OF NBWrYORK. 15 



Oxaliaceje, De Cand. 



The Wood-Sorrel Tribe furnishes us with three species of Oxa- 

 lis ;* the O. Acetosella, Linn., (common Wood Sorrel), O. Violaca, 

 Linn., (Violet Wood Sorrel), O. Striata, Linn., (Yellow Wood Sor- 

 rel) ; all of which have a pleasant acid flavor, and may be used as 

 refrigerants. The expressed juice of the common wood sorrel yields, 

 when purified and evaporated, crystals of binoxalate of potash, formerly 

 sold under the name of Salt of Sorrel, for the purpose of removing 

 ink-stains from linen. 



This plant is a good antiscorbutic, and the juice forms a cooling 

 drink in febrile complaints; when boiled with milk, it forms a very 

 agreeable and pleasant whey. The plant is a popular remedy as an 

 external application in cases of cancer ; but often does harm by caus- 

 ing irritation and ulceration. 



Balsaminaceje, A. Richard. — (The Balsam Tribe.) 

 birATiEXsf Pallida, (Touch-me-not, Snap-weed). In* Fulva, 

 Balsam weed, Jewel weed). Emetic, cathartic, diaphoretic, and diu- 

 retic ; have an acrid burning taste. An ointment made by boiling the 

 recent plants in lard, is useful in piles. The flowers may be used for 

 dying yellow. Well known plants, which deserve further trials. 



Axacardiace-e, R. Brown. — (The Cashew Tribe.) 

 Yields the different species of Rhus, viz. : Rhus^: Tybhina, Linn., 

 Glabra, Copallina, Vexexata, Toxicodendron, and Aroxiatica ; 

 all of which are found in New-York, and the order contains no other 

 genus in the state. The Venenata (poison sumach) is remarkable for 

 its poisonous properties, although many persons are not susceptible to 

 it. The symptoms caused by it are itching, redness, and tumefaction, 

 succeeded by heat, pain, vesication, and fever. The best applications 

 are a solution of borax or acet. lead. This species not used in medicine. 

 R. Glabra, Linn., (Smooth Sumach). Officinal part, the berries, 

 though the bark and leaves are astringent, and used in tanning leather 

 and in dying. Excrescences are produced under the leaves, contain- 

 ing large quantities of tannin and gallic acid ; might be substituted for 

 oak-galls. The berries contain malic acid, to which they owe their 

 sour taste ; are astringent and refrigerant ; used as a cooling drink in fe- 

 vers, and a gargle in ulceration and inflammation of the throat. The 

 inner bark of the root is used for same purpose ; useful as a wash in 

 mercurial salivation. 



* From the Greek, oxys, sharp, or sour. 



t Named in allusion to the sudden bursting f the seed vessels. 



J From the Greek, rhoas, red, from the color of the fruit. 



