pad 
20 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR, 
QUASSIA WOOD (Qvassta AmaRs), 
The wood of this tree is another intensely bitter tonic, much 
used in regular practice. It was discovered by a negro, named 
Quassia, whose name it bears. So strong is the bitter principle 
in it that cups turned out of its wood, if filled with water and 
left standing a short time, givea very decided bitter drink. As 
they get used they have to stand the longer. The decoction is 
a half ounce to the pint; dose: a wineglassful three times a 
day. Tincture, two ounces to the pint; dose: one or two 
teaspoonfuls in water. The tincture 1s about the only one that 
will unite with the tincture of iron without becoming black. 
BARBARY BARK (Barzary Vouearis), 
This bush is not unlike the gooseberry. It has the same 
kind ofthorny branches andsmall notched leaves; however it has 
flowers whuch are yellow, followed by red berries. The berries 
are pleasant acidulous, slightly astringent, used on the © 
Continent as a drink in fevers and diarrhova, and preserved as 
jam for table use. The shrub is growing in our city, It 
attains a height sometimes of 12 feet. In those places where 
it is cultivated for commerce, long hedges are planted like our 
hawthorn. The bark is cut off in long or short strips, which 
are again cut in pieces of an inch or two. Its colour is grey 
outside, yellow inside. Dr. Coffin, with whom this was a great 
favourite, says that he made a tincture of it, and compared it 
with one of bullock’s gall. He found them in taste, smell, 
and colour, almost identical. Reasoning from this fact that the 
barbary must be a good liver medicine, he prescribed it freely, 
and was well satisfied with the results. Some of our customers 
have told us that they were cured of the jaundice by an 
infusion of the bark and twigs. There can be no doubt but 
that it is a valuable liver as well as tonic medicine. The 
usual decoction, infusion, and tincture, the active principle 
called Berberine is used, in doses of from three to ten grains 
for the above purpose. The bark was formerly used as a dye ; 
it made a beautiful yellow. | 
