TALL BLACKBERRY. 163 
of resins, but exhibits a flocculent appearance like 
‘that of | congulated mucilage. These flocculi, 
however, when collected and dried, exhibit the 
common resinous properties on exposure to heat. 
I subjected the dried bark to distillation, but the 
distilled water was nearly insipid, possessing only 
a very slight flavour of the root. ) 
The properties of this bark are those of a very 
powerful astringent. I have tried its operation 
sufficiently to become satisfied of its efficacy both 
internally and externally used in a variety of cases 
which adinit of relief from medicines of its class. 
It is true that our list of vegetable astringents has 
become very numerous and the cases which re- 
quire them are perhaps less frequent than was 
formerly imagined ; yet as we continue to im- 
port and consume various foreign medicines of 
this kind, we ought not to exclude from attention 
native articles of equal efficacy. Professor Chap- 
man, of Philadelphia, expresses a very decided 
opinion in regard to the powers of this substance. 
“ Of the vegetable astringents,” says he, “this I 
have reason to believe is among the most active 
and decidedly efficacious in certain cases. To 
the declining stages of dysentery after the symp- 
toms of active inflammation are removed, it is 
well suited, though I have given it, 1 think, with 
