Page 19. Kalmia latifolia. In South-Carolina, this beautiful shrub is called "Calico-Tree."

Pages 19, 20. "A decoction of the Andromeda Mariana has been found useful as a wash, in a disagreeable ulceration of the feet, which is not uncommon among the slaves, &c. in the southern states." This complaint is very common, particularly among the negroes and the poorer sort of white people, in Carolina, Georgia, &c. It is called "Toe-Itch and Ground-Itch." It is a kind of ulcerous excoriation between the toes, sometimes extending as high as the instep, and is attended with most intolerable itching. It is probably, in a great measure, the consequence of inattention to cleanliness. Is it occasioned by particular insects? Some persons, with whom I have conversed on the subject, are of opinion, that it is owing to the great warmth of the waters to the southward, in which the inhabitants are accustomed to wade a great deal. The disease is sometimes seen in Pennsylvania. Besides the Andromeda Mariana, or Broad-leaved Moor-wort, a decoction of the leaves of the Kalmia latifolia is used for the cure of this complaint. The decoction of the leaves of both these plants is used. They are both called "Wicke" to the southward.

Page 21. "I knew a woman," &c. She was a stout, and seemingly very hearty, woman. She informed me, that a lady of her acquaintance was affected in the same way by this tea. I could not learn whether the flowers of the Sassafras produced a similar effect.

Page 24. Rhus, or Sumac. "It is said that the bark of one species (but I cannot tell you what species) has been found useful in intermittents." Perhaps it is the

bark of the Rhus glabrum, or Smooth Pennsylvania Sumac. In some parts of our country, this species is called "Indian Salt." Was it used as a condiment to their food by the Indians? The berries of this species are used as a mordant, or fixer for the red colour with which they die their porcupine quills. They use other mordants for the same purpose. The juice of the Upland-Sumac (Rhus glabrum?) is said to be excellent for removing warts, and also tetters. It is applied to the affected parts.

Page 27. "The expressed juice of the fresh leaves" of the Asarum Canadense, "is a powerful emetic." I should have observed that the leaves are errhine. "Asari canadensis radices suaveolentes in petio vino fermentanti immersæ, liquorem gratiorem reddunt." Cornutus, as quoted by Schoepf, p. 73. ·

Page 30. Asclepias decumbens.-The Asclepias decumbens, and the Asclepias tuberosa, of Linnæus, appear to me to be merely varieties of the same species. Dr. Schoepf (page 160) mentions a plant which he says is called in Maryland, Butterfly-root, and Pleurisy-root. He says he has not seen the plant; but that the name Butterfly-root seems to shew that it belongs to the class of Diadelphia. I suspect this plant is no other than the Asclepias decumbens. It is called Butterfly-weed, &c. because its flowers are often visited by the butterflies.

Page 35. Polygala Senega. If this plant has been found so useful in pleurisy as it is said to have been, by Tennent, and other writers, I cannot suppose it has been in genuine inflammatory pleurisy, unless previously to

the exhibition of the medicine, the lancet has been liberally used. In the pleurisy, as it is called, which prevails in the low and marshy countries, it is not improbable it has been of real use. This is a true intermittent or remittent, attended with a local pain, either in the side, or in the head. When it is in the head, the disease is called (a ridiculous name) the pleurisy in the head. In either case, it is a complaint in which cordial medicines, and such the Seneca is, have been exhibited with advantage.

Almost an hundred years ago, the Reverend Dr. Cotton Mather mentioned an American plant, called "Partridge-berries," as being excellent for curing dropsy. A decoction of the leaves is to be drank as a tea, for several days. It discharges, he says, a vast quantity of urine, as long as the disease lasts, "after which it may be drank without provoking urine observably. Gouty persons drink it with benefit."* I take the plant mentioned by Mather, to be the Mitchella repens of Linnæus. This is a very common plant in every part of the United-States. In New-England, it is called Partridge-berry. Catesby has given us a wretched figure of it. I know nothing of the powers of this plant. I could mention some of the superstitious notions of our Indians concerning it.

Page 40. Chenopodium anthelminticum. This is also called Jerusalem-oak. It is the seeds that are used.

The Philosophical Transactions, Abridged. Vol. V. Part ii. p. 160.

THE END.