BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 163 
Sassafras Officinale, Sassafras.—Natural 
order Lauracee. This tree is a native of the 
North American continent, and varies in size 
according to soil and latitude, from a small bush, 
or shrub toa tree measuring 12 to 15 inches in 
diameter at the trunk and reaching a height of 
20 or 30 feet. The leaves on the same tree or 
bush differ as to shape, some being ovoidal, some 
lobed on one side and others again lobed on 
both sides; flowers yellow and the corolla has 
six oblong petals or segments (dicecious); the 
male flowers have nine stamens, whilst the her- 
maphrodite ones are on different trees and have 
only six stamens, with asimplestyle. Fruit an 
oval drupe about the size of a buckshot and 
of a deep blue color. The bark, as found 
in the stores, is in very irregular shaped 
pieces, often having a corky layer or epidermis, 
but when properly prepared for the drug market 
presents a rusty-brown color externally; when 
broken, the fracture is corky; odor fragrant and 
of its own kind; taste pungent and astringent. 
The pith or medulla of the sassafras officinale 
occurs in slender, cylindrical pieces, very light 
and easily broken, possessing the odor and taste 
of the bark to a high degree. Sassafras bark is 
obtained from the root, and is said to contain, 
according to authority, starch, gum, resin, wax, 
sassafrid and a volatile oil, which dissolves 
freely in alcohol, yielding with acid nitric a dark 
resin which consists of safro/ and sassafrene. 
The sassafras bark has long been considered a 
valuable stimulant, alterative and diaphoretic, 
and is given in doses of 30 to 60 grains (3 to 4 
grams) The pith, oil and comp. decoctum are 
