PHYSIOLOGICAL AND TOXIC EFFECTS.
All of the hollies possess decided physiological action on the human system. Ilex opaca once had a large reputation in Europe and England in rheumatism, gout, cutaneous diseases, and intermittent fever. The young leaves and branches, in France, are fed to cattle, and said to increase the quantity and quality of the milk of cows.
Griffith (Medical Botany, 1847) writes of the cassine:
Another native species, the I. vomitoria, of Aiton, appears to be endowed with still more powerful properties. This is a native of the most southern parts of the country, where it is held in high esteem amongst the Indians, who considered it a holy plant, and employed it in their religious ceremonies and councils, to purge their bodies from all impurities. They called both this and the I. dahoon by the name of “cassena.” The leaves, which were the part employed, were collected with great care, and formed an article of trade among the tribes. Dr. B. S. Barton (“Collections,” 38) says of it: “It is thought to be one of the most powerful diuretics hitherto discovered. It is held in great esteem among the Southern Indians; they toast the leaves and make a decoction of them. It is the men alone that are permitted to drink this decoction, which is called ‘black drink.’” These leaves are inodorous, and have a somewhat aromatic, acrid taste. In small doses the decoction acts as a powerful diuretic, and in large ones produces discharges from the stomach, bowels, and bladder. In North Carolina, on the seacoast, the inhabitants modify the deleterious action of their brackish water by boiling a few leaves of cassena with it. (The African kola nut, powdered and added to foul water, is said to purify it. It contains theobromine, an alkaloid analogous to caffeine.)
Rafinesque (Medical Botany, 1828) calls it “Cassine Peragua” (Schoeph), or Ilex vomitoria (Aiton), and says:
This by some is said to be the true cassine of the Florida tribes. But C. aumlosa (Rafinesque), Ilex cassine, and dahoon, Viburnum cassinoides, are all equally so named and used. The leaves are bitterish, sudorific, purgative, and diuretic; vomitive and purgative in strong decoctions, called “black drink.” Said to be useful in gravel, nephritis, diabetes, fevers, and small-pox.
King (Dispensatory, 1864) says: “The Ilex vomitoria, or ‘South Sea tea,’ is the cassine of the Indians. A few leaves of this plant lessen the injurious influence of saline water.”
It has never been made officinal in any pharmacopœia in this country or Europe.