232 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



der it very conspicuous. The whole plant becomes black when dried, and 



affords a blue dye re- 

 Fig- 119 - sembling Indigo, but 



very inferior to that 

 article. From its being 

 so generally used to 

 drive away flies from 

 horses by being at- 

 tached to their har- 

 ness, it has derived 

 one of its common 

 names. If it really be 

 more obnoxious to 

 flies than any other 

 plant, which is at least 

 doubtful, it is proba- 

 bly owing to its nar- 

 cotic and unpleasant 

 smell. The young 

 shoots are used in 

 some parts of the 

 country as a substi- 

 tute for asparagus, 

 which they somewhat 

 resemble. Like ano- 

 ther substitute for 

 that vegetable, the 

 young poke, they 

 sometimes act as a 

 drastic purgative, 

 particularly if used after they begin to assume a green colour. 



Medical Properties, SfC. — The whole plant, but more especially the root, is 

 subacrid and nauseous. It is actively emetic and purgative when fresh, 

 but loses much of its power when dried. It has attracted but little attention 

 from the profession ; but from the testimony of those who have made trial of 

 it, appears worthy of notice. Dr. Thacher [Dispensatory), says : " In the 

 hands of some physicians it is found to operate, in a large dose, with much 

 severity as an emetic and cathartic. A decoction of the bark of the root 

 has, it is said, been made known by an empiric, experienced in its 

 use, as a remedy in scarlatina anginosa, and its employment has been ex- 

 tended in a few instances to typhus or putrid fever with such good effect as 

 to encourage further trials. An experienced physician considers it as i an 

 excellent antiseptic and febrifuge, preferring it in some fevers to Peruv an 

 bark." He then goes on to speak of it as an external application to fau 1 

 ulcers, aphthse, mercurial sore mouth, &c, in which he states that it has 

 proved eminently beneficial. This high character of the Baptisia is fully 

 corroborated by Dr. Comstock [Eclectic Rejiertory, vi.), not only in the con- 

 ditions of the system noticed by Dr. Thacher, but also in others of a still 

 more morbid nature, as gangrene and mortification, which he says it arrests 

 with promptitude and power. Dr. Barton (Veg. Mat. Med.), corroborates 

 these statements, as respects its good effects, as a sub-astringent antiseptic in 

 correcting the vitiated discharges from foul and gangrenous ulcers, and check- 

 ing the progress of mortification, when used simultaneously with the internal 

 administration of Peruvian bark. 



B. tinctoria. 



