Cornus Florida. 
109 
•weighed two grains, equal to one and a half grains white 
arsenic, but no doubt a half a grain or more must have been 
wasted, which would be two grains of white arsenic, in about 
one-fourth of the roll; so that the whole roll must have con- 
tained at least eight grains of white arsenic. The memorandum 
of Dr. Goldsborough stated, that an individual in the neigh- 
borhood was suspected of having designedly introduced poison 
into the bread; but a few days after the above account was 
written, it was ascertained that arsenic was put into the bread 
by mistake, instead of sal seratus. 
ART. XXVI.— ON CORNUS FLORIDA. 
By James Cockburn, Jr. 
(Extract from Thesis. Phil. Coll. of Pharm.) 
The Dogwood, or Boxwood as it is commonly called in the 
New England states, is found in all parts of the United States : 
but it is most abundant in the middle sections. It flowers 
early in the spring, being covered with a profusion of large 
white blossoms, which render it one of the most conspicuous 
and beautiful ornaments of our forests. The bark is the offi- 
cinal portion, and is derived for use both from the stem and 
branches, and from the root. The bark of the root is prefer- 
red. It is brought into market in pieces of various sizes, 
usually more or less rolled, sometimes invested with a fawn 
coloured epidermis, sometimes partially or wholly deprived 
of it ; of a reddish gray colour, very brittle, easily pulverizable 
and affording a grayish powder tinged with red. It has 
sometimes a large percentage of the wood of the root mixed 
with it, which may be considered an adulteration. The odour 
of dogwood, is feeble in the dry state, but rather aromatic 
when fresh or moist ; its taste is bitter, astringent, and slightly 
aromatic. The fresh bark has rather an acrid and less bitter 
taste than the dry. Several different samples of the bark 
which I had an opportunity of observing, possessed the bitter 
