146-2 
nishes a yellow dye for woolens (Passerina tinctoria), a pulp for manufacture into 
paper (Dats Madagascariensts), a \ace-like material for ropes in the West Indies 
(Lagetta lintearia), and in Madagascar (Guidia daphnoides). Medically it furnishes 
a Javanese purgative (Dazs octandria), a Cayenne laxative (Hernandia Guianensis), 
an Indian purgative, depilatory, and antidote to poisons (//ernandia sonora), and 
an edible nut (/zocarpus edulis) in the South Sea Islands, said to be similar in 
taste to the chestnut; this latter is an exception, as the fruits of the thymeleacee are 
generally deleterious. In general the fresh bark is possessed of a caustic acridity, 
and when applied to the skin acts as a painful vesicant. 
History and Habitat.—The Leatherwood is indigenous to North America, 
growing in swampy or springy woods from Canada to Georgia, east of the Alle- 
ghany Mountains; it flowers with the maples in April, before the appearance of 
the leaves. The fibrous bark afforded material for ropes, thongs, cordage, and 
baskets, to the American aborigines. 
The medical history of this drug is slight, the only reference to its use is that 
of the Indians as a masticatory for aching, carious teeth. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh inner bark of the twigs is 
chopped and pounded to a pulp and weighed. Then two parts by weight of 
alcohol are taken, the pulp thoroughly mixed with one-sixth part of it, and the 
rest of the alcohol added. After careful mixture the whole is poured into a well- 
stoppered bottle and allowed to stand eight days in a dark, cool place. 
The tincture, separated from the above mass by filtration, has a clear, green- 
ish, orange-brown color by transmitted light, retains the peculiar odor of the bark, 
has a sourish then burning taste, and a neutral reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—The only attempt at an analysis of this plant, 
as far as I am able to determine, is that of Dr. Bigelow and his pupil, Dr. Locke. 
They found that the acridity of the fresh bark was not retained in a distillate or 
decoction, and determined the presence of: 
A bitter resinoid, soluble in alcohol; and an 
Acrid principle. This body is apparently fully retained in the tincture pre- 
pared as above. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—Dr. Locke observes that the powdered root 
causes emesis and catharsis, and that the bark causes vesication; other observers, 
who have carried this application farther, find that sores follow that are difficult 
to heal. Dr, Perkins notes a case of poisoning with the fruit in which vertigo, 
Nausea, stupor, insensibility, and dilatation of the pupils occurred.* The bark 
when chewed produces ptyalism, burning in the fauces and stomach, and some- 
times paresis of the tongue. Dr. Spooner’s proving of the drug} substantiates 
the above, and leads us to the conclusion that Dirca acts as an irritant to the 
* Bigelow, Afed. Bot., vol. li, p. 157- 
7 Allen, Ency. Pure Mat. Med., vol. iv, pp. 161-7. 
