lia. They use the bark of the wild cherry (Prunus Virginiana), the root of the May-apple (Podophyllum peltatum), and many other plants.* I believe, however, that the Lobelia has been of service in the disease. In gonorrhea it has certainly performed a cure; but the tendency of the constitution, unaided by medicines, to get rid of this complaint, is well known. I may here observe, that gonorrhea appears to be much more common among the Indians than syphilis. The Lobelia seems to operate chiefly by its diuretic quality. From their ignorance of botany, many persons in the western country have been using a plant, which they call Lobelia, in the same complaints. I have received specimens of the plant under the name of Lobelia. It proves to be the Serratula spicata, or Spiked Saw-wort. There is good reason to believe, that it has been found useful, not only in venereal complaints, but also in cases of nephritis calculosa, or gravel. Thus ignorance sometimes leads to knowledge. posed Lobelia is a powerful diuretic. The Indians sometimes drink the decoction of it so strong that it occasions gleets. It is the root of the plant

This sup

*I do not believe that the disease of syphilis was known among the North-American Indians before they became acquainted with the whites. Mr. John Heckewelder informs me, that the Indians speak of it as a foreign disease communicated by the whites.

They cure these gleets by eating turpentine, as I am informed by Colonel Winthrop Sargent. An old Indian assured this gentleman, that

which is commonly employed, but the flowers and the leaves may also be used.

An infusion of another species of Lobelia, I believe the Lobelia inflata, has been found very useful in the leucorrhoea, or whites. It is a lactescent, and very active plant. I do not know that this acts as a diuretic, and it would have been more proper to have mentioned the plant under the head of stimulants.

The Cassena is a species of Ilex, or Holly. It is the Ilex vomitoria of Aiton, and is a native of Carolina, West-Florida, &c. It has been called South-Sea-tea, or Evergreen Cassine. It is thought to be one of the most powerful diuretics hitherto discovered. It is held in great esteem among the southern Indians. They toast the leaves and make a decoction of them. It is the men alone that are

a decoction of this Serratula cures syphilis in all its forms. Dr. Allison, one of the army-physicians, has an high opinion of the plant, in this disease. I am told Dr. Bedford, of Pittsburg, has found it an efficacious medicine in the gravel. It certainly ought to have a fair trial in these diseases. The late Major Jonathan Hart assured me, that the Indians northwest of the Ohio could not cure confirmed syphilis. He said the Lobelia (I suppose the Serratula spicata) had been of service in slight cases: but he was persuaded that the Indians would fall victims to the general complaint, if they were to trust wholly to their own remedies. A Mr. Wilson, who is well acquainted with the Indians, particularly the Delawares and Shawneese, most confidently asserts, that they cannot cure the venereal disease, "when it gets into the blood;" but that they can cure the gonorrhea. He also said, they can remove the venereal disease for a time, but "that it will break out again."

permitted to drink this decoction, which is called Black Drink.

The Medeola Virginica grows plentifully in the vicinity of this city, and in almost every other part of the United-States. Its root is white, and tastes a good deal like the cucumber, which has given the plant the name of Cucumber-root. I am told that this root is diuretic, and has cured dropsies. The sensible qualities of the plant do not promise much; but this does not prove that it is not an useful medicine.

SECT. IX. ANTHELMINTICS.

This is
It is a

Of the class of medicines called ANTHELMINTICS, or destroyers and expellers of worms, we have several which are entitled to your notice. One of the most celebrated of these is the Carolina Pinkroot, the Spigelia Marilandica of Linnæus. a very common plant in our southern states. valuable medicine, as has been demonstrated by the physicians of Europe and of this country. It is commonly given in the form of an infusion, or tea; but I prefer the exhibition of it in powder. It has been accused of occasioning, for a short time, a disagreeable affection of the eyes. But this effect may often be prevented by combining with the Spigelia some of the common Virginia Snake-root. The

Cheerake-Indians have so high an opinion of this plant, that it would sometimes be dangerous for a person to be detected in digging it up, to carry it out of the country. The whites learned the anthelmintic powers of this vegetable from the Indians. The Spigelia is said to possess other valuable properties. Infused in wine, it has been found an useful medicine in intermittent fevers. But I can say nothing particular concerning the precise mode of administering it in this case.

THE Chenopodium anthelminticum grows plentifully in the United-States. It is commonly called Worm-seed. The whole plant has a most powerful smell, of which it is very retentive. The taste is bitter, with a good deal of aromatic acrimony.

THE root of the May-apple (Podophyllum peltatum), which I have mentioned to you under the head of cathartics, has often been found to operate as an anthelmintic. It is used as such by the Cheerake, and other southern Indians. Whether it operates by its cathartic quality exclusively, or partly by some other quality, deleterious to the worms, I cannot say. The whites learned from the Indians. the anthelmintic power of this plant.*

The best time for gathering the may-apple, for medical purposes, is the autumn, when the leaves have turned yellow, and are about falling off. The Indians dry it in the shade, and powder it for use.

THE Helleborus fœtidus, or Stinking Hellebore, has been mentioned as a powerful anthelmintic, by Bisset, and other European writers. It has been used in this country, and has been found very efficacious. It is supposed to have been the wormmedicine of a Dr. Witt, who acquired much reputation by the use of it.*

THE Cheerake use a decoction of the root of the beautiful Lobelia Cardinalis, or Cardinal-Flower, as a remedy against worms. I have already mentioned the diuretic quality of another species of this genus, the Lobelia siphilitica.

THE seeds of the Common Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum) have also been found useful as an anthelmintic.

THE Silene Virginica, or Ground-Pink, as it is called in some parts of our country, is another native anthelmintic. A decoction of the root is used, and is said to have been found a very efficacious remedy.†

F

I am indebted to Dr. Adam Kuhn for this information. He says that Witt used the powder of the leaves in combination with the ethiops mineral.

From the information of my friend the late Dr. James Greenway, of Virginia.