260 CONIFERS. 



increased flow of saliva, or that the act of chewing keeps their minds off 

 the subject of digestion, which consequently goes on more smoothly, are 

 questions not easily answered. That some dyspeptics are relieved by the 

 practice is certain. And yet, it may be well to add, tamarack gum is 

 chiefly chewed, not for medicinal purposes, but simply as a habit. 



CUPRESSINE^. 



Character of the Sub-Order. — Fertile flowers, consisting of a few carpel- 

 lary scales, without bracts, bearing single or several erect ovules on their 

 face, forming a closed strobile, or a sort of drupe in fruit. 



THUJA.— Arbor Vit^. 



Thuja occidentalis Linne. — American Arbor Vitce, Yellow Cedar, 

 Wliite Cedar. 



Description. — Flowers mostly monoecious on different branches, in 

 small, terminal, ovoid catkins. Stamens with 4 anther cells. Fertile 

 catkins, with a few imbricated scales, each bearing two ovules. Cones 

 small ; scales smooth, not thickened ; seeds winged all around. Leaves 

 appressed, closely imbricated in 4 rows on the 2-edged branchlets, per- 

 sistent, evergreen, shining. 



A tree, 30 to 50 feet high, with a rapidly tapering trunk, and horizon- 

 tal or declinate branches, often from base to summit. Wood light, some- 

 what resinous, very durable. 



Habitat. — In deep, cold swamps, often associated with tamarack, and on 

 wet, rocky banks ; common. 



Parts Used. — The fresh tops (small branchlets with their covering of 

 imbricated leaves) — United States Pharmacopaia. 



Constituents. — Thuja has a balsamic, somewhat terebinthinate odor, and 

 a pungently aromatic, camphoraceous and bitter taste. It has yielded to 

 analysis volatile oil, a peculiar crystalline principle termed thujin, and 

 common vegetable principles. 



Preparations. — There are no official preparations. Fluid extracts and 

 tinctures occur as commercial articles. These should be made from the 

 fresh drug. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Thuja possesses stimulating properties 

 similar to those of terebinthinate drugs generally, but is probably more 

 nearly allied to savine in its action than to any other remedy of the class. 

 It has been employed in amenorrhcea, catarrhal affections, passive hemor- 

 rhage, etc. Externally it is useful in repressing fungous granulations, 

 removing warts, etc. 



Thuja should be carefully distinguished from Cujyressus thyoides, also, 

 and more properly called, white cedar. 



