26 
NAT. ORDER. LAURACE^. 
but this effect speedily disappears. In robust habits it usually ope- 
rates quickly, and with a considerable degree of violence ; in the 
infirm and feeble, more slowly, so that the dose should not in any 
case be hastily increased. It sometimes proves fatal, and Morgagni 
has recorded the appearances on dissection of a woman who was 
killed by it ; though we are inclined to think that this plant was the 
nerium oleander of Linnasus, sometimes called rhododendron, or the 
rhododendron ferrugineum which has similar powers. 
Sirup of Rose Bay. The illustrious and celebrated Parkinson 
in his treatise upon the vegetable creation, has ascribed many vir- 
tues to this plant. He relates many cases, where cures were per- 
formed by the adminstration of this simple decoction alone, many 
of which would appear almost incredible were it not from a reliable 
source. He gave it in the form of a sirup, prepared in the following 
manner, viz. Take of the dried leaves of rhododendron arhoreum, 
rose lay, two ounces ; berries, after being dried, one ounce ; pepatica 
americana, liverwort, one ounce ; pulmonaria officinalis common 
lungwort, one ounce ; steep all these together over a slow fire in 
one gallon of water down to three quarts, strain off, and add when 
cold, two pounds of bee's honey, one quart of best French brandy, 
one and a half pounds loaf sugar, and flavor it with the essence of 
wintergreen. This has been found highly servicable in the treat- 
ment of coughs, colds, consumption, and all pulmonary diseases. 
The dose is from a table-spoon full to half a wine-glass full, to be 
taken three or four times a day. 
