232 ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

CoitirosmoN.—It was analyzed by Bucholz in 1807 (Gmelin, Hand. d.Chim.); by Chevalüer in 1820, (Journ. de Pharm, vi. 365,) and by Peschierin 1823. (Gmelin, op. cit.)

Bucholz's Analysis. , Chevalüer's Analysis.

Volatile oil ........................ 0.50 Volatile oil.

Greenish-yellow soft resin .......... 2-85 Resin.

Extractive matter .................. 170 j Extractive.

Gumiuy extractive................. 18-10 Staren.

Lignin............................. 62 40; Ligneous fibre.

Waler ............................. 14-45 Albumcu.

-----------------------------------------------------------------1 Malate and phosphate of lime.

Serpentary root.................... 100-00 | Oxide ofiron and silicia.

1 Serpentary root,

1. Volatile Oil. —Grassman (quoted by Dr. W. C. Martius, Pharmacogn.) obtained onlyhalf an ouncc from 100 ]bs. of the root. Its colour is yellowish, its odour considerable, itstaste not very strong. (Lewis, Mal. Med.) Grassman compares the odour and taste to those ofvalerian and camphor combined.

2. Bitter Pkinciple : Extractive, Bucholz and Chevallier.—This is very bitter and slightlyacrid. It is soluble in both water and spirit. Its Solution, which is yellow, is rendered brownby alkalis, but is unchanged by the feruginous salts.

Physiological Effects —These have been examined by Jörg and his pu-pils (Wibmer, Arzneim ü. Gifte, Bd. i. S. 221 ; also, Journ. de Chim. Med. t.vii. p. 493).

In smatt doses, serpentary promotes the appetite. In large doses, it causesnausea, flatulente, uneasy Sensation at the stomach, and more frequent but notliquid stools. After its absorption, it inoreases the frequency and fulness of thepulse, augments the heat of the skin, and promotes secretion and exhalation.Furthermore, it would appear, from the experiments before referred to, that itcauses disturbance of the cerebral funetions, and produces headache, sense ofoppression within the scull, and disturbed sleep.

In these properties, serpentary bears some analogy to, but is much weakerthan, camphor. It is more powerful than contrayerva.

Uses. —Its employment is indicated in cases of torpor and atony. It wasformerly termed alexipharmic, on aecount of its fancied power of curing thebite of the rattlesnake and of a mad dog. (Dale, Pharmacologia.) At the pre-sent time it is rarely employed. It has been much esteemed as a stimulant infevers, both continued and intermittent. A scruple of serpentary, taken in threeounces of wine, is mentioned by Sydenham (Works, translated by Dr. Pechey,4th ed. p. 233,) as a cheap remedy for tertians in poor people. Dr. Cullen(Mat. Med.) considered it as suited for the low and advanced stage of typhusonly. In an epidemical affection of the throat (c.alled the throat-distemper), itwas given internally as a diaphoretic, and used with sumach berries, in theform of a decoction, as a gargle, with benefit. (Med. Observ. and Inq. vol. i.p. 211.)

Administration. —The dose of it in substance is from ten to thirty grains.The infusion is the best form for the administration of serpentary.

1. 1NFUSUM SEEPENTARIJ!, L. E. (U. S.); Infusion of Serpentary or Snake-root. —Serpentary, gss.; Boiling Water, Oj. Infuse for four hours in a [hghtly,i.] covered vossel, and strain [through linen or calico, E.~\ —Dose, f3j. or fgij.every two or three hours, aecording to the circumstances.

8. TINCTURA SERPENTARIJE, L. E. D. (U. S.); Tincture of Serpentary orSnake-root —Serpentary, bruised, [in moderately fine powder, jB.] giijss. L.[3üj. D.] (Ü. S.); Proof Spirit, Oij. \_ivinc measure D. ; and Cochineal, bruised,3j. Ef\. Macerate for fourteen [seven 7J.] days, and filter. " Proceed by per-colation or digestion as for the tincture of cinchona," E.)— used as an adjunetto tonic infusions.—Dose, from f'3j. to f3ij.