The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-28
sAssAFRAs.


What is sassafras good for?" asked a
South Carolina correspondent of a South
Carolina newspaper the other day. The
correspondent If he is a native of the
South, has probably been familiar with
the plant all of his life. No doubt he has
drank sassafras tea hundreds of times,
smacked his lips over It and asked for
more. Nevertheless he knows no more of
it than chat 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 some
times made of the bark of the roots. Fa-
miliarity with the sassafras has made it
undressing; nobody in the South pays
a great deal of attention to It, 1t grows
almost everywhere, and especially likes
the soil of old fields and hedge rows. II
grows Wild. To suggest to a Georgian or
tivated would be laughed at
Nevertheless the sassafras plant is full
of virture from the lowest point of its tap
root to the crown Of its foliage. Bark,
leaves, wood, pith and roots contain
valuable properties. The leaves are heav-
lily charged with a mucilaginous juice
which may be made to serve every purpose,
of gum arabic. The pith also is a gum
producer in even larger degree than the
leaves. An investigator says that a few
inches of sassafras pith put into a glass Of
cold water win in a few minutes make a
81,
war in some parts of the South sassafras
leaves were employed to furnish the thick
ening for soup; and it was very palatable
and healthful thcken.ng, too. During that
time, also. sassafras tea was largely used
as a substitute for coffee and the ordinary
tea of commerce. The sassafras infusion
however, is a more healthful beverage than
either coffee or tea. 1t has positive all
terauve properties, and as blood remedy
it should be ranked along with sarsapa-
rilla. 1t is also diuretic and a sudorific; il
is good for the kidneys, and 10 produce
perspiration. 1t is valuable in cases of
colds or fevers. Oil of sassafras, accord
ing to a medical authority, lis used in the
treatment of cutaneous diseases, rheuma-
tism, govt etc" 1t is commonly used in
connection with other drugs. 1t has been
stated that a great many of the magic"
cure-all proprietary liniments which are
so popular. at % TO so cents a bottle. are
made of spirits turpentine, costing about
40 cents a gallon, and a little oil
of sassafras. and that a great many
of the discoveries" 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 tur-
pentine after somebody a thousand or so
miles away has mixed them and given
them a 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 refreshing beverage than cool sassa-
fras beer on a. hot day. The mucilage from
the plth of sassafras is said to be an ex-
cellent remedy for sore eyes. or for al
most any irritated and sore tissue. As a
gargle for sore throat sassafras tea, with
alum. has a recognized standing in every
rural housewives cupboard. Still, most
people are unfamiliar with the sassafras
for the reason that it is so common.