SASSAFRAS TREE. 445 
more pleasant. The flavour and ‘odour reside in 
a volatile oil which is readily obtained from the 
bark by distillation. It is of a light colour, be- 
coming darker by age, very pungent, and heavier 
than water, so that it sinks in that fluid when the 
drops are sufficiently large to overcome the re- 
pulsion at the surface. The bark and pith of the 
young twigs abound with a pure and delicate mu- 
cilage. A very small quantity of the pith infused 
in a glass of water gives to the whole a ropy con- 
sistance, like the white of an egg. . This mucilage 
has the uncommon quality that it is not precipi- 
tated, coagulated, or rendered tarbid by alcohol. 
It continues in a perfectly transparent state when 
mixed with that fluid, though it does not unite 
with it. When evaporated to dryness, it leaves a 
light coloured, gum-like residuum. 
The volatile oil and the mucilage appear .to 
contain all the medicinal virtue of the tree. _ 
The bark and wood of the Sassafras were 
formerly much celebrated in the cure of various 
complaints, particularly syphilis, rheumatism and 
dropsy. Its reputation, however, as a specific in 
those diseases, particularly the first, has fallen 
into deserved oblivion, while it is now recognized 
only with regard to its general properties, which 
are those of a warm stimulant and diaphoretic. 
19 bes 
