ARBUTUS UVA URSr. 
115 
a very slight aromatic flavour. Both water and diluted alcohol 
extract these qualities. The infusion of the bark deposits dark 
coloured precipitates with the addition of the sulphates of zinc or 
iron ; the siiperacetate of lead and oxyniuriate of mercury produce 
white precipitates. M. Cargoneri has lately obtained from the 
iEsculus Hippocastanum, (by a process analogous to that for the 
preparation of ciuchonine and quinine) an alkaline principle, to 
which he has given the name of Esculine: this principle is supposed 
to contain all the febrifuge virtues for which the ^sculus has been 
celebrated. 
Medical Properties and Uses. The bark of this tree has 
been strongly recommended by Zaunuckelli and some other conti- 
nental physicians, as a valuable remedy for intermittent and other 
fevers ; but the experience of the profession in this country does 
not confirm the high encomiums bestowed upon it by their continental 
brethren. It is nevertheless deserving of further trial, having also 
been applied externally with some success in gangrene. The bark, 
is given in powder in doses of from one to four scruples, which may 
be repeated three, four, or six times in the twenty-four hours ; some 
prefer a decoction of an ounce and a half to a pint of water, of 
which two ounces is a proper dose, or from five to ten grains of the 
extract in an ounce of cinnamon water. 
Off. The Bark. 
ARBUTUS UVA URSI. 
Whortleberry, Red-berried Trailing Arbutus,^ 
Class Decandria. — Order Monogynia. 
Nat. Ord. Bicornes, Linn. ERiciNEiE, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Ca/ya; 5-parted. CoroZ/a ovate, pellucid at the 
base. Berry 5-celled. 
Spec. Char. Stem procumbent. Leaves entire. 
* Fig.' rt. represents two cuttings of the nataral size. b. A section of the corolla cut 
open, and largely magnified to shew the situation of the anthers, c. The pistillum and 
calyx. 
