98 A CONTBIBTJTION TO, ETC. 



Sarsaparilla is what is known by the name of " Sweet Tea or 

 Wild Liquorice." One of our native laurels {Cry ptocary a glances- 

 cens), a tree allied to the Sassafras of the Pharmacopoeia, deserves 

 to be mentioned as possessing medicinal properties as yet but 

 little appreciated. The berries would yield oil, and probably a 

 decoction of the wood might be employed for a tonic. Our native 

 grape (Vitis hypoglauca) yields a jelly of a beautiful crimson 

 colour, which has a flavour similar to those agreeable remedies 

 that are used sometimes in cases of sore throat. It seems prob- 

 able that a good gargle might be prepared from this fruit, and if 

 the dye could be fixed, the colour of the juice might be rendered 

 available for many purposes. The CJienopodiacece of the neigh- 

 bourhood vary in their properties, some being exceedingly 

 nauseous, whilst others are cooling and antiscorbutic, and prove 

 eatable as spinach. Verbena qfficinalis or the common Vervain, 

 was a very popular plant in ancient times, and even now it is 

 regarded as febrifuge and vulnerary, whilst it may be used ex- 

 ternally as a rubefaciant in rheumatism and other pains of the 

 joints. It has been used in this country as a decoction for giving 

 tone to the stomach, and arresting the incipient stages of con- 

 sumption, but whether it really possesses any efficacy in such 

 cases is not known. The native Veronica (V. plebeia) is very 

 similar in properties to some of the European species, the leaves 

 of which are substituted for tea, but they are more astringent 

 and less grateful. Our Gratiola also should be tested, for as it is 

 common on almost all our creeks and marshes and possesses a 

 powerful scent arising from the volatile oil it contains, the plant 

 may prove serviceable. The G. qfficinalis of Europe which is 

 nearly allied to our G. pedunculata, is very acrid and drastic, and 

 although sometimes useful in hypochondriasis, must be employed 

 with extreme caution as it has proved poisonous. It is reported 

 that the prevalence of this weed in some of the pastures in 

 Switzerland, renders them useless. Prunella vulgaris or Self Heal 

 is indigenous here as well as in Europe, and, according to the 

 Pharmacopoeia, is bitter and astringent, and occasionally used as 

 bark. In the country in England, the leaves are supposed to be 

 efficacious in healing cuts, and hence the name. Our native 

 Currants (Leptomeria) have properties which might be turned to 

 other accounts besides that of making jam and jelly. The 



