Baptisia tinctoria. 64 
The foregoing remarks are unquestionably entitled to much credit. 
They are amply sufficient to induce an extensive use of the wild in- 
digo for its antiseptic virtues, and I am glad to say, that my own 
trials of the decoction as an external application to foul ulcers, fully 
corroborates the reports of Drs. Comstock and Thacher. 
(ECONOMICAL USES. 
The young shoots of this plant, which resemble asparagus in ap- 
pearance, have been used in New England as a substitute for it. 
Like the young shoots of poke, however, they have occasionally pro- 
duced drastic evacuant effects. 
The very common practice in the country of placing this plant 
about the harness of horses, to kill or drive away flies, has given it 
in some places the name of Horse-fly-weed. It is supposed that the 
leaves and flowers contain something noxious or deleterious to the 
flies, for it is said, I know not with what truth, more effectually to 
keep off those insects, than any other plant. 
