same disease is likewise sometimes induced by the healthy or natural poisons of certain animals. I have collected two well-authenticated instances of the production of this disease, by the bites of venemous serpents, in the UnitedStates. One of the patients died. The tetanus did not come on until six or seven days after she was bitten. The other recovered from the disease, by the use of large doses of the Seneca, boiled in milk*. I know not whether this instance of success should encourage us to hope that the Seneca might be given, with advantage, in those cases of tetanus which are the consequence of wounds, in different parts of the body. I fear that our vegetable, though by no means a feeble one, will be found unequal to the cure of this terrible disease.

THE Zanthoxylum Clava Herculis and Zanthoxylum fraxinifolium are both mentioned in the First Part of these Collections †. They are both vegetables endued with very active powers. The bark promises to be a very useful medicine in cases of paralytic affections of the tongue, or of the muscles concerned in deglutition: and in such cases, when held in the mouth, they have been employed with advantage ‡. They are more active than Mezereon (Daphne Mezereum), which both Dr. Withering § and myself have employed, with a good effect, in the same cases. It might, perhaps, be worth trying the Zanthoxyla, as masticatories, in some cases of stammering.

IN some parts of Virginia, the berries of Zanthoxylum fraxinifolium are much esteemed as a remedy in

* See Elements of Botany, &c. Part Third, p. 105.

† See p. 25, 52.

By Dr. Tucker Harris, of Charleston, South-Carolina.
A Systematic Arrangement, &c. vol. II. p. 370.

violent cholicy affections.

A spirituous infusion of the berries is employed. They are known by the name of "Suter's-berries."

FOR Some interesting notices concerning the use of the bark of Zanthoxylum Clava Herculis, in rheumatic affections, in ulcers, &c. &c. &c., I refer the reader to different communications, in the Memoirs of the Medical Society of London*, and other periodical publications.

SECTION V. EMETICS.

SPIREA trifoliata f. This is sometimes very injudiciously employed by the country-people, insomuch that they are obliged to apply for medical aid to remove the debility induced by the large doses of the root which they employ. "It is said, that there grows in the state "of Kentucky, another species, which is still more "valuable, as an emetic, than the S. trifoliata ‡."

THE emetic power of the Sanguinaria Canadensis, of which I have taken notice in the former part of this work §, has been fully established by the experiments of Dr. Downey, in his ingenious essay upon this plant. The "most prominent effect" of the medicine is to induce vomiting, even when it is exhibited in moderate doses. "When taken in the dose of fifteen or twenty grains," it exerts powerful emetic qualities. "But in consequence "of the irritation, which is produced in the fauces, it is

* Vol. V.

† Part First, p. 26.

Elements of Botany, &c. Part III. p. 89.

Page 27.

"probable, that in the form of a powder, it will never come into general use. This inconvenience may, how"ever, be obviated, by giving it in form of a decoction "or extract." When managed with care, it is deemed "but little inferior to the ipecacuanha, either in the cer"tainty or speediness of its operation*. The powder of "the root may be given as an emetic for an adult, in the "dose of fifteen or twenty grains, made into pills, other"wise a considerable irritation will be produced in the "fauces in taking it."

Its

HITHERTO, the Sanguinaria has been but little employed by the regular practitioners. It promises, however, to be an useful medicine, particularly on the foundation of its emetic and expectorant effects, in cases of cynanche maligna, or ulcerous sore-throat, in cynanche trachealis, or hives, and other similar affections. properties seem to be considerably allied to those of the Seneca Snake-root, which has been so beneficially employed in the same cases. I have received an account of its having been employed, in the shape of a decoction, with very evident good effect, in the case of that particular form of cynanche trachealis, which Dr. Darwin has named Peripneumonia trachealis §. The medicine proved emetic, and the patient recovered.

An Investigation of the properties of the Sanguinaria Canadensis, or Puccoon. By William Downey, of Maryland. Philadelphia: 1803.

† An Investigation, &c. pages 23, 25.

I See Part First, p. 33, 34, 54, 55.

Zoonomia, or the Laws of Organic Life. Vol. I. The disease of hives appears under several different shapes, in all of which the trachea seems to be essentially affected. In the course of my practice, I have met with some cases, which answer precisely to Darwin's description, and for which I think the term peripneumonia trachealis is a very appropriate one. If I do not mistake, this form of the disease, in general, more readily admits of early and complete relief than any of the other shapes in which it appears.

I HAVE already observed, that the seeds of the Sanguinaria "appear to possess nearly the same quality as the "seeds of Datura Stramonium*." That is, they induce fever, delirium, dilatation of the pupil of the eye, &c. Dr. Downey concludes, from a few experiments, which he made with the "unripe seeds," that they pos"sess a very considerable influence over the pulse, and "a stupifying or narcotic quality t." A deleterious property evidently resides in the leaves of the plant as well as in the seeds.

SECTION VI. CATHARTICS.

UNDER this head, in the former part of the work §, I have mentioned the Asclepias decumbens, commonly called Pleurisy-root, Flux-root, &c. The root of this plant does, unquestionably, possess a purgative quality. But this does not seem to be the most valuable part of its properties. It is said to possess a remarkable power of affecting the skin, inducing general and plentiful perspiration, without greatly increasing the heat of the body. Accordingly, I find it is much employed by the practitioners of medicine in some parts of the United-States, particularly, I believe, in Virginia, as a remedy in certain forms of fever, in pleurisy, and other affections. The root is used both in powder and in decoction.

*Part First, p. 27.

† An Investigation, &c. p. 24.

Ibid. p. 24.

Page 29. See, also, page 53.

Sometimes, it is used in combination with antimonials. The decoction often induces perspiration, when other medicines have failed to produce this effect. A physician*, who has been much in the habit of employing this Asclepias, informs me, that 'in the low states of 'typhus fever, he has more frequently observed a per'spiration to succeed to the use of the Asclepias than to 'any of the sudorifics that are generally used.'

ABOUT thirty years ago, this vegetable was strongly recommended, as a specific for pleurisy, by a Mr. Thomson Mason, of Virginia. After the use of an antimonial emetic, and the loss of some blood, he gives his patients "as much of the Pleurisy-root, pounded very fine, and "then searched through a fine search, as will lie upon "a tolerable broad case knife, in a cup of warm water, "and repeats the dose every two hours, until the patient "is perfectly recovered, which happens frequently after "three days, and never fails freeing him from pain after "six." Mr. Thomson assures us, that by these simple means, he "has cured hundreds, and never failed in a "single instance."

IT does not appear, that Mr. Thomson was a regular physician; but I have been led to mention his practice the more particularly, because his publication seems to have first called the attention of the public to the virtues of the Pleurisy-root, and I know that some very respectable physicians, in Virginia †, have reposed not a little

* Dr. Charles Everett. Letter to me, dated Milton, October 23d, 1803.

Among others, my friend, the late Dr. James Greenway, of Dinwiddiecounty, in Virginia. From this gentleman, I received a copy of Thomson's paper, which I think first made its appearance in an Almanac, in 1773.