414 
ON  LIQUIDAMBAR  STYRACIFLUA. 
What  I  wish  more  particularly  to  call  attention  to  is  the  em. 
ployment  of  a  syrup  of  the  bark  of  this  tree,  in  diarrhoea  and 
dysentery,  and  more  especially  the  diarrhoea  which  is  so  prevalent 
among  children  during  the  summer  months  in  the  Middle  States, 
and  which  frequently  terminates  in  cholera  infantum. 
The  best  formula  for  the  preparation  of  this  syrup  is  that  given 
in  the  United  States  Pharmacopoeia,  for  the  preparation  of  the 
syrup  of  wild-cherry  bark,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy,  the 
sweet-gum  bark  being  substituted  for  the  wild-cherry  bark. 
"Take  of  sweet-gum  bark,  in  coarse  powder,  five  ounces; 
sugar  (refined)  two  pounds  ;  water  a  sufficient  quantity.  Moisten 
the  bark  thoroughly  with  water,  let  it  stand  for  twenty-four 
hours  in  a  close  vessel,  then  transfer  it  to  a  percolator,  and  pour 
water  upon  it  gradually  until  a  pint  of  filtered  liquor  is  obtained. 
To  this  add  the  sugar  in  a  bottle,  and  agitate  occasionally  until 
it  is  dissolved." 
The  dose  of  this  syrup  for  an  adult  is  about  one  fluidounce,  to 
be  given  at  every  operation,  as  long  as  the  operations  continue 
to  recur  too  frequently. 
One  advantage  which  this  medicine  possesses  over  most  as- 
tringent preparations  is  that  of  having  an  exceedingly  pleasant 
taste,  and  of  being  retained  by  an  irritable  stomach  when  almost 
every  other  substance  is  rejected.  Children  never  object  to  it 
on  the  score  of  bad  taste.  The  resinous  and  volatile  bodies 
which  it  contains,  no  doubt  enhances  its  value.  My  brother,  Dr. 
J.  F.  Wright,  of  Columbus,  Indiana,  has  employed  this  prepa- 
ration for  the  past  three  years  in  a  great  number  of  cases,  with 
the  most  satisfactory  results.  He  prefers  it  to  any  other  article 
where  there  is  an  indication  for  astringent  medication  in  the 
class  of  diseases  before  referred  to.  In  the  bowel  complaints  of 
children  it  has  a  decided  advantage  over  all  preparations  contain- 
ing opium,  and  I  am  always  pleased  with  the  happy  results  which 
follow  its  employment  in  that  class  of  patients. — American  - 
Journal  of  the  Medical  Sciences,  July,  18.56. 
