274 VIBRUNUM. 



coughs, hemoptysis, hemorrhage, proctalgy : they con^ 

 tain gum, sacarin, chlorophylle, yellow resin, volatile 

 oil, the oleic, malic and phosphoric acids. Blossoms of 

 K thapsoidts and hlattaria are equivalent, nay, perhaps 

 all the sp< 



VERBENA, L. Vervain^ Purvain. Bitterish, sub- 

 astringent, tonic, deobstruent, sudorific, &c. Our best 

 medical sp. is F. hastata^ (Wild Hysop, Simplersjoy) 

 stronger bitter, emetic, expectorant/tonic, a good sub- 

 stitute to Eupatoriurriy but much weaker, used in agues 

 and fevers. Said by Thompson to be next to Lobelia 

 for an emetic in tea or powder, to check fevers and inci- 

 pient phthisis- F, urticifolia herb useless, But root bit- 

 ter, used against the eresypela of Rhus with milk and 

 oak bark. F spuria and others eq. ta F, officinaln, as 

 vulnerary, febrifuge, used in hemicrania, obstructions, 

 agues, coughs, gravel, worms, scrofula, icteris, wounds. 

 Was the holy herb of Greeks and Druids, used as pana- 

 cea, in incantations and to drive evil spirits. 



VERBESINA VIRGINICA, L. Herbe a S quarts in 

 Louisiana. Valuable sudorific and depurative of Indian 

 tribes : roots used in decoction. 



VERKONlA,Ait. Ironweed. All the sp- equiv. Roots 

 bitterish, used for fevers in Kentucky, spirituous bitters 

 made. Schoepf says used asiaiost poisons! Stems 

 afiorda kind of hemp, F altissima 10 feet high. Leaves 

 astringent, used for sorethroat. 



VIBURNUM, L. Many sp. medical and useful. T". 

 acenfohum or Dockmockie, leaves applied to inflamed 

 tumors by Indians. Fruits of many edible, F. oxycocus 

 and edule resemble Cranberries and are equal, those of 

 F pTunifolium and others, blue 'Sweetish acid edible. 

 Bark of many smoked like tobacco by Western tribes. 

 Leaves of F, casshioides^ levigatiim^ prunifolhim used 

 for tea in the South. Bark of F lantana and others 



give glue like Ilex. F dentatnm, (Mealy tree, Arrow 

 wood and Tily of Indians.) Bark used by the Indians 

 and Shakers as a diuretic and detergent, bitterish, con- 

 tains a peculiar fragrant oil ,- used \n decoction daily 

 and freely to prevent and remove cancerous affection 

 extract, pills and plaster also used. 



VINCA MINOR, L. Periwinkle. Pretty evergreen 

 creeper, become spont. Leaves bitter acrid astringent, 



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