36 MEDICINAL PLANTS 



Ericace-E. Endl. — (The Heath Tribe.) 



Arctostaphylos* Uva Uesi, Spreng, (Bear-berry). The uva ursi 

 of the shops, a low evergreen shrub, with trailing stems, gathered in 

 autumn ; the leaves taste bitterish, strongly astringent, ultimately 

 sweetish ; contain tannin, resin, gum, extractive, and gallic acid ; tan- 

 nin abounds to that extent that they are sometimes used in tanning 

 leather ; active principles soluble in water and alcohol ; astringent, 

 tonic, diuretic, antilithic, and lithontriptic, exerts a direct and specific 

 influence on kidneys and urinary organs : useful in diseases of bladder 

 and kidneys, as nephritis, calculus, catarrh of bladder, or urethra, in- 

 continence of urine, gleet, leucorrhea, hemorrhagia, diabetes, etc. 

 Also in all passive hemorrhages, in decoction or powder. (Offi. U. S. 

 Phar.) I found this plant in great abundance on the shores of Lake 

 Superior, where it is smoked with tobacco by the Indians, under the 

 name of " Kinnikinnick." 



EpiG-Eif Repexs, Linn.. (Tra iling Arbutus). This plant has the 

 same medicinal virtues as the uva ursi. and might be substituted for it. 

 It is a popular domestic remedy for gravel, and is put up and sold by 

 the Shakers under the name of Gravel Plant. 



Clethra Alnifolm, Linn., (Sweet Pepper Bush). A diaphoretic, 

 stimulant, fragrant, the leaves and flowers ; a handsome plant growing 

 in swamps and thickets in the south part of the State. 



Gautiera^: Procoibens, Linn., (Partridge Berry). A well- 

 known, small, shrubby, indigenous, evergreen plant. The leaves and 

 whole plant possess aromatic properties, similar to sweet birch, which 

 reside in a volatile oil ; the leaves contain much tannin, and are 

 astringent — a cordial stimulant, united with astringency — adapted well 

 to cures of chronic diarrhoea : chiefly used to impart an agreeable 

 flavor to other preparations. The oil or infusion may be used — has 

 been employed success fully as an emmenagogue. (U.S. P.) The 

 oil is sold under the name of Oil of Wintcrgreen. Berries are edible, 

 and have a very pleasant flavor. The oil is recently ascertained by 

 M. Cahours to be a salyciUte of the oxide of methyl, and composed of 

 an acid called the salycilic, (hitherto found only in the oil of spirea,) 

 united with the ether of wood-spirit, (Methylic Ether). *» 



Andromeda^ Polyfolia, Linn., (Sorrel Tree, Sour Tree, Andro- 

 meda, etc.). 



* From the Greek, arktos, a bear, and staphyle, a grape, 

 t From the Greek, epi, upon, and ge. the earth — prostrate. 

 t Named after Dr Gautier, a French physician of Quebec. 

 4 No allusion to the fable of Andromeda. 



