92 SPIREA. No. 88. 



HISTORY. A fine genus, containing several pretty 

 shrubs ^ this is one of the prettiest, and is very orna- 

 mental, by its leaves of two colors, and large panicles of 

 red blossoms. It blossoms in July and August, and is 

 common from New England to Carolina and Kentucky, 

 in moist grounds, meadows, &c. The varieties are, 

 \. Pumila. Q. Pankulata. S. ^Ibiflora. A. Ferruginea. 



5. Virgata. 



PROPERTIES. The whole plant is inodorous, but 

 the taste is pleasantly bitter and powerfully astringent. 

 It contains tannin, gallic acid, bitter extractive, &c. all 

 soluble in water. Formerly used by the Mohegan tribe 

 of Indians and the herbalists ; brought to notice only 

 towards 1810, by Dr. Cogswell, of Hartford. Schoepf 

 and Cutler have omitted it. Drs.Mead, Ives, and TuUy 

 have since recommended it as a very good astringent and 

 tonic. ■ The whole plant may be used, but the root is the 

 least valuable part. The extract of it, prepared by the 

 Shakers and others, is the best form ; dose 4 to 6 grains, 

 every two or three hours, in dysentery and chronic diar- 

 rhoea, cholera infantum, debility of the bowels and the 

 system, hemorrhage of the bowels, and other diseases 

 where astringents are required. It appears to be equal 

 if not superior to Kino and Catechu, because it never 

 disagrees with the stomach,- all its virtues are soluble in 

 water, is a bitter tonic, and can be had pure and genuine. 

 It IS jpeculiarly useful in the secondary stages of bowel 

 complaints, when the inflammation has b*een partly sub- 

 dued, either alone or combined with ipecac, opium, Sec. 

 It has been used abroad by seamen, with great benefit, 

 in the cholera morbus and chronic diarrhoea of tiie tro- 

 pical climates, evea in the first stage. United to milk 

 and sugar, it forms a very pleasant drink for the pro- 

 tracted stage of cholera. It is said to be equivalent to 

 Geranium maculatim and Cornus circinata in most 

 caa«ft, but the first is less tonic, and the last a better 

 ^^r!hu^ . ? ^O'^^okaogacha of the Osage Indians is 

 nnw^rfS . ^l''"''^ 5 *^^y "se the dry root and stems as 

 monb'i, K^l^'' ^-""^ astringents, to stop blood and he- 

 Se woL? ''^^'^'"g*^^"^' «■■ drinking the cold infusion; 



Plaints ns»"'' l""- *" ^"^ =^"'1 ^^ ^ ^^'^sh ^^^ fen^ale com- 

 piamis, as a restnngent, &c. 



