GENERAL REPORT. 51 
amorphous powder.” The powder Dr. Loew considers quite a distinct body, 
which he names ephedrin, and to this he attributes (and probably correctly) 
its remedial properties. So concurrent is the testimony in favor of this 
plant. that it is well worthy of a fair trial in hospital practice. 
PoPuULUS TREMULOIDES, Michx. American Aspen—Dr. Loew reports the 
bark of this tree to be used by the Indians in intermittent fever. It has 
long been more or less of a domestic remedy, and, indeed, of a certain class 
of practitioners, for this disease. It is not a little remarkable, however, that 
it should also be used by the Indians, and we can only account for the fact 
that it does possess some remedial power in this direction, which a “hit or 
miss” empiricism has led them to discover. Dr. Loew’s analysis of the 
bark yields salicin and populin. The former was long ago in common use 
in intermittents. It is therefore probably slightly anti-periodic as well as 
tonic in its action. 
AGAVE Patmeri and A. Parryi. ‘“ Mescal.”—The admirable papers of 
Dr. Engelmann on this and on Yucca leave little for any one else to add. In 
hopes, however, of somewhat enlarging the circulation of what he and Dr. 
Loew have already brought out, I incorporate the leading facts here: 
“The subterranean trunk of most (or all?) the Agaves contains, like 
that of Yuccas and many other plants of these families, a great deal of 
mucilage, which, mixed with water, has detergent properties to a consider- 
able degree; these ‘roots’ and the whole plants thus used are known to the 
Mexicans by the name of ‘Amole’.”—Engelmann, l. c. 
The leaves of all or nearly all the species abound in a coarse fibre, 
which has been utilized by the native population in making a cheap cordage. 
Mescal whisky is prepared by distillation from the juice which has been 
collected in the cavity formed by removal of the just starting flower-stem 
and the inner leaves. The quantity yielded is almost fabulous. This . 
whisky contains a large percentage of alcohol, and it is said that it is im- 
possible to adulterate it so that the adulteration cannot at once be detected 
in the taste. Hence it is hardly surprising that those who are ‘advised to 
take stimulants” take so kindly to ‘‘Mescal”. Fresh from the still, it is even 
hotter than corn whisky equally new. 
The unopened interior leaves forming a sort of head are taken by the 
