NAT. ORDER. LAURACEiE. 25 



and have often proved serviceable in the treatment of kidney affec- 

 tions. Beroius and some others made great use of a tea made from 

 its leaves in the treatment of hysteria, but cautioned its too free use, 

 as it was thought to act with peculiar power on the uterine system, 

 proving considerably diuretic, and powerful as an emmenagogue. 

 An infusion of the leaves is sometimes recommended by modern 

 physicians ; and the essential oil of the berries is given from one to 

 five drops on sugai', or dissolved by means of mucilages, or in spirit 

 of wine, this mode of administration has been urgently recommend- 

 ed in chronic rheumatisrns, painful affections of the joints and bones, 

 particularly those of a syphilis nature, for which it is extensively 

 used in some parts of Europe even at the present day. 



Dr. Koelpir, of Alten-stetin, an eminent botanist, claims to have 

 made some valuable discoveries in relation to this plant. He made 

 an infusion of it in water, kept twenty-four hours in nearly a boil- 

 ing heat, in the proportion of two drachms of the leaves and tops 

 of the plant to ten ounces of water. It was sometimes made double 

 this strength, and the dose was two ounces, to be repeated after a 

 * few hours, and continued as required. Dr. Home found it an as- 

 tringent and 2^"werfuliy sedative; he directs it in infusion, from 

 half-a-drachm to two drachms for a dose. When taken internally, 

 it produces — according to Koelpir — a feverish heat, intoxication, 

 sometimes a stupor, with a pricking sensation in the limbs, or other 

 parts of the body ; but the intoxication leaves neither headache or 

 nausea. During the heat, the patient complains of intense thirst; 

 and drinking cold \\ater is followed by a violent but salutary vom- 

 iting, especially in comphiints of the bowels; and a copious sweat 

 on the parts affected with rheumatism or gout. In some instances 

 the pains grow worse at first; but this increase of disease is soon 

 followed b\' a remarkable relief: the pulse is rendered much weak- 

 er and slower, and in chronic rheumatism its effects are sometimes 

 greatly increased. The infusion at first often produces heat and 

 constriction in the fauces ; which is a proof of some little acrimony, 



