96 NAT. ORDER. THYMELACE^. 



retained in the mouth, excites great and long continued heat and 

 inflammation, particularly of the throat and fauces. The berries 

 also have the same effects, and, when swallowed, prove a power- 

 ful corrosive poison, not only to man, but to dogs, wolves, foxes, &c. 

 The bark and berries of INIezereon, in difi'erent forms, have been 

 long externally used in obstinate ulcers and sores. In France and 

 some parts of England, the former is strongly recommended as an 

 application to the skin, which, under certain management, pro- 

 duces a continued serous discharge, without blistering, and is thus 

 rendered useful in many chronic diseases of a local nature, 

 answering the purpose of what has been called a perpetual blister, 

 while it occasions less pain and inconvenience. 



Medical Properties and Uses. In England and in the United 

 States, at the present time, Mezereon is only employed in the cure 

 of some syphilitic comjilaints, for which purpose. Dr. Donald 

 Monro was the first who gave testimony to its efficacy in the cure 

 of these loathsome diseases. A few months after this, several 

 cases were published by Dr. Russel, then physician to St. Thomas' 

 Hospital, fully establishing the utility of the cortax mezei-ei in ve- 

 nereal nodes. He says, " The disease for which I principally re- 

 commend the decoction of mezereon-root as a cure, is the node 

 that proceeds from a thickening of the memhrane of the bones, 

 which appear to be the cause of the greatest part of those tumors, 

 at least when recent. In a thickening of the periosteum from 

 other causes, I have seen very good effects from it." But in the 

 nocturnal pains accompanying syphilis, unless occasioned by the 

 node itself, he found it necessary to join a solution of sublimate to 

 the decoction. We would also remark that Dr. R. never found 

 tlie decoction to increase any of the natural evacuations. Dr. 

 CuUen observes, that "Dr Home has not only found this de- 

 coction to cure scirrhous tumors which remain after the lues 

 venerea, and after the use of mercury, but that it healed, also, 

 some scirrhous tumors from other causes ; and that he has 



