PARBAMATTA DISTRICT. 97 



but calculated to do much for tbe promotion of medical botany. 

 The bark of some species of our Persoonia, may be employed 

 medicinally in decoctions, but their properties are as yet but little 

 known. Two little plants of the Oentian Family, common enough 

 in the spring, the one with pink and the other with yellow 

 flowers, (Erythrcea Australis and Sebcea ovata) are great favourites 

 with those persons who know the value of them, and they have 

 proved highly efficacious in certain stages of dysentery. The 

 pink one is generally called Centaury and is the more powerful, 

 and like the allied European species " possesses all the essential 

 properties of the gentian of the shops, and although not used pro- 

 fessionally, is a very valuable native medicine ; in places where it 

 grows, it is carefully collected for use in rustic pharmacy." 

 A learned physician, not a hundred miles from Parramatta, was 

 so impressed with the efficacy of this little herb, from noticing 

 the use of it amongst certain old women in his neighbourhood, 

 that he was not too proud to adopt their remedy and recommended 

 it to his patients. This was an instance of candour in a great 

 mind which deserves to be recorded, for medical men generally are 

 so wedded to what is popularly called "Doctor's Stuff," that nature 

 with all her endearments appeals to them in vain. Our species 

 of native Rubus also, I happen to know, was recommended by 

 another medical practitioner amongst us. Rubus idceus is known 

 in Europe for its astringent properties, and R. Jiispidus of 

 America is used instead of Cinchona. It seems highly probable, 

 therefore, that our JR. parviflorus, or common native Raspberry, 

 the valuable properties of which have been discovered by the old 

 women, may one day claim a place in the Pharmacopoeia. The 

 native Sarsaparilla (Smilax glycypliylld) is already to be found in 

 that useful work, but strange to say, although the plant abounds 

 in our creeks, foreign sarsaparilla is imported and sold in the 

 shops. The native plant is said to be tonic and antiscorbutic, 

 and in the form of a decoction, makes a wholesome and agree- 

 able beverage. The late much respected Dr Greenup, (whose 

 name will long be associated in Parramatta with everything that 

 was benevolent and scientific) used to recommend this as an alter- 

 ative and tonic. It is to be regretted that persons sometimes 

 through mistake use the leaves of Hardenbergia or Kennedia for 

 sarsaparilla. These cannot have the same good effect. Our true 



