PHARMACOPCEIAL VEGETABLE DRUGS. 
(Bauhin, 47) (1650), and Piso (1658) (511), the latter giving it the 
‘Brazilian synonym “‘anhuiba.” 
Francisco Hernandez (314), another Spanish physician, who trav- 
eled through Mexico between the years 1571 and 1577, speaks of the 
occurrence of sassafras at Mechuacan in Mexico. His work was trans- 
lated by Francisco Ximinez, a monk of the convent of San Domingo 
in Mexico, in 1615. 
The latter author is quoted at length on the subject of sassafras 
by Jean de Laet (368), a noted Dutch geographer (who died in 1649), 
whose work, “Novus Orbis, etc., 1633,” testifies to the probably French 
origin of the knowledge of sassafras. Having taken the account given 
by Laudonnieére as his source, he speaks, in Chapter XIV, concerning 
the land and inhabitants of the part of Florida traversed by the French, 
and calls attention to the tree as being prominent in the woods and 
refers to the exquisite odor of its wood and bark. He says that this 
tree is called “pavame” by the Indians and “sassafras” by the French. 
Soon after the discovery of sassafras the drug was exported to 
Europe, as before stated, and became at once known in Spain and 
France. It was well known in Frankfort-on-the-Main as early as 1582, 
and in Hamburg in 1587, at which time it was (F. A. Fliickiger, Am. 
Jour. Phar., 1876, p. 367) termed lignum pavanum seu floridum, seu 
+ylomarathri (fennel-wood). Sailing expeditions to America were 
undertaken in those times to secure the wood as well as the root. An 
English merchant, Martin Pring, is recorded by Charles Pickering 
(510) as having with two small vessels arrived on the American coast 
in the beginning of June, 1603. The point named is 43 degrees and 44 
degrees northern latitude, among a multitude of islands. Following 
the coast south in search of sassafras he entered a large sound, and on 
the north side in the latitude 41 degrees and “odde” minutes built a 
hut and enclosed it with a barricade, where some of the party kept 
guard while others collected sassafras in the woods. The natives were 
treated with kindness, and the last of the two vessels departed freighted 
on the 9th of August. 
In connection with the introduction of sassafras root into Eng- 
land, Daniel Hanbury (Proc. Am. Phar. Assoc., 1871, p. 491) un- 
earthed the following interesting record contained in the Calendars of 
State Papers of the Public Record Office: 
“Instructions for suche thinges as are to be sente from Virginia, 
1610. 
“(1)_ Small Sassafras Rootes to be drawen in the winter and 
dryed and none to be medled with in the somer and yt is worthe 50£ 
and better, p. Tonne,” etc. 
But, still, the exact botanical origin. of sassafras was not known 
to the writers of the seventeenth century. While they were well ac- 
quainted with the peculiar foliage and the other characteristics of the 
tree, the flowers and the fruit were expressly stated to be unknown 
to such writers as Clusius (153), (Monardes) (447), 1593, Joh. Bau- 
hinus (47) (1650), and Piso (511) (1658). 
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