No, 96. XANTHOXYfcON^. 115 



PROPERTIES. The whole shrub is possessed of 

 active properties ; the leaves and fruit smell and taste 

 like the rind of lemons, and afford a similar volatile oiL 

 The smell of the leaves is more like orange leaves- The 

 bark is the officinal part, the smell and taste are acrid, 

 pungent, aromatic. It is siala^ogue, stimulant, pellent, 

 astringent, sudorific, antisiphjlitic, odontalgic, &c. 



The chemical analysis by Dr. Staples, has given two 



V 



oils, one volatile, another fixed and green, resin, gum, 

 fibrine, a colored matter, and a peculiar substance Xan- 

 thoxyline^ which crystallizes, resembles Piperine, and 

 is soluble in warm alcohol. The leaves contain chiefly 

 mucilage, gallic acid and a volatile oil* This article 

 appears to be equivalent to Mezereon and Guayacum in 

 properties. The acrimony is not felt at first, when the 

 bark or liquid is taken in the mouth, but unfolds itself 

 gradually by a burning sensation on the tongue and 

 palate. It is deemed like them very useful in chronic 

 rheumatism, producing a sense of heat in the stomach, 

 a tendency to perspiration and speedy relief, when given 

 in full doses of 10 to 20 grains, 3 times daily, or the 

 decoction of one ounce in 4 or 5 doses. It seldom pro- 

 duces nausea or effects on the bowels. It however has 

 failed in some obstinate cases. In small doses it becomes 

 diaphoretic, and removes rheumatic pains. This is a 

 great article in the Materia Medica of our Indians j it 

 is called Harxtola by thc^westem 



bark of the root, and use it in decoction for cholics, go- 

 norrhea, syphilis, rheumatism, inward pains, chewed for 

 tooth-ache, and applied externally in poultice, withbear*3 

 o-rease, for ulcers and sores. It is a great topical stimu- 

 fant, changing the nature of malignant ulcers. In tooth- 

 ache, it is only a palliative, as I have ascertained on 

 myself, the burning sensation which it produces on the 

 mouth, merely mitijjating the other pain, which returns 

 afterwards. Some herbalists employ the bark and seeds 

 in powder, to cure intermittent fevers. A tincture of 

 the berries has been used for violent cholics in Virginia. 

 It is very good in diseases connected with a syphilitic 

 taint. The long use of it often brings on salivation like 

 mercury. 



