-Eupatorium perfoliatum. 139 
Dr. Barton speaks of its alledged beneficial effect in a cutaneous 
affection of a very peculiar character, which appeared some years 
ago in Virginia, and was called, from the part of the country in 
which it raged, the James’s river ring-worm. This solitary fact is 
all that can be adduced in favour of its efficacy in cutaneous diseases, 
and it does really not appear to me to be sufficiently supported by 
corroborative testimony, or the experience of others. 
It cannot be doubted that, on this point, powers have been as- 
cribed to the plant which it does not possess. This much a regard 
for truth, obliges me to declare, that in three or four cases of ob- 
stinate cutaneous eruptions, in which I have given the bone-set every 
fair trial, it proved utterly worthless. 
I can readily believe, it has done good in diseases of general debi- 
lity, which occurred in the New York Alms-house, as mentioned in 
the thesis already referred to. But that it is competent to the 
cure of dropsies, I much doubt. Indeed my enquiries and observa- 
tions in different states, do not corroborate the assertion of Dr. 
Chapman,* that “ the physicians of this and the neighbouring states, 
are much in the habit of prescribing it, in dropsical effusions.” I have 
no where been able to learn, that, either by physicians or in domes- 
tic employment of the plant, such a practice has been resorted to. 
* Elements Mat. Med, vol. i. p. 345. 
