885 



80. Rubus strigosus. Red raspberry. 



81. Rubus odoratus. Flowering raspberry. The berries of these 

 plants are well known and delicious. The roots are astringent and 

 tonic. 



82. Prunus; 12, 1, L. Plumbs and cherries. Rafinesque says 

 there are forty wild species known, and only twenty-five described 

 by authors. The most medicinal are the Prunus Virginiana, sero- 

 tina, and Canadensis. The bark of all these is bitter and astrin- 

 gent, and contains prussic acid. These barks are the bases of several 

 quack medicines for the cure of consumption. In large doses, the 

 bark is narcotic and vermifuge. 



83. Sorbus. Four species; 12, 2, L. 



Sorlus Americana. Mountain-ash; service tree. Indian name, 

 Moosee Missy. This elegant tree, whose clustered red berries adorn 

 our door yards during the winter, is valuable as a medicine. The 

 bark tastes and smells very much like cherry tree bark ; but it is 

 more astringent, and contains prussic acid. It is used like the Pe- 

 ruvian bark. The Indians recommend it as a tonic in diseases of 

 the heart. 



84. Spirsea. Twenty species ; 12, 5, L. 

 Spiraeatomentosa. Hard-hack; steeple bush. I have found this 



to be one of our most powerful astringents, both in the form of in- 

 fusion and extract. It is also powerfully tonic. It may be used 

 after proper evacuations in diarrhoea, dysentery, and cholera infan- 

 tum. It is also useful in cases of debility, in the absence of inflam- 

 mation and fever. It agrees better with the stomach than any other 

 astringent. Dose of the extract from five to fifteen grains ; of a 

 very strong decoction, from one to two ounces. It is well worthy of 

 a place as an officinal in our Materia Medica. 



85. Spiraea alba. White hard-hack. Is similar in its properties 

 to the above. 



ORDER 77. LEGUMINOS.E. 



86. Apios. 17, 10, L. 



Apios tuberosa. Ground-nut ; Indian potato. The root is escu- 

 lent, and was formerly cultivated by the Indians. It deserves 



