NAT. ORDER. — ASCLEPIADE,iE. 93 



furnished with a long .silky appendage. The phinl continues a long 

 time in bloom, at \Yiiich time its rich green leaves contrasted \vith 

 its gorgeous inflorescence, render it an universal favorite. 



This plant is a native of North America, and its geographical 

 distrilnition very extensive, being found from the Xorlhern States to 

 the Southern boundary of the Union ; but it is most abundant in the 

 Carolinas and Georgia. In the neighborhood of New-York it is 

 somew hat rare, but in many parts of New-Jer.sey quite plenty. It 

 is generally found in fields, sometimes in meadows ; and flowers in 

 the months of June and July. The root alone is the part used for 

 medical purposes. 



M diced Properties and Uses. — So many estimable rjualities are 

 usually altril)uted to this very favorite plant and popular medicine, 

 that it is not easy to assign it a proper place in the Materia Medica. 

 If the White-root is de.servingof iudf its reputation, it is richly enti- 

 tled to a distinguished rank in this work ; and so numerous and re- 

 spectable are tiie authorities in support of its celebrity, that it is with 

 considerable dithdence I venture to lessen, in the least degree, its 

 elevated character as a medicine, by the intimation of any doubts of 

 its just claim to its present undisputed reputation. My own expe- 

 rience with it is confined to a few trials in cases in which it is re- 

 puted to be peculiarly beneficial ; and these have resulted in an 

 opinion, that there is some foundation for the encomiastic accoujits 

 of this medicine. It may be safely recommended to physicians, as a 

 mild cathartic, particularly .suitable to the complaints of children, as 

 it leaves the bowels in a tranquil condition : and as a certain diaph- 

 oretic, attended with no inconsiderable expectorant eflect. But a 

 regard for truth obliges me to state that the virtues of this plant 

 are, as far as my experience extends, considerably exaggerated, 

 there being ascribed to it a multitude of powerful, extraordinary, 

 and almost inestimable properties, to which its virtual character af- 

 fords no sub.stantial claim. It must be rcmendiered, however, that 

 these remarks are not intended to stigmatize the White-root as wrrdi- 



