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Show 576 SASSAFRAS TREE. ay. smell, resembling that of fennel; and a sweetish, aromatic sub- acrid taste. The bark is rough, of a brown ashcolour on the outside, and ferruginous colour within; spongy and divisible into layers, and of a stronger taste and smell than the wood. Neumann got from 480grains 80 of alcoholic, and afterwards 60 of watery extract; and inversely, 120 watery, and 7°5 al- coholic. In distillation alcohol elevates nothing, but water a ponderous essential oil, in the proportion of about 10 from 480. MEDICAL VIRTUE. sf —— qi *“3 a 7 By: Pr er gs. cd Sr 4 Ps a.Fine a spongytexture; of a rusty white colour; of a strong pleasant Sassafras, from the quantity of volatile oil it contains, is a gently stimulating, heating, sudorific, and diuretic remedy. It is best given in infusion. The decoction and extract are mere bitters, as the oil is dissipated by the preparation. The essential oil may be obtained separate by distillation. It is of a whitish yellow colour, and sinks in water. It is highly stimulating and heating, and must be given only in very small doses, PREPARATION, Vorartie Or oF Sassarras. (Oleum Volatile Lauri Sassafras.) The dose is from two to ten drops. This is a powerfulstimulant. It enters into what is called a decoction of the woods (Decoctum Sarsaparille compositum), which see under the title Sarsaparilla. See also the article Guaiacum, with which it is usefully combined, GREATER INDIANCRESS, OR NASTURTIUM. TPHPR ; yk TTT TROPHOLUM MAJUS. Class VIII. Octandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Cuar. Calyx monophyllous, spurred: Petals five, unequal : Berry three together, dry. Spec. Cuar. Leaves peltate, sub-five-lobed: Petals obtuse. ee DESCRIPTION, Stark trailing, succulent, stretching several feet. Leaves roundish, peltate, marked byseveral radiated ribs, entire, placed on long waving footstalks, attached to the centre ofeach leaf. Flowers large, of a bright crimson. Calyx juicy, like the subStance, and of the colour of the corolla, with a large horn-like nectaryattached to it, cut intofive segments, acute, erect, striate. Corolla composedof five petals, roundish, the two upper bent back, marked with dark lines at the bases; the three underare bearded at the base. |