Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 423 



opportunity of examining the fresh bark of C. avium or of C. serotina, 

 but from the examination of the English and American commercial 

 barks, which he presumed to be derived from these trees respect- 

 ively, and from the above examination of C. Padus, it appeared to 

 him that if any such bark was to be used in this country at all, 

 that of the last-named species would probably answer as well as any 

 other. 



Dr. Maclagan likewise exhibited specimens of, and made some 

 remarks on, the following medicinal plants, which are in use in 

 America, though little known in this country : — 



Triosteum perfoliatum, Linn. — The bark of the root is cathartic, 

 and in large doses emetic, and as such is employed in America under 

 the name of Fever-root. 



Phytolacca decandra, Willd. — Poke-weed. The root and berries 

 are emeto-cathartic and somewhat narcotic, and have been used in 

 America in chronic rheumatism. In many of its actions it appears to 

 resemble mezereon. 



Eupatorium perfoliatum, Linn. — Thoroughwort. The leaves are 

 esteemed tonic and diaphoretic, and have been used with success in 

 intermittent fever. It appears from the statements of "Wood and 

 Bache to have arrested intermittent fevers chiefly by acting as an 

 emetic, and can hardly be looked upon as possessing the properties 

 of an anti-periodic. 



Ariscema atrorubens, Blume; Arum triphyllum, "Willd. — Indian 

 Turnip. The recent root is extremely acrid, but when dried becomes 

 bland, and yields its starch readily, quite white and pure. The half- 

 dried root has been used as a stimulant expectorant in chronic catarrh, 

 and when mixed with sugar, as a stimulant application to sore mouths 

 in children. The starch resembles under the microscope that of Arum 

 maculatum, being in small grains of a rounded form, but frequently 

 presenting a somewhat angular aspect. ' 



Podophyllum peltatum, Linn. — May-apple, or Mandrake. The 

 root is an efficient purgative, acting very like jalap, and applied to 

 the same class of cases in which that drug is used. The leaves have 

 the character of being somewhat narcotic, but the fruit, which is 

 sometimes called "Wild-lemon, is eaten with impunity. 



Mr. M'Nab read the following list of the times of appearance in 

 flower of plants in the open borders of the Botanic Garden, Edin- 

 burgh, from 15th February till 14th March, 1850, in continuation of 

 a similar list presented at the February meeting : — 



Feb. 15. Hepatica triloba, vars. Feb. 22. Daphne Mezereon. 



16. Crocus Susianus (cloth of 22. Knappia agrostidea. 



gold). 23. Primula denticulata. 



16. Cory his Avellana (hazel). 23. Vinca minor. 



18. Leucojum vernum. 24. Petasites vulgaris. 



18. Symplocarpus fcetidus. 25. Daphne Laureola. 



18. Viola odorata. 25. Dondia Epipactis. 



20. Capsella Bursa-pastoris. 25. Potentilla Fragariastrum. 



21. Arabis albida. 26. Crocus sulphureus, and 

 21. Bellis perennis. other garden vars. 



21. Lamium purpureum. 27. Tussilago Farfara. 



