416 



WILLOW. 



The Crack Willow, (S. fragilis,) has been mentioned by 

 several medical writers, as valuable for its bark, but the Bed- 

 ford Willow, (S. Russelliana,) which is undoubtedly much supe- 

 rior, has probably been mistaken for it. 



It is, we imagine, from the drooping aspect of the Weeping 

 Willow, that a branch or garland of the tree before us is con- 

 sidered emblematic of a hapless lover. Therefore it was pecu- 

 liarly appropriate that the Queen in Hamlet should commence 

 her description of Ophelia's death, by saying — 



" There is a Willow grows aslant the brook, 



That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream." 



And that " therewith" the luckless girl should make " fantastic 

 garlands." 



General Uses.— The bark of this tree is useful in tanning. (That of 

 S. Russelliana is said to be preferable to oak bark for such a purpose.) 

 The wood is very white, tough, light and pliable, and is used for flooring, 

 and for making chests, boxes, milk-pails, butter -firkins, and hoops for 

 casks. It is also convertible into excellent charcoal, for gun-powder. The 

 bark imparts a cinnamon colour to yarn. Horses, cows, sheep, and goats 

 eat the leaves and young shoots, and the blossoms are eagerly sought after 

 by bees. 



Qualities. — The flowers or catkins, the leaves, and bark*, were for- 

 merly employed ; but the latter only is now used. When recent it has a 

 peculiar odour, and a bitter, astringent, balsamic taste ; becoming inodorous 

 and more styptic by keeping. Its virtues are extracted by water. The 

 decoction is of a reddish colour, which is rendered black by sulphate of 

 iron, and soon throws down a dark green precipitate. It also affords pre- 

 cipitates with solution of isinglass, the carbonates of ammonia and potass, 

 and lime water. The watery extract is bitter, of a reddish colour, and 

 brittle. This bark, digested in alcohol, affords a greenish yellow tincture, 

 which is rendered turbid by water ; and this, when evaporated, leaves a 

 brilliant yellow extract, of a very bitter taste, melting at a moderate heat, 

 and emitting an aromatic odour. Hence the constituents of Willow bark 

 appear to be tannin, bitter resin, extractive, and gluten. 



The medicinal energy of Willow bark, appears to be owing to a peculiar 

 crystallizable principle, neither acid, nor alkaline, called Salicin or Salicina, 



* The bark is recommended to be procured in the latter part of spring or 

 beginning of summer, from branches of two or three years* growth ; to be 

 carefully dried, preserved free from damp, and external air, and not to be 

 reduced to powder until required for use. 



