218 Phytolacca decandra. 
shoots of Poke. The probability is, that in the instance alluded to, 
the shoots were too old, and had acquired the proper active juice of 
the plant. 
It is common to make a red ink from Poke-berry juice, with the 
addition of alum. The colour, however, is evanescent, and the alum 
does not appear to be a sufficient mordant. We are indebted to Dr. 
Adam Seybert, the author of American Statistics, for a discovery of 
the means of fixing the colour of these berries. Yet, I am sorry to 
be unable to refer to his experiments, which were only published in 
a newspaper, not known to me; and the author being absent, I can- 
not obtain any information on the subject. 
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. 
Many. medicinal virtues have been attributed to Poke: but we shall 
select those only which are prominent and authenticated. The 
tincture of the ripe berries in brandy, seems to have acquired a well 
founded reputation as a remedy for chronic and siphilitic rheuma- 
tism, and for allaying syphyloid pains; and its effects have been 
compared to those of the volatile tincture of guaiacum. It is con- 
fidently recommended in cases which indicate the use of that arti- 
cle, as a safe and efficacious remedy, under judicious management. 
The late Professor Barton believed it to be a more yaluable medi- 
2 
