GUAIACUM OFFICINALE. 281 
fect specific for lues venerea, gaining such repute as to have 
been sold at seven gold crowns a pound. However, as it 
often failed in curing this disease, it fell into disuse, and 
was almost entirely superseded by mercury. “ Although 
its utility was much overrated by many, it is, on the other 
hand, by no means the inert agent which some strenuous 
mercurialists will have it to be.” The general virtues of 
Guaiacum, as stated by Bergius, is mundificans, sudorifera, 
diuretica, subcalefaciens, stomachica; and its use to be in 
syphilis, arthritis, morbi cutis, odontalgia, It was also em- 
ployed by Mead and Pringle in rheumatism, both acute and 
chronic. By Cullen, and many others, in arthritis vaga, atonica, 
in gouty affections of different kinds, and various rheumatic 
combinations. By Schénlein in herpetic exanthemata and 
herpes circinatus. By Murray, Jahn, and Stark in deafness 
and confusion in the head, rheumatic prosopalgia. By Bell 
in toothache and angina tonsillaris. By Hufeland in giddiness 
from gout or syphilitic causes. By Desmarchais in sciatica. 
By Dr. Dewees in dysmenorrhea. As a preventive of gout by 
Emerigon, of Martinico. In chronic skin diseases ; in scrofula ; 
and in chronic pulmonary catarrh, especially of gouty subjects, 
etc. etc. 
Dzscrrption.—The Guaiacum tree grows to the height of 
from thirty to forty feet, and near a foot in the diameter of its 
trunk. The branches numerous, divaricated, knotty, leafy at 
the ends. The bark very smooth, variegated with green and 
The wood hard and ponderous, dark olive-brown within, 
whitish towards the bark, having a peculiar acid, aromatic scent, 
and well known in England by the name of Brazil-wood, or 
Lignum-vite. The Jeaves are opposite, abruptly pinnate, 58 
sisting only of two pairs of obovate or fount obtuse, osetia : 
smooth, pale, rigid leaflets, various in size, —_ several — 
ing veins. Flowers pale blue, on simple, axillary, schemtesee 
stalks, shorter than the leaves. The tree was first cultivated — 
in this country by the Duchess of Beaufort, in 1669. 
white. 
