botanically arranged. 421 



generally purges more or less the following day. These pro- 

 perties, judiciously applied, render it capable of doing essential 

 service in several diseases. But its effects on the nervous system 

 are so uncertain, and sometimes so considerable, that it must 

 ever be administered with the greatest caution. The leaves ap- 

 plied externally, ease pain and abate inflammations. 



TIVERTWIG. American Mezerion. The generic characters 

 do not entirely agree with the Solanum ; but they approach 

 nearer to this than any other genus. Stems woody ; twining 

 about shrubs or trees ; branched. Leaves ovate ; serrated ; 

 acuminated. Blossoms greenish white. Berry pale red. In 

 hedges and wood land. June. 



It is used with success in discussing indurated tumors. Far- 

 mers apply it to swellings in cows bags. Physicians of distin- 

 guished characters say, that the roots answer as valuable a pur- 

 pose, in venereal cases, as the Mezerion. 



RiBES. Linn. Gen. Plant. 247. 



Ribes inerme, racemis pilosis, jioribus oblongis. Syst. Nat. 



BLACKCURRANT. Blossoms yellowish. Berries black. It is 

 rarely found growing naturally here, but is cultivated in gardens. 

 In some parts of the eastern country it is said to be found in 

 great plenty, particularly near Kennebeck-river. 



A jelly made of the fruit is celebrated in the Philosophical 

 Transactions of the Royal Society for curing very bad kinds of 

 sore throat. It has been found to answer very well here, parti- 

 cularly in that species of the sore throat in which the tonsils 

 suppurate. It ought to be applied early and frequently. When 

 the fruit could not be obtained, an infusion of the bark, sweet- 

 ened with honey, and used as a gargle, has proved beneficial. 



Dr. 



