a 
_ Perstwon Tare. 
‘The persimon is a common tree, rising from fifteen to sixty. 
; ae yellow, or orange color, and appear in May or June, when the 
eaves are yet unfolded. The fruit is only ripe late in the fall, and 
after frost ; they resemble.a yellow plumb, but are globular. When 
green, they are most intensely astringent; but when fully ripe and 
- soft, become sweet, and have a fine flavor. This tree is found from 
_ New York to Louisiana, rare north of the 42d degree of latitude, _ 
common in the south; more common in the plains than in the moun- __ 
tdine. 2-9! ee . = 
The ripe fruit is subastringent, antiseptic, anthelmintic, &c. The 
inner bark is the most useful part: it is extremely bitter, and a good 
astringent tonic, useful in sore throat, fevers, intermittents, anddysen-— 
tery. In this last disorder, it is often united with rhubarb. It is 
much used in Carolina and Tennessee for intermittents. It is also 
a powerful antiseptic, and equal to the Peruvian bark. It has been 
useful in ulcers, and ulcerous sore throat. The a 
_&8 common tonics, either in substance or 
Commonly called red pimpernel. It is an exotic plant, originally _ 
introduced into America from Germany, by the Germans in Penn- 
sylvania, by whom it is principally cultivated, the knowledge s 
virtues being chiefly confined to them: Se aa 
~The plant has weak, square stalks, lying on the ground, with 
two small and almost round leaves at every joint, one against another, 
very like chick weed, but-no foot-stalks. The flowers stand singly, 
consisting of five small round pointed leaves, of a pale red color 
tending an orange, to which succeed smooth round heads,’co 
ing small seed. The root is fibvous andannual. Sion 
=  ephis herb is highly esteemed by the Germans as an infallible reme- 
‘dy for the hydrophobia. I have witnessed its effect myself, and in 
“every case in which it was employed it proved a complete antidote. 
Tts dose in this disorder is half a oe tag of the apo —% 
herb, repeating it in eight hours. -This will create a protuse swe 
usually, and hie ins the poison. Its use will be found described 
~_in-the treatment of hydrophobia. — j ; 
Pimpernel is also considered valuable in many complaints as a 
_ * cleansing, anti-poisonous medicine. Formerly it was considered a 
_- good remedy against the plague, and other pestilential fevers, being” 
~_. boiled in wine and drank till perspiration was created. It was used — 
inwardly and outwardly for the bites of serpents. Applied as a — 
_ Poultice, it draws out thorns and other extraneous substances from : 
the flesh. The decoction is an excellent wash for cleansing: lthy 
. 
a smooth bark, and spreading branches. Its blossoms are of a ti 
