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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.

This is

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

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

THE END.

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