260 CONIFERiE. 



iiiorraHod flow of flftliva, or that tlio ftct of chewing kcopa thoir mindH off 

 ilu! Hubjoct of (li}j;('Hti()ii, whicli conHocinoiitly jj^och on luons sinootlily, lire 

 (lUcstiouH not ('(VHily iviiswcretl. Tlmt houh! dyHpoptics arc rdioviMl by the 

 priKtticH! iH cortiiiii. Ami yet, it may Ihj well to ndd, taiiianick gum is 

 chiclly chowcil, uot for mciliciual puri)OHt'H, but simply as a liabit. 



curuEssiNE.1':. 



Character of the. Suh-Ordrr. — Fertile flowers, couHistiuf? of '^. few carpel- 

 Inry Kcalew, Avithr.ut bracts, bearing single or several erect ovules ou their 

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



THUJA.— Auiioii ViT/K. 



Thuja occidentalis Linue. — American Arbor VUm, Yellow Cedar, 

 While Cedar. 



J)et<rrii>li(>ii. — Flowers mostly moiKecious on ditVerent branchis, in 

 SJiiall, terminal, ovoid (ratluns. Stamens with 4 anther cells. Fertile 

 catkins, with a few ind)ricated scales, eaeh bearing two ovules. Cones 

 small ; scales smootlx, not tliickened ; seeds winged all around. Leaves 

 appresseil, closely inr. bricated in 4 rows ou the 2-cdged brauchlets, per- 

 sistent, evergreen, shining. 



A tree, JJO to 50 feet high, with a rapidly tap. ng trunk, and horizon- 

 tal or declinate bx'anche.s, often from base to summit. Wood light, some- 

 what resinous, very durable. 



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

 wet, rock}' banks ; common. 



J\irfs U)^ed. — The fresh topf (small brauchlets with their covering of 

 imbricated leaves) — I'nited. States PJiarmaeoiueiu. 



CoiititittientK. — Thuja has a balsamic, .iomewhat terebinthinate odor, and 

 a pungeutly aromatic, camplioraceous and bitter taste. It has yielded to 

 analysis volatile oil, a peculiiir crystalline principle termed thiijin, and 

 common vegetable principles. 



Preparations. — There are no official pi'eparations. Fluid extracts and 

 tinctures occur as ct)nunercial articles. These should be made from the 

 fresh drug. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Thuja possesses stimulating jirojierties 

 similar to those of terebinthinate drugs genei'ally, but is probably more 

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

 It has been employed in amenorrhoea, catarx-hal affections, jjassive hemor- 

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

 removing warts, etc. 



Thuja should be carefully distinguished from Cupressus thyoides, also, 

 and more properly called, white cedar. 



