No. 51. 



253 



Hyd. 



the name Hydrastts of Ellis, which is a very bad 

 name meaning imbibing water, while this plant is 

 not at all aquatic. The name of Miller Warnera 

 would have been "better, and I should have adopted 

 this last and called it Warnera diphylla or tinctoria 

 if established errors were not so difficult to correct. 

 The vulgar names of this plant are also various, and 

 common to many others, yellow root is a name given 

 to ten or twelve plants, Jeffersonia, Coptis, Xan- 



thorhiza, Sac. Pucoon is an Indian name for all roots 

 dying red, orange or yellow, such as Sangui?zaria, 

 Batschm, Galiuniy Ceanollms, &c. ; but this is their 

 best yellow Pucoon, affording a juice of a brilliant yel- 

 low color, which they use to stain skins and clothing; 

 it inay become a valuable dye. 



Hydrastis belongs to the Racunculaceous Order 

 where it forms a very distinct genus, by its berry 

 like seeds. Also to Polyandria pohjgynia. 



Qualities— The root is only used, it is juicy when 

 fresh, and loses two thirds of its weight by drying. 

 The taste is exceedingly bitter, rather pungent and 



The smell is strong and virose. It con- 

 tainsAmarine, Extractive, several salts, and a pecu- 

 liar principle Hydrastin of a yellow color, 



PROPERTIi:S— Tonic, ophthalmic, detergent, 

 &c. This plant is much used in Ohio, Kentucky, 

 &c. for diseases of the eyes, the juice or an infusion 

 are used as a wash, in sore or inflamed eyes. It Is 

 considered a specific by the Indians for that disorder; 

 they also employ it for sore legs, and many external 



T 



nauseous. 



