(seq. 1)

7th. Oct 1812

[faded post mark]
CHARL[?] Double
Oct. 7th Paid
[19?]

Stephen Elliott Esq. {Esquire}
Beaufort S.C.
Mail.

St. Stephens Oct. 7th 1812

Dear Sir

Your favour of the 24th ult was duly recd. I am truly
obliged to you
for the attention you have paid to my enquiries. I have
preserved excellent
specimens of the foliation of varietes (1 & 2) of Lilium, &
you will be ena-
bled to set the matter aright— L. superb. [Lilium superbum]
& martag. [martagon] Walt I hold to
be the same species & are comprehended by my first var. This
phila-
delphicum may be my var. 2. for on the inspection of a dried
speci-
men I believe the petals are somewhat clawed.

Among the new species you saw on your way
to Columbia one only is known to me viz Lactuca—— Among the
Ligulata of Syngensia polygam. aequal. I hope to point out
some new
species to you next year— Your Menyanthes I never saw we
have but
one.— I could not visit the Eriogonum this year at the
proper
season, business imperiouly forbade it.

I now give you a few addenda to the medical
catalogue. 1 Veronica angustifolia popularly Mountain
Rosemary & by
some "Sarsaparilla"— The roots are fibrous fleshy, & to the
taste pungent
aromatic & bitter— A decoction of them long persevered in
has removed
syphilis in field negroes — This I have witnessed &
if at all neces
=sary can give you detailed evidence. Syphilis, however, you
know
exists under various forms & in various degrees of virulence
accor
=ding the habits of body & manner of life of its subjects.
The sim-
ple diet of the field negro makes this evil comparatively
light—
The use of this plant at an antisyphilitic is widely
diffused.
2. "Baccharis sessiliflora" besides being used used as an
expectorant is
a decided diuretic. My friend DJ Ravenel of Lower St Johns
has tested it late-
ly in 3 or 4 cases. On my own person it produces and
increase of urine
very sensibly— Digitalis purpurea is a decided diuretic &
yet in high
repute as a remedy in pulmonary consumption, therefore
Baccharis's
is not singular in this two fold action. We have not
attended to
the pulse. 3. The nuts of our Cypress yield readily
inconsiderable quan-
tities a stimulating oil much used here as an external
remedy in
rheumatism.