NAT. ORDER. CELASTRINEvE. lU 



fences, and rocks. It has various names — as staff tree, red root, 

 fever twig, and wax work. It is common throughout the northern 

 and southern States, thriving the most lu.xuriantly in a rich, damp 

 soil. 



" The solanum dulcamara, or woody night-shade, is sometimes 

 confounded with this plant, probably on account of the name hitter 

 sweet being common to them both. The dulcamara possesses poi- 

 sonous properties, and hence the necessity of this caution. It has 

 a slender, vine-like stem, seldom exceeding seven or eight feet in 

 length, with leaves of a dull green color, and clusters of elegant 

 purple blossoms, which remain in bloom from June till August." 



Medical Properties and Uses. The Bitter Sweet, says Dr. 

 Smith, is both a powerful and useful medicine, although like most 

 of tlie invaluable medicinal plants of our country, which nature has 

 so profusely furnished to our hands, its virtues are but little appre- 

 ciated, and that but by a few. It increases all the secretions and 

 excretions, particularly perspiration, acts gently as a diuretic, and 

 excites the heart and arteries. It is an excellent discutient, deter- 

 gent, and resolvent medicine, and may be employed both in,ternally 

 and externally. It is peculiarly beneficial in liver complaints, and 

 in all cutaneous affections; also in rheumatism, scirrous swellings, 

 ulcers, scrofula, jaundice, weakness and obstructions. The ex- 

 pressed juice of this plant has been applied to cancers of the breast 

 and scrofulous tumors: the juice is rubbed on the cancer or the 

 swelling, and the green leaves are applied over the breast. For 

 internal use, it is recommended to boil half a pound of the bark in 

 one gallon of water ; the dose is a gill three or four times a day. 

 It is also very highly valued in the treatment of fevers and dropsi- 

 cal swellings. 



To make Bitter-sweet Ointment, put equal parts of the berries and 

 lard in a close kettle, over a gentle fire, for several hours; strain it, 

 and add half a pound of pulverized lobelia seed; heat the whole 

 gently for a few hours, and strain again for use. A cure for piles. 



