bar abscess, attended with hectic fever, and colliquative sweats. Of its use in this latter case, we have an instance in the Medical Repository*. The patient made use of a decoction of the bark. It would be easy to mention many other diseases in which this medicine has been advantageously employed.

I HAVE already observed†, that the leaves of this tree are poisonous to certain animals. Dr. Morris has shown, that the distilled water of the leaves is a powerful poison to different species of animals, such as kittens, pigeons, &c. About a tea-spoonful of the water killed a "pigeon fully fledged," in thirty-two minutes. This gentleman was obliged to make his experiments upon the young and imperfectly-expanded leaves of the tree. The adult leaves are doubtless more powerful. Experiments would seem to show, that the deleterious principle of the leaves is of a very volatile nature‡.

UNDER this head of tonics, I may, with some propriety, take notice of the Eupatorium perfoliatum. I am sensible, however, that this vegetable might be more advantageously treated of under several different heads, such as those of Emetics, Sudorifics, &c., than under one individual head. But as a tonic quality is, unquestionably, attached to this plant, and as I am not, in these Collections, particularly studious of method, I shall bring together all I have to offer concerning the Eupatorium, under one point of view. Of this very common plant in almost every part of the United-States, I have made

*Vol. v. No. III.

† Part First, page II.

See an Inaugural Dissertation on the Prunus Virginiana, &c. &c. By Charles Morris, of Virginia. Philadelphia: 1802.

mention in the First Part of these Collections*. It is the Eupatorium connatum of Michaux. Besides the provincial or common English names which have already been mentioned, it is known by the following appellations: viz. Thorough-stem, Cross-wort, Bone-set, and Indian-Sage. The first of these names has been imposed upon it from the peculiar structure of the leaves, which are opposite, and appear as though the stem was thrust through them. It has received the name of Cross-wort, by which it is known in many parts of Virginia, from the position of the leaves, each pair of which (in general) take their origin from opposite sides of the stem, so that they cross each other nearly at right angles. I am more at a loss to refer the word Bone-set to its real origin: but I presume the plant received this name, from the great relief which, on many occasions, it has been known to afford to persons labouring under violent remitting and other fevers, in which the bones are greatly pained. The resemblance of the leaves of this plant to those of the Common Sage (Salvia officinalis) was long ago remarked by the botanists. Hence the name Indian-Sage, by which this Eupatorium is known in some parts of Pennsylvania. We have seen that it is one of the remedies of the Indians‡.

I HAVE already hinted at the obvious properties of the Eupatorium, and have observed, that it has been used in intermittents, and other fevers §. I am now to remark, in consequence of subsequent inquiries, that the plant has been exhibited, with uncommon advantage, in

* See pages 27, 52, 53.

† Particularly by Plukenet, who thus defines the plant: "Eupatorium Virginianum, Salviæ foliis longissimis acuminatis, perfoliatum. Alm. Bot. 140. t. 86. f. 6.

Part First, p. 27, 52, 53.

? Part First, p 27, 53.

these affections. In simple intermittents, admitting of distinct intermissions, a decoction of the whole plant, or the leaves in powder, have, on many occasions, proved effectual in preventing the recurrence of paroxysms. I now speak of the medicine, as exhibited during the time of intermission. But the vegetable, especially in the form of a decoction, has often been given during the time of the hot stage, and I am in possession of a large portion of testimony in favour of its efficacy when thus employed. Not only in intermittents, but likewise in remittents, and in the malignant yellow-fever, as it has prevailed in Philadelphia, &c., has our plant been used, with much advantage. When exhibited in the form of a warm decoction, it has seemed to prove peculiarly beneficial, especially by exciting a copious perspiration. The effect of the medicine, in inducing this evacuation, constitutes one of its most valuable properties, and has procured to it an appellation (that of the "vegetable antimony") to which, I believe, it is as well entitled as many other vegetables, which might be mentioned. I greatly doubt if the sudorific effect of this plant, when unassisted by heat, can be compared to that of the Polygala Senega, and several other American plants. It often proves emetic: but this operation, which on many occasions, is not the least useful of its properties, may be prevented by a proper attention to the medicine. In some parts of the United-States, it is exhibited in intermittents, chiefly with a view to its emetic effect.

But

THE Eupatorium has been used in other cases. It is said to have been found very useful in a peculiar and distressing affection of the herpetic kind, which was formerly very common in Virginia, and there known by

the name of the "James-river Ringworm;" because it was especially prevalent among the inhabitants residing upon the upper streams of James-River. This disease was particularly disposed to affect young men. It attacked the thighs, the scrotum, and especially the parts immediately adjacent to the anus. It extended its ravages into the rectum, and perhaps much further. It was at all times, a disgusting and troublesome disease, though it rarely proved mortal.

MR. JEFFERSON* informed me, in 1802, that within the period of his remembrance, this herpes was extremely common in Virginia, and that it had gradually disappeared or become less common, from about the time † that the Warm and Hot Springs, in the county of Bath, in Virginia, had been better known, and more frequented. He ascribed the disappearance of the affection to the use of these waters; the temperature of the former of which is about 98°: that of the latter 106°, of Farenheit's thermometer.

IN this affection, the Eupatorium perfoliatum has often been found very beneficial, as I have been informed by a respectable physician in Virginia. The patient drank a decoction of the plant, and continued the use of it for a considerable time. It sometimes puked: it, no doubt, purged; and, in all probability, it operated as a sudorific. But by what quality it more especially operated, in curing the disease, I am unable to say. The fact may, I believe, be depended upon.

*The President of the United-States.

†These waters were certainly known at least as early as 1759 or 1760. But I believe they did not begin to be frequented, by any considerable number of persons, until some years after. The James-river Ringworm was very prevalent about the year 1766.

Dr. Thomas Knox, of Culpeper.

IT may, perhaps, serve to increase our confidence in the powers ascribed to the Eupatorium perfoliatum as a remedy for herpes, to observe, that the Aya-Pana, which of late has excited so much attention, is a species of this vast family of plants, and that it also has been celebrated as a remedy in certain affections, somewhat allied to herpes*.

I CLOSE this article by observing, that every part of the Eupatorium perfoliatum may be advantageously employed in practice. I believe, from my own observations, that the flowers possess the greatest portion of the activity of the plant; and they ought to be kept in the shops. As a tonic bitter, I deem them superior to the flowers of Camomile, (Anthemis nobilis), for which they might be substituted, on many occasions.

SECTION III. STIMULANTS, OR INCITANTS.

SI. GENERAL STIMULANTS.

KALMIA latifoliat. The powdered leaves of this vegetable have been used, with much success, in some cases of intermittents. A saturated tincture, prepared from the leaves with a proof spirit, is an active medicine,

* See Mr. Tilloch's valuable Philosophical Magazine, &c. Vol. xiii. p. 376, &c. &c. † See Part First, p. 18, 48.

Dr. Amos Gregg, jun.