150 APOCYNUM ANDROSEMIFOLIUM. 
_ Every part of the Apocynum when wounded 
emits copiously a milky juice. When chewed, 
the root communicates an unpleasant and in- 
tensely bitter taste. It exhibits, when dry, the 
following chemical phenomena.—If a solution in 
ether be mixed with alcohol, the aleohol, though 
not turbid at first, becomes so when the ether 
evaporates. An aqueous infusion or decoction is 
of a deep red colour and intensely bitter. A. so- 
lution in aleohol is nearly destitute of colour, but 
retains the whole bitterness of. the plant, and is 
not disturbed by the addition of water. When 
submitted to distillation a slight oily film floats on 
the surface of water in the receiver.—From these 
facts we may conclude that the Apocynum con- 
tains, 4. A bitter extractive principle. 2. A col- 
ouring prineiple soluble in water and not in al- 
cohol. 3. Caontchoue. 4. A volatile oil, 
An various parts of the Eastern States this 
plant has been shewn to me by country practi- 
tioners under the name of Ipecac. This name 
is applied to it from its power of acting on the 
stomach in the same manner as the Brazilian 
emetic. Several physicians, among whom is Dr. 
Richardson of Medway, inform me that they have 
found about thirty grains of the root to evacuate 
the contents of the stomach as effectually as two 
