^<>- 24. C0MPT02«X&. 117 



New Jersey, &c. but nearly disappearing west of the 

 mountains, and unknown to the western plains. 



QfJALiTiEs— The whole plant, but chiefly the leaves 

 have a peculiar strong smell, of a sweet and balsamic 

 nature; becoming stronger by pressing or bxuisln*^ 

 them* It contains the benzoic acid, tannin and a resi- 

 nous substance. The taste is balsamic and pungent. 



PROPERTIES— Astringent, tanic, calefacient, 

 cephalic, balsamic, expectorant, &c. It possesses all 

 the properties of the tonic and astringent balsams. 

 Barton recommends it for diarrhea, loose bowels and 

 the summer complaint of children, or cholera infan- 

 tum, in the form of a weak decoction ; but it is used 

 in Pennsylvania and Virginia for many other diseases, 

 such as all children's bowel comply.; nta, (where it 

 •forn^fia gvatcful diinls ior them) in rhachitis, in debili- 

 ty, in fevers as a diluent tonic; in rheumatism and 

 contusions it is less available. The root chewed stops 

 blood'Spltting, according to Schoepf. Upon the whole 

 -this shrub appears to be deserving of further atten- 

 tion, I have seen it employed throughout the country 

 as a substitute or auxiliary to the more expensive bal- 

 sams, in asthma, bronchitis, &c. 



Substitutes — Storax — Tolu — Sassafras — Laxirxta 

 Jt'yrro/n— Agrimony — Mlfchella repeas — Gaultherim 

 jjTQCianbensp and all mild balsamic astringents, 



t 



