No. 37. 



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doses they bring on violent pains, heat and thirst, de- 

 bility, cold sweats and even death. The E. helios^ 

 copia and a species akin to E. peplus grow also in 

 the United States and have been used in Europe in 

 small doses, as well as the E. esuluy dulczs, exigtca, 

 characiaSy pahistrh^ ci/parissiasj &c. Each has a 

 peculiar mode of action, and the E. officinalis of 

 Africa produces a blistering gum. They are all 

 milky plants. 



Qualities — These plants have been analysed by 

 Barton, Bigelow and Zollickoffer j they contain mu- 

 cilage, sugar, starch, Caoutchouc, Resin, an essential 

 Oil, Tannin, and a peculiar principle similar to Emetay 

 xvhich is soluble in Alcohgl and colors it yellow, 

 but insoluble in AVater, forming oxalic Acid with 

 Nitric Acid, it might be called Oxalemis. The ana- 

 lysis of the true Ipecacuana differs from this and gives 

 Starch forty. Gum twenty, Wax six, Fibrlne twenty, 

 Oil two, Emetine or Acidified Emeta sixteen parts. 

 The roots and leaves of these Euphorbia have a 

 sweetish taste subastringent and not unpleasant, with 

 a peculiar smell, when rubbed; but no nauseous taste 

 nor smell: the milk is acrid. 



PROPERTIES— Emetic, cathartic, diaphoretic, 

 expectorant, astringent, rubefacient, blistering, and 



stimulant. These plants are highly recommended by- 

 some physicians as equivalent to the officinal Ipecac, 

 which it is said they ought to supersede; but Bige- 

 low contends that they are less mild and bland, and 

 although equal or even stronger, are not so useful in 

 all indications. They were formerly considered too 



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