Southern Medical and Surgical Journal - Georgia Regents University

1849.] O'Keefie, on the Properties of Dognwod Bark.To the physician of the Southern States, then,whose greatduty is the management of paroxysmal fevers, an effort to establishan indigenous anti-periodic may not be unacceptable.Without devoting further time to preliminaries, already extendedtoo far, it is proposed to pass to a brief description of the tree.CoRNUS Florida. Common Names— Dogwood ; Boxtree ;Great flowered Cornel, &c.A minute botanical history of this well-known tree is renderedunnecessary by the abundance of its growth, and the facilityof its recognition by every observer. It is, therefore, deemedprudent to sum up, with as much brevity as practicable, the outlinesof its botanical characters; the physical properties of thebark, its chemical composition and therapeutical employment.This beautiful and useful tree is found in almost every part ofthe United States, especially, in swampy and moist woods, varyingin height from fifteen to thirty-five feet, six to thirty-sixinches in circumference, with a rough, dark-brown bark, muchfissured. Latitude modifies its growth, being a much largertree in the Southern states.It flowers from February to June,according to climate, but always with so much regularity thatsome of our Southern tribes were accustomed to name thespring from its flow^ering. From the presence of gallic acidin it, a good writing ink may be made from it.* In the NewEngland states, it is well known by the name of Boxwood.The officinal portion is the bark of the root, stem and branches;the bark of the root is said to be preferable. In our preparations,the bark of the stem has been exclusively employed, andhas afforded results so conclusive and satisfactory, as to inspireus with the fullest confidence of its applicability under all circumstances.However, it is not intended to question the accuracyof the assertion, but if time should verify its claims tosuperiority, it will but furnish another argument in support ofits remedial virtues. The bark, as found in the shops, is inpieces several inches long, half an inch or more broad, and twoor three lines thick; it is, generally, more or less rolled, sometimeswith a fawn-coloured epidermis, and sometimes deprivedof it; of a reddish-gray colour, affording, when pulverized, aGriflith,*op. cil.