The Materia Medica. 39

Mezereum, Mezereon, Daphne Mezereum-,or Spurge-Olive, L. S. P.

the Bark of theRoot.

Several fpecies of Daphne have been praifed for the famevirtues as thofe belonging to that here adopted : but the mif-chief which happens in fo many other cafes from a confufionof fpecies is not here much to be feared ; each of them beingfurnifhed with a fimilar and very violent acrimony. (MurrayApp. Med. tom. 4.) Bergius fays it is indifferent from whichfpecies of the genus the bark is chofen, but that the CortexDaphnes Mezerei is the officinal one in Sweden, (M. M. p,307,) and the numerous experiments made in Germany,Sweden, and England, demonftrate the particular efricaey ofthis fpecies. Murray App. tom. 4.

Spurge-Olive is found vvild in the woods of morc than onecounty in England. It is a fhrub four fest or more high, withfpear-ftiaped deeiduous leaves, • — flowers fitting in threes,(alfo in twosandfours, Reich.) growing on the Gera, (L'mn.)of a purple colour, (fometimes pale red, and white, Stoies,)appearing early in fpring, (fometimes in January, L.M.M.)and having afmell of hyacinth; hence it is eultivated in gardens.(Murray App. tom. 4.) Abroad the bark is eommonly takenfrom the trunk or large branches; here the bark of the root isöireßed ; which, if taken up in the depth of winter, RuJJclthinks not 10 good, as being thinner and lefs juicy. Whenchewed, it is not at firft putigentto the tafle, but after a littletime is greatiy fo, and the difagreeable ftimulus in the fau-

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