The Witch Hazel and the Sweet Gum 



leaf. Druggists will concede that the alcohol in these decoctions 

 is the most effective agent. The patented preparations cost more 

 than the ordinary witch hazel that the druggist makes up, and 

 there is an impression that the higher-priced kinds are "stronger." 

 They probably have a higher percentage of alcohol. 



Below is given the "national formulary" which manufacturing 

 druggists follow in the United States. It is published that anyone 

 may know just how the extract is extracted, and what is added 

 to the witch hazel. 



{Aqua Hamamelis) extract of witch hazel 



Hamamelis roots and twigs lo lbs. 



Water 20 pts. 



Alcohol — 6 per cent i^pts. 



Place Hamamelis in a still, add the water and alcohol, and 

 allow the mixture to macerate twenty-four hours. Distil ten (10) 

 pints by applying direct heat, or preferably by means of steam. 



2. Genus LIQUIDAMBAR, Linn. 



The Sweet Gum (Liquidamhar Siyraciflua, Linn.) — A large 

 tree 75 to 140 feet high, with straight trunk and short, slender 

 branches, forming a pyramidal or oblong head. Bark reddish 

 brown, furrowed, scaly, on old trunks; on young trees, ashy grey, 

 with hard, warty excrescences; twigs, pale, usually with corky 

 wings, which continue to grow for years. Wood bright reddish 

 brown, striped with black, straight, close grained, lustrous when 

 polished, hard, heavy, not strong. Buds acute, reddish and hairy 

 at tips, small. Leaves 5 to 7 inches, long and broadly cleft into 

 5, rarely 7, triangular-pointed lobes, which are finely saw-toothed; 

 with resinous sap, lustrous when mature, streaked crimson, and 

 yellow in autumn. Flowers after leaves, monoecious; staminate 

 in terminal, hairy racemes, 2 to 3 inches long, set with head-like 

 stamen clusters; pistillate in solitary swinging balls from axils of 

 upper leaves; stigmas conspicuously twisted. Fruits dry, 

 swinging balls, 1 1- inches in diameter, of the hardened, 2-horned 

 capsules. Single seed, winged, ^ inch long in some cells. Most 

 of the cells filled with minute, aborted seeds. Preferred habitat, low 

 wet woodlands. Distribution, Connecticut to Missouri; south to 

 Florida and Texas; also in Mexico and Central America. Uses: 



274 



