71-2 
This family is represented by only two genera, Cornus and Nyssa, the latter 
having dicecious and partly apetalous flowers. 
Beside the three species treated of in this work, the following are useful: The 
European and Asiatic Cornellian Cherry (Cornus mas, Linn.), the fruits of which 
were formerly fermented as a beverage, and are now used in Turkey in the concoc- 
tion of a kind of sherbet; and the North European Lus-a-chrasts (C. succica, Linn,), 
the berries of which are claimed by the Highlanders to have the power of enor- 
mously increasing the appetite. The berries of the Red Osier Dogwood (C. 
stolonifera, Michx.; C. sanguinea, Linn.), are claimed by Murion* to yield about 
one-third their weight of a pure, limpid oil, resembling olive, and fit for table use 
or for burning. 
History and Habitat.—The flowering dogwood is common in the deep woods 
of North America from the 43° north latitude southward, eastward, and westward ; 
it is especially common in the South, where it extends from Florida westward to 
the Mississippi. Its principal central localities are the States of New Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, where it flowers in May, generally from the 
1sth to the 22d, and fruits in September. A peculiar feature in the blossoming of 
this species is the great regularity in time of appearance of its short-lived blossoms ; 
so characteristic is this that the Indians always planted their corn when the 
blossoms appeared. 
Notwithstanding the small diameter of the trunk of the dogwood, its wood is 
nevertheless quite valuable, on account of its great density and susceptibility of 
polish. It has been used for every purpose generally filled by the European Box- 
wood, such as engravers’ blocks, cog-wheels, forks, spoons, rules, etc., etc. The 
twigs have long been used as a dentifrice ; of this use Barton says: + “The young 
branches stripped of their bark, and rubbed with their ends against the teeth, 
render them extremely white. The Creole negroes, who inhabit Norfolk, in 
Virginia, in great numbers, are in constant practice of using dogwood twigs in 
cleansing their teeth; the striking whiteness of these, which I have frequently 
observed, is a proof of the efficacy of this practice. The application of the juice 
of these twigs to the gums, is also useful in preserving them hard and sound.” 
The bark of the root afforded the aborigines a scarlet pigment. es 
The previous medicinal use of dogwood bark dates from the discovery of this 
country, as it was then used by the Indians, who called the tree Mon-ha-can-ni-min- 
scht, or Hat-ta-wa-no-min-schi by the Delawares. The bark has proven tonic, 
astringent, and slightly stimulating; being a stomachic tonic and anti-periodic, said 
to possess an action very like that of Peruvian bark, and differing from the latter 
only in quantity of action. Eberle states{ that 35 grains equal 30 grains ee 
cinchona bark, and Barton says,$ “It may be asserted with entire safety, that as 
yet there has not been discovered within the limits of the United States any 
vegetable so effectually to answer the purpose of Peruvian bark in the management 
of intermittent fever as Cornus florida.” The dose of the dried and powdered 
* Four, de Pharm., 10, + Med. Bot., i., 55. t Therapeutics, i, 304. 3 Collections. 
