14 
THE PRINCIPLES OE BOTANY. 
the different relative values assigned to the various sorts in 
different countries. 55 
Pereira, too, points to the fact that while surgeons in this 
country have greatly extolled the root, physicians, on the 
other hand, have not thought so highly of it; but this he 
explains by supposing that physicians have less to do with 
the cases in which sarza is ^employed than surgeons; at the 
same time it is not at all unlikely that a medicine taken in such 
quantities as the compound decoction of sarsaparilla—called, 
indeed, a diet drink—may have been so done to the exclusion 
of less harmless drinks, or even medicines, and thus have 
proved to be beneficial by at least not opposing nature, if not 
by assisting her. 
We shall not here attempt to describe the diseases in which 
this drug is given, but be content with saying that it is usually 
made to follow most active if not poisonous medicines, after 
which the mind, and through it the body, ought at least to 
get an improved tone, from taking a harmless and salutary 
diet drink. 
The herb Paris belongs to the natural order Trilliacece , in 
which are four genera and thirty species ; the Paris quadri- 
folia being our only British example. The Mediola and Tril- 
liums of North America, of which latter there are no less than 
nine species, are said to possess violent emetic and diuretic 
properties. 
The herb Paris of our woods is a handsome plant of 
curious aspect, remarkable for the possession of four or some¬ 
times five perianth leaves, but no root leaves. There can be 
little doubt but that it possesses highly active properties in 
all its parts. Dr. Syine ^says of it —“ The leaves and berries 
of this plant are said to partake of the properties of opium. 
The juice of the berries has been used as an ophthalmic. 
Linnaeus says the roots are useful as an emetic, and are equal 
to ipecacuanha in this respect. 55 
In concluding our remarks on these plants, it would seem 
that some of the group are not without medicinal properties; 
but until we can determine by accurate analyses the nature of 
their active principles, we shall have no fixed data for con¬ 
cluding as to their medicinal powers or their relative value. 
