ON  TEXAS  SARSAPARILLA. 
7 
phosphate  of  sesqui  oxide  of  iron,  which  was  separated,  dissolved 
in  muriatic  acid  from  which  potassa  in  excess  threw  down  a  red 
precipitate,  sesqui  oxide  of  iron. 
The  analysis  of  this  root  shows  that  its  chemical  composition  is 
somewhat  similar  to  that  of  senega,  and  its  sensible  properties 
are  somewhat  analogous  :  like  it,  it  possesses  an  acrid  principle 
(the  identity  of  which  I  do  not.  pretend  to  say)  upon  which  its  ex- 
pectorant property  depends  ;  it  is,  in  large  doses,  emetic,  and  also 
has  tonic  properties.  It  has  been  used  to  some  extent  in  place  of 
senega  with  satisfactory  results,  by  physicians  of  the  Eclectic 
school. 
Senega,  like  many  other  of  our  indigenous  medicines,  is  be- 
coming every  year  much  scarcer.  In  localities  from  which,  a  few 
years  since,  we  received  a  large  amount,  the  plant  has  become  so 
scarce  that  it  will  not  pay  to  collect  it.  If  some  other  plant  pos- 
sessing similar  pfoperties  could  be  substituted  for  it,  the  Jefferso- 
nia  for  instance,  it  would  reduce  the  demand  for  senega,  and  al- 
low some  opportunity  for  its  increase.  As  it  is,  a  few  years  de- 
mand for  it  will,  in  all  probability,  make  the  article  so  scarce  in 
our  markets,  and  consequently  so  high  in  price,  that  it  will  be  but 
little  used,  and  in  this  view  I  think  the  Jeffersonia  is  worthy 
of  the  attention  of  the  medical  profession. 
Cincinnati,  Nov.,  1852. 
ON  TEXAS  SARSAPARILLA. 
(Meitispemnim  Canadeiise.) 
By  Robert  P.  Thomas,  M.  D. 
In  the  January  number  of  this  Journal  for  1844,  an  account  is 
given  by  Dr.  Joseph  Carson,  of  an  article  that  had  recently  been 
brought  from  New  Orleans,  and  offered  for  sale  in  this  city,  under 
the  name  of  Texas  Sarsaparilla.  The  following  is  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  article  in  question.  "  The  packages  have  been  made 
to  resemble  those  of  the  genuine,  about  a  foot  and  a  half  in  length, 
and  half  a  foot  or  more  in  diameter;  composed  of  long  branching 
stems,  doubled  twice  or  thrice  upon  themselves,  without  any  attach- 
ment to  a  head.  The  lower  portion  of  the  stem  is  as  thick  as  a 
large  sized  quill,  rough,  wrinkled  longitudinally,  and  of  a  dirty- 
brown  color;  the  upper  extremely  thin,  smooth  and  light  brown 
