152 A COMPENDIUM OF 
ers globular, white and very fragrant; petals 
usually six, but sometimes as many as nine; 
stamens numerous, the filaments short, anthers 
adnate and intrerse; pistils adhere in an aggTe- 
gated mass upon a long torus. Fruit oblong, 
conical and small, with many carpels, and one 
or more seeds in each carpel; flowers in all the 
genus are solitary; leaves leathery and entire. 
~The bark of the Magnolia usually occurs in 
quills or curved pieces, of an orange-brown color 
externally, somewhat warty and fissured; inter- 
nally, the color is of a lighter shade. When 
broken, the fracture is fibrous; taste bitter and 
pungent. The Magnolia barks contain tannin, 
_ resin, and an active principle which has been 
isolated and called magnolin, analogous to /irto- 
dendrin, but its presence in the various species 
of the magnolias has not been thoroughly dem- 
onstrated. The bark and fruit have tonic, fe- 
brifuge and diaphoretic properties,and have been 
used in form of powder and decoction, the dose 
of the former being % to 1 drachm (2 to 4 
grains) ; of the latter, 14 to 1 fluidounce. Mag- 
-Nolia at one time had quite a reputation in rheu- 
matism, and is still retained as a remedial agent, 
__ but no officinal preparation is recognized. The 
_ Magnolia was named after the botanist Magnol, 
_ Who lived in the seventeenth century. 
__ Mezereum, Mezereon, Daphne Mezereum.— 
_ Natural order Thymelacee. Common name, 
Spurge Laurel. 
_Mezereon heading the list; only one of the spe- 
sg Eads eo the United States; the others 
Ves OF the mountain regions of Europe. 
This small perennial shrub is eer eeraes, with 
