ARUM TRIPHYLLUM. 
ated by buttermilk or oily liquors. Its action does not readily 
extend through the cuticle, as the bruised root may lie upon 
the skin till it becomes dry without producing pain, or even 
redness. The acrid principle is extremely volatile, and is 
entirely driven off by heat,and by drying. It is not imparted 
to water, alcohol, ether, or olive-oil. The root loses nearly all 
its acrimony by drying, and in a short time becomes quite 
inert, and almost an insipid farinaceous substance. It may, 
however, be kept in its green state a considerable time by 
burying it in moist sand in a cellar. It is found to contain, 
besides the acrid principle, from ten to seventeen per cent. of 
starch, albumen, gum, sugar, extractive lignin, and salts of 
potassa and lime. The starch may be obtained from it as 
pure white and delicate as from the potato. The fecula of 
the dried root is a pure and excellent arrowroot. In the re- 
cent or partially dried state it has been used as a carminative 
stimulant, in flatulence, colic, &c. 
Arum in its recent state is a powerful local irritant, possess 
ing the property of stimulating the secretions, particularly 
those of the skin and lungs. It has been given with consid- 
erable advantage in asthma, pertussis, chronic catarrh, chronic 
rheumatism, and various affections connected with a cachectic 
state of the system. Immediately taken from the ground, it 
is too acrid for use. The recently dried root, which retains a 
portion of the acrimony, but not sufficient to prevent its con- 
venient administration, is usually preferred. It may be given 
in the dose of ten grains, mixed with gum Arabic, sugar, and 
water, in the form of emulsion, repeated two or three times a 
day, and gradually increased to half a drachm or more. The 
powder made into a paste with honey or syrup, and placed in 
small quantities on the tongue, so as to be gradually diffused 
over the mouth and throat, is said to have proved useful in 
the aphthous sore mouth of children. 
In Europe the dried root of the Arum maculatum (whose 
medicinal properties are precisely those of the plant under 
consideration) is sometimes employed by the common people 
in times of great scarcity as a substitute for bread; and an 
_ amylaceous substance is prepared from it in England, called 
Portland arrowroot, or Portland sago. This substance is a 
white powder, whose particles examined by the microscope 
are found to be exceedingly small. They are circular, mullar- 
_ shaped, or polyhedral. The angular appearance of some of 
_ them probably arises from compression. The hilum is circu- 
Jar and apparently lies in a small depression. It cracks in a 
linear : —_ oe a This substance is very nutricious 
and demulcent, ‘ding a light, mild, and agreeable article 
of diet, well adapted eae aes Soca ey and par- 
ticularly suited from its demulcent properties to bowel com-— 
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