1849.] Bigelow on the Medical Botany of Ohio. 11 



Fall, upon cattle that eat them, are well known to every phys- 

 ician of the west. It appears strange, therefore, that we do 

 not more carefully investigate their just position in the Materia 

 Medica, instead of depending upon foreign substitutes of 

 equally doubtful, and more variable and unknown properties. 



Orddr XV.— CELASTRACEiE. (Spindle-tree Family.) 



Sp. 39. Celastrus scandens. Linn. 



Com. names — Wax Work, False Bittersweet, Climbing Bit- 

 tersweet, Fever-twig, StatF-vine. Stem woody, twining, scar- 

 let covering of the seeds, ornamental. — June. 



Sp. 40. Euonvmus atropurpureus. Jacq. 



Com. names — Burning Bush, Indian Arrow, Spindle-tree. — 

 Shrub 10 g — 12° high. Fruit in copious clusters; crimson, or- 

 namental. — June. 



This is rather an active order, but little used in regular 

 practice. Griffith says that the general character of the order 

 is acridity, but the seeds yield an oil which is useful for a va- 

 riety of purposes. Celastrus Scandens, according to Rafines- 

 que, is equivalent to Dulcamara and mezereon. Riddell asserts 

 that it has been used by Thompsonians as a stimulating diu- 

 retic, and in doses of 3i, 3 times a day, of the powdered bark, 

 is capable of removing hepatic obstructions. Griffith, (Med. 

 Bot. p. 219,) regards the two species as equivalents of each 

 other and used alike. My friend, Dr. White, of Lancaster, re- 

 cently mentioned to me, that Euonymus Atropurpureus, had been 

 used in intermittents. Indeed, he thinks it will not only as 

 certainly cure intermittents as quinine; but that it will prevent 

 their subsequent recurrence. Should such be the fact, it will 

 certainly prove an acquisition to our Materia Medica. They 

 are at least worthy of extended trial. 



Order XVI.— VlTACEiE. (Vine Family.) 

 Sp. 41. Ampelopsis O.UINO.UEFOLIA. Michx. 



Com. names — Virginian Creeper, American Ivy, Five leaved 

 Ivy, Woody Climber. Flowers in July. Berries black, in Oct. 



Eberle recommended this plant as an admirable expector- 

 ant in pulmonary complaints, an account of which may be 

 found in the 1st Vol. of West. Med. Gaz. 



Order XVII.— LEGUMINOSE^. (Pulse or Bean Family.) 



This is one of the most extensive, as it is also one of the most 

 important in the vegetable kingdom, whether it has reference 

 to objects, either of ornament, of utility, or of nutriment. 



