No. 73. POLANISIA. 61 



is equally good. In smaller doses, it proves a gradual 

 and easy laxative. Ten grains alone of the powder, 

 taken at night, purges the next morning. It is chiefly 

 useful in bilious complaints, and by its decided opera- 

 tion supersedes the use of a previous emetic; nay, some- 

 times emesis is produced by it, when the dose is large. 

 It may be united to Cremor Tartar in all fevers where 

 active purging is required. It has been found very 

 useful m dropsical complaints, ascites, anasarca, rheu- 

 matism, chorea^ epilepsy, &:c* by Dr. Burson and others. 

 The Cherokees use it against worms, >vhich are expelled 

 by its drastic effects. Dr. ZoUickoffer denies this pro- 

 perty. The leaves are said to be narcotic. No cattle 

 ever eat them. A drench of the whole fresh plant in 

 decoction, will purge a hotse completely. Two ounces 

 of the leaves in decoction killed a dog. The Cherokees 

 employ the fresh juice of the root for the cure of deaf- 

 ness, by putting a few drops in the ear. The Osage In- 

 dians consider it as a cure for poisons, by driving them 

 through the bowels. They are very fond of the fruit, 

 like all the Indian tribes* A fine preserve is made of 

 them in Louisiana. . To me, this fruit is hardly palata- 

 ble, and the root is so nauseous that I employ a syrup of 

 it like the Cherokees, wliich becomes then a mild and 

 not unpleasant purgative, two spoonsful being a dose. 

 Small doses of it, or of the extract, lower the pulse from 

 77 to 64, and are useful in cough and pleurisy. 



No. 74. POLANISIA GRAVEOLENS, 



Names. Common Clammy-weed. Fr, Polanise gra- 

 veole. Vulgar. Stink-weed, Worm- weed, Clammy 



Mustard, False Mustard* 



Classify Nat. Order of Capparides. Dodecandria 



monogynia L. 



Genus Polanisia. Calyx with four unequal folioles. 

 Four unequal petals. Stamina eight to fifteen, unequaL 

 Ovary oblong, sessile, one style and stigma. Oblong 

 silique or pool, with many seeds. 



F 



