ROSACEA. 



281 



Description.— A small shrub, with many simple, up- Fi S- 142 - 



right, downy stems, from 2 to 4 feet in height, proceed- 

 ing from the same root. The leaves are alternate, 

 crowded on very short petioles, oblong or ovate-lanceo- 

 late, somewhat acute at both ends, and having unequal, 

 acute serratures, of a dark-green or brownish colour 

 above, and covered with a white tomentum beneath. 

 The flowers are in terminal spikes, or panicles, of a 

 beautiful rose-colour, formed of compound racemes of 

 small, sub-sessile flowers. The calyx is campanulate, 

 with 5 acute segments. The petals are also 5, round. 

 The stamens are numerous and exserted. The styles 

 are 5. The carpels are tomentose and spreading. The 

 seeds are subulate at each end. 



This is one of the most beautiful of the shrubby- 

 species, as the 2-coloured leaves and the nume- 

 rous rose-tinted spikes of flowers give it a striking 

 and ornamental appearance. It is common in 

 low, moist grounds, in most parts of the United 

 States, flowering in July and August. It was 

 known to the Indians as an astringent, and 

 much used by them, but has not attracted the 

 attention it deserves from the medical profes- 

 sion. It is recognised in the U. S. Pharmaco- 

 poeia ; but the officinal portion is there stated to 

 be the root, whereas this is the least valuable 

 part of it, the bark and leaves being the most 

 efficient, and those usually collected for use. 

 As found in the shops, it is in packages of va- 

 rious sizes, containing a mixture of leaves and 

 flowers. The smell is not unlike that of black 

 tea ; the taste is bitter, and exceedingly astrin- 

 gent. No analysis has been made of it ; but 

 some experiments have shown that its efficient 

 constituents are tannin, gallic acid, and bitter 

 extractive, and of course its sensible properties 

 and medicinal qualities can be extracted by 



Water. S. tomentosa. 



Medical Properties. — Hard-hack is a tonic 

 and astringent of some considerable power, and may be advantageously em- 

 ployed where remedies of this character are indicated, as in diarrhoea, haemor- 

 rhages, &c. It was first brought into notice about 1810, by Dr. Cogswell, 

 of Hartford; and has been since noticed by Drs. Ansell W. Ives, Bigelow, 

 and Tully, as a very valuable addition to the class of astringents, from the 

 fact that it seldom disagrees with the stomach. 



The best form of administration is that of extract ; this is made by the 

 Shakers for sale; but, like many extracts prepared by them, is often empyreu- 

 matic. Made by displacement and evaporation in a water-bath, it affords a 

 beautiful article of an agreeable odour, and astringent, bitter taste, that is 

 fully equal to catechu, and might replace it in all cases where that medicine 

 is required. The dose of this extract is from 5 grains to a scruple. The de- 

 coction, made by boiling an ounce of the plant in a pint of water, may be 

 given, cold, in the dose of one or two fluid ounces. 



Some other native species of Spirea are also employed in domestic prac- 

 tice, among which the best known is the S. opulifolia, or Ninebark, a large 



