LIGNUM VITÆ.

These trees grow in all or most of the woods in America, and are known by all its inhabitants. Its flowers are five-leaved, and of a delicate blue colour, of which may be made a purging syrup, like syrup of violets. The fruit is very purging, and for use excels the bark: Were it known in Europe as well as here, they would never use the bark or wood, but its fruit. I have cured venereal diseases and yaws with this fruit, without salivation. The gum is a most admirable medicine; and the use of it is so well known in Europe, by the name of guaiacum, that I need not say more of it. This tree is one of the ever-greens.