PHARMACOPCEIAL VEGETABLE DRUGS.

(Bauhin, 47) (1650), and Piso (1658) (srr), the latter giving it theBrazilian synonym "anhuiba."

Francisco Hernandez (314), another Spanish physician, who trav-eled through Mexico between the years 1571 and 1577, speaks of theoccurrence of Sassafras at Mechuacan in Mexico. His work was trans-lated by Francisco Ximinez, a monk of the convent of San Domingoin Mexico, in 1615.

The latter author is quoted at length on the subject of Sassafrasby Jean de Laet (368), a noted Dutch geographer (who died in 1649),whose work, "Novus Orbis, etc., 1633," testifies to the probably Frenchorigin of the knowledge of Sassafras. Having taken the account givenby Laudonniere as his source, he speaks, in Chapter XIV, concerningthe land and inhabitants of the part of Florida traversed by the French,and calls attention to the tree as being prominent in the woods andrefers to the exquisite odor of its wood and bark. He says that thistree is called "pavame" by the Indians and "Sassafras" by the French.

Soon after the discovery of Sassafras the drug was exported toEurope, as before stated, and became at once known in Spain andFrance. It was well known in Frankfort-on-the-Main as early as 1582,and in Hamburg in 1587, at which time it was (F. A. Flückiger, Am.Jour. Phar., 1876, p. 367) termed lignum pavanum seu ßoridum, seuxylomarathri (fennel-wood). Sailing expeditions to America wereundertaken in those times to secure the wood as well as the root. AnEnglish merchant, Martin Pring, is recorded by Charles Pickering(510) as having with two small vessels arrived on the American coastin the beginning of June, 1603. The point named is 43 degrees and 44degrees northern latitude, among a multitude of islands. Followingthe coast south in search of Sassafras he entered a large sound, and onthe north side in the latitude 41 degrees and "odde" minutes built ahut and enclosed it with a barricade, where some of the party keptguard while others collected Sassafras in the woods. The natives weretreated with kindness, and the last of the two vessels departed freightedon the 9th of August.

In connection with the introduction of Sassafras root into Eng-land, Daniel Hanbury (Proc. Am. Phar. Assoc, 1871, p. 491) un-earthed the following interesting record contained in the Calendars ofState Papers of the Public Record Office:

"Instructions for suche thinges as are to be sente from Virginia,1610.

"(1) Small Sassafras Rootes to be drawen in the winter anddryed and none to be medled with in the somer and yt is worthe 5o£and better, p. Tonne," etc.

But, still, the exact botanical origin of Sassafras was not knownto the writers of the seventeenth Century. While they were well ac-quainted with the peculiar foliage and the other characteristies of thetree, the flowers and the fruit were expressly stated to be unknownto such writers as Clusius (153), (Monardes) (447), 1593, Joh. Bau-hinus (47) (1650), and Piso (511) (1658).

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