156 ; ici a ae 
the. late Professor Barton, in cholera infantum. | Whether the prac- 
tice of using the astringent decoction. in dysentery, can ever be ad- 
mnissible, is, 1 think, extremely doubtful; and whether it has. ever 
actually done good in that complaint, is not less problematical. _ It 
is not unlikely that in diarrhea it may be useful: and this disease is 
not unfrequently called by the vulgar, dysentery. In all. proba- 
bility the powers ascribed to it of curing this. last. complaint, have 
been shewn by its exhibition in such cases, of Common diarrhea as 
are cured by the use of astringents. Of its use. in. cholera infantum 
I know nothing, not having ever. employed it in that-complaint. But 
1am informed by Dr. Eberle, who is a native of, and has practised 
in, the county of Lancaster, that the common people of that county 
use it extensively in the treatment of diarrhea and cholera infan- 
tum, And he tells me that he has himself used it in some cases of 
looseness of the bowels with as. much efficacy as other astringents. 
The western Indians are said to esteem it.as the most effectual of 
all their remedies for syphilis ; and here too, probably, the mild local 
disease which we know can be cured by astringents, has been con- 
founded under the name of the constitutional disease. An aqueous 
infusion of the root has been used as an injection for gonorrhea, 
and probably with success. I have used it in some few cases 
Jast summer, and I must confess with as much success as is usual 
with astringents ; though I ought not to conceal, that in those 
cases, (as in all that come under my Care,) Lused general depletion 
extensively, that is, by repeated purging with neutral salts. Dr. 
Barton hints that a saturated tincture, combined with white vitnol 
