NAT. ORDER. THVMELACE^. 97 



employed it in several cutaneous affections, and very often with 

 success." 



The great burningf and continued heat and irritation that is 

 produced in the throat when mezereon is chewed, induced Dr. 

 Witherinor to think of giving it in a case of difficulty of swallow- 

 ing, seemingly occasioned by a paralytic affection. The patient 

 was directed to chew a thin slice of the root as often as she could 

 bear it, and in about a month recovered her power of swallowing. 

 This woman had been a great sufferer from her complaint, for 

 about three years, and was greatly reduced, being totally unable 

 to swallow solids the whole time, and liquids but very imperfectly. 



Mezereon, in its recent state, is an active poison, and should 

 be given with great care, if given at all. A case is related to us 

 from undoubted authority, of a woman who gave twelve grains of 

 the berries to her daughter, who had the fever-ague. She vomited 

 blood, and died immediately. As the acrimony of these berries 

 is not immediately perceived . uj3on being tasted, the ignorant and 

 unwary are ':he more easily betrayed to swallow them. 



As some may wish to try this plant in their practice, which is 

 as yet unknown to most physicians in this country, and promises 

 beneficial effects in several complaints, we shall briefly recite the 

 usual mode in which it has been conducted. 



A square piece of the fresh-gathered bark, about the size of 

 a penny, macerated a little in vinegar, is applied to the skin, over 

 which is bound a leaf of ivy or plantain. This application is at 

 first renewed night and morning, till it cauterizes the part, and 

 brings on a serous discharge, when a renew-al of the bark once in 

 twenty-four hours is found sufficient to continue the issue for any 

 length of time. By means of suitable plasters, it is thought by 

 some physicians, it might prove valuable if applied behind the 

 ears to relieve the eyes ; and on a larger scale prove useful in 

 practice in sundry diseases. It must be observed, however, that 

 it .sometimes produces cutaneous eruptions, which is atlr!l)ute(l to 



