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UNITED  STATES OF AMERICA
y,   »
FOUNDED 1836
WASHINGTON,  DC
GPO  16—67244-1

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AN
INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES
OF THE
LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA,
OR
POPLAR-TREE.
      By PATRICK KERR ROGERS,
FORMERLY OF IRELAND; NOW OF PHILADELPHIA;
  Honorary Member of the Philadelphia Medical and
              Chemical Societies.
  " The man who difcovers one valuable new medicine is a more
" important benefactor to his fpecies, than Alexander, Caefar,
" or an hundred other conquerors.  Even his glory, in the eftimati-
" on of a truly civilized age, -will be greater and more lafling,—"
                          _^ROFESSOR BARTON.
x^~ T
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PRINTED  BY BENJAMIN"|$^50%^X
1802. 
 
              A-N




          INAUGURAL




   EXPERIMENTAL INQUIRY,




        FOR THE DEGREE OF




    DOCTOR OF MEDICINE j




    SUBMITTED TO THE EXAMINATION




             OF THE




REV. JOHN EWING, S, T. P. PROVOST;




              THE




 TRUSTEES AND MEDICAL FACULTY




             OF THE



  UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA,




             ON THE




   TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF MAY, 1802.
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TO
   BENJAMIN SMITH BARTON, M. D.

 Professor  of  Materia Medica, Natural History
                   and Botany,

 IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
     SIR,
  AS a pledge of my  gratitude, I dedicate to you the
 following pages.  I need not trouble you with a formal
 apology,  for the imperfections of this first effort, since
 it has already met  with your approbation.  Nor is this
 inscription intended to avert, by thus affixing an illustri-
 ous name, the censure which may fall upon its imperfecti-
 ons ; but as  a token of that affection and respect which
 you  have inspired by  an uninterrupted continuance of
 signal friendship.

  If, in the course of my life, I may enjoy any happiness
 from my attachment to the sciences connected with me-
 dicine,  it must ever be acknowledged, as, in an eminent
 degree, the result of your example, instruction and be-
 nignity.   Indeed I  cannot help regarding that day,  as
 truly auspicious, on which I became your pupil.

  That the enjoyment of health and felicity may enable
 you  long to exercise those talents, which have hitherto
 been employed with so much success for the health and
felicity of mankind, is the sincere wish of your
                       grateful friend and pupil,
                                THE AUTHOR, 
 
              TO




   GEORGE ROGERS, M. D.




              OF



   NEWTONSTEW ART,—IRELAND;




THIS DISSERTATION IS ALSO INSCRIBED



     IN GRATEFUL TESTIMONY




            OF THE




   OBLIGATIONS I OWE HIM,




            AS THE



         KIND FRIEND,




              THE



     AFFECTIONATE RELATIVE,




           AND THE



     ATTENTIVE COUNSELLOR




       OF MY EARLY YOUTH.




               THE AUTHOR. 
 
INTRODUCTION.
  MAN is the favorite of nature*   She has kindly con-
ferred upon him the highest rank among the orders of her
creatures.  While his intellectual  capacity may be re-
garded as her first and noblest donation,  the subservien-
cy of the vegetable kingdom, to his  wants and his enjoy-
ments, constitutes her  next distinguished favor.  As he
travels over the variegated exuberance of the earth, he
may regale his senses, his imagination, and his intellects,
without fear of satiety.  The same fertile source supplies
him likewise, with a great part of his aliment; with many
invaluable medicines, for the preservation, and the resto-
ration of his health; and with innumerable means of pro-
moting his comfort and happiness.

  In the present performance, my attention has been
engaged, by one of the finest ornaments of the vegetable
kingdom.  I have made  an attempt, to investigate the
natural constitution of the Liriodendron of America, and
to ascertain how far it may be found useful,  in lessening
the evils, incident to our state of existence.  It is already
known to contribute very much to  our convenience; as
may be seen in its Natural History.  And though it has,
for a length of time, been thought to possess important
medical virtues, yet little pains were taken to examine it,
until one of my  much honored teachers in  medicine,
Doclor Rush, made some trials of the powers of its root.
He  had much satisfaction from the use of the root as a
bitter,  or tonic medicine : the bark of the tree, however,
I take to be an article endued with incomparably more
valuable  properties than the root.
                         B 
[  x  ]
   During our perusal of the fascin ating theories of learned
 physicians, on specula the subjects, such  a one as this,
 may,  to many of us appear rather humble for minute at-
 tention.  The consideration of the present subject Ins,
 notwithstanding, given me some happiness.  The finely
 embellished productions of nature can scarcely be  inves-
 tigated, but with delight:  and when  utility attends our
 inquiries concerning  them,  the pleasure resulting soon
 advances to felicity.

   I should conceive a physician of the first talents more
 laudably employed,  in ascertaining the  properties of the
 humblest plant, that smiles in our forests, than in building
 a fragile sj-stem,  however superb, which for a moment is
 admired, then ridiculed, and then totters into ruins. When
 we cast our eyes over die sciences connected with die heal-
 ing art, the prospect assures us, that all systems of me-
 dicine are,  like  their  authors,  destined to die.   The
 progressive state  of knowledge, which will  probably be
 perpetual in those  branches,  must  necessarily  effect
 their  destruction soon after  they are fabricated.  But
 surely we are not to desert this field of science,  so rich
 with fruits of inestimable value to mankind, because w e
 are not likely to discover its utmost extent; or because,
 in evrery corner of it, amid the  entwined luxuriance of
 beauty and utility, error may be observed  putting on the
 mantle of truth, and exhibiting its claims to the protecti-
 on of genius.

  That the Liriodendron Tulipifera well merits  the at-
 tention of the American physician, will, I think, appear
 from  the  sequel.  I could  wish that adequate taluits
 would find leisure to do it justice. It is,  to me, a mailer
of regret, that engagements of some consequence,  often
forced me to break in upon  the time, which was granted
 for its  consideration.  Nor did the season afford me an
opportunity of fully determining its efficacy in disease.  I 
[  xi  ]
wished to ascertain its real value in those complaints in
which it has been used by the country people ;  and also,
to try  its virtues in other diseases, to which, from its
peculiar constitution, and active powers, it appears to be
adapted.  I have  not, however, been  enabled to pro-
ceed so far at the present period.  I have  made the che-
mical investigation as satisfactory as I could; and I have
endeavored to give a view of its peculiar medical proper-
ties, with the  influence it exerts on the healthy human
frame.  It was already observed, that the root has been
found a good  tonic, and I have no doubt, but that the
bark of the tree, from its analysis,  its effects on the heal-
thy system, and its avered powers in disease, will become
a valuable article of the Materia Medica.   The ease with
which  it can be procured ought to make  it  a desirable
substitute for  expensive medicines of perhaps inferior
efficacy.   Should the present feeble effort contribute, in
any way, to render this elegant vegetable more generally
useful, it will be to me the happiest consideration. 
 
SECTION I.
NATURAL HISTORY OF THE TULIP-TREE.
           I. ITS ARRANGEMENT, &C


        A HE  genus  Liriodendron (Lyre-
tree)  belongs to the clafs Polyandria,  and the
order Polygyria, of the fexual fyftem of Linne-
us.  This celebrated naturalift gives the follow-
ing as generic characters ; " Liriodendron. Ca-
lix. three-leafed. Petals nine. Seeds imbricated
in a  flrobile."*—In his Natural method, he
ranks it under the fifty-fecond order, Coadunata.

  In  the fyftem of Mr, De Juflieu, the genus
Liriodendron is placed in the order Magnolia of
the thirteenth clafs,  along  with  feveral  other
genera, which are more or lefs  allied to  our
plant.   The principal of thefe genera are Dry-
mis,  Illicium,  Magnolia,  Dillenia,   and  the
Quaflia; which  lafl comprehends, befide other
fpecies, the  Quaflia  commonly fo called,  and
the Simaruba.

  * A fyftem of vegetables, by a botaaical fociety, at Lichfieldi 
C   14   ]
   Linneus defcribcs two fpecies*, denominating
the  firft,  Liriodendron  Tulipifera, or  Tulip-
bearing,  becaufe its flowers are like thofe of the
common garden tulip;  the fecond, Liriodendron
Liliifera, or  lily-bearing, from the refemblance
which its bloffoms bear to lilies.

   He thus diflinguifhes the fpecies; " Tulipife-
ra.  l. L. Leaves  lobed. Tulip-bearing.—Lilii-
fera. 2. L.  Leaves lanced. Lily-bearing.

   The firft is the fubjecl of the prefent  inquiry.
It has obtained  a  variety of names from  the
writers on natural hiftory and botany.   It is the
Tulipifera arbor Virginiana, of  Herman—The
Tulipifera  Virginianaf, and  Tulipifera  Caroli-
nianaf,  of Plucknet—The  Arbor  Tulipifera
Virginiana,   of Ray,  and  of  Catefbyll—The
Arbor Tulipifera Virginiana, and Poplar Vulgo,
of Clayton.—And  the White-wood, and Canoe-
wood-tree, of Cadwalladar Colden.   The people
of the United States know it by the names  of
Tulip-tree, Poplar, White-wood,  &c**.   It is

  * The writer of the article Liriodendron, in the Encyclopedia,
fays there is but one fpecies.  It is certain, however, that there are
at leaftybur fpecies.   The Liriodendron Liliifera is a native of In-
dia, and is defcribedby Rumphius, Burmann and other writers, who
have examined either the living vegetable or dried fpecimens of it.
The Liriodendron Figo, of Willdenow, has flowered in  the garden
of William Hamilton Efq. in the neighbourhood of Philadelphia.
  t Pluck: Almageftum Botanicum—\ Phytologia.
  || Ray's Hift. Plantarum, and Catefby's Nat. Hift. Carolina,
Vol.  I. page 48:
  *~  Profeffor Barton's Collections toward a  Materia  Medica of
the United States. 
t   15   ]
the Len-nik-bi of the Delaware-Indians, and the
Tse-u,  or Tze-u of the Cheerake*.
            II. OF THE FRUCTIFICATION.

   THE Calyx is two-fold ; confiftingof a proper
 involucrum of two leaflets, which are triangular,
 plane,  and  deciduous: and a perianth triphyl-
 lousf,  the leaves of which  open, and fall back,
 as  the flower  expands ; they  are  petal-form,
 oblong, concave and deciduous.

   The  Corolla  has fix,  often  more  petals;
 bell-fhaped,  oblong,  obtufe, fpatuled and va-
 riegated.

   The  Stamens are numerous ; the filaments are
 linear,  fhorter than the corolla, and inferted into
 the  receptacle.   The laft is a circumftance di-
 ilin£tive of the  clafs Polyandria.   The anthers
 are  linear and connected, longitudinally, to the
 fides of the filaments.

   The  Piftils  are  numerous;  the germs are
  * It is, perhaps, worthy of obfervation, that  Tfeu is the Chi-
 nefe name for the Mufa  Paradifiaca, or Plantain-tree.  This coin-
 cidence in language will hardly be confidered as accidental, when
 it is recollected, that there are many veftiges of the languages of
 the Chinefe and their Tartar neighbours, among the numerous
 tribes of America;
  t Catefby has taken no  notice of the involucre, tho' he has de-
fcribed the perianth or impalement : and in the Encyclopaedia, there
is mentioned, fimply, a calyx triphyllous. 
[  16   ]
difpofed in the form of a cone ; the ftyle none,
the ftigmas globofe.

   There is no  Pericarp; the  feeds  being im-
bricated in a ftrobile.

   The  feeds  are  numerous terminating in a
lanced fcale;  near the  bafe of the fcale, from
the interior fide, an accute angle goes off, fome-
what comprefled at the bafe,  by which they are
attached to the fpindle-fhaped receptacle.
         III. OF THE TREE IN GENERAL.

  THE Tulip-tree often attains to a very large
fize. According to Catefby, and other obfervers,
it not unfrequently meafures thirty feet in cir-
cumference.  It rifes with an upright trunk to
the height  of  feventy  or  eighty feet.  The
branches are not very numerous; they are irre-
gular, crooked, and  producing elbows in vari-
ous directions.   Thofe of two years old have a
fmooth brown bark ;  that of the fummer  flioots
is  ftill fmoother,  and of a fhining  blue-color.
Thefe tender branches are pithy.   When  bro-
ken, they  emit  a ftrong, but  agreeable fmell.
The bark  of young trunks is not remarkably
rough ;  but as  they  become old,  deep furrows
are formed.  The young trees make a fine ap-
pearance at all times, but are  Angularly beauti-
ful when in flower. 
[  17   ]
   The  branches are garnifhed with  fmooth
 leaves, which are commonly four or five inches
 long,  and as many broad.   They grow on foot-
 ftalks which are  about the length of a finger.
 The leaves are of a Angular fhape, refembling a
 heart at the bafe ; being truncated, or appearing
 as if cut off, and a little notched at the extremi-
 ty ;  and having two or three lobes on each fide,
 rounded  off, and pointed.  The upper furface
 is fmooth, and of a dark green color.  The un-
 der furface is veined, and its color lighter. They
 fall early in autumn.  The buds, for the enfu-
 ing  year's fhoots,  begin  foon after to  dilate.
 They  increafe  fo rapidly in fize,  that, by the
 end  of  December, they are an inch long, and
 half an inch broad.

   My  preceptor,  do&or Barton, has been  in-
 formed, that the milk of cows, which have eat-
 en of the buds, acquires a peculiar, difagreeable,
 bitterifh tafte.

   The flowers are produced about the twentieth
 of May.  They  are fupported by peduncles,
 which grow from the extremities of the bran-
 ches.   They fomewhat refemble the tulip; but
 Catelby thinks, that in fhape, they are more like
 the Fritillaria, or  Crown-Imperial.  They are
 compofed of fix, feven, or more petals,  which
 toward the  tops,  are fpotted  with  green, and
 toward the  claws, with red and yellow.  The
flowers are ne£tar-bearing.  A glandular ftrucl-
ure of the petals,  near their attachment  to the
receptacle, conftitutes the nedary.   The honey 
[   18  ]
is secreted in large  quantity.   It  is calculated
that the flowers of a large Tulip-tree may furnifh
feveral gallons of excellent honey.  The bee is
obferved to be remarkably partial to the flowers
of the Tulip-tree.   Its  partiality  is  eafily  ac-
counted  for.  'This mod valuable of infecls,
whofe induftry has been proverbial for fo  many
ages,  prefers,  notwithflanding, to lay up  its
ftore,  at the leaft poflible expence of labor.

  There are  two varieties  of the Tulip-tree,
namely,  the yellow, and the white.   It is very
eafy to diftinguifh their difference by the wood ;
but, perhaps, not otherwife.   Both varieties af-
ford excellent timber, which  is employed  for
many purpofes in this country.  The yellow, is
foft and brittle:  it is cut into  boards, heels  for
fhoes, bowls, and trenchers.  The white is hard,
tough,  and heavy:   it   is fawed into boards,
joifts, and other  pieces for building*.

  This magnificent vegetable  is the  favorite
haunt of the  Oriolus Baltimore,  or  Baltimore
bird,  which ufually neftles under the lhade of its
foliage.  Catefby,  in his fuperb work, entitled
Natural  Hiftory of Carolina, &c. to which  I
have  already referred,  defcribes this bird, and
its manner  of building, which is fomewhat curi-
ous.

  * See Catefby's Natural Hiftory of Carolina, &c—Marflial's
Arbus : Americanum.—The  Family of Plants, by  a. botanical
fociety at Lichfield.-—The Encyclopaedia. 
C  19   ]
  The Tulip-Tree, or poplar, is an indigenous
vegetable of the United States.   It  is found,
according to Catefby,  in almoft every part of the
northern continent of America; from the cape
of Florida to New England.  To the northward
of latitude 42, it is rather  rare,  and of inconfi-
derable ftature.  The trunks, which  are  often
hollow,  are  made into  Petty-augers, and  Ca-
noes, fufficient  to contain  many people.  The
Aborigines  of this country efteem the Poplar,
the fitteft of all trees for this purpofe. 
SECTION II.
    ANALYSIS OF THE BARK OF  THE
               TULIP-TREE.



       VyN the 18th of March, two  parcels
of bark were taken from the  Liriodendron Tu-
lipifera, or Lyre-tree of America.  One of the
parcels was obtained from a trunk about twenty
inches in diameter; the  other from branches
whofe diameters varied from an inch to an inch
and a half.  That which was obtained from the
branches, firft became the fubjeft of inveftigati-
on.  It was treated as follows.
              I.  DISTILLATION.

  TWELVE ounces  of the  bark, and  two
pints of rain-water, were put into a glafs veflel,
which was kept clofe ftopt, to prevent any aroma-
tic or volatile principle from emanating.  Hav-
ing flood twenty four hours, the bark and infu-
fion were  fubmitted  to the  adtion of a gentle
heat,  in a glafs  retort, to  which a receiver of
the fame kind was luted.  Diftillation being con- 
C  21   ]
tinued for feveral hours,  a few ounces of fluid,
not perfectly tranfparent,  were collected  in the
receiver.  An oily matter, in the form of a whit-
ifh fcum, floated on its furface.

  The  diftilled  water, though not altogether
infipid,  poflefled, only faintly,  the peculiar fla-
vor of the bark.  It was fomewhat  acrid in the
fauces.   Its  odor  was exceedingly agreeable,
being confiderably impregnated with the grateful
aroma of the vegetable.

  The  diftilled water neither precipitated iron
from its folutions; nor, affe6led,  in the flighteft
manner, the blue color of vegetable fubftances.

   The heat was now raifed, by Argand's lamp,
as  high as the  apparatus would admit.  The
liquor which came over had  an acid and very
aftringent tafte.  It corrugated the mouth, and
felt acrid in the fauces.

   It  changed  blue vegetable  fubftances  red,
and precipitated iron black.

   Result.  An eflential oil, with aroma  in pro-
fufion.   An acrid,  aftringent acid.
        II. INFUSION WITH COLD WATER.

  A pound of bark was broken  down  into a
coarfe powder, in  an iron mortar, and  half a
gallon of rain-water was affufed on it.  This, 
C  22   ]
 having remained twelve hours, was  poured off,
 and a fecond affufion performed.  In this manner
 four infufions were made from the  fame bark,
 with this difference, that the two laft were  fuf-
 fered to remain longer on the powder.

   The firft poflefled a fragrant fmell, refembling
 that of the  bark ;  a yellowifh tint; a  feeble
 aftringency;  a facharine, fubacid  tafte;   but
 fcarcely any perceptable bitternefs.   It changed
 the blue color of litmus to a pale red; and pro-
 duced in the folutions of iron a deep bottle-green.

   The  fecond infufion acquired the fame  pro-
 perties, but lefs in degree or  quantity.  In  the
 third they were barely perceptable ;  and in the
 fourth they could not be detected.

   Thefe infufions  were thrown together and
 ftrained.  When a portion of the mixture was
 agitated in a viol, it formed much froth, which
 did not  fuddenly  difappear.   The prefence of a
 large quantity  of mucilage was, at  firft fight,
 manifeft.

   Analysis. Two pints  of the infufion afford-
 ed, by evaporation,  three drams of a dark-color-
 ed, gummi-refmous extract.   During the  early
part of the evaporation, two fcruples of pure fe-
 cula were depofited.

   On three fcruples of the extract I poured two
ounces of alcohol.  Nearly one fcruple was dif-
folved.  The folution was fomewhat bitter. 
C  23   ]
   I added to the fpirituous folution an ounce of
diftilled water.  No precipitate took place. But,
when evaporated to half its quantity; the mixture
became turbid,  and flakes, foon after,  floated
in it.   I feparated this  floccous precipitate by
the filter; it weighed,  when dry  nearly three
grains.—It  was bitter.  It readily diflblved in
fpirit, but not at all in water.

   The  fluid which patted the filter was again
expofed to evaporate.   It exhibited, in a fhort
time,  large  curdles, fimilar,  in  appearance, to
the coagulum of milk when broken down.  This
curdled precipitate, or gum-mucus, was of  a
yellowifh white color.  It diflblved, fpeedily, in
fpirit, and flowly, in a large quantity of water.

   The  bark which had been thus treated was
dried.   It made now a more  acute impreflion on
the tongue than when recent.  Chewed for fome
time,  it communicated a fenfation of warmth to
the mouth, refembling that produced by cloves.
This warmth was blended with a moderate fhare
of bitternefs.  Its increafed acutenefs of impref-
fion was owing, probably,  to the abftraction of
the mucilage,  which, in the frefli  bark, muft
have blunted the pungency of its bitter and aro-
matic principles. Alcohol extracted thefe princi-
ples entirely, leaving the bark quite infipid.

   Result.  Fecula about    4      parts in 20
             Gum          10
             Gum Mucous   5  19-20
             Refm            1-20 
[  24   ]
        III. INFUSION WITH HOT WATER.

  HALF a gallon of boiling water was poured
upon a pound of bark,  reduced to a coarfe pow-
der.   Twelve hours after, the infufion  was de-
canted,  and an  equal quantity of boiling water,
again affufed on  the bark.  This was repeated
four times.

  The firft infufion was bitter, aromatic, and
aftringent.

  The  fecond,  Iefs bitter  and aromatic; its
aftringency fcarcely to be detected.

  The third was not in the leaft aftringent,  nor
did it poffefs any perceptable bitternefs.

  In the laft affufion, the bark gave out neither
bitternefs,  nor aftringency.

  Analysis.  A portion of the laft mentioned
liquor was evaporated.   It depofited a little fe-
culent matter which poflefled a facharine  tafte.
This fecula was  nearly  infbluble in cold water,
but readily diffufible in hot.   Re-diflblved, and
tefted  by  the  oxalic acid,  it afforded  a white
precipitate, which denoted the exiftence of lime.

   The alcohol of galls detected in it, the prefence
of iron,  in very fmall quantity. 
[  25   ]
  I mixed the feveral infufions, and evaporated,
to the confiftence of a very firm extract.  The
extract weighed three ounces and a half. I pour-
ed on one ounce of it,  about fix ounces of pure
alcohol, which took up two  drams.   A gum
blended with fecula  and fugar was left behind.
The fpirituous folution contained about eighteen
grains of refin, and five fcruples, gum-mucous.
The alcohol of galls detected  iron, and the ni-
trate  of filver, muriatic acid, in this folution.
The gummy matter, exhibited as it dried, a great
number  of fmall fhining cryftals.  Having  dif-
tributed a  part of it among three wine-glafles,
I half-filled each with rain water.   As foon as a
folution was effected,  the feveral portions were
treated as follows:

   The  Nitrate  of filver was  added  to one ;  it
produced a precipitate,  which I  feparated by
the filter, and placed in pure water, where  it
remained undiflolved.  It was the Muriate of
filver.

   I  added to  another fome tincture of litmus.
The mixture became red.

   The pruffiate of lime produced  in the third a
blue tint which foon became greenifh.  I at firft,
concluded, from  the  production of the blue-co-
lor,  that iron  was prefent in the gummy foluti-
on. Farther reflection on experiments, however,
force me to believe,  that,  the prefence of iron
cannot be afcertained by the pruffiate of lime, or
of potafh ; tho' contrary to the opinion of thofe
                      D 
[  oC   ]
 who have ufed them  as tefts for this purpofe.
 It is only the salts of iron that effect the change
 of color when the pruffiate of potaih, or of lime
 is applied ; and thefe falts act only by virtue of
 the acid which they contain.   A quantity of iron
 being held  in folution  by thofe prufliates,  an
 acid capable of decompofing the pruffiate and
 feizing on its bafe,  is alone neceffary to the re-
 generation of pruffian blue.

   It  was thought almoft unneceflary to examine
 it by the alcohol  of galls, as the  folution was
 itfelf aftringent, and, when added to folutions of
 iron,  effected a precipitation.  Still,  however, I
 determined to have occular evidence of the re-
 fult.  For I was pretty  confident, from the ana-
 lyfis of a portion of  the fourth infufion, in a fe-
 perate ftate,  that the extrad contained iron.  I
 added the gallic tincture—but, without producing
 any change of color.  I was now perfuaded that
the iron had exifted in a  faline  ftate  in the ex-
trad ; and, that it had  been entirely diflblved
by the fpirit affufed on it,  which was afterwards
proved to contain iron, and the  muriatic acid.

   Result.     Gum about 11 parts, or fcruple
                  in                      24
               Gum mucous 6.—
               Refm nearly 1.—
               Fecula nearly 6.—
               Muriatic acid, perhaps in combi-
                 nation,
               Iron,
               Calcareous earth,
              A muriatic or   EiTential fait. 
[  27   ]
  Five parts,  only, of gum mucous had been ta-
ken up from the extract, by the alcohol. A ftrong
mucilage was formed of the refidue, to which a
large proportion of fpirit was added.   The fpirit
diflblved one  part more, of the gum mucous,
leaving  the other  principles curdled at the bot-
tom  of the veflel.
         IV. TINCTURE WITH ALCOHOL.

   THE bark which had been repeatedly infufed
in cold water was, now,  fubjected to the action
of alcohol.  Twelve  ounces, which I had pro-
cured in a highly concentrated ftate, by re-dif-
tilling with a low heat, the fpirit  of wine of the
fhops,  were poured on it.   In fix days the tinc-
ture was examined.   It was bitter, and poflefled
an elegant green color.  It did not alter the blue
color, of the tincture  of turnfole ;  nor did it ef-
fect any change, in the folutions of iron.   The
refiduum, when wafhed, was perfectly infipid.

   Analysis. To  four ounces  of the tincture,
two of water were added.

   The  mixture inftantly affumed a yellow-white
color.   A  floccous  precipitate  gradually  fell
down,  leaving the fupernatant liquor more pel-
lucid.   Committed to the filter, the  flakes re-
mained  on the paper.   Thefe flakes, when dried,
weighed fixteen  grains.   During drying, they
loft their yellow color, and acquired  a beautiful
light green. 
[  28   ]
   The liquor which had patted the filter wasfet
 apart, and fuffered to evaporate to half its quan-
 tity.   At this period, large curd-like flakes float-
 ed in it.  Thefe were feparated by the filter and
 dried.  They  remained of a white color.  An
 infinite number of minute, faline cryfLils, gliften-
 ed on the filtering paper laft employed.   Their
 quantity  would be  about  three grs.   This un-
 expected  appearance induced me to expofe the
 filtered liquor again, to the action of the atmof-
 phere.  I hoped, that by this means, I fhould ob-
 tain an eflential fait in fufficient abundance to be
 examined.   The evaporation was  completed,
 but no cryftals could be obferved.  A fmall por-
 tion of gum mucous,  alone,  remained  in the
 veflel.  Unable to fatisfy myfelf in this way,  I
 immerfed  the paper, which was befpangled with
 cryftals, in fome diftilled water.

   Into a portion of the water, I poured a  little
nitrate of filver, in folution.  A white cloud was
formed, which foon  diffufed itfelf throughout
the whole of the fluid.   Thus the prefence of
the muriatic acid was evinced, but the bafe with
which it had been united was not afcertained.

   Into another  portion,  I let fall a few drops of
the pruffiate of potafh ;  but  no precipitate en-
fued,  to indicate the prefence of ponderous earth.
A bluifh tint was the only vifible effect.

   The pruffiate of lime was  added to a third,
and paper ftained  by the  tincture of rhubarb,
immerfed in the mixture ; the color of the paper 
C  29   ]
 was changed to a brown.  This, I think,  goes
 fome way to prove that the muriatic acid, has, in
 thofe cryftals,  an alkaline bafe.   I fhall offer an
 explanation,  perhaps a  lame one, of the chemi-
 cal attractions which lead to this induction.  The
 pruffiate of lime, holding a quantity of iron in
 combination, is ufually  decoinpofed by an acid
 prefented  to  it; in confequence of which, the
 pruflic  acid unites with the iron exclufively,
 forming pruffian  blue.  Upon  immerfing the
 rhubarb paper, the affinity of the aklali with the
 muriatic acid, is weakened; the muriatic acid is
 attracted  by  the  lime,  which  can fcarcely be
 faid to exift  in a ftate of perfect  combination;
 pruffian blue  is  regenerated, and muriate of
 lime  is formed;  while,  the  attraction of the
 alkali is exerted on the rhubarb.  Let what will
 become of this explanation,  thus  much is cer-
 tain ; alkalies have the effect of changing the tinc-
 ure  of  rhubarb  brown; and paper, colored by
 that tincture, fuftained,  in the prefent inftance,
 fuch a change.

   The green matter which was feparated by the
 firft filter was divided into four portions,  on one
 of which a  dram of alcohol was poured;  a  folu-
 tion  was fpeedily effected.  The green, bitter
 refin, imparted its  color and tafte to the fpirit.
 It was free from aftringency.

  Upon another, a dram of diftilled water was
affufed; but,  feeming to have  no action,   the
quantity was gradually increafed to four ounces,
without diminifhing the weight of the refin; and
without acquiring the flighteft impregnation. 
[  30   ]
   Upon  the  third,  a little  fulphuric ether was
 poured.   The refin was flowly diflblved.  The
 etherial folution poflefled a  brown color.

   The remaining portion was  placed  in fweet
 oil, which rendered it fo foft,  as to be miflible
 by agitation.

   The coagulum or gum mucous,  feparated by
 the fecond filter had a warm tafte,  with a degree
 of bitternefs, barely perceptable.  It was readi-
 ly foluble in alcohol,  and flowly in a very large
 proportion of  water; fweet  oil  foftened  and
 fwelled it; and fulphuric ether gradually,  but
 flowly, diflblved it.  The gum mucous weighed
 thirty grains.

  Result         Gum mucous   30   grains
                    Refin          16
  A muriatic,  or    Effential fait    3'

  The fait, I am of opinion, is compofed of the
muriatic  acid, and an alkaline bafe.   The bril-
liancy  of the  cryftals was probably  owing, to
fome peculiar modification of their arrangement
on the paper.
                V.  IGNITION".

  The. bark which  had  been fubjected to the
action, firft, of water, and  then  of fpirit, was
burned.  Water was poured upon the afhes,
the lixivium decanted,  and  then evaporated. 
C  31   ]
I thus procured  a  fmall quantity of vegetable
alkali.

  A  little fulphur having been melted, by  a
gentle heat, part of the alkali was added, and
mixed with it, until a hepar, or  fulphure, was
formed.   The fulphure was diflblved in diftilled
water and afterwards precipitated by the alcohol
of galls.   The fupernatant liquor  being, after
fome  time, decanted,  to a part of it, the gallic
tincture was added more l^vifhly.  A dark brown
color  was produced.  To the remainder the ox-
alic  acid was .added;  a  white precipitate  re-
fulted.

  Another portion of the  alkali diflblved in wa-
ter, was barely  neutralized by fulphuric acid.
The liquor was evaporated by the heat of a lamp
until  cryftals began to form, when it  was fet
apart.  The greater part of the fait having cryfi
talized,  the  water was poured  off,  and treated
by tefts.   Lime  and iron  were again detected
in it.

  Result.     Potafli,
               Iron,
               Calcareous earth.
             VI. FERMENTATION.

  FOUR  pounds  of bark  were  put into  an
earthen veflel, and a gallon of boiling water affuf-
ed  over it.   The veflel was about half filled. 
[  32   ]
It was left open, and on the top of a ftove, where
its  temperature muft  have been  from 95°  to
120°,  of  Fahrenheit's thermometer.   In five
days a vinous fermentation feemed to exift:  on
the fixth it appeared more evident: a confidera-
ble extrication of carbonic acid gas taking  place,
a fheet of froth was expanded over the furface
of the liquor.   The peculiar fragrance of the
bark could, no longer, be  perceived.

  Analysis.   In  eight days  I diftilled.   A
quantity  of fluid  came over, which  contained
a portion of fpirit  of wine.   I concentrated the
fpirit by  a fecond  diftillation.  It had the tafte
and fmell of that procured from peaches.

  A portion of the fermented infufion had been
left in the  earthen veflel.    It proceeded, foon
after,  to  the acetous fermentation, forming  an
acid liquor,  equal in ftrength to a mixture of one
part vinegar with two of water.  During this
ftage of  the fermentation,  an oily matter, of a
white color, inodorous, and infipid, collected on
its furface.   This oleagenous fubftance, I fkim-
med off,  and dried,  that is,  freed, by expofure
to the air,  of the watery  fluid mixed  with it.
I then fubmitted it,  in feparate  portions, to the
action of feveral menftrua.

   Ether diflblved  it.
   The mineral acids,  firft,  oxigenated or burn-
ed it,  and afterwards diflblved it.
   The alkalies fpeedily united with it.
   It was not mifcible, in  fpirit, nor  in  water. 
[  33   ]
  With the  affiftance of ycaft, to promote the
vinous  fermentation, the  bark of the Poplar
would,  1  am perfuaded,   yield a  pretty large
quantity of fpirit, though fugar does not appear
to be abundant in it.

  Result.     Spirit of wine,
               V inegar,
               Oil.
                VII. DECOCTIOX.

   A decoction was made by boiling four pounds
 of the recent bark in a gallon of rain water.  It
 poflefled  a brown color,  an  unpleafant,  but
 warm  bitternefs, which to the tafte, difguifed its
 weak  aftringency, and  a difagreeable  odor,
 which no way  refembled the pure aroma  of the
 recent bark,  or its Ample infufion.

   It changed the tincture of litmus  red ; and
 formed a black precipitate with the folutions of
 iron.   The unpleafant  odor was  owing,  no
 doubt, to the action of the heat on fome of the
 principles extracted.

   The decoction afforded five ounces of a black,
 or very dark brown, extract.  I poured, on two
drams  of the  extract, four ounces of alcohol:
nearly  two fcruples were cliiTolved; but  it  re-
quired many days to effed a folution of fo large
a proportion.    The fpirituous  folution,  ortinc-
                       E 
C  34   ]
ture,  poflefled  a yellow-brown color,  and  an
unpleafant bitternefs, much more intenle than
that of  the decoction.  The relidue had a nau-
feous fweet tafte, and a fomewhat  paler brown
than the entire extract.

  Being fully perfuaded, that the action  of the
fire had produced  a very  great alteration, and
new difpofition,  of the virtues and principles of
the decoction, I did not think it defirable  to en-
ter into  a minute analyiis, which could fhed  no
light on the natural conftitution of the bark.
      VIII. TINCTURE WITH PROOF-SPIRIT.

  Upon two pounds of the recent bark, I pour-
ed  four pints  of proof-fpirit.   After ftanding
eight days, the tincture was poured off.  It poi-
fefled a pretty  ftrong bitter tafte, with  a very
evident aromatic  flavor.   Its  color was yellow,
inclining to  green ; its fmell,  grateful.  It was
found to contain as  much aftringency as the de-
coction, or infufion.  United  to  the  tincture
of turnfole, the refult betrayed the prefence of a
fmall quantity of acid.

  On the fame bark I affufed,  afrefli, an equal
quantity of proof-fpirit.   This was  fuffered to
remain  four days,   and   then decanted.  The
bark, when waffied, feemed  perfectly  infipid.
Rain-water, poured on it, and  permitted to ftand
two days, acquired not the flighteft  impregna-
tion of its fenfible qualities.   The   whole of 
C  35   ]
thole qualities feemed to be perfectly extracted
by the proof-fpirit.   I believe, however,  it does
not take up the  whole of  the gum and  fecula,
which is diflblved by hot, or even by cold water.
The water, which,  I have  juft faid, was affufed
on the infipid  bark, though it  remained, itfelf,
infipid,  inodorous,  and tranfparent, diflblved a
portion  of mucilage, which I proved by  evapo-
ration.

   Analysis. Two pints of thefirft-made tincture
were diftilled  in a  glafs retort, with a  conftant
and gentle heat, fupplied by  Argand's lamp.
When one third of the liquor had pafled into trie
receiver the procefs  was  difcontinued.   The
diftilled fpirit  contained  the effential  oil,  and
aroma,  of the vegetable.   It poflefled a grateful
flavor.   The warmth it produced in the mouth,
proved  more  lafting  than that, which refults
from the application  of common  fpirit.   In the
fauces  it felt peculiarly acrid.

   Two pints of the firft,  and two  of  the  laft-
made tincture were mixed together. I found that
w^ater added to a portion of this tincture  effected
a  precipitation; the  precipitate, however,  re-
mained fufpended in the fupernatant fluid.  This
refult led me to evaporate, flowly, the four pints
which had been  thrown together down to two;
expecting,  that  the  tincture,   thus  faturated,
would afford a more copious, and a more eafily
feparable precipitate,  on the addition of water.
The evaporation being fo accomplifhed, I poured
two ounces of water,  into  the two pints of fa- 
[  36   ]
 turated fpirituous tincture.  An abundant pre-
 cipitation rapidly enfued ; and, by adding  two
 ounces more, of water, the feparation was ren-
 dered perfect.  The precipitate was collected
 from the tincture,  by ftraining, and was found,
 when dried,  to weigh  feven  fcruples.  The
 milky liquor which had pafled the filter depofited,
 on ftanding, nearly another fcruple of the fame
 refmous  material; this being alfo collected, I
 placed the liquor in a fhallow veflel,  in order to
 accellerate fpontaneous evaporation.   I obtained,
 by this method,  one ounce and  two grains, of
 a gummy mafs, through  which, minute faline
 cryftals were vifible.   This  mafs,  treated  by
 pure fpirit  of wine,  afforded five  drams of a
 mucous matter, which,  tho' it was precipitated
 by a fmall quantity  of water,  was foluble in a
 very large proportion.   The refidue,  which the
 alcohol did  not  diflblve,  was an  impure gum.
 The fait had, for  its acid, the muriatic,  as  ap-
 peared upon adding the nitrate of filver.

   The refin, procured by the aqueous precipi-
tant,  v/as greenifh, bitter, inodorous, and free
from all aftringency.

   The gum  mucous, taken  up by  the  fpirit,
from the  gummy mafs  already mentioned, was
flightly bitter,  very  aromatic,  odorant, of a
white or pale color, and free from aftringency.

   The impure gum,  which remained after  the
action of the fpirit, was, when  wafhed  and dried,
of  a  brown hue,  infipid, inodorous,  and fome- 
[  37   ]
what aftringent; but  this laft character,  by no
means fo prominent as might be expected. Was
the aftringency partially neutralized by a portion
of iron, and, did it thence produce the brown
color ?

   Result.   Impuregum,   3 drams, 10 grains;
             Gum-mucous,  5 drams, nearly;
             Pure refin,    2 drams, 2 fcruples.
A muriatic or Eflential fait in very fmall quantity.

   Moft of the preceding experiments and analy-
fes were repeated on the inner bark of the trunk.
This feemed to contain moft aftringency, that of
the branches, moft  eflential oil  and aroma.
Thefe were  the only obfervable differences. 
SECTION III.
 ANALYSIS OF THE BARK OF THE ROOT.


       JlJL AVING fcraped off the cuticle, from
roots of the Poplar,  which were from one to two
inches in diameter,  the bark was  ftripped from
the ligneous fubftance, cut tranfverfely into very
fmall pieces,  and treated in the following man-
ner.
              I.  DISTILLATION.

  EIGHT ounces of the bark were infufed in
two pints of cold water,  for twelve hours.  The
whole was then fubjected to a low degree of heat,
in a glafs retort, to which, a tubulated receiver
was  luted.  The receiver was kept ftopt.  At
the  end of fix hours the diftillation  was difcon-
tinued.  The quantity of fluid, which had pall-
ed over, amounted to three ounces.  A portion
of eflential oil covered its furface.   The diftilled
water was agreeably odorant, limpid,  almoft
infipid on the tongue, and fomewhat acrid in the
fauces. 
C  39   ]
  The color of the infufion, from which it had
been drawn off, was a pale yellow.

  A high  degree of heat, being  again applied,
as in the diftillation of the bark of the branches,
a quantity  of an  empyreumatic fluid pafled into
the receiver, wThich did not contain a particle  of
acid or aftringent matter.
        II. INFUSION WITH COLD WATER.

   EIGHT  ounces of bark  being dried, were
broken down, in a marble mortar, into a coarfe
powder.  Two pints of rain-water were affufed
upon the powder, and,  in twelve hours, poured
off: an equal quantity was again affufed, and
fuffered to ftand  for the fame length  of  time ;
when, it was alfo decanted.  Affufion was thus
repeated four times.

   The liquor, to which the bark was firft com-
mitted, acquired  a mucilaginous  confiftence; a
pale yellow  color; an agreeable fmell; and, a
very faint bitternefs.

   The fecond infufion poflefled the fame fenfible
qualities in a lefs proportion; in the third, they
were fcarcely perceptable : in the fourth, they
could not be difcovered.  Neither, poflefled any
aftringency.   To a portion of the firft, I added
a folution  of martial vitriol,  which produced no
other  effect,  in  point of color,  than a  flight 
[  40   ]
change of the yellowiih, toward a greenifh tint,
notftronger in fhade, than a common infufion of
green tea.   It is,  I think,  a circumftance worth
being remarked, that the root is deftitute of the
aftringent acid,  which exifts in abundance, in the
bark of the trunk and branches.  I fubmit  tne
fact to the confideration of phyfiologifts and  bo-
tanifts for a theory.

  The feveral infufions juft noticed, were mixed
and ftrained.   The whole  was fet apart to eva-
porate, except  a  few ounces, which  were  re-
served, to be treated by chemical tefts.

  The liquor produced no change  of  color in
the tincture of litmus.

  It did  not perceptably affect  the  folutions of
iron.

  Neither the oxalic acid, the nitrate of filver,
nor the muriated barytes, was obferved to  effect
a precipitation.

  The extract obtained by evaporating the infu-
fions, I committed to a velTel containing fpirit of
wine.  The quantity  of the extract did not  ex-
ceed half an ounce ; of the  fpirit,  there  were
four  ounces.  One dram  was  diflblved.  The
portion taken up  by the fpirit confifted of one
part refin, and  nine parts gum-mucous.  What
the alcohol did not  diflblve  was  an  impure
gum. 
[  41   ]
         III. TINCTURE WITH ALCOHOL.

   THE powdered bark, which had been fub-
jected to the action  of water, was now treated
with pure fpirit of wine.   It afforded an intenfe-
ly bitter tincture, of a beautiful  orange-color,
inclining  to  red.    This  tincture  was eva-
porated to half its quantity, and a part of it  di-
luted with  a fmall  portion of  diftilled water.
Upon adding the water, it aflumed a milky ap-
pearance, a  little  curdled,  and  yellowiih.  It
afforded a pure refin,  and a gum mucous in the
proportion of one part of the former to two of
the latter.  The refin was intenfely bitter; the
gum  mucous, very  feebly fo.  The remainder
of  the  tincture, having been concentrated  by
evaporation,  was treated by tefts,  in the fame
manner as the infufion, (sect.  3.) and with a fi-
milar refult.
        IV. INFUSION WITH HOT WATER.

   THE infufion made  with boiling water,  is a
much ftronger bitter, than that made with cold;
yet it is much lefs  intenfe than either the tinc-
ture by proof, or by pure fpirit.

   The hot infufion differs remarkably from the
cold, in point of color.  The latter poflefled, as
I have faid, a pale yellow; the former,  an ele-
gant dark orange, inclining to red;  nearly,  tho'
                      F 
[  42   ]
not precifely the color of the fpirituous tinctures.
Some perfons to whom it  had been exhibited,
faid its color was an approach toward a  clear
crimfon.

   The fame curious difference took place in the
bark of  the root, treated by the  cold  and hot
water.   The latter acquired a red  hue, while
the former retained its priftine yellow color.

   About a quart of the infufion made with boil-
ing water, was  decanted  from the  bark, and
buffered to ftand feveral days in a glafs veflel fe-
cured by a  ground Hopper.  Upon  taking out
the ftopper to examine it, I was  ftruck with  a
powerful fmell of pitch.  The emanation was fo
abundant, that it could be  perceived at the dif-
tance of fome feet, from the  veflel containing
the infufion.  No  other  fenfible change had
taken place  in the  liquor,  except  a  very flight
tendency toward the acetous fermentation.  It
retained its original bitternefs, its fine orange-red
color, 8*c.
                V. DECOCTION.

  THREE pounds of bark were boiled in a gal-
lon of rain-water.  The decoction was a pretty
ftrong bitter,  of a very  dark brown color.  It
afforded a firming black  extract, intenfely bitter.
Doctor Rufh, in a fhort paper, in the tranfactions
of the College  of Phyficians of  Philadelphia,
mentions this extract, as one, equal  to  that of 
C  43   ]
gentian.   This information fhould, I think, ren-
den  it worthy the attention of the apothecaries,
of this country at leaft.  For reafons fimilar to
thofe mentioned,  when treating  of the decoc-
tion  of the bark of the tree, I did not enter into
an analyfis of this extract.  It is fufficient to ob-
ferve that it was found deftitute of aftringency,
and that it produced, in the form of decoction, no
change  of color in the tincture of turnfole.   I
muft have  contained  mucilage,  gum mucous,
and  refin ; each of which may have undergone
fome flight modification, in confequence of the
continued application of heat, during boiling. 
SECTION IV.
  OF THE EFFECTS OF THE TULIPIFERA
   BARK ON THE HUMAN SYSTEM, &c.


       1N this part of my inquiry I have  en-
deavoured to afcertain the effects of the Tulipi-
fera bark on the  human fyftem.   I regret, that
the time allotted for the inveftigation  of the fub-
ject, in a general way, has not permitted me to
extend,  fufficiently,   my experiments for this
eflential purpofe.
             I. OF THE INFUSION.

  HAVING prepared an infufion of the inner
bark of the Tulip-tree, by pouring on four oun-
ces  of it,  a  pint of boiling  water;  it  was fet
apart for ufe.  I  firft  attempted to afcertain its
influence  upon my own conftitution,  which is
one, not  difficult to be affected by active medi-
cines.  With this intent, on the afternoon of a
cool day,  I feated myfelf at fome  diftance from
a little fire, which kept  the  temperature of the
apartment at  60°. of Fahrenheits  thermometer.
My  fkin  was lefs warm than ordinary.  My 
[  «   ]
pulfe beat feventy four ftrokes in a minute.  I
had a flight head-ach, that had vifited me, dur-
ing feveral previous weeks, on the approach of
evening.   Bathing my head  in cold water, or
drinking fome draughts  of it, ufually had the
effect of removing  the pain  for that  evening;
thefe means did not, however, prevent  its re-
turn.  It may likewife be proper to remark, that
the free ufe of tea,  when taken early in the af-
ternoon, frequently produced the fame  falutary
effect, which refulted from the cold affufion.

   Under thefe  circumflances,  I took  a  wine-
glafs full of our medicine,  and refolved to repeat
the dofe every five minutes, until it fhould pro-
duce fome fenfible effect on my fyftem.  I did
not  pretend  to anticipate any particular  effect.
No change being obferved during  the firft  five
minutes, the dofe was repeated; and from this
period,  the influence exerted  on my pulfe be-
came confiderable.
       In   l 13 \S I1°l15|2o|3ol4ol5o|6o|7o|75l minutes
My pulfe beat  74I72I72I7 i|72|72l7o|7ol71171 [70)7 i| ftrokes.
   Five minutes after I took the fecond  dofe,
my fkin became a little warmer ; and I felt as in
a more agreeable temperature.  In ten minutes
my  pulfe  beat  fuller and fofter.  I  began, at
the  fame  time, to perfpire  freely.   In fifteen
minutes I was bathed in fweat; my fkin felt, to
the  perfons around  me,  warmer than ufual ;
while,  to  myfelf,  it  feemed  more  cool.   In
twenty minutes, my pulfe,  ftill foft, was  lefs 
[  46   ]
full;  my  headach  now began to abate, and in
twenty-five minutes it was entirely removed.  In
half an hour, the fudorific effect was diminifhed,
and  in thirty-five minutes,  it could not be ob-
ferved.  The medicine appeared,  afterwards, to
act in fome degree as a diuretic ;  of this operati-
on, however, I cannot fpeak with confidence,
as other circumftances may have  had their influ-
ence.   A confiderable coolnefs of the fkin which
fupervened,  may have  contributed to increafe
the fecretion  of urine.

   The fame dofes were repeated the next after-
noon, at the  ufual time of the acceflion  of the
headach.  A  gentle  fweat  was produced; the
urinary fecretion, fubfequently increafed; and
the headach prevented.

   2. A gentleman, in good health, twenty-three
years  of age,  and his pulfe beating feventy-one,
foft and full ftrokes in a minute, took four oun-
ces of the fame infufion.  It was ufed, in this,
as well as in the preceding experiment, cold.
     In    ft I5 11o| 15I20I23I30 gc| ;-Q45l5Q[ minutes
His pulfe beat \7 A7^7^7\''3 73M75I75 75l7sl ftrokes.

  About  the tenth minute,  the fullnefs of his
pulfe was evidently increafed.  Toward the fif-
teenth,  his  fkin became  warmer.  In  thirty
minutes his hands  were moift with fweat; and
in thirty-five,  this effect was extended over his
back,  and between his  fhoulders.   In forty
minutes, the fullnefs and force  of his pulfe was
manifeftly diminifhed. 
C  47   ]
  At the expiration of one hour,  the fame gen-
tleman took two ounces  more, of the infufion;
his  pulfe  ftill beating feventy-five ftrokes in a
minute.
       In
His pulfe beat
1 b Is Mr5M25M35|4c
75|76|74|l69|l72|72|7if7o)7il|2i
minutes
ftrokes.
  His pulfe continuing lefs  full and  tenfe, its
ftroke felt, about the fifteenth minute, fomewhat
quick. Towards the thirty-fifth, it grew fmaller:
and in forty minutes,  its diminifhed  force, and
fize, were very ftriking.

  That boiling water extracts,  fome of the prin-
cipal  virtues of the Tulipifera bark, is clearly
evinced by the preceding experiments: and the
effects related,  correfpond precifely, with the
intimation given by my learned preceptor, con-
cerning the properties of this plant,  which, he
fays,  has active powers,  as  a ftimulant and fu-
dorific.  I fhall again have  occafion to  refer to
that  paffage of his paper,  in the tranfactions of
the American  Philofophical Society, where he
mentions the Liriodendron Tulipifera, as  a re-
medy which has been  ufed for the bite  of the
rattle-fnake in horfes.
          II. OF THE BARK IN POWDER.

   1. A quantity of bark, taken  from branches
of one and two inches in diameter, was reduced
to a  fine powder.   About an hour after  break- 
[  48   ]
faft, my pulfe beating feventy-fix  ftrokes in a
minute,  I took two fcruples of the  powder, dif-
fufed in a little milk.

     In   »i |3 |5 |io|i5l2o|25|l3o|j5J4o/45|50l60 minutes
My pulfe beat l76|76tl74|72|7o|7o|72|7?.ll73|69l7ol7M7I ftrokes*

   In ten minutes I felt confiderable naufea,  and
the  force  of my pulfe began to diminifh.   In
twenty,  my  fkin became a little warmer  than
ufual; but this effect was  tranfient, for I foon
began  to fweat,  which produced  a coolnefs over
my body.  About the thirty-fifth minute I grew
languid.  The naufea and langor continued for
feveral hours.

   Three days having  elapfed, I repeated the
experiment  with a very different refult.   The
fame quantity of the powder was taken, but  it
produced neither naufea, heat,  fweating,  nor
langor.  It  had, however, an influence on my
pulfe,  very fimilar to that, which it  exerted in
the firft inftance.  It not only leflened its fre-
quency,  but it likewife reduced its tenfion and
fulnefs.  It appeared to act very confiderably on
the kidneys.   The  laft effect was only fuch as
might be expected,  fince no diaphorefis was pro-
duced  by the medicine.

   2. To a gentleman,  nineteen years of age,
healthy, his  pulfe beating feventy-five ftrokes in
a minute, I gave one fcruple of the powder. 
[  49   ]
    In fifteen minutes, his pulfe began to increafe
  in fullnefs and force. In thirty,  it became fome-
  what irregular: each ftroke feemed to be fuc-
  ceeded by a  convulfive throb, making, on  the
  fingers, a peculiar impreflion of a double  pulia-
  tion,  with jerking.  It  affected neither his fto*
  mach nor the cutaneous exhalents.   It  may be
  proper to  remark,  that the experiment was made
  in a cold apartment.

    Thefe experiments with the powder are fuffi-
  cient to fliew, that  the  Tulipifera bark  is a fti-
  mulant, and  that, as fuch, it is endued with
 very promifing powers.   They alfo prove, that,
 like all active medicines,  it is capable  of  produc-
 ing very different,  and  even oppofite effects, in
 different conftitutions.   Two fcruples, taken by
 myfelf, without having at any time increafed the
 force  of the circulation,  lowered my pulfe both
 in frequency and tenfion: half the quantity taken
 by Mr. -----increafed, remarkably,  the fre-
 quency, fullnefs, and tenfion of his pulfe.  That
 which I took, notwithftanding its influence  on
 my  pulfe,  acted as  a  powerful ftimulant: it
 produced naufea, which could be the effect of a
 ftimulating or irritating  power only ; it produ-
 ced  a tranfient  heat  over the  furface  of the
 body, and  increafed the  excitement of the cuta-
 neous   exhalents, or capillary  veflels,  which
 are,  in like manner, effects of  ftimulating pow-
 ers  exclufively.  And like all  powerful  ftim-u-
lants, its operation was fucceeded by languor.
                        G 
C  50   ]
  3. A grainof the powdered bark was fnuffed up
the  nofe.  It inftantly produced heat,  and  ex-
quifite pain,  in the fchneiderian membrane. The
mucous of the part was fecreted in large quanti-
ty ;  and the pungency of the imprefiion, creating
a fympathetic action in  the  lachrymal glands,
caufed an abundant flow of tears.
      III. OF THE EXTRACTS OF THE BARK.

   1. ABOUT  two hours after dinner, a dram
of the extract, obtained by decoction, was taken
by a gentleman in perfect health.

   tt increafed the frequency,  fulnefs, and tenfi-
on of his pulfe ;  produced a heat over the fur-
face of his body,  which was not perceptable to
himfelf;  and excited,  in a little time after,  con-
fiderable naufea,  which was  accompanied by a
more copious perfpiration.  His hands fweated;
his back  felt moift;  and his cheeks became lefs
florid than  natural.  The appearance  of  his
tongue was not altered.  He  fancied it  acted as
a diuretic toward  the evening.

   2. Two drams  of the fame  extract were taken
by myfelf, early  in the  afternoon.   The dofe
feemed  to  render  my pulfe  more  full  than
ordinary;  while  it  leflened  its   frequency
and quicknefs.   In ten  minutes,  it produced
heat; in  fifteen,  a fweat, and confiderable nau- 
•  [  51  ]
fea.   In thirty minutes the naufea ceafed, and
I became languid and drowfy.  I endeavoured
to preferve my fkin in its natural temperature,
by drawing nearer to the fire  as the fweating
abated; which probably prevented any  fubfer
quent diuretic operation.

   3- One hour after breakfaft, I took a fcruple
of the extract obtained by proof fpirit.

   The quicknefs and  tenfion of my  pulfe were
fomewhat increafed, while its frequency was di-
minifhed.   In ten minutes I felt  much naufea ;
and in fifteen, I  began to perfpire very freely.
About the  twentieth minute,  the quicknefs and
tenfion of my  pulfe began to  abate;  and in half
an hour, it was weaker,  fmaller, lefs regular,
and  much  lefs frequent.   The naufea proved
very difagreeable for at leaft two hours.   Some
ineffectual  efforts to vomit were produced. Lan*
guor and drowfmefs fucceeded the naufea, and
continued during the remainder of the day.

   It appears from  thefe  experiments, that  the
extracts by water, and by  fpirit, produce on
the fyftem  pretty nearly the fame effects,  which
refult from the ufe of the infufion and powder.
They likewife Ihow, that the extract by fpirit
is much more powerful than that obtained by
decoction with  water.   The former, though
more bitter,   is  more agreeable  than the lat-
ter. 
[  52  ]
  The fimple infufion of the bark is the moft
agreeable form in which it can be ufed.   It like-
wife produces its fudorific effects fooner than
the other preparations.  It is lefs powerful than
the powder,  and more powerful  than the  ex-
tract obtained by boiling the bark in water.
 IV. OF THE ANTISEPTIC POWERS OF THE TULIPIFERA
                    BARK.

   1.   Having taken from a piece of beef, a por-
 tion of mufcle without any fat, three  ounces of
 it  were diftributed  equally, among three glafs
 veflels.  Into one of the  veffels, I put half an
 ounce of powdered Tulipfera bark ; into another,
 as much  peruvian  bark;  and into the third, a
 fimilar quantity  of common fait:  I then poured
 into each, half  a  pint of rain  water, diffufed
 the powders by agitation,  and fuffered the veflel
 to remain open.

   In  three days, no change was to be obferved,
 in the veflels  in which the Tulipifera and  the
 peruvian  barks were infufed; but  a difagreea-
 ble emanation began to proceed, from that which
 contained the folution of fait.

   In  fix  days,  a   moft fetid odor  iffued from
 the laft mentioned veflel ; the meat, when taken
 out and wafhed, ftill  retained the putrid fmell.
The odor of the  other  veflels,  containing the
infufions of the  barks, betrayed not the leaft
tendency toward a  putrescent  ftate.  Thefe in- 
[  53   ]
fufions, however,  proceeded,  about this time,
to the acetous  fermentation.   They produced,
in the tincture of turnfole, a  much deeper red,
than recent infufions of the fame articles had
been  found to effect.  They  likewife emitted a
fmell  fomewhat four,  though not fo much  fo,
as totally to dcftroy, in the infufion of the Tu-
lip-tree bark, the original fragrance of that fub-
ftance.

   In  twelve days, the meat was  taken  from
thofe  infufions, perfectly free from any putrid
taint.   That which had been committed to the
action of the peruvian bark was confiderably bit-
ter to the tafte :  that which had been treated by
the bark of the Tulip-tree was bitter and aro-
matic.  A perfon, who  was prefent when I
examined the meat, faid, that the latter portion
poflefled the tafte and fmell of allfpice, mingled
with fome bitternefs.

   2. One dram of the powdered bark of the Tu-
lip-tree was rubbed over an ounce of beef which
was free from fat.   As much peruvian bark was
rubbed over another ounce  of the fame meat.
Half a dram of common fait was fprinkled over
a third.  The three portions of beef, thus treat-
ed, were laid upon feparate plates, and covered
by inverting other plates over them; expecting
by  this means,  that while the furrounding at-
mofphere was permitted to act on the beef, the
emanations arifing from it would not be fo fpee-
dily carried off or diflipated. 
C  54   ]
  No change of odor was perceived until the
fourth day.  At this period, the portion treated
by the peruvian bark emitted a fmell, rather un-
pleafant, which  feemed to denote an  incipient
putrefaction.   That treated  by the  bark of the
Tulip-tree, was  not obferved to emit any fuch
odor; it fhould be remarked, however, that the
ftronger fragrance  of this bark, may have dif-
guifed  it, in  this  early ft age  of putrefaction.
That which I had falted was perfectly cured.

  In eight days,  the piece, on which the peru-
vian bark had been rubbed, was pretty  much
advanced in putrefaction.  Upon uncovering it,
I perceived  a ftrong fmell of volatile  alkali;  I
applied a glafs ftopper,  moiftened with muriatic
acid, to the ammoniacal atmofphere, and a white
cloud expanded  over the plate .  This confirm-
ed the idea, that volatile alkali was  difengaged.
The fame thing  took place with the piece  of
beef, committed to the  action of the Tulipifera
bark.   The  fmell  of the latter was fomewhat
lefs offenfive than that of the former,  yet it ap«
peared to be equally advanced in putrefaction^ 
SECTION V.
OF THE USE OF THE TULIP-TREE IN
              MEDICINE.
  I. PROPERTIES OF THE BARK OF THE TREE AS A
                 MEDICINE.


       IT  is  incitant.   Though  the  bark of
the Tulip-tree is  a very confiderable ftimulant,
I am not certain that it is  one of fo high an or-
der, as to claim a place among the  proper in-
citantia.   In the arrangement of doctor Darwin
it might,  for fome reafons be  placed in this
clafs: thus he fays, "thefe"(incitantia) "promote
both the fecretions and abforptions, increafe the
natural heat, and remove  thofe  pains, which
originate from the defect  of irritative motions,
termed nervous pains".  I have found the Tu-
lipifera bark to produce all thofe effects.  The
fame great phyfician, however,  makes an obfer-
vation elfewhere, which, though he has not been
entirely governed by it himfelf, tends  to fhew
that fuch an arrangement of our article would be 
C  56   ]
 lefs proper.  Thus  he fays,  " It is  probable,
 that fome of the articles in the fubfcquent cata-
 logue," (of incitantia) " do not induce intoxica-
 tion ; though they have been efteemed to do fo;
 as  tobacco, hemlock, nux vomica, ftavifagria ;
 and on this account fliould rather belong to other
 arrangements,  as to the fecernentia,  or  forben-
 tia,  or invertentia."   The author feems defirous
 to admit into this clafs,  fuch ftimulants only, as
 are intoxicating and univerfal.

   2. I have already confidered this bark as a sti-
 mulant.  From its fenfible qualities, and its  ef-
 fects on the healthy fyftem, it might with fome
 propriety be placed among the ftimulants,  in the
 arrangement of Doctor Cullen.   Yet, as it is no
 more characterized by its odorant,  aromatic,  or
 heating properties, than by fome others,  it pro-
 bably would not have been fo arranged,  by this
 celebrated author.

   3. It is placed by my preceptor,  Doctor Bar-
 ton,  in his  " Collections towards a  Materia Me-
 dica of the United  States," under  the head of
 tonics.   This is, no doubt, its  proper arrange-
ment:  though, from its great fudorific powers,
 and  its effects on  the  pulfe, it would feem to
 afpire to a  place  among his clafs of ftimulants,
 or incitants, itrictly fo called.

  4. The bark of  the Tulip-tree is a  powerful
diaphoretic.  This property may  be confidered as
fecondary, and muft neceflarily  depend upon its
primary incitant power.  " All of the diaphoretics 
C  57   ]
 ate,"  fays  Doctor Cullen,  " either by exciting
 the force of the  circulation, or by exciting the
 action of the extreme veflels on  the furface of
 the body only ;  and thefe two actions take place
 fometimes  feparately and fometimes together."
 This  account, of the  operation of diaphoretic
 medicines,  is  exemplified  in  the  experiments,
 which were inftituted, to afcertain the effects of
 the Tulipifera bark, on the human fyftem.

   5.  It is fometimes diuretic.  Moft diaphoretic
 medicines prove  diuretic, when the fkin is kept
 cooler than ufual: and diuretics, on the other
 hand, if the fkin be  kept warm, promote fweat
 inftead of  urine.  This alternation  of effbas,
 governed by the  temperature of the fkin, I have
 feen  repeatedly  produced,  by the bark of the
 Tulip-tree.   Were a clafs  of  fecernentia to be
 eftablifhed,  in conformity  to the plan  of  Dr.
 Darwin,  would not the Liriodendron Tulipifera  '
 be placed in it, with fome propriety ? But  fuch
 a  clafs fhould,   if poffible,  have  other limits
 than thofe given  to it  by  Dr. Darwin; other-
 wife,  it would monopolize  the whole  Materia
 Medica: it  would at leaft  include  every active
 ftimulant, and of  courfe,  every  ufeful medi-
 cine.

   6. The bark of the Tulip-tree is astringent.
This quality is not very confiderable: yet,  uni-
ted as it is, with fome  bitternefs, and a very
important proportion of an aromatic fubftance,
it may have fome  very valuable influence, in
modifying  the common effects of the natural
                      H 
E   ss   ]
combination of thofe principles.   The aftringen-
cy has,  for example, been no defpicable agent,
in union with the other  qualities,  when this
bark has been fuccefsful in the  cure of intermit-
ting fevers.

   7. Is  it an abforbent ?   It would appear that
all medicines,  which ftimulate the  fecerning fyf-
tem, in  an  eminent degree,  fhould neceflarily
excite the abforbents,  more or lefs, at  the fame
time.  Thus, when an unufual diaphorefis is fup-
ported,  by means of medicine,  without increaf-
ing the fuppl) of fluids in  the fyftem, by drink,
or otherwife ; the lymphatics of the cellular mem-
brane, or fome other  branch of the abforbents,
muft be excited into greater action, in order  to
furnifh fluid for  elimination: for it is  fcarcely
probable, that the ferum already exifting in the
blood, fhould fupport diaphorefis long,  without
an accelerated abforption  of moifture  from the
atmofphere,  or  of that, depofited in  the cells
and cavities of the body.   Hence  diuretics re-
move dropfical fwellings, by promoting abforpti-
on  from the cellular  membrane.  Emetics and
cathartics promote  this kind of abforption in a
fimilar way  ; and thus, are often  fuccefsful  in
anaiarca.  And  perhaps all powerful fudorifics
produce coftivenefs, and high-colored urine, by
ftimulating the lacteals and the  abforbents of the
bladder.  It is manifeft, then,  that thofe  medi-
cines muft act decidedly as abforbents.

   " Abforption from  the  cellular membrane,"
fays Dr. Darwin, " is  promoted by bitter vege- 
[  59   ]
tables."  And the fame author obferves, that
" inteftinal abforption is increafed by aftringent
vegetables,  as rhubarb,  &c."   Confequently,
we may confider the bark of the Tulip-tree, both
from its effects on the fyftem, and from its fen-
fible qualities, as an incitant of the  abforbents.
Doctor  Darwin  confiders  his  forbentia,   as
ftrengtheners,  or tonics,  when ufed  in fuch
dofes, as do not perceptably increafe the natural
fecretions and excretions.

   The bark of the root of the Tulip-tree, I re-
gard fimply as a tonic.   It is  a ftrong  bitter,
containing a  fmall portion of a warm aromatic
principle, with an eflential oil.  It is more  ex-
clufively  a ftimulant  of the abforbent fyftem
than the bark of the  tree; and therefore it is
more purely tonic.  This article, on account of
its fimplicity, does not require  any farther  dif-
quifition,  concerning  its virtues as a medicine.
  ii. op the bark of the tree, as a remedy in
                   disease:,

   1. In the Intermitting Fever.  It is the opi-
nion of many, that this bark is but little inferior
to  the  Cinchona : fee Doctor Barton's " Col-
lections for an effay towards a Materia Medica
of  the  united  ftates."   It  probably exerts  its
febrifuge  powers in the  fame manner likewife ;
but this cannot  be  affirmed as  certain.  Like
the  peruvian bark, it poflefles  bitternefs and 
C  60   ]
aftringency: to thefe qualities, however, there
is added, in the Tulipifera bark, a much larger
proportion of aromatic matter,  than is  contained
in the other,

  I am confident that neither of them cure inter-
mittents by any fpecific virtue.   They act by vir-
tue of their ftimulus ;  and their fuccefs depends
upon the quantity of ftimulatipn they  produce ;
the order of veflels upon which they principally
act; and the ftate of the fyftem, at the time they
are  employed.  They may be faid to cure by
their tonic operation ; becaufe they ftimulate the
abforbents, and the ftomach chiefly; while they
increafe lefs  obvioufly, the  excitement  of the
heart and arteries.  They may  be faid to cure
by creating a new action, which means the fame
thing;  for I fufpect the new action is  primarily
tranfmitted from the ftomach to fome one or more
branches  of  the  abforbent  fyftem.   By  this
means,  the neceffary  quantity of fluid is fup-
plied to the blood-veflels, and thence their na-
tural excitement is fupported; the cold  parox-
ysms of intermittents  are thus prevented,  and
the hot fits, confequently obviated.   So, when
intermitting fevers  are badly  treated,  or when
tone has not  been imparted to the frame, by
exciting the abforbents to their accuftomed func-
tions,  difagreeable diforders  almoft conftantly
fupervene : a  continued quiefcence of the cellu-
lar lymphatics is fucceeded by dropfy; a fimilar
ftate of the hepatic branch, is followed  by an
enlargement of the liver; and defective energy
in the lacteals, gives rife to  diarrhoea, &c. 
C  61   ]
   I think the efficacy of our medicine may be
much  improved,  by mixing equal parts of the
powdered bark of the tree, and that of the root
together.  In fuch a form,  its fenfible qualities
would at leaft approach  nearer to thofe of the
peruvian bark; and the  proportion of its  heat-
ing property would be diminifhed,  which may
frequently be defirable in the employment of it.
If it has been already found to be but little infe-
rior, I fee  no reafon why it fhould not, thus
blended, prove  equal, and fometimes fuperior,
to that celebrated febrifuge.  Befldes, as it is an
article endued with active  properties, and as it
was, till of late, employed by ignorant people
only, who knew neither  the time, nor the man-
ner, in which it fhould be exhibited; it muft
often have proved ineffectual, or even injurious,
when  it would, in the hands of phyficians, have
produced the happieft effects.  This confiderati-
on gives me a ftill ftronger prefumption of its fu-
ture ufefulnefs.  I would obferve, with refpect
to the  heating quality of the  Tulip-tree  bark,
that it  may, in many cafes, render the medicine
more efficacious; particularly in cold phlegma-
tic conftitutions,  or when a degree of torpor ap-
pears to be  extended over the fanguiferous fyf-
tem, accompanied with want of appetite, during
the apyrexia.

  The practice  which  my preceptor,  Doctor
Barton, recommends, in his lectures, of giving
a few grains of rhubarb,  combined with  the pe-
ruvian bark, throughout the whole courfe of the
difeafe, would, no doubt, be equally proper in 
[  62   ]
 the  exhibition of our remedy: this practice is
 ftill  more  neceffary,  if the inteftinal abforption
 excited by the medicine be fo great,  as  to  in-
 duce coftivenefs;   and under fuch  a circum-
 ftance,  the rhubarb fhould be added in a quanti-
 ty juft fufficient  to overcome conftipation,  by
 increafing the periftaltic motion of the bowels.

   2. In Dropfy.   I am of opinion that the bark
 of the Tulip-tree,  either feparately, or combined
 with the bark of its root,  may be found of great
 fervice in certain forms and ftages of dropfy.  Its
 powers as a fudorific or diuretic, and its proper-
 perty of ftimulating the abforbents, are fuffici-
 ent reafons for entertaining this opinion.  I re-
 gret that it  has not been put to the teft of experi-
 ence.

   In  the management of  dropfy, though  much
 advantage  is derived from the proper employ-
 ment of vegetable or  metallic  tonics, in almoft
 every form  of the complaint,  thefe remedies are
 not always  entirely to be depended upon.  This
 complaint is not only frequently the confequence
 of, but is often attended with, a febrile affection..
Here,  then,  evacuations are  neceffary; and
they prove  ufeful  in  two ways; firft, they re-
move the febrile diathefis which is fometimes ve-
ry confiderable;  fecondly, they  are often the
moft powerful  promoters of  abforption  in all
parts of the body.   Emetics, cathartics, ckc. do
not, however, fupercede the ufe of tonics.  They
are, in  many cafes,  neceffary antecedents,  or
auxiliaries; while, in  many others, fuch  eva- 
C  63   ]
cuations  are not to be employed; but the cure
is chiefly to be trufted to ftrengthening and cor-
dial medicines; that is,  to fuch as influence the
abforbents, without  either increafing debility,
or creating febrile  a6tion in the blood-veflels.

   3. In Hepatitis.   In enlargements of the liver,
and  other affeaions of that vifcus; unattended
by inflammation, or after inflammation has been
fubdued; the bark of the root would be a ufeful
addition to the metallic tonics.  Would the bark
of the tree, in fuch cafes, prove too heating ? I
think not, where  the torpor and  debility of the
whole frame  are confiderable.

   4.  In Chlorous.   In this difeafe  tonics are
principally relied upon ; particularly chalybeates
and bitters conjoined.  Thefe,  with fmall  opi-
ates  at night,  and gentle laxatives daily,  com-
monly reftore  the catamenia.  Here, likewife,
our medicine will  no doubt prove ferviceable.

   5. In Typhus fever.  After the continuance of
this fever for fome time, I imagine the bark of
the Tulip-tree would be found ufeful. It fhould
not be employed in this difeafe while any inflam-
matory diathefis is prefent.   When this diathefis
does  not exift, and when there is great proftra-
tion of ftrength, I fhould have  much  depend-
ence  on its efficacy, if fldlfully exhibited.

   Thefe  remarks I  would  apply to all  fevers
taking on a typhus type, or becoming chronic. 
C  64   ]
  e.  In Rheumatifm.  Our medicine  has,  in
fome parts of the United States, acquired much
reputation as a remedy in this difeafe*.   It has
been ufed,  I imagine, with moft apparent advan-
tage,  in  the chronic  rheumatifm;  as it would,
perhaps, prove too ftimulating, in the acute,  or
inflammatory forms of this difeafe*

  7. In Gout  I  know nothing of the virtues
of our bark in this difeafe, but what is commu-
nicated to the public, in the work of my precep-
tor, already mentioned.   I beg leave to tranf-
cribe his note on this article.  Having obferved,
that, in the United States, it has been  ufed  in
the  prefent, as well as  the laft named  difeafe,
with  much reputation,  he fays—" As a medi-
cine poflefling  properties very nearly allied to
thofe  of the calida amara, or  heating  bitters,
which have, for ages, formed a part of the ce-
lebrated gout powders, I think it not improbable,
that the Liriodendron may have been ufed, with
the  feeming advantage of putting off, for a time,
the  inflammatory paroxyfm of the gout.  But the
well known hiftory of the gout powder, is not
calculated to encourage  one to ufe (as a  remedy
for the worft of difeafes) a medicine which might
only alter the fhape of the difeafe,  and give it a
direaion to the more effentially important part
of the human frame."—The habitual ufe of bit-
ter  medicines for  fome  years,  as  of Portland's

  * See Doctor Barton's Collections towards an effay on the Mate-
ria Medica of the United States. 
[  65   ]
powder, or of the peruvian  bark,  has had the
apparent effea of relieving gouty patients.  Thefe
medicines  are conceived*  however, to induce,
after fome years, other fudden and fatal  difeaf-
es.   Doaor Darwin mentions two  cafes of this
kind, which fell under his notice.   One of the
patients died of apoplexy ; the other,  of  an in-
flammation of the liver.

   8. As an Anthelmintic.  I have not learned
that the bark  of the Tulip-tree has been ufed to
deftroy worms  in  man.   Mr. Wafhington, my
fellow graduate, informs me, that it is a com-
mon praaice with  the  negroes in  Virginia, to
give the horfes, troubled with  worms,  ftrong
decoaions of the root of the Liriodendron.  He
had not attended much, to the anthelmintic pow-
er of this article, on the horfe.  It is prefuma-
ble, from  our knowledge of its tonic property,
and from the univerfality of this praaice, among
thofe fable horfe-doaors,  that fome  advantage
refults from its employment.

   9. As an antidote againft  the poifon of the
Crotalus Horridus, or Rattle Snake.   The fol-
lowing note I have found in a paper of my pre-
ceptor's,  on  the  fubjea of this  poifon.*—
M Among the Cheerake,  and probably among
other American tribes,  the  inner  bark of  this
tree," (the Liriodendron Tulipifera) " after be-

  * " An account of the moft effe&ual  means, of preventing the
deleterious confequences of the bite of the Crotalus Horridus, or
Rattle Snake t" by Doctor Barton, 
C  66   ]
ing brulfed,  is infufed in water, and the infufion
given to horfes which have been  bitten by the
Rattle fnake.   It is not improbable, that this
medicine may fometimes be of fervice  in  thofe
cafes, as it is certain,  that the bark of the Ame-
rican Liriodendron poflefles very aaive  powers,
as  a ftimulant, and fudorific.   I have never
heard that this bark has been employed for the
bite  of the Rattle fnake in man."

   10. Will it be of ufe in any ftage of Syphilis ?
Mr.  Lawfon,  in his  hiftory of North Carolina,
fpeaks of  a difeafe refembling  fyphilis, which
prevails among the Indians ; and in which,  our
medicine is  confidered as a  fpecific.  He  thus
defcribes it;—" The Struma is not uncommon
among thefe  favages,  and  another  distemper,
which is,  in fome refpeas, like the pox, but is
attended with no gonorrhoea.  This, not feldom,
bereaves them of their nofe.   I have feen three
or four of them rendered moft miferable fpeaa-
cles  by  this diftemper.  Yet, when  they  have
been fo  negligent,  as to let it run on  without
curbing it,  at laft they make fhift to patch them-
felves up,  and live  for many years  after ; and
fuch  men  commonly turn  doaors.   I  have
known two  or three of  thefe no-nofed  doaors,
in great efteem amongft thefe  favages.  The
juice of  the Tulip-tree is ufeft as  a proper re-
medy for this diftemper."  From  Mr.  Law-
fon's manner  of defcribing this diseafe,  as one
which the  Indians can fubdue;  and from the
A 
C  67   ]
Tulip-tree being regarded  as the proper reme-
dy ; whatever may be the nature of the affeai-
on, our confidence in the powers of this vegeta-
ble fhould be farther increafed.
THE  END. 
 
 
 
Me.cL.MislT.
    wx
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