NAT. ORDER. CAPRIFOLIACE.E. 
61 
more soluble in water than the Cinchona. Sometimes the fresh bark 
disagrees with the stomach, producing a burning heat, nausea, &c. ; 
but it is improved by keeping at least one year. 
Medical Properties and Uses. The Cornns jlorida is tonic, as- 
tringent, antiseptic, coroborant, and stimulant. It is one of the best 
native substitutes for Cinchona, although evidently differing in some 
respects. The powdered bark quickens the pulse, and sometimes 
produces pains in the bowels ; but the sulphate of cornine and the 
extract are not so stimulant. They are highly recommended and 
used in intermittent and remittent fevers ; also typhus and all febrile 
disorders. In cases of debility it acts as a corroborant, and may be 
joined in practice with many of the bitter tonics. The flowers 
have the properties, and are greatly used by the Indians, in warm 
infusion, for fevers and colics. All the various preparations of the 
bark and the flowers have a more agreeable bitterness than the Peru- 
vian bark. 
Dr. James Osgood informs me that he has been in the habit of 
using the Cornus Jlorida in connection with the Aletris farinosa, and 
Trillium latri folium, for female weaknesses, leucorrhcea, general de- 
bility, &c. For the treatment of these complaints he found it par- 
ticularly servicable. I have myself employed it in many instances, 
as an astringent and tonic ; also in connection with other remedies, 
for weakness of the digestive organs ; and I know of no bitter which 
is more grateful and effectual in cases of this kind than this one. 
In the cure of intermittents this bark has been in great use in 
many parts of the country ; and from the concurrent testimony of 
those who have employed it, as well as from my own experience, 
I am persuaded that of all our indigenous tonics, this bark is the 
most useful in the present disease. The late Professor Barton ob- 
serves : " I believe we may with entire safety assert, that as yet we 
have not discovered, within the limits of the United States, any 
vegetables which have been found so effectually to answer the pur- 
pose of the Peruvian bark, in the management of intermittent fevers, 
