INDIAN MEDICINES MADE FROM TREES 



211 



Indians concocted an eye wash from 

 the mascerated leaves ot mesquitt 

 by squeezing the juice through a 

 cloth to rid it of solid particles. 

 The eyelids were bathed in the 

 liquid. The savages made use of 

 the white inner bark of mesquite, 

 beaten into powder and boiled, in 

 preparing a medicine which they ad- 

 ministered internally for a number 

 of real or imaginary diseases. 



The wild Indians had no such 

 classic name as "anemia" for that 

 "run-down feeling" which comes in 

 the spring and early summer ; but 

 they had the malady and they had 

 the remedies. In the North they 

 drank tea made from wild cherry 

 bark, and in the southern coastal 

 region of the United States they im- 

 bibed enormous quantities of their 

 famous "black drink" which they 

 brewed from the leaves of yaupon 

 holly (Ilex vomitoria). They jour- 

 neyed from far inland to the Caro- 

 lina coast to procure it. The roasted 

 leaves, made ready for brewing, were 

 an article of- commerce between, the coast Indians 

 and those of the interior. One of the earliest 

 and best descriptions of the brewing of the drink 



SHELLBARK HICKORY 

 Oil made from hickory nuts was used as liniment 

 by Indians to "supple their joints." Mayapples, 

 also used as medicine by the savages, are_ seen 

 growing near the base of the tree. This is the 

 Podophyllum pelatum of the modern drugstore. 



was published in 1716 by John Law- 

 son. It follows*. 



Cattle and sheep delight in the plant very 

 much, and so do the deer, all which crop 

 it very short, and browse thereon whenso- 

 ever they meet with it. This plant is the 

 Indian tea, used and approved by all the 

 savages on the coast of Carolina, and 

 from them sent to the westward Indians 

 and sold at a considerable price; all 

 which cure after the same way as they 

 do for themselves, which is thus: They 

 take the plant (not only the leaves but 

 the smaller twigs along with them) and 

 bruise it in a mortar until it becomes 

 blackish, the leaf being wholly defaced. 

 Then they take it out and put it in one of 

 their earthen pots, which is over the 

 fire, until it smokes, stirring it all the 

 time until it is cured. Others take it 

 after it is bruised and put it in a bowl, 

 into which they put live coals and cover 

 them with yaupon till they have done 

 smoking, after turning them over. After 

 all, they spread it upon their mats and 

 dry it in the sun and keep it for use. The 

 Spaniards have the plant very plentiful on 

 the coast of Florida and hold it in great 

 esteem. Sometimes they cure it as the 

 Indians do, or else beat it to a powder, 

 so mix it as coffee ; yet before they drink 

 it they filter the same. 



The yaupon drink was a violent 

 emetic, and the Indians used to im- 

 bibe so long and in such amounts 

 that they were scarcely able to walk, 

 continuing the process during several 

 days. They then departed for their homes, feeling 

 certain that they had been fortified against disease for 

 another year. 



MARYLAND FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 



'"PHERE has been recently organized, along unique 

 -"- lines, a Forestry Association in Maryland. Forestry 

 in Maryland, as a State activity, is nearly twelve years 

 old, and during that time has made steady progress. In- 

 cident to this progress has been the enlisting of the sup- 

 port and active participation of an increasingly large 

 number of people, which would naturally form the 

 nucleus of a Forestry Association. 



Membership is restricted to those who have rendered 

 some definite service to Forestry in Maryland, and there- 

 fore constitutes an honor class. There are two classes 

 of membership Annual and Life. It is intended to 

 make the Yearly Membership a distinction of merit, and 

 of the Life Membership a mark of distinguished service. 

 There are no limitations of age or sex, and no dues. 



The objects and purposes of the Association are ex- 

 pressed in the published preamble : 



"In beginning and organizing this honorary body, it 

 is the intention and wish of its officers and the members 

 already admitted to build up a great State body of men 

 and women who have in the past been enough interested 

 in these and kindred things to actually do something for 

 them ; and not only those who have already done some- 

 thing, but to encourage doing among those who may have 

 the chance, or will find it, to extend efficient aid to for- 



est protection, natural conservation, and rural, public 

 benefits in Maryland. Initial plans for formation and 

 membership, with by-laws, rules and regulations for the 

 personnel, officers, and work of the Association have al- 

 ready been made, and the task of permanently forming 

 this honorary body of 'forestry assistants' in Maryland 

 will proceed at once. 



"Officers of the first Maryland Forestry Association, 

 all of whom firstly are members because of service ren- 

 dered, and secondly officers because of ability to carry 

 out the work, have been proposed as follows: For 

 President, Hon. W. McCulloh Brown. For Vice-Presi- 

 dents, Bernard N. Baker, Mrs. Austin Gallagher, Dr. H. 

 J. Patterson. For Secretary, F. W. Besley. For the 

 Board of Directors and Committee on Membership Quali- 

 fications, Robert Garrett, Dr. Edward B. Mathews, Dr. 

 A. F.Woods, Miss Catherine Lurman and Richard Norris. 



"Lists of the Life and Annual Members of the Mary- 

 land Forestry Association will be published annually or 

 oftener." 



T> APHAEL ZON, of the United States Forest Service, 

 *** has been appointed a member of the Executive Com- 

 mittee of the Division of Agriculture and Forestry in 

 the Natural Research Council. Mr. Zon and Dr. I. W. 

 Bailey, of Harvard, will represent the forestry interests 

 of the country. 



