No. 56. JUNIPERUS. 15 



berries globular, three seeded. 4. True Savin with 

 spreading leaves, berries compressed, bluish. 



The J. monfana of Europe, was once reckoned as one 

 of the /. communis. It has crowded leaves, a cespitose 

 stem, berries ovoid, not globular; while the J. communis 

 has slender, remote leaves, stem erect, berries globular, 

 dark blue. Our American kind appears intermediate 

 bj having the stem erect, shrubby; but the leaves 

 crowded and broader, with larger berries. It is found 

 in Pennsylvania, Maryland, &c. on hills and mountains- 



PROPERTIES. ^ Alike in all the species, stronger in 

 the Savins, less violent in /• virginiana and the Ce- 



dars, weaker in the true Junipers. They are stimulant, 

 diaphoretic, diuretic, carminative, eccoprotic, anthel- 

 mintic, emmenagogue, &c. The berries, leaves, and 

 wood may be used; the berries have a strong, pungent, 

 aromatic smell and taste, somewhat sweet and bitter, 

 containing an essential oil, tannin, and a sweet muci- 

 lage. The leaves and wood contain some of the oil 

 also, in which resides the active properties. The 

 leaves are more acrid and bitter than the berries. The 

 wood has a weaker taste and a better smell, owing to a 

 kind of resin called Sandarac, which it exudes in warm 

 countries, and resembling Copal, 1>y a part being only 

 soluble in Ether. This renders the wood very durable 

 and obnoxious to insects- Boxes made of it preserve 

 woollens from moths. The Cedar wood is light, close 

 grained, reddish, much used for posts, tubs, pencils, &c. 

 by carpenters, ship-builders, coopers, turners: it is one 



of our best timber, and preserves a long while its pecu- 

 liar odour. 



The Oil of Juniper is chiefly distilled from the berries; 

 the Italian berries arc the best; the American yield 

 much less oil. They impart thefr flavour to alcoholic 

 liquors, and form the well known gin, which acquires 

 some diuretic properties. The oil is useful in dropsy, 

 in debility of the stomach and intestines, palsy of tne 

 bladder, and uterine obstructions. The doses must be 

 minute; or a decoction of the berries and leaves may be 

 substituted. A kind of beer is made with the berries in 

 Lapland; they improve also the spruce beer. 



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