96 ALETRIS FARINOSA. 
The bitterness of this vegetable has brought 
it into notice in the quality of a tonic and 
stomachic. I have been informed of its use for 
this purpose by physicians in different parts of 
the country. The most common mode of its 
employment, I understand, is by infusion or 
decoction. Pursh speaks of it as a remedy in the 
colic, but on what principle it can operate in 
relieving that disease, I am at a loss to say.—The 
amount of bitter resin, which the plant contains, 
led me to suspect that it might possess some of 
the properties of aloes, to which the plant is 
botanically related ; but on trial, made in several 
instances with the root in powder, a dose of ten 
or twelve grains produced no effect of this kind 
whatever. A physician, who experimented with 
larger quantities, with a view to test this quality, 
informed me that a dose of twenty grains occa- 
sioned much nausea and tendency to vomit, 
followed by some dizziness ; but that no cathartic 
operation took place. _ 
Dr. Cutler, in his account of the plants of 
New England, informs us, that this plant. has 
been considered useful in chronic rheumatism ; 
but does not mention the dose or preparation. 
As far as we can sum up the testimony hith-— 
erto offered respecting the general properties of 
