FRASERA CAROLINENSIS. 
some parts of the country by several eminent practitioners, yet 
it has failed entirely to supplant the tonic of Mozambique. 
The part that is officinal are the roots, and these in a fresh 
state often weigh several pounds. As found in the shops, they 
are in slices, somewhat resembling those of the Colombo, having 
a thick yellow bark, and a yellowish spongy meditullium. The 
taste is pure bitter, without any aroma. They may be distin- 
guished from Colombo by their lighter color, and by affording 
a dark green precipitate with the salts of iron. A chemical 
examination has been made of this root by Mr. Douglass (Am. 
Jour, Pharm. vi. 177), and it was found to contain bitter ex- 
tractive gum, tannin, gallic acid, resin, a fatty matter, sugar, 
&e. &c. Water and diluted alcohol extract its virtues, and the 
tincture throws down a precipitate upon the addition of water, 
but is not disturbed by tincture of galls, thus affording addi- 
tional means of distinguishing the root from Colombo. 
Cotomgo Roor is emetic and cathartic when fresh, tonic, anti- 
septic and febrifuge when dry. It has a sweetish bitter taste 
like gentian. The leaves are also bitter, It yields its bitterness 
to water, but proof spirits is its proper menstruum. It may 
be given in powder or infusion. The dose of the former is from 
thirty grains to a drachm, that of an infusion made in the pro- 
portion of an ounce of the bruised roots to a pint of boiling 
water, is one or two fluid ounces, to be repeated several times a 
day. The root should be collected from the fall of the second 
_ year to the spring of the third year of its growth. 
The root is used with considerable success in diseases of the 
stomach and debility. It avails in intermittents, like other pure 
bitters, and is extensively used in the Western States in fevers, 
colics, griping, nausea, relaxed stomach and bowels, indigestion, 
&e. As a purgative it is substituted for rhubarb in many 
cases, particularly for children and women enceinte. Cold water ° 
is said to add to its efficacy and prevent nausea, and vomiting. 
A teaspoonful of the powder in hot water and sugar will give im- 
mediate relief in case of heavy loading a weak stomach, It isa 
_ good corrector of the bile, alone or united with other bitters. 
_ The Colombo leaves occasion sweat copiously when laid on 
_ the forehead, and will commonly relieve headache. This will 
__ also apply to any kind of inflammation, rheumatism, &c. Such 
efficacy of this root, says Peter Smith, that when they 
ce it recover, they are indeed well and need no other 
