LAURUS. 235 



Sponge, is similar to opium when inspissated. The ex- 

 tract of the whole plant, although less pure, is quite 

 equivalent, 24lbs. of Lettuce give lib. of it. The tinc- 

 ture is also equal to that of opium. A better equiv. in 

 all cases for (^ium, although the doses must be double, 

 because inducing sleep without delirium or irritation ; 

 it holds no narcotine nor morphine, but some elastine, wa- 

 ter, extractive and salts. Tne L. Jistnlosa^ Raf. FI. lud. 

 is not bitter, properties between Lactuca and Chicorea. 



LAMIUM, L. Deadnetth, Henhit Two sp. wild. L. 

 purpureiim and L. ampkxkaule^ said to be corroborant 

 and cephalic, sudorific and laxative, used bj empirics 

 for gout and rheumatism with XanihoxyJon^ and for a 

 cephalic snuff with Asarum. 



L ANT AN A, L Sagetree^ Blueberry^ Cailkau in 

 Louisiana. Two sp- L.ftoridana^ Raf. and L.imdidata^ 

 Raf. mistaken for Z-. camara and L. annua by authors.' 

 Leaves form a fine scented tea like Z. camara or Baha- 

 ma tea, and X. pseiidothea or Brazil tea, said to be bet- 

 ter than the Chinese. Diaphoretic, useful in fevers, but 

 nauseous when very strong : the tea of the blossoms is 

 still better. Twigs coagulating water like Sassafras. 



LARIX, Tt. J. Larch ^ Tamarack^ Hacmatack. We 

 have two sp. Black Larch, L. pendula^ and Red Larch 

 Z. microcarpa in the North. Equiv. o^ PinnSj producing 



I arenus^ 



a fine balsamic turpentine, good for wounds* 



LAURUS, L- Baytrees^ Laurels. Beautifu 

 all the sp. valuable: Z. sassafras above all, found Irom 

 Canada to Mexico and Brazil. Roots, bark, leaves, flow- 

 ers fragrant and spicy. Flavor and smell peculiar, simi- 

 lar to Fennel, sweetish subacrid, residing in a volatile 

 oil heavier than a\ ater. The Sassafrine, a peculiar mr -^ 

 cus unalterable by alcohol, found chiefly in the twig^ 

 and pith, thickens water, very mild and lubricating, ve- 

 ry useful in opthalmia, dysentery, gravel, catarrh, &c. 

 Wood yellow, hard, durable, soon loses the smell, the 

 roots chiefly exported for use as stimulant, antispasmo- 

 dic, sudorific and depurative ; the oil now often substi- 

 tuted ; both useful in rheumatism, cutaneous diseases, 

 secondary syphilis, typhu« fevers, &c. Once used in 

 dropsy. The Indians use a strivng decoction to purge 

 and clean the body in the spring; we use instead tlie tea 



