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names of more than indigenous plants and shrubs ranked 



as medicinal. For the names of these and their proper classification, 

 we must refer to the reports of Drs. Williams, Porcher, and Lee, 

 copies of which are herewith presented. With these preliminary 

 observations we must pass to a more particular account of such arti- 

 cles as our time has enabled us satisfactorily to investigate. 



1. Rumex: Water-dock or Yellotv-docJc. Apetalous exogenous. 

 Nat. Ord. Polygonacese. Sex. Syst. Hexandria Trigynia. 



At least six species of Rumex are found in this country, besides 

 the Rumex Acetocella, of which we shall not here speak. Three of 

 these, viz : the Rumex Britannica, R. Obtusifolium, and R. Crispus, 

 are indigenous, and the others have been naturalized from Europe. 

 They all possess similar medicinal properties, and are generally used 

 indiscriminately. Their specific characters are too well known to 

 need repetition in this report. They are found in most parts of the 

 United States, particularly in rich pastures, and about yards and 

 out-houses. 



The medicinal portion is the root, which is generally described as 

 possessing astringent and slightly tonic properties. But from our 

 experiments and observations, we are satisfied that its chief value 

 consists in its alterative and gently laxative qualities. We have re- 

 peatedly given it in the form of decoction, in doses of one or two 

 fluidounces, repeated every four, six, or eight hours, and have pretty 

 uniformly found it to relax the bowels and promote the secretions, 

 especially that of bile, as indicated by the character of the evacua- 

 tions. 



But we have never noticed any marked effect on either the ner- 

 vous or sanguineous systems. If we have rightly observed the action 

 of this root, it is one of our most valuable indigenous remedies, being 

 fully equal to the far-famed Sarsaparilla as an alterative, and on 

 account of its laxative qualities possessing in most cases a decided 

 advantage over the last named remedy. And in this respect we find 

 our oavii observations fully confirmed by the experience of others. 

 Thus, in the Bellevue Hospital, of this city, we find it very generally 

 used in a large portion of the venereal, scrofulous and cutaneous 

 diseases, in conjunction with the preparations of Iodine and Mercury, 

 as a substitute for Sarsaparilla, and with the most satisfactory results. 

 It is especially adapted to those cases, accompanied by torpid bowels 

 and inactive secretions of the important abdominal viscera. We do 

 not mean to represent it, as of itself, capable of generally curing 

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