112 
ON STATICE CAROLINIAN A . 
at the base of each, a five-angled, five-toothed calyx, and spa- 
tulate obtuse petals. 
The Statice Caroliniana is a maritime indigenous plant, 
growing all along our sea coast, from New England to Flori- 
da, where it is very conspicuous for its purple tops appearing 
among the grass during all the summer months. 
As found in the shops, the Marsh Rosemary root is in 
pieces, from one to three inches in length, about the thick- 
ness of a finger, though in some specimens considerably larger, 
sometimes branched, and irregularljr annulated upon the sur- 
face. It is compact, fleshy, and with difficulty reduced to 
powder. Externally of a dark-brown, and internally of a 
light purplish red color. 
It has an exceedingly astringent taste, with a slight degree 
of bitterness. Its virtues are imparted to alcohol and water, 
but to the latter more readily when boiling than when cold. 
Though seldom prescribed by regular practitioners in 
Philadelphia or its vicinity, and scarcely to be found in our 
shops, it is regularly kept by the druggists in Boston, and 
other parts of New England, where large quantities of it are 
annually sold. Its medical properties are those of a powerful 
astringent, and its most popular application is to apthous and 
ulcerative affections of the mouth and fauces, though it is 
stated by Wood and Bache to be useful for all the purposes 
for which kino and catechu are given. Dr. Baylies, of Mas- 
sachusetts, found it highly useful in cynanehe maligna, or 
putrid sore throat, both as an internal and local remedy, and 
Dr. Mott, of New York, states, that in the chronic stages of 
dysentery, after inflammatory symptoms have been removed, 
a strong decoction of this root has restored persons to health, 
where various other tonics and astringents have failed. 
Statice occupies an important place in the Materia Medica 
of the Thomsonian or Botanical system of medicine, and it is 
extensively used by Thomsonians as a tonic and emollient, as 
well as an astringent. A compound decoction, infusion and 
plaster, are recommended by them in the treatment of putrid 
sore throat, and they frequently employ it in other diseases. 
