220 Phytolacca decandra. 
Some of the physicians of the eastern states, repose great confi- 
dence in the pulverised root of Poke, as an emetic. They inform us 
that in doses of ten or twenty grains, it operates as a certain vomit. It is 
certain that Poke root produces emesis and catharsis violently, as 
many active semi-narcotic plants do: and it is not to be doubted that in 
some instances, convulsions and narcotic symptoms have supervened 
to the violent vomiting and purging, produced by the internal use of 
Phytolacca. Indeed, the convulsions then induced have been long 
noticed, and Puihn particularly mentions this effect, as well as the 
drastic purgative power of the root. The slowness of the emetic ope- 
ration of Poke, together with the ambiguous narcotic symptoms ac- 
companying it, will, in all likelihood, prevent any general recourse to 
the article as an emetic. 
It is to be regretted that Poke is mentioned in Thacher’s Dispen- 
satory, on the authority of some physicians of Savannah, to be ade- 
quate to the cure of siphilis without the use of mercury, thus adding 
another ideal virtue to a plant already extolled beyond its medicinal 
worth. Unfortunately the preposterous idea of curing this virulent 
disease by means of herbs alone, (sarsaparilla, for instance) has found 
some few proselytes in this country: but surely the idea of substi- 
tuting Poke for mercury, ought not to have obtained the countenance 
of the respectable compiler of the American New Dispensatory. 
The extract of Poke is much used by country practitioners, as a dis- 
cutient in indolent tumours: and it is said they are in the habit of in- 
