- tutes so distinet a mark in this’ — T wai not seen noticed by any botanist. — bieOGeA _ The leaves of the Solidago odora have a dougie fully fragrant odour, partaking of that of anise and. sassafras, but different from either. When sub- jected to distillation, a volatile oil, possessing the taste and aroma of the plant in a high degree, col- lects in the receiver. ‘This oil apparently has its residence in the transparent cells, which consti- tute the dotting of the leaves, for the root is whol- ly destitute of the peculiar fragrance of the herb, and has rather a nauseous taste. This is contra- 490 SOLIDAGO ODORA. ry to the remark of Willdenow, who informs us that the root is the fragrant part possessing the scent of Geum urbanum, As the volatile oil appears to possess all the medicinal yalue of this plant, I have not prosecut- ed its chemical investigation any farther. The claims of the Solidago to stand as an ar- ticle of the Materia Medica are of a humble, but not despicable kind. We import and consume many foreign drugs which possess no yirtue be- yond that of being aromatic, pleasant to the taste, gently stimulant, diaphoretic and carminative. All these properties the Golden rod seems fully to possess. An essence made by dissolving the es- sential oil in proof spirit, is used in the eastern states as a remedy in complaints, arising from flat- ulence, and as a vehicle for unpleasant medicines of various kinds. I have employed it to allay vomiting, and to relieve spasmodic pains in the stomach of the milder kind, with satisfactory sue- cess. From its pleasant flavour, it serves to cover the taste of laudanum, eastor oil, and other med- icines, whose disagreeable taste causes them to be rejected by delicate and irritable stomachs. Mr. Pursh informs us, that this plant when dried, is used in some parts of the United States as an agreeable substitute for tea. He further states, GOLDEN ROD. 494 that it has for some time been an article of ex- portation to China, where it fetches a high price. BOTANICAL REFERENCES. Solidago odora, Arron, Hort. Kew. iii. 214.—Pursn, ii. 539. —Virga Aurea Americana, Tarraconis facie et sapore, panicu- la speciosissima? PLUKENET, Alm, 389, t. 116,f. 6. PLATE XX. Fig. 1. Solida odora. Fig. 2. A flower magnified. Fig. 3. A floret of the ray. Fig. 4. 4 floret of the disc. 25 NOTES. mo — Note 1. Mosr European writers seem to consider the Datura stra- monium as a native of America. In Miller’s Dictionary by Martyn, the editor says, * That it is a native of America, we have the most undoubted proofs, for in earth brought with plants from various parts of that extensive country, we are sure to have the Thorn apple come up. Kalm says, that it grows about all the villages, and that this and the Phytolacca are the worst weeds there. Our old writers call it Le Apples of Peru.” This evidence however is by no means 5 auffictents The plant appears in earth and ballast, carried from either continent alike. The name Apple of Peru has also been applied to Datura metel, a plant of Africa and the East Indies. Note B. In the Catalogue of plants in the Botanic garden at Calcutta, published i in 1814, a species is inserted by the name of Datura Tatula, said to be a native of the Cape of Good Hope. This is probably different from the Datura Tatula of Linneus. Note C. « The Jamestown weed, (which resembles the thorny apples of Peru, and I take it to be the plant so called,) is supposed to be one ofthe greatest coolers in the world. his being an early plant, was gathered very young for a boiled sallad, by some of the soldiers sent thither to quell the rebellion of Bacon; and some of them ate plentifully of it, the effect of which was a very NOTES. 493 pleasant comedy, for they turned natural fools upon it for several days. One would blow up a feather in the air, another would dart straws at it with much fury ; another stark naked was sit- ting up in a corner like a monkey, grinning, and making mows at them; a fourth would fondly kiss and paw his companions, and sneer in their faces with a countenance more antic, than any ina Dutch droll. In this frantic condition they were confined, lest, in their folly, they should destroy themselves. A thousand simple tricks they played, and after eleven days returned to themselves again, not remembering any thing that had passed.” Beverly’s History of Virginia, p. 121. Note D. «* De Cuechyliztomatl, seu Tomatl sonalis. Genus est Solani Tonchichi forma et viribus simile, sed foliis paulisper undulatis, et fructu acinoso racematimque depen- dente, &c.” Hernandex, ii. 12. Note E. -- Tam heartily glad to hear more instances of the success of the Poke weed in the cure of cancer. You will deserve highly of mankind for the communication. But I find in Boston they are at a loss to know the right plant, some asserting it is what they call Mechoacan, others other things. In one of their late pa- pers it is publicly requested that a perfect decription may be giv- en of the plant, its places of growth, &c. I have mislaid the pa- per, or would send it to you. I thought you had described it pretty fully.” Letter from Dr. Franklin to Dr. Colden. ‘1 apprehend that our poke-weed is what botanists term phytolacca. ‘This plant bears berries as large as peas. The skin is black, but it contains acrimson juice. It is this juice thickened by evaporation in the sun which was employed. It caused great pain, but some persons were said to have been cured. Iam not quite certain of the facts; all that I know is 194 NOTES. - that Dr. Colden had a good opinion of the remedy.” Letter - from Dr. Franklin to M. Dubourg. 7 . Note F. : Linneus, in his Flora Laponica, tells us that the roots of Calla palustris, although acrid and caustic in the highest degree, (Cignis firme instar, are made into a kind of bread in high esti- mation, called Missebred. This is performed by drying and grinding the roots, afterwards boiling and macerating them un- til they are deprived of acrimony, when they are baked like other . farinaceous substances into bread. The recent juice of the Jatropha manihot, or Cassava tree of the West Indies, is highly poisonous. The deleterious princi- ple however resides in a volatile portion, which is dissipated by heat. The remaining substance of the root is used by the in- habitants for bread, as a material for a kind of soup, and as the basis of a fermented liquor. Note G. The following is Kempfer’s description taken from his Ame- nitates Exotic, p. 791. His accompanying figure resembles the American Rhus vernix, except, that the end of the branch and bud are larger in proportion than with us. & Sitx, vel. Sitzdsju, i. e. Sitz planta, vulgo Urus seu Urus no ki, Arbor vernicifera legitima, folio pinnato aes fructu . racemoso ciceris facie. « Arbor paucis ramis brachiata, salicis ad altitudinem luxuri- ose exsurgit. Cortice donatur incano, ex verruculis scabro, facile abscedente ; ligno saligneo fragillimo; medulla copiosa, ligno adnata ; Surculis longis crassis in extremitate inordinate foliosis. Folium est impariter pennatum, spithamale vel longius, Juglandis folio emulum, costa tereti, leviter lanuginosa; quam a semipal- mari nuditate stipant lobi sive folia simplicia, pediculo perbrevi nixa, tenuia, plana, ovata, trium vel quatuor unciarum longitu- NOTES. 495 dinis, basi ineequaliter rotunda, mucrone brevi angusto, margine integro, suprema facie obscure viridi, levi, et ex nervis lacunosa, dorso incano et molliter lanuginoso. Nervus medius in mucro- nem terminans subinde multos a latere demittit nervos minores, citra marginem deficientes. Sapor folio sylvestris inest, cum sensibili calore ; humor affrictus extemplo chartam ferrugineo colore imbuit. In surculis quibusdam ex foliorum axillis sin- guli surgunt Racemi laxe ramosi, palmares, tenues, qui, petiolis in calyculos rotundos desinentibus, Flosculos continent pumilos, et citra Coriandri seminis magnitudinem radiantes, in luteum herbaceos, pentapetalos, petalis carnosis nonnihil oblongis et repandis ; staminibus ad petalorum interstitia singulis, apicatis, brevissimis, stylo perbrevi tricipite, floris turbini insidente. Ordorem spirant dulcem, Aurantio flori aflinem et pergratum. Fructus flosculum excipit gibbosus, utcumque in rhomboidis figu- ram compressus, bifidus, facie ac magnitudine ciceris, mem- branula tenui micante vestitus, per maturitatem durissimus et obsoleti coloris. «‘ Cortex arboris cultro crenatus lacteum fundit. lentorem, humore crystallino (ex aliis ductibus stillante) permixtum, qui ad aéris contactum nigrescit. Eundem surculi divulsi, foliorum pediculi, et nervi produnt, nullius gustabilis qualitatis partici- pem; nisi califacientis sine acredine. Venenatos tamen spiritus hag arbor exhalare dicitur, vehementes adeo, ut pueris circa eandem commorantibus exanthemata in corpore pariant : qualia ctiam lignum tractantes alii (non omnes) experiuntur. Collectio Urusj, sive Vernicis, ut instituatur, caudices precipue triennes, paucis crenis vulnerandz sunt, ex quibus stillans liquor subinde excipitur, iterata in recente loco sectione, donec exsucci marces- cant. Emulsi atque omni succo orbati, illico amputandi sunt ; sic nova e radice provenit soboles, que, triennis facta, collectioni denuo subjicitur.” $0.0 * sé Vernix nativa vix preparatione indiget. Japonica per dupli- catam chartam subtilissimam, tele aranearum pene similem, ct 196 NOTES. eam in rem singulariter constructam docta eyyésenc: torqueri solet, ut a particulis heterogeneis et crassioribus mundetur ; mundate pauxillum admiscetur (centissima fere pars) olei Toi dicti ex fructu arboris Kiri. Sic vasibus ligneis indita per Japo- niam venalis transvehitur.” Note H. The following account of the death of Socrates is translated from the Pheedon of Plato. _ And Crito hearing this gave the sign to the boy who stood near. And the boy departing after some time returned bringing with him the man, who was to administer the poison, who brought it ready bruised in a cup.. And Socrates beholding the man, said, * Good friend, come hither, you are experienced in these affairs,—What is to be done?” * Nothing,” replied the man, “only when you have drank the poison, you are to walk about until a heaviness takes place in your legs. Then lie down. This is all you have to do.” At the same time he presented him the cup. Socrates received it from him with great calmness, without fear or change of countenance, and regarding the man with his usual stern aspect, he asked, « What say you of this — potion? Is it lawful to sprinkle any portion of it on the earth as a libation, or not?” « We only bruise,” said the man, “as much as is barely suflicient for the purpose.” «I understand you,” said Socrates, «but it is certainly lawful and proper to pray the gods that my departure from hence may be prosperous and happy, which I indeed beseech them to grant.” So saying, he carried the cup to his mouth and drank it with great prompt- ness and facility, Thus far most of us had been able to refrain from weeping. But when we saw that he was drinking and actually had drunk the poison, we could no longer restrain our tears. And from me they broke forth with such violence, that I covered my face and deplored my wretchedness. I did not weep for his fate, so much, * NOTES. 197 as for the loss of a friend and benefactor, which I was about to sustain. But Crito unable to restrain his tears was compelled to rise. And Apollodorus, who had been incessantly weeping, now broke forth into loud lamentations, which infected all who were present except Socrates. But, he observing us, exclaimed, 6‘ What is it you do, my excellent friends? I have sent away the women that they might not betray such weakness. I have heard that it is our duty to die cheerfully and with expressions of joy and praise. Be silent therefore, and let your fortitude be seen.” At this address we blushed and suppressed our tears. But crates, after walking about, now told us that his legs were beg ning to grow heavy, and immediately laid down, for so he had been ordered. At the same time the man who had given him the poison, examined his feet and legs, touching them at inter- vals. At length he pressed violently upon his foot, and asked if he felt it. To which Socrates replied, that he did not. The man then pressed his legs and so on, shewing us that he was becoming cold and stiff. And Socrates feeling of himself assured us, when the effects had ascended to his heart he - should then be gone. And now the middle of his body growing cold, he threw aside his clothes and spoke fer the last time, «¢ Crito, we owe the sacrifice of a cock to A%sculapius. Dis- charge this and neglect it not.” «It shall be done, said Crito ; have you any thing else to say ?” He made no reply, but a mo- ment after moved, and his eyes became fixed. And Crito seeing this, closed his eyelids and mouth. CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. Datura stramonium, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Phytolacca decandra, Arum triphyllum, Coptis trifolia, Arbutus uva urst, Sanguinaria canadensis, Geranium maculalum, Triosteum perfoliatum, Rhux vernix, Conium maculatum, _Cicuta maculata, Spigelia marilandica, Asarum canadense, fris versicolor, Hyoscyamus niger, Solanum dulcamara, : Lobelia inflata, Solidago odora, Notes, “ I Thorn apple, Thorough wort, Poke, Dragon root, Gold thread, Bearberry, Blood root, Cranesbill, Fever root, Poison sumach, ae Hemlock, American hemlock, Mountain laurel, © Carolina pinkroot, Wild Ginger, Blue flag, Henbane, Bitter sweet, Indian tobacco, Sweet scented Goldenrod, 187