SASSAFRAS. CASHEW NUT. 121 
132. SASSAFRAS is the wood of a North American tree oj 
the bay tribe (Lauras sassafras), and is imported into Europe 
in long straight pieces, which are of light and porous texture, 
and covered with a rough fungous bark. 
This tree is sometimes twenty or thirty feet high. The branches 
are crooked, and the leaves various, both inform and size, some 
of them being ontil and entire, and others having two or three 
lobes. They are pale green, and downy beneath. The flowers, 
ivhich are of a dingy yellow colour, appear in pendant spikes. 
This ivood has a fragrant smell, and an aromatic and 
somewhat acrid, though sweetish taste, that are also 
observable in the bark, the smaller twigs, and the roots, 
all of which are imported into this country as well as 
the wood. Infusions and decoctions of sassafras are 
frequently taken as a medicine for improving the tone 
of the stomach and bowels, in persons whose humours 
are in a vitiated state. Soon after its introduction into 
Europe, in the year 1560, this medicine was in such 
high repute as to be sold, on the Continent, at the rate 
of fifty livres per pound ; and its virtues were extolled in 
numerous publications that were written on the subject. 
It is, however, now considered of little importance ; 
and sassafras is seldom employed but in conjunction 
with other medicines, which, in their nature, are more 
powerful. Infusions of sassafras are sold in the streets 
of London, under the name of saloop. 
We are informed that, in many parts of America, 
where the sassafras trees not only grow in great num- 
bers in the woods, but are planted along the fences of 
enclosures, it is not unusual to make bed-posts of the 
wood, for the purpose of expelling bugs. Its powerful 
scent drives away these disagreeable insects; and some 
persons put chips of sassafras into their wardrobes and 
chests, to prevent the attack of moths. This wood 
serves for the posts of enclosures, to which, by it's last- 
ing nature in the ground, it is peculiarly adapted. 
The bark of the sassafras tree is used by the Ameri- 
can women for dyeing worsted, which it does of a per- 
manent and beautiful orange colour. . 
133. The CASHEW NUT is a small kidney-foamed nut, 
VOL. II. G 
