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ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

Physiologioal Effects —Every part of the plant possesses acrid proper-ties. Applied to the mucous membrane of the nose, it excites sneezing, in-creased secretion of the mucus, and even a discharge of blood. Swallowed, itcauses vomiting, purging, and griping pains. It is said also to possess diureticand diaphoretic properties. Dr. Cullen has enumerated it in his list of diuretics,but expresses his doubts whether it possesses any specific power of stimulatmgthe renal vessels.

Usbs. —Asarabacca has been employed in medicine to excite vorniting, andas an errhine. As an emetic, it is now superseded by ipecacuanha and tar-tarized antimony. As an errhine, to excite irritation and a discharge of mucusfrom the nasal membrane, it has been used in certain affections of the brain,eyes, face, mouth, and throat, on the principle of counter-irritation: thus, inparalytic affections of the mouth and tongue, in toothache, and in Ophthalmia.

Administration. —We may administer either the root or leaves, recollectingthat the latter are somewhat milder than the former.—As an emetic, the dose ishalf a drachm to a drachm. As an errhine, one or tvvo grains of the root, orthree or four grains of the dried leaves, are snuffed up the nostrils every night.—The powder of this plant is supposed to form the basis of cephalic s?mff.

PULVIS ASARI COMPOSITUM, D. Compound Powder of Asarabacca.— (Asara-bacca leaves, dried, gi.; Lavender fiowers, dried, 3i. Reduce them together topowder).—Used as an errhine, in headache and Ophthalmia.—Dose from grs. v.to grs. viü.

OT1IEK. MEDICINAI, ARISTOIiOCHIACEiE.

Aristolochia. —The roots of Aristotochia longa and A. rotunda are found in the shops. Thelong arislolochia root is scveral inches in length, one or two inehes broad, and has a more orless cylindrical form. The round aristolochia root has a more rounded and knobby form.Both kinds are bitter and acrid, and have, especially when powdered, a disagreeablc odour.They contain extractive matter and starch. Lassaigne found ulmin in the long species, Theireffects are stimulant and tonic. Their stimulant effects are supposed by some to be principallydirected to the abdominal and pelvic viscera. They have been employed in amenorrhoea as anemmenagogue. Their dose is from 9i. to 3i. Round aristolochia root is a constituent of theDuke of Portland's powder for the gout, which consisted of equal quantities of the roots ofGenlian and Birthwort (Arislolochia rotunda), the tops and leaves of Germander (Chamasdrys),Ground Pine (Chammpitys), and lesser Centaury (Chironea Centaurium), powdered and mixed

toirctlicr.*

[Asarüm Canadense — Asarum, U. S., Canada Snahe.root, Wild Ginger, the Root. —Thiäplant has been introduced into the secondary list of the U.S. Pharmacopceia. Ithasa creepingfieshy root, somewhat jointed; the leaves are kidney-shaped, pubescent on both sides, tvvo innumber, on longish, round, hairy, petioles; flower solitary, growing in the fork of the petioleson a pendulous hairy peduncle; calyx very hairy, consisting of three broad concave Segments,of a dull purple colour; stamens twelve; germ inferior. It is found in all parts of the UnitedStates, from Canada to Carolina, in low moist woods and thickets; it flowcrs in June.

The root, alone officinal, is prepared by removal during the Summer, cleansing and dryingin the shade; in this process the radicles, from their delicacy, are separated ; when fresh it hasa yellowish colour. As found in the Shops it is in long, more or less contorted pieces, about thethickness of a straw, or larger; the cxternal covering is brownish and wrinkled; the internalsubstance is white, hard, and brittle ; occasionally the fragments of the radicles are attached. Itcomcs either in mass or in Square packages from the Shakers ; when it is connected with theleaves, and is subject to mouldiness, from the partially dry State neeessary to packing by pres-sure. The taste is agreeably aromatic and slightly bitter; the smell is aromatic.

A ehemical investigation of this root was made by Dr. Bigelow, which has been repeated bythe late Mr. Richard Rushton, (Amer. Journ. of Pharm, vol. x. p. 186,) who found it to con-tain gum, starch, resin, fatty matter, chlorophylle, volalile oil, salts of lime and potassa, iron,and lignin.

The volatile oil has a light, greenish-yellow colour, a warm, fragrant, slightly bittcrish, aro-matic taste. It is soluble in all proportions in alcohol and ether, sp. gr. .9452. Wild ginger

i See Dr, Clephane8 Inqmry into the Origin ofthe Gout Powder, in the Med. Ohserv. and Inq. vol. i- Lond.Dr. Clephane concludes that " Caelius Aurelianus's diacentaureon and A'elius's antidotes ezduobus eentaureagenerilms were the same mediane, and are the old names for the Duke of Porlland's Powder.