ELTSHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 39 



has also a part in the quality of the acid phosphate. On a damp, 

 muggy day. the mixer-man will say, "It works bad to-day." the 

 rapidity with which the mass "dries out'' being an element of 

 manufacturing not to be despised. 



Given a rock of good and uniform quality, acid of uniform and 

 suflBcient strength, and favorable weather, and the applicability of 

 the formula? here given is assured. 



Laboratory Navassa Quano Co. 

 Wilmington, N. C. 



ANALYSIS OF THE LEAVES OF ILEX CASSINE. 



F. P. VENABLE. 



The Yopon {Ilex Cassine, Linn), is described in Hale's "Woods 

 and Timbers of North Carolina," as an elegant shrub 10 to 15 feet 

 high, but sometimes rising into a small tree 20 to 25 feet. It has, 

 according to the same authority, for its habitat the strip of country 

 from Virginia southward along the coast, never extending, how- 

 ever, very far into the interior. The leaves are i to 1 inch long, 

 with a smooth surface, and fine serrated edge. The plant is an 

 evergreen, and its dark green leaves and bright red berries make it 

 attractive as an ornamental shrub. In the region of the Dismal 

 Swamp, and in other sections the leaves are annually gathered, dried 

 and used for tea. This decoction is, according to Hale, oppressively 

 sudorific, at least to those unaccustomed to its use. The famous 

 " Black Drink" of the southern Indians was made from the leaves 

 of this shrub. " At a certain time of the year they come down in 

 droves from a distance of some hundred miles, to the coast for the 

 leaves of this tree. They make a fire on the ground and putting a 

 great kettle of water on it, they throw in a large quantity of these 

 leaves, and seating themselves around the fire, from a bowl that 

 holds about a pint, they begin drinking large draughts, which in a 

 short time occasions them to vomit freely and easily. Thus they 

 continue for the space of two or three days, until they have suflBi- 

 ciently cleansed themselves, and then every one taking a bundle of 

 the leaves, they all retire to their habitations." Having on hand a 

 small sample of these leaves procured from New Berne during the 



