Phytolacca decandra. 219 
cine than the guaiacum—and recommended, as did Dr. Shultz,* the 
simultaneous exhibition of calomel and other preparations of mercury 
with it. He says he has “employed the ripe juice of the berries, 
inspissated to the state of an extract, in sonie cases of scrophula;? 
but does not state the result of his trials. The tincture of Poke is 
much used in this city by some highly respectable practitioners, in 
rheumatism, and with undiminished confidence in its efficacy. 
Poke has had no inconsiderable reputation as a remedy for cancer; 
but, notwithstanding some high names were enlisted in support of 
the accounts of its efficacy, it has deservedly lost its character as a 
cancer-remedy. It is most likely that it was found serviceable in ill- 
conditioned, sluggish ulcers, which are too frequently mistaken for 
real cancer, and thus give undue reputation to the curative article 
employed. That Poke in extract, and in form of ointment, has done 
good in obstinate cutaneous affections, there seems no fair reason 
to doubt. It is true the accounts of the efficacy of these prepara- 
tions, have been greatly exaggerated; but still there remains a suffi- 
cient portion of respectable testimony, to accredit the claims of the 
article as a good local stimulating remedy in such affections. That 
it has cured obstinate cases of tinia capitis, is not probable; for it 
is not reasonable to suppose that this very pertinacious disease of 
the sealp, would yield to an article of so little activity in local ap- 
plications, as either the ointment or extract of Poke. 
* See Inaugural Diss, Univer, Penn. 
