33-3 
the Western tribes used principally the bark of the root in decoction, for colics, 
gonorrhcea, and rheumatism ; chewed for aching teeth; and made intoa poultice with 
bears grease and applied to ulcers and sores.* From personal experience one day 
in the woods while botanizing, I found that, upon chewing the bark for relief of 
toothache, speedy mitigation of the pain followed, though the sensation of the 
acrid bark was nearly or fully as unpleasant as the ache, and so painful finally in 
itself that I abandoned its use, only to have the toothache return when the irrita- 
tion of the bark had left the mucous membranes. A decoction of the bark is dia- 
phoretic and excites secretion generally. Its action upon the salivary glands 
causes in time almost as full ptyalism as mercury. Its speedy relief of rheumatism 
is said to occur only when it causes free perspiration; for this disease a pint a day 
is taken of a decoction of one ounce of the bark boiled in a quart of water. It is 
a powerful stimulant to healing wounds or indolent ulcerations. Dr. King, who 
introduced the use of this drug in Cincinnati in 1849, both in the treatment of 
tympanitis, distention of the bowels during peritonitis, and in Asiatic cholera, 
says:+ ‘In tympanitis one half to one drachm of the tincture may be given fer 
orts, in a little sweetened water, and repeated hourly, and the same amount used 
as anenema. The action is usually prompt and permanent. In Asiatic cholera, 
during 1849 and 1850, it was much employed by our (Eclectic) physicians in Cin- 
cinnati, and with great success; it acted like electricity, so sudden and diffusive 
was its influence over the system, In typhus fever, typhoid pneumonia, and 
typhoid conditions generally, 1 am compelled to say that I consider the tincture of 
prickly-ash berries superior to any other form of medication. I have known cases 
of typhoid pneumonia in which the patients were so low that all prospect of re- 
covery was despaired of, to be so immediately benefited that the patients who, a 
few minutes before, were unable to notice anything around them, would reply to 
questions, and manifest considerable attention, and ultimately recover.” 
Prickly ash is officinal in the U.S. Ph. as Extractum Xanthoxyli Fluidum ; 
and in the Eclectic Materia Medica its preparations are: Enema Xanthoxyli ; 
Extractum Xanthoxyli Fluidum; Oleoresina Xanthoxyli; Tinctura Xanthoxyli ; 
Tinctura Laricis’ Composita.t 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh bark, together with that of the 
root, is ground toa pulp, covered in a well-stoppered bottle with two parts by 
weight of alcohol, and allowed to stand eight days in a dark, cool place, being 
shaken twice a day. 
The tincture separated from this mass by filtration has a clear, yellowish- 
green color by transmitted light; it retains the peculiar odor and taste of the bark, 
and exhibits an acid reaction, 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.— Xanthoxylin. This body, extracted by Dr. 
Staples from the bark, and so named, has been determined to be derberin.§ 
AE esi’ SOc e eR 
* Rafinesque, Med. Flora. 2, p. 115. ; : 
+ College Four., March, 1856; quoted by Miller in 7he Four. of Mat. Med, Vol. Ill, N, S., 1861, 9. 
{ Tamarac bark, Juniper berries, Prickly Ash bark, Wild Cherry bark, Seneca Snake-root, Tansy, Whiskey, 
Molasses, and Hydro-alcoholic Extract of Podophyllum, 4 See under Berberis, p. 16-2. 
