FEVER ROOT. 98 
no free acid exists in this vegetable. Of the dif- 
ferent parts submitted to examination, the leaves 
yielded the greatest quantity of soluble matter, 
but the root afforded that of the greatest activity. 
By decoction and evaporation with water an ounce 
of the dried stalks afforded one drachm of ex- 
tract; an ounce of the dry roots, two drachms 
and two scruples, and the same quantity of leaves 
half an ounce, From a similar treatment of equal 
portions with alcohol, rather more than half the 
above quantities of extract were obtained. 
The sensible qualities of the root were found 
essentially different from those of the herb. Both 
of them possess a large share of bitterness, but the 
root has also a nauseous taste and smell, some- 
what approaching te those of ipecacuanha, The 
medical properties of the Triosteum are those of 
an emetic and cathartic, In the above disserta- 
tion, about thirty cases are detailed, in which dif- 
ferent preparations and quantities of the article 
were given to various persons with a view to their 
medicinal effects. The general inference to be 
made from them 1s, that the bark of the root acts 
with tolerable certainty as an eyacuant upon the 
alimentary canal, both by emesis and catharsis. 
When given alone, either in powder or decoction, 
the instances of its failure were not many, and 
