SASSAFRAS-TREE. 4]lj 
But for these purposes, the timber of this tree is not in habitual use, being only 
occasionally employed. The wood is of very little esteem for fuel ; and the bark 
contains a considerable portion of air, and snaps while burning, like that of the 
chesnut. The wood imparts to wool a very durable orange-colour. 
Medicinally, the wood, bark, and roots of the sassafras, are considered to be an 
excellent stimulant and sudorific, and may be advantageously employed in mate- 
ria medica, and in the veterinary art. They were formerly much celebrated in 
the cure of various complaints, particularly in rheumatism, dropsy, and cutaneous 
eruptions; but, by modern practitioners, they are only recognized as forming a 
warm stimulant and diaphoretic. The wood is slightly aromatic and somewhat 
acrimonious, depending on a resin and an essential oil ; but. the smell and taste, 
which are peculiar to this vegetable, are more sensible in the young branches, 
and comparatively more so in the bark of the roots. A decoction of the sassafras 
chips, sold by druggists, is well known as a remedy for scorbutic affections. 
The bark and pith of the young twigs, as well as the tender leaves, abound with 
a pure mucilaginous principle resembling that of the Hibiscus esculentus (ochra.) 
Mucilage of sassafras pith is peculiarly mild and lubricatory, and has been 
used with much benefit in dysentery and catarrh, and particularly as a lotion in 
the inflammatory stages of ophthalmia. From the bark of the roots the greatest 
quantity of essential oil is extracted, which, after long exposure to the cold, it is 
said, deposits very beautiful crystals. The flowers of this tree, which have a 
weak aromatic odour, when fresh, are considered as stomachic and efficacious in 
purifying the blood ; and for this purpose, during a fortnight in the spring, an 
infusion of them is drunk with a little sugar, in the manner of tea. In Louisiana, 
the leaves are used to thicken pottage ; and in various parts of the United States, 
an agreeable beverage is formed with the aid of the young shoots, and of the bark 
of the roots, usually known by the name of " Root Beer," which is considered as 
very salutary during the months of summer. The fruits of the sassafras are 
much in quest by perfumers, who convert them into powder, which they put up 
in small sachets; but what are known by druggists under the name of "sassa- 
fras nuts," are the fruit of the Laurus pucheri, a native of Peru. 
