«66 STATICE CAROLINIANA. 
and valuable investigation of the properties of this 
plant in 1806. He informs us that the astringen- 
cy, indicated by the sulphate of iron, was greater | 
in the tincture than in the infusion under experi- 
ments precisely similar ; from which it may be 
inferred, that alcohol is a better solvent for this 
root than water. He also found the cold infusion 
more powerful than the hot, a cireumstance prob- 
ably to be accounted for by the escape of a part 
of the gallic acid by evaporation. The astringen- 
ey was found fully equal to that of galls, and ink 
made from equal quantities of the two, similarly 
treated, was equal in blackness, — 
_ The Statice Caroliniana possesses much me- 
dicts reputation as an astringent, and large 
quantities of it are annually consumed in different 
parts of the United States. In Boston it is reg- 
ularly kept by the druggists, and larger quantities 
are sold, than of almost any indigenous article. 
It is principally sought for as a topical remedy 
in aphthe and other ulcerative affections of the 
mouth and fauces. From its astringent and an- 
tiseptic quality, it is peculiarly suited to correct 
the state of these local maladies, and its applica 
tion is commonly followed with success. It is 
much better suited to such complaints than the 
Coptis trifolia or gold thread, with which it is 
