THE MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF TREES. 247 
Awper (American). The bark of the root of the com- 
mon, or smooth, alder is possessed of alterative prop- 
erties, and is also astringent and emetic. It is quite a 
popular domestic “ blood-purifier,” and has even received 
favorable mention as a remedy in scrofula by the med- 
ical profession. 
Axper (Biack). The bark and the berries of the black 
alder both contain the medicinal principle of the shrub. 
It is recommended as a tonic and alterative, and enters 
largely into the proprietary alterative compounds on the 
market. It has been proposed as a substitute for Peru- 
vian bark, but it cannot supply the place of the latter, 
except possibly as a tonic and stomachic in dyspepsia. 
The dose of the powdered bark is about a teaspoonful. 
A preferable form of administration is the decoction 
made by boiling two ounces of the bark in three pints 
of water, down to a quart. One or two wineglassfuls of 
this is a dose. 
American Aspen (see Populus). 
American Popiar (see Tulip-tree). 
American Sitver Fir (Balm of Gilead). This is a 
member of the Ades family, already referred to, and is 
the source of Canada balsam. 
Anprovepa Agsorza (Sorrell-tree). This beautiful tree 
takes its common name from the acid taste of its leaves, 
which are used by hunters to allay thirst, and form also 
a pleasant, cooling drink in fevers. 
ANGELICA-TREE (Arabia spinosa). The properties of 
this tree reside in its bark, and are described as stimu- 
lant diaphoretic. The bark is used in chronic rheuma- 
tism and in cutaneous eruptions. In some parts of the 
country it has a reputed value as a remedy in syphilis. 
The berries also contain a certain percentage of the 
medicinal principle of the tree, and a spirituous infusion 
of them is said to relieve the pain of a carious tooth 
when applied to the cavity. The bark may be adminis- 
tered either,.in the form of a fluid extract or in decoction. 
