The Logwood Tree.
Arbor campechiana.
A tree, native of the Southern parts of America, the wood of which has been used in dying, longer than in medicine, but is very serviceable in the latter capacity. The tree is large, and makes a beautiful appearance. The branches are numerous, and they spread with a sort of regularity. The leaves are composed each of several pairs of smaller, set on the two sides of a common rib; with an odd one at the end. The flowers are of the shape of pea blossoms, but they are yellow; the pods which succeed them are very large, and the boughs of the tree are very thick set, with sharp thorns of a reddish colour.
We use only the heart of the wood which is of a deep red colour. It is of an austere taste, but with something of sweetness in it at last, in this it resembles greatly what is called Japan earth, and it resembles that drug also in its virtues. It is a a very powerful medicine to stop fluxes of the belly, and overflowings of the menses. The best way of giving it is in form of an extract, which is to be made by boiling down a strong decoction of wood to the consistence of honey. In this form it will keep a long time, and is always ready for use.
