52-2 
As regards New York State: I have noted in traveling upon the N. Y, & Erie 
R. R., that it ceased entirely at Narrowsburg, 122 miles from New York City,* 
I have not met with the plant in Chenango, Broome, Tioga nor Tompkins Counties, 
and Dr, Lucy fails to find it in Chemung; this is probably due to the rich loam of 
these localities. Dr. Barton says:+ “It promiscuously inhabits a variety of situa- 
tions, though almost always in a dry soil, in every State of the Union.” It flowers 
in the Northern States from June to August. 
The young shoots of this plant resemble, in form and general appearance, 
those of asparagus, and are used, especially in New England, in lieu of that herb 
for a pottage. As a dye, it is no longer used, being far inferior to Indigofera and 
its employment unnecessary. 
The most important previous use of the plant as a drug, was as an “anti- 
septic” dressing for gangrenous wounds, especially in such cases as were accom- 
panied by a low form of fever; and in decoction in putrid fevers generally. Dr. 
Thatcher says :{ “its employment has been extended in a few instances to Typhus 
or putrid fever, with such good effect as to encourage further trials. In the form 
of fomentation or cataplasm it has proved eminently beneficial when applied to 
phagedenic and gangrenous ulcers; especially if the decoction be administered 
internally at the same time” (italics ours). Dr. Comstock says :§ “I would observe 
that it is used in cases of mortification, in fevers supposed to be putrid, and 
inclining to putrescency, and in general where antiseptics are indicated.” Our 
provings thoroughly corroborate, and our practice substantiates the above use of 
the drug. Any physician, of whatever school of practice, who fails to use this 
remedy in Typhoid alone where it is so often indicated, allows many an opportunity 
to save a life to escape him. The National Dispensatory|| contains under this 
drug the following, written, we feel compelled to say, in willful ignorance: 
“Nothing has recently been added to the knowledge possessed many years ago 
respecting this medicinal plant.” The U. S. Pharmacopeeia gives no officinal 
preparation ; this in the full light of our excellent success with the drug, and our 
vastly lower percentage of death in Typhoid. : 
The preparations of the Eclectic Materia Medica are: Extractum Baptisie 
Alcoholicum ; Unguentum Baptisie, and Pilule Baptisiea Composite.§ 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh root with its bark is chopped 
and pounded to a pulp and weighed. Then two parts by weight of alcohol are — 
taken, the pulp mixed thoroughly with one-sixth part of it and the rest of the — 
alcohol added. After stirring the whole well, it is poured into a well-stoppered 
bottle and allowed to stand eight days in a dark, cool place. ‘iia ee 
The tincture separated from this mass by filtration is opaque, in thin layers ©. 
presents a deep brownish-red color by transmitted light; it has no distinguishing 
* Author in Bull. Torrey Club, vol. xi, 1884, p. 133. 
t Veg. Mat. Med., vol. ii, p. 56. 
t Thatcher's Dispensatory, p. 361, quoted in Barton's Veg. Mat. Med., pp. 58-59, vol. ii. 
@ ‘Letter to Mr. Weems,” in Veg. Mat. Med. Barton, vol. ii, p. 58. 
|| 1879, p. 267. . 
| Leptandria, Podophyllin, Sanguinaria and Baptisia, | 
