E R 1 C A C E JE. 



429 



Common Names. — Laurel ; 

 Mountain Laurel ; Calico- bush ; 

 Ivy, &c. 



Description. — A shrub from four to 

 twelve feet high, usually with very 

 crooked stems, covered with a light- 

 coloured rough bark. The leaves are 

 persistent, green on both sides, but 

 somewhat paler beneath, coriaceous, 

 entire, ovate-lanceolate, on long pe- 

 tioles, and in clusters at the ends of 

 the branches. The flowers are very 

 showy, in terminal compound co- 

 rymbs, viscid, pubescent, with small 

 subulate bracts. Corolla large, of a 

 red colour at first, afterwards becom- 

 ing lighter ; the tube is short, and the 

 limb is salver-shaped, with five short, 

 acute lobes, and ten protuberances on 

 the exterior, answering to the same 

 number of cavities in which the an- 

 thers are lodged. The stamens are 

 ten, long declined, and bear two-celled 

 anthers, which have two terminal 

 pores. The ovary is roundish, sup- 

 porting a slender style, with an obtuse 

 stigma. Fruit a dry capsule, which 

 is five-celled and five-valved, the valves 

 alternating with the divisions of the 

 calyx. The seeds are numerous, and 

 minute. 



Fig. 192. 



K. latifolia. 



The Laurel is found in most parts of the United States, on hills and 

 mountains, flowering in June and July, when it is extremely ornamental, from 

 the contrast of its profusion of rose-coloured flowers with the dark shining 

 green of its leaves. It is not officinal, but is said to be possessed of active 

 qualities, though this is denied by some highly-esteemed authorities. Dr. 

 Bigelow detected in the leaves only Tannin, a Resinous matter and Gum, but 

 Dr. Stabler, in addition, found a Volatile oil of a disagreeable narcotic odour, 

 and nauseous smell, which he supposes to be the active principle. [Am. Jour. 

 Pharm. x. 241.) 



Medical Properties. — Very little is known respecting the real properties of 

 this plant ; the general belief is, that it is extremely poisonous. Dr. B. S. 

 Barton says, " It kills sheep and other animals ; our Indians sometimes use 

 a decoction to destroy themselves. In the county of Lancaster, an empiric 

 has used the powdered leaves with success in certain stages of fevers, and in 

 tinea capitis. A decoction of the plant, externally applied, has often cured 

 the itch, but it must be used with much care, for thus applied it has been 

 known to occasion disagreeable subsultus or startings and convulsions." (Col- 

 lections, 29.) Dr. Thomas made it the subject of an inaugural dissertation 

 in 1802, and gives a case of diarrhoea which was cured by a strong decoction 

 of the leaves, in small doses. Thirty drops were given six times a day, 

 but causing vertigo, the doses were limited to four times daily. 



In Dr. Stabler's memoir, he states that he took a dose of ten grains of the 

 powdered leaves, without any perceptible effect, and on increasing the dose to 

 forty grai ns, about two hours afterwards, it stil I gave no indication of any power ; 

 but on trying a large dose of a strong decoction, it caused, in about half an 



