NAT. ORDER. LAURACE^E. 
25 
and have often proved serviceable in the treatment of kidney affec- 
tions. Bergius and some others made great use of a tea made from 
its leaves in the treatment of hysteria, but cautioned its too free use, 
as it was thought to act with peculiar power on the uterine system, 
proving considerably diuretic, and powerful as an emmenagogue. 
An infusion of the leaves is sometimes recommended by modern 
physicians ; and the essential oil of the berries is given from one to 
five drops on sugar, or dissolved by means of mucilages, or in spirit 
of wine, this mode of administration has been urgently recommend- 
ed in chronic rheumatisms, painful affections of the joints and bones, 
particularly those of a syphilis nature, for which it is extensively 
used in some parts of Europe even at the present day. 
Dr. Koelpir, of Alten-stetin, an eminent botanist, claims to have 
made some valuable discoveries in relation to this plant. He made 
an infusion of it in water, kept twenty-four hours in nearly a boil- 
ing, heat, in the proportion of two drachms of the leaves and tops 
of the plant to ten ounces of water. It was sometimes made double 
this strength, and the dose was two ounces, to be repeated after a 
few hours, and continued as required. Dr. Home found it an as- 
tringent and powerfully sedative ; he directs it in infusion, from 
half-a-drachm to two drachms for a dose. When taken internally, 
it produces — according to Koelpir — a feverish heat, intoxication, 
sometimes a stupor, with a pricking sensation in the limbs, or other 
parts of the body ; but the intoxication leaves neither headache or 
nausea. During the heat, the patient complains of intense thirst; 
and drinking cold water is followed by a violent but salutary vom- 
iting, especially in complaints of the bowels; and a copious sweat 
on the parts affected with, rheumatism or gout. In some instances 
the pains grow worse at first ; but this increase of disease is soon 
followed by a remarkable relief : the pulse is rendered much weak- 
er and slower, and in chronic rheumatism its effects are sometimes 
greatly increased. The infusion at first often produces heat and 
constriction in the fauces ; which is a proof of some little acrimony, 
