Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-04
cassaffa ..

Savannah News)
what IS sassafras good torF ASKED
South Carolina correspondent OF oouth
Carolina newspaper the other day. Inc
correspondent, If he is native OF the
South has probably been familiar with
the plant all Of his life. No DOUBT ne mas
drunk sassafras tea hundreds OF times.
snaclled his lips over ii, and asked for
more. Nevertheless he knows no more OF
IL Than that sassafras is a shrub or tree,
the roots. branches, and leaves OF which
have a rather strong, pungent, aromatic
and sweetish taste, and that tea Is come
times made Of the bark of the roots. Fa-
miliarity with the sassafras has made 1t
undressing; nobody in the South pays
a great deal of attention 10 II. 1t grows
almost everywhere, and especially likes
the soil of old fields and hedge rows. 1t
grows wild. To suggest to Georgian or
a South Carolinian that sassafras bs cul-
tivated would be laughed at.
Nevertheless the sassafras plant Is full
of virtue from the lowest point OF its tap
root 10 the crown of It's foliage. Bark,
leaves, wood, pith, and roots contain
valuable properties. The leaves are heavi-
ly charged with mucllaginous juice
which may be made 10 serve every pur-
pose Of gum arabic. The pith also is
gum producer in even larger degree than
the leaves. An investigator says that
few inches Of sassafras pith put into a
glass of cold water will in few minutes
make a glassful of mucilage. During the
civil war in some parts OF the South sas-
safras leaves were employed to furnish
the thickening for soup; and IL was very
palatable and healthful thickening. too.
During that time, also, sassafras tea was
largely used as a substitute for coffee and
the ordinary tea OF commerce. The sassa-
fTas infusion, however Is a more health
ful beverage than either coffee or tea. 1t
has positive Alternative properties. and as
a blood remedy ii SHOULD be ranked along
with sarsaparilla. II is also diuretic
and a sudorific; it IS good for the kidneys.
and TO produce perspiration II is valua-
BILE IN cases OF colds or feVers OIL OF
sassafras, according 20 a medical author
ity, sis used i'm the treatment Of cuta-
neous diseases. rheumatism, gcut. etc"
II is commonly used In connection with
other drugs. IL has been stated that a
great many OF the magic cure-all pro-
prietary liniments which are so popular,
at % to 50 cents a bottle are made OF
spirits of turpentine, costing about 10
cents a gallon, and little oil of sassafras.
and that "A great many of the "discOve-
ries." cures" and the like which cost 81
a bottle. have as their base an infusion
OF sassafras. We recognize the virtues OF
the sassafras and the turpentine after
somebody a thousand or so miles away
has mixed them and given them catchy
name: but we do not care much about
them In their natural state. Flavoring
extracts are also made from sassafras.
and there Is no more delightful and re-
freshing beverage than cool sassafras beer
on a hot day. The muclage from the
pith OF sassafras is said TO be an excel
lent remedy for sore eyes. or for almost
any irritated and sore tissue. As gargle
for sore throat sassafras tea. with alum.
has recognized standing In every rural
housewives cupboard Suii, most people
are unfamiliar with the sassafras, for
the reason that II 10 50 common.