332 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1739- 



300 several sorts, that were no European plants ; but he mentions at present 

 only the most remarkable. And first, the sassafras tree, whose root is well 

 enough known. It shoots forth its blossoms in March, which are yellow, and 

 grow in little bunches like grape flowers, and which, when gathered and picked 

 from the husky bud, make a curious preserve. Most sassafras trees blossom, 

 few bear berries, but those that do are generally very thick. They are shaped 

 much like those of dulcamara, but are of a black colour, and very aromatic. 

 The gum-tree, which he refers to the species of plane-trees, and distinguishes 

 it by its fig-like leaf, only more sharply dented. Its leaf smells much like a 

 lemon. The practice is to beat the tree, and then peel off the bark, and so 

 scrape the gum, which has virtues like turpentine, but more astringent and 

 drying. This they usually mix with their common turpentine, which is whiter 

 and more butter-like, than the Venice or Chios turpentine. The further me- 

 thod of preparing this medicine is this : they expose it to the sun on paper, 

 where at first it rather seems to melt, but it will afterwards grow hard ; they 

 then beat it to a powder, and administer it. They use much the young buds 

 of the populus, sive tulippa arbor, a vast large tree, extraordinarily spacious, 

 bearing flowers about April, much like tulips ; its leaves are large, smooth, 

 and well-shaped, which, together with the flowers, render the tree exceedingly 

 beautiful. It bears its seed coniferous, and is an excellent opener of obstruc- 

 tions. The sorrel-tree bears a leaf something like a laurel, in taste much re- 

 sembling lujula. They use it in fevers, and it seems with good success. This 

 tree grows plentifully on the south-side of James river in Virginia. The swamp, 

 plum-tree, the wood of which they calcine, and make into charcoal, which 

 they beat to a powder, then mix it with grease, and make an ointment of it, 

 with which they anoint the body, and foment it very much, thus curing the 

 dropsy ; for it opens the pores to that degree, that the water runs down their 

 legs. Among their herbs, Mr. C. had nearly 40 several sorts shown him, as 

 great secrets, for the rattle-snake-root, or that kind of snake-root which is 

 good for curing the bite of the rattle-snake ; but he has no reason to believe, 

 that any of them are able to effect the cure. 



He mentions a herb, though unknown, yet worthy to be brought from Vir- 

 ginia. It is the herb called there angelica, but which Mr. C. takes to be liba- 

 notis vera latifolia Dodonaei. It grows generally on a rich sandy ground, on a 

 declining brow, that faces the rising sun ; the root shoots deep into the earth, 

 sometimes 3 feet, is very tender, and easily broken, of a white or rather cream- 

 like colour ; and being lactescent, yields a little milk, thick and yellow as cream ; 

 a very early plant. It seldom flowers or seeds under 5 years growth. The 

 leaf is much like our wild angelica, only thinner, and more the colour of awil- 



