This plant rises two feet in height: stem large, upright, with forked alternate leaves, large and broad towards the base, pointed towards the extremity, toothed, standing upon strong foot-stalks: flowers white, large and solitary, consisting of a single leaf, bell shaped, plicate cut into five teeth, and stand upon a long tube; anthers conspicuous,

capsule covered with spines large and fleshy, opening with four valves, showing a column in the centre, giving nourishment and support to many kidney shaped seeds.

HISTORY.

The thorn-apple is an annual plant, which gradually diffuses itself from south to north throughout the United States of America, and is well known to every one by the name of stinkweed, or jimston-weed.

MEDICAL VIRTUES.

Both the extract and powder have been given in the cure of mania, and epileptic fits, with great success in our hospitals.

PREPARATION.

In the cure of the above diseases, the following pills will answer the purpose: take fresh extract of stramonium two ounces, of the fine powder of wild valerian two ounces; make a mass with mucilage gum aribeck to the consistence of pills, each pill from one to two grains. The patient may be gin with taking one grain morning and night, increasing the dose half a grain daily, according to its effect. The tincture of stramonium is made by infusing two ounces of the bruised seed in four ounces of Madeira wine, and a wine glass of old rum; let it infuse for one week: dose, a tea-spoonful taken-in valerian tea twice a day, increasing the

dose from one to two or three tea-spoonsful, occa sionally, in epileptic fits, mania, hypocondria, aud lowness of spirits. Take half a pint or a pint of the expressed juice of the leaves, half a pound of mutton tallow, a pound or more of linseed oil, and half a pound of bees-wax : melt the whole in a pipkin over the coals, and put it up for use, a little. of this ointment spread on linen will cure burns and the piles, by anointing them with it.

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This shrub usually rises from the ground with several stems, to the height of twelve feet, shooting into many upright slender stiff branches, covered with whitish smooth bark; set alternately with small evergreen serrated leaves, resembling those of alaternus. Its flowers are small and white, and grow promiscuously among the leaves, and are succeeded by small sperical berries, on short footstalks these berries turn red in October and remain so all the winter, which with the green

leaves

and white bark make an elegant appearance. But

the great esteem and use the Creek Indians have for it, gives it a greater character. They say, that from the earliest times the virtues and use of this shrub has been known and in use among them, prepared in the manner they now do, which is by drying or rather parching the leaves in an earthen pot over a slow fire. Of this they prepare their beloved black drink, by making a strong decoction of it, which they drink in large quantities, as well for their health as for pleasure, without any sugar or other mixture. They have an annual custom of drinking it with ceremony, every spring: the town having notice from the king, the inhabitants assemble at the town-house, having previously purged their houses by fire of all their old furniture, and supplied themselves with new: the king is first served with a calabash filled with this liquor, and so on in succession to the next in rank, until they come to the women and children. They say it restores lost appetite, strengthens the stomach, and gives them agility and courage in war.

HISTORY.

It grows plentifully in South-Carolina, and along the sea coast, as well as among the Creek nation of Indians.

MEDICAL VIRTUES.

It is a powerful diuretic, and is effectual in the cure of the dropsy and suppression of the urine, aud is the most pleasant tea I ever drank.