On PHORMIUM TENAX AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR SARSAPARILLA.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1254, 1 October 1869, Page 5

On PHORMIUM TENAX AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR SARSAPARILLA.

Sic,— * * * " But Ido not believe it h known that the root of this very same plant is silso used by the native?, and by the old European settlers, as a powerful medicine, and that will very likely pro', o an excellent addition to our maferia medic a, or a substitute for more expensive medicines, as it can bt» obtained in any quantity, and might prove nn lukiitional resource to that British possession * * "Wherever its true botanical pkco m»y b\ ils relations .ire sufficiently 'evident, 'as w;']i :w tv (,U.; smilacem, which gives, us the invaluable sarsupirii;.:. lfs root is indeed usod fo- nil purpose* for wh:ch v.-c give the latter, * * If made into a (h-coi-tion, it increases all the secretions of the nm.'-oiir. membranes, and the external skin ; it ia pu.'^ative, expectorant, strongly diuretic, and after its us:; tiw skin is covered with perspiration. " There are, however, no violent symptoms connected with its use, as with other acrids ; no pain in the stomach, or affections of the nervous svst'.m ; on the contrary, although far more powerful t!i.m sarsaparilla (which, however, may arise fi-oni th:! large quantity used for a decocl-ion), it spems \n resemble the latter most in its efte.its in producing a general change of the metamorphosis. "I bave been assured that the most invefcera'-o-eases of exautliematic diseases and scLvphuiosw, have yielded to it ; and from this testimony of natives and older settlers, I have indeed been induced to recommend it, but wa3 unable to watch (Is effects." — Chemical Gazette, January sth, 1843.