The botanist & physician : containing a description of the principal active medicinal plants found in the middle and northern states of America, with directions relative to their preparation, administration & use in the cure of diseases : to which is prefixed, an outline of the Linnaean system of botany, intended as an introduction and glossary to the work : all designed for the use of families and the young student in botany.

  • Harlow, Samuel
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The botanist & physician : containing a description of the principal active medicinal plants found in the middle and northern states of America, with directions relative to their preparation, administration & use in the cure of diseases : to which is prefixed, an outline of the Linnaean system of botany, intended as an introduction and glossary to the work : all designed for the use of families and the young student in botany. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    ^5 lulls, in wood's, and uncultivated bushy fields. The outside hark is of an ash color; the inner hark of a deep yellow. The branches are dotlexl and prickly: the prickles are mostly arranged in clus- ters of t]iree3. The leaves are obovate^ and thinly serrate. The flowers are bright yellow, and ra.ee- med. Calyx six leaved: petals six. The berries are of a bright red color, and contain each from two to four seeds. It flowers in May. The ex- ternal bark and the leaves have an astringent and a,ckl taste: the inner hark is bitter. Use* The external brirk and leaves of this shrub, as fiaa already been stated, are astringent, and will he found serviceable in all cases in which suc1t medicines are indicated-—as dysentery, looseness of the bowels, &c. The interna! bark is a tonrc bitter, and may bs used in weakness, indigestion^ the ague and fever, &c, and will be found id strengthen the system and iucrease the appetite. Some physicians have been iu the practice of using the inner bark of this shrub in jaundice; but 1 very much doubt the propriety of the practice: fur jaundice is a disease almost always attended with more or less inflammation of some organ-, most generally of the liver; and as this hark pos- sesses considerable tonic and strengthening pow- ers, it will rather increase than relieve the com*- plaint. The inner bark of this plant may be administer- ed either in powder, or infusion in bailing water. The berries contain a soUr juice, which, when mixed with watfir, fQrms a pleasant drink in. j£vers.