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ticum) ; Sassafras (Sassafras officinale, Laurus Sassafras) ; and Sweet bay (Laurus 
nobilis), so celebrated by poets for its fragrance and beauty. The genus Oveo- 
daphne yields: Jamaica sweetwood (0. exaltata); Canary Island 772/ (O. fetens) ; 
Isle of France Cinnamon (O. cupularis) ; a Brazilian discutient (O. opzfera) ; and 
a native species much used by the Californian Indians in cephalalgia, and destined 
to become one of our valuable remedies (O. Californica). The genus Wectandra 
affords the much-vaunted substitute for Quinia, sulphate of Berberia, a product of 
N. rodiat, now falling into disuse; Santa Fe Cinnamon (NV. cennamonordes) ; 
Orinoko Sassafras (VV. cymborum); the Brazilian Pichurim bean (VV. puchury) ; 
and the Sassafras nuts of the London markets (4. puchury minor). Among all 
the products of this varied family one only is really edible, viz.: the West Indian 
Avocado Pear (Persea gratissima). 
History and Habitat.—The spice-bush, so well known among the laity on 
account of its aromatic buds, bark, and berries, inhabits low marsh spots upon the 
banks of streams from Canada southward to Florida. It blossoms in March or 
April, before the leaves appear. 
The economical use of this shrub has given it many of its vulgar names. 
During the war of the Revolution the Americans used the powdered berries as a 
substitute for allspice (Barton), During the war of the Rebellion the people of 
northern South Carolina used the leaves as a substitute for tea, they affording a 
pleasant antipyretic and aromatic drink (Porcher); and the berries as before 
mentioned, In domestic practice the bark, leaves, and berries have been used in 
decoction to produce diaphoresis and act as a febrifuge; they were considered 
also as tonic, stimulant, antiperiodic, and anthelmintic. The oil of the berries was 
often used as an embrocation in neuralgic and rheumatic pains. 
There are now no preparations in use officinally except the Homceopathic 
tincture. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh, young twigs gathered before 
the buds have burst in the spring, are chopped and pounded toa 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, pour it into a well-stoppered vial, and allow it stand for eight days in a dark, 
cool place. : 
The tincture separated from the above mass by filtration has a light-brown 
color by transmitted light, an aromatic odor and taste, and a slight acid reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—Three analyses have been made of this plant* 
to determine its active principle, resulting in the separation of a volatile oil, tannin, 
an essential oil, a tasteless resin, together with other unimportant and general plant 
constituents. Its medicinal properties, in all probability, lie in the oils, one being 
_ cinnamyl compound, the other a substitution product of benzene. 
: - A. Brockenbrough, Jun., “An Experimental Botanico-chemical essay on Two Native Species of Laurus,” 1804; 
: American Journal of Pharmacy, 1873, pS Jones; 1875, P. M. Gleim, 
