Dr. Hancock on Sarsaparilla. 61 



VI. Observations on Sarsaparilla and its Pre- 

 parations. WITH INCIDBNTAL Remarks on certain 



OTHKR REMEDIAL Ac IN IS IN THE CURB OF OBSTINATB 



Chronical Disorders, by John Hancock. M. D., 

 Fellow op the Medico-Botanical Society, Yice- 

 Prksidj.nt of the Philosophical Socibtt op Bri- 

 tish GuiANA, Corresponding Member of the Zoo- 

 logical Society, &c. Itc. (Read May '26th, 1829. ) 



The admirable effects, and consequent high price, of the article 

 in question, has induced the inhabitants of those countries from 

 whence it is imported, to gather it from all the different species of 

 SmilAX, the roots of which have any resemblance to the genuine 

 sort, and even from some other plants of ditTerent families. Till 

 a very recent period, the people of Essequebo mistook for Sarsa, 

 even the pendent fibres (not roots) of a species of climbing 

 Arlm, with large heart-shaped leaves; and, however gross the 

 error, I found certain medical practitioners there, indulging in 

 the belief of its being the genuine drug, and employing it as 

 such ! We cannot be surprised, therefore, to find the European 

 market deluged with false kinds of Sarsa, which sufficiently ac- 

 SOOnta tor the little credit given it by many of the faculty, both 

 at hone and abroad. 



Of thesis or eight species of Smilax which 1 have observed 



grow i it ^ in the WOodsof Guiana, I never found but one to inani- 



snj thing of tin- sensible qualities of the genuine 

 medicinal Sana; die rest being, for the most part, perfectly 



insipid in tin- month and faUCCS, and, as far as ni\ experience 

 goes, nearly inert as remedies. In reference, indeed, to ineili 



\\ powers, there ure evidently two distinct divisions of this 



f plants, although we know of no botanical characteristics 



for thus distinguishing them into two sections. Botanical ana- 



•oema entiri Ij i" fail us in 'Ins instanoe. It sppears fully 



evident, bowever, that, of ^hisnuneroufl genus, but a rarj small 



