64 Dr. Hancock on Sarsaparilla. 



perty ; and the colour of this pellicle is the only character called 

 in for discriminating the different kinds, or for judging of their 

 medicinal powers ! 



The fact is, the real and only criterion for knowing good Sarsa, 

 is almost universally neglected, viz. its sensible qualities in the 

 mouth ; and which affords the best and most effectual guide for 

 enabling us to judge of the intensity and value of vegetable 

 remedies in general. It is by the taste and odour, chiefly, that 

 we judge of good Peruvian Bark, Rhubarb, Jalap, &c. ; and 

 even the speculators about Cinchonine would be guided more by 

 such tests, in choosing good bark, than by their hypothetical ones 

 of glue and tan. 



The medicinal properties of Sarsaparilla, moreover, are not 

 confined to the bark so called, but are found to reside almost 

 equally in all parts of the root, as the cuticle, woody, and fari- 

 naceous portions. This has been fully proved in Demerara, by 

 the results of their separate administration in actual disease. 

 The same will easily be believed by a trial of their sensible 

 effects on the mouth and fauces. 



The medicinal powers of Sarsaparilla, I am inclined to believe, 

 depend on a certain acrid or nauseous matter, or on a principle 

 similar to that of Ipecacuhana, judging from its sensible qua- 

 lities and clinical effects ; and this acrimonious or nauseous 

 matter, which I find to exist in the more active medicinal Sarsa, 

 is, in some measure, covered or concealed by its demulcent or 

 mucilaginous particles, which may also contribute something to 

 its curative powers, added to the diluling effects of the water 

 employed. As sudorifics, their action seems to be similar. So 

 also, in emetic properties, when the Sarsa is taken in large doses, 

 and not spoiled by long boiling. However this may be, I sus- 

 pect that Ipecacuhana might, in many cases, be employed with 

 equal advantage where Sarsa is indicated. This, however, I 

 know from sufficient experience, that the powers of Sarsaparilla 

 are, like those of Ipecacuhana, quite destroyed by long boiling. 

 It is true, ii.deed, that the condensed vapour arising from both, 

 is perfectly insipid ; but it is, with regard to Ipecacuhana, well 



