6 SCIENCE. 
next year we may be able to give the intensity of the 
sounds heard, with an approach to absolute accuracy. 
The results thus far obtained, however, are such as a 
captain of a vessel coming onto our coast ina fog and a 
gale would be apt to get. Itisfor him the fog-signals 
are established, and I have tried to put myself in his 
place and to hear with his tired and strained ears the 
sounds which must be distinguished and differentiated 
from the shrieking of the wind, the creaking of the 
cordage, the rattle of the machinery and the roar of the 
surf. 
If he has heard aright the sound of the fog-signal and 
ean tell from the length of its blast and the following in- 
terval of silence which one of the several fog-signals in 
that vicinity it is, he is certain of his position. 
The experiments thus far made and the observations 
taken are to make sure that the mariner can hear aright 
what he does hear, and to provide against his acting upon 
errors in hearing, which, if acted on, may place his ship 
in peril. 
SASSAFRAS TREES. 
BY WALTER J. QUICK, COLUMBIA, MO. 
As Berne of some scientific interest, it is worthy our at- 
tention to note the marvelous growth that ten trees of 
the above well-known variety have acquired here in Mis- 
souri—a growth that is so exceptional of this species that 
it has not been observed elsewhere in the United States. 
The Sassafras officinale, of the order Lauracee, the Laurel 
family, is very seldom known as little more than a shrub 
or bush and generally as growing poorly or not at all on 
fertile soil. In truth, it is looked upon as being in its 
native element in company with and growing on thin 
land. This is not a fact, but the opinion prevails since 
old and worn-out fields, depleted of their fertility in 
greater part, when abandoned, grow up to “brush,” not 
the least profuse of which is the sassafras. It is a native 
of America and has been found in every State in the 
Union, growing much more abundant on poverty-stricken 
soil, but more luxuriant and larger in proportion, we con- 
clude, as the per cent of humus in the soil increases. In 
the poor, white clay lands of the New England States 
and some parts of Indiana, Kansas and this State we 
have observed it growing where it seems to sprout pro- 
fusely and does not reach a height of over twelve feet, 
usually six or eight feet, while in the same States on 
richer land it will not be found in thick profusion, but 
scattered and attaining almost to the dignity of a tree in 
size. 
Recently it was our pleasure to visit the beautiful farm 
of Mr. T. B. Hickman, near Columbia, Mo. During our 
stay we were shown the various interests of the owner, 
and our attention was summoned to some peculiar trees 
of the sassafras variety. Their difference from others of 
this species consists in their vigorous growth and extreme 
size, being the largest any one present had ever seen or 
of which we had in any way known. This preter- 
natural development inspired us to investigation. They 
exhibited on measurement the surprising circumference 
of 80 to 82 inches—a diameter of over 26 inches. As the 
bark is thick and rough, similar to walnut, the diameter 
of the solid wood is not likely this much, but fully two 
feet. By triangulation we ascertained the height to be 
about fifty-five feet, and the whole ten will not vary much 
from these measurements. 
While there is very little indication of decay, as a 
matter of fact, these trees are fully grown for this 
[Vol. XXIII. No. 570 
variety. Their location is very auspicious for the growth 
they have made, being the low, rich and moist soil of 
Boune Famme creek bottom. The writer has never seen 
larger trees, and is unable to learn of larger specimens on 
this continent, with the exception of the species of sassa- 
fras of California and the western slope of the Rocky 
Mountains, known as Oreodaphne Californica, which at- 
tains a still larger size “in the land of big trees.” The 
aroma from the leaves of this variety is more pungent, 
in fact, so much so as to occasion excessive sneezing, fre- 
quently during high winds. It has a greater reputation 
medicinally than ours, though the importance of the 
latter is by no means ‘small. 
Our officinale species has been introduced into England 
as Sassafras laurus. As is usual with anything imported, 
they appreciate it more as medicine than we do. A tree 
near the Royal Gardens at Kew has attained a height of 
about fifty feet, and is said to be over 110 years old. As 
there are no other figures given, we cannot compare the 
size with that of the Hickman trees, but the height is not 
so great. i 
Almost every country has one or more species of this 
tree, all said to differ in some characteristic from ours, 
but all having the same odor and similar aromatic, 
sweetish taste. But one country has larger trees. Those 
of New Zealand grow toa height of 100 to 150 feet. 
This tree appears in every clime, and is described as hav- 
ing “a large head of horizontal branches.” The fruit is 
a small, black drupe, which is not palatable, but is eaten 
by birds. The sassafras oil of commerce is made from 
these seeds and the buds. The leaves of our species are 
very dark green, rather thick, broad, oblong and ellip- 
tical. 
In Italy it is more like the American species than any 
other, and is known as Sassa/rasso. The word comes from 
the Latin, sarum, a stone, and frango, I brake, so named be- 
cause it was believed that the use of the tea made from it 
would desolve the gall stones of the bladder and prevent 
their formation. 
In the southern states sassafras grows to the size of 
trees, generally small, but very abundant. The air is 
said to be more pregnant with its aroma than further north, 
and it can be detected a great distance at sea. The bark 
seems to be more fragrant, too, when steeped. 
Sassafras tea is very popular in many sections of the 
countries where the tree grows. The bark of the roots 
is kept everywhere for sale, for that purpose. Inaddition 
to its use as a table beverage it is employed as a tonic 
and constitutional stimulapt. In those localities where 
the sugar-maple tree is a native and abundant a very 
delightful drink is made from the “sugar-water,” or sap 
and bark of the sassafras root. It makes the finest tea 
in the spring when the sap is forming and is then 
drunk mostly to resuscitate the system, improving the 
appetite and aiding the digestion. It is also valuable for 
boils, pimples and eruptions of all sorts, as well as for 
rheumatism. 
The pith of the new growth and sprouts contains a 
gum or mucilage, used in eye medicines, as being impor- 
tant in reducing inflammation and granulations. This pro- 
duct is also prepared in the form of a drink for diseases 
of the kidneys, catarrhal troubles and dysentery. 
In many localities there is perhaps no more popular 
farmers’ remedy for diseases of horses. It is administered 
by grinding the root bark to a powder and giving it in 
the feed, or by preparing a decoction with which the feed 
is mixed. Frequently the roots are placed in the horse’s 
feed trough, and he is permitted to bark them himself, 
which he willingly does, apparently with much relish. 
In the spring it greatly improves his appetite, strengthens 
him and assists in shedding and sleeking his coat. 
