of high northern latitudes, it forms the link of botanical connexion between the two continents. When in situations like this, we seem transported to the frigid zone, and to be present at the point where the hemispheres approach each other, as if to interchange their productions.*

In the second volume of the Amœnitates Academicæ is a description and imperfect figure of this plant as brought from Kamschatka, by Halenius. He describes it by the name Helleborus trifolius, with the observation, "Minima est hæc planta in suo genere, attamen spectabilis." Subsequent botanists have ranked it with the Hellebores, until Mr. Salisbury very properly separated it from a family of plants, with which it wholly disagrees in habit, and constituted a new genus by the name of Coptis. This genus is characterized by the following marks. Calyx none; petals five or six, caducous; nectaries five or six, cucullate; capsules from five to eight, pedicelled, beaked, many seeded. The species trifolia has ternate leaves, and a one flowered scape.

"Non sine admiratione vidi non solum multas cum rarissimis nostris plantis Lapponicis communes, sed etiam alias, partim ignotas omnino, partim minime tritas et denique quasdam etiam cum Canadensibus eas lem, argumento Canadam a Camscatca non longe distare, uti sequentes antea in sola America boreali visæ, nunc etiam in extrema ora Siberiæ." Amanitates Academicæ, ii. 310.

In botanical arrangements, the Coptis will follow the Hellebores, from which it was taken, remaining in the class and order Polyandria, Polygynia, with the Multisiliquæ of Linnæus and the Ranunculaceæ of Jussieu.

The roots of this plant, from which the name of goldthread is taken, are perennial and creeping. On removing the moss and decayed leaves from the surface of the ground, they discover themselves of a bright yellow colour, running in every direction. The bases of the new stems are invested with a number of yellowish, ovate, acuminate stipules. Leaves ternate, on long slender petioles; leafets roundish, acute at base, lobed and crenate, the crenatures acuminate; smooth, firm, veiny. Scape slender, round, bearing one small, starry white flower, and a minute, ovate, acute bracte at some distance below. Calyx none. Petals five, six or seven, oblong, concave, white. Nectaries five or six, inversely conical, hollow, yellow at the mouth. Stamens numerous, white, with capillary filaments and roundish anthers. Germs from five to seven, stipitate, oblong, compressed; styles recurved. Capsules pedicelled, umbelled, oblong, compressed, beaked, with numerous black oval seeds attached to the inner side.

The root of this plant is a pure intense bitter,

scarcely modified by any other taste. In distillation it communicates no decided sensible quality to water. The constituent with which it most abounds is a bitter extractive matter, soluble both in water and alcohol. It seems destitute of resinous or gummy portions, since the residuum from an evaporated solution in alcohol is readily dissolved in water, and vice versa. It is devoid of astringency when chewed in the mouth, and it gives no indication of the presence of tannin or gallic acid when tested with animal gelatin, or with sulphate of iron. The abundance of the bitter principle is evinced by the acetate of lead and nitrate of silver, both of which throw down a copious precipi tate. The sulphuric, nitric, and muriatic acids occasion no change, and the muriate of tin gives only a slight precipitate, after some time standing.

Of this article larger quantities are sold in the druggists' shops in Boston, than of almost any indigenous production. The demand for it arises from its supposed efficacy as a local application in aphthous, and other ulcerations of the mouth. Its reputation however in these cases is wholly unmerited, since it possesses no astringent or stimulating quality, by which it can act on the ulcerated spots, and where benefit has attended its use, it is doubtless to be ascribed to other articles

possessing the above properties, with which it is usually combined.

As a pure tonic bitter, capable of strengthening the viscera and promoting digestion, it is entitled to rank with most articles of that kind now in use. Its character resembles that of Gentian, Quassia, and Columbo, being a simple bitter without aroma or astringency. The tincture, made by digesting half an ounce of the bruised root in eight ounces of diluted alcohol, forms a preparation of a fine yellow colour, possessing the whole bitterness of the plant. I have given it in various instances to dyspeptics and convalescents, who have generally expressed satisfaction from its effects, at least, as frequently as from other medicines of its class. A teaspoonful may be taken three times a day. In substance, it rests well on the stomach in doses of ten or twenty grains. It is however difficult to reduce to powder on account of the tenacity of its fibres.

BOTANICAL REFERENCES.

Coptis trifolia SALISBURY, Lin. Trans. viii. 305.-PURSH, ii. 390.-Helleborus trifolius, sp. pl.-WILLD. ii. 1338. KALM, Travels, iii. 379.-LEPECH. iter i. 190.-PALLAS, Iter. iii. 34.— OEDER, F. Dan. t. 566.-MICHAUX, Fl. i. 325.-Aman. Acad. ii. 356, t. 4. f. 18.

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MEDICAL REFERENCES.

Helleborus trifolius, BART. Coll. Nigella.-CUTLER, Amer. Acad. i. 457.-THACHER, Disp. 283.

PLATE V.

Fig. 1. Coptis trifolia with the root, leaves, flowers and last year's fruit.

Fig. 2. Nectaries, stamens, and pistils magnified.

Fig. 3. Section of a capsule shewing the seeds.

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