96 
NAT. ORDER. THYMELACE^. 
retained in the mouth, excites great and long continued heat and 
inflammation, particularly of the throat and fauces. The berries 
also have the same effects, and, when swallowed, prove a power- 
ful corrosive poison, not only to man, but to dogs, wolves, foxes, &c. 
The bark and berries of Mezereon, in diffei'ent forms, have been 
long externally used in obstinate ulcers and sores. In France and 
some parts of England, the former is strongly recommended as an 
application to the skin, which, under certain management, pro- 
duces a continued sei'ous discharge, without blistering, and is thus 
rendered useful in many chronic diseases of a local nature, 
answering the purpose of what has been called a perpetual blister, 
while it occasions less pain and inconvenience. 
Medical Properties and Uses. In England and in the United 
States, at the present time, Mezereon is only employed in the cure 
of some syphilitic complaints, for which purpose. Dr. Donald 
Monro was the first who gave testimony to its efficacy in the cure 
of these loathsome diseases. A few months after this, several 
cases were published by Dr. Russel, then physician to St. Thomas' 
Hospital, fully establishing the utility of the cortax mezerei in ve- 
nereal nodes. He says, " The disease for which I principally re- 
commend the decoction of mezereon-root as a cure, is the node 
that proceeds from a thickening of the memhrane of the bones, 
which appear to be the cause of the greatest part of those tumors, 
at least when recent. In a thickening of the periosteum from 
other causes, I have seen very good effects from it." But in the 
nocturnal pains accompanying syphilis, unless occasioned by the 
node itself, he found it necessary to join a solution of sublimate to 
the decoction. We would also remark that Dr. R. never found 
the decoction to increase any of the natural evacuations. Dr. 
Cullen observes, that "Dr Home has not only found this de- 
coction to cure scirrhous tumors which remain after the lues 
venerea, and after the use of mercury, but that it healed, also, 
some scirrhous tumors from other causes ; and that he has 
