BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA. 41 
as the before mentioned variety. When fresh 
both species are poisonous; infloresence in globu- 
lar compound umbels. In general characteris- 
tics and medical properties it differs very little 
from the European variety already described; 
they both belong to the sexual system of Pen- 
tandria Digynia, or in other words, plants bear- 
ing 5 stamens and 2 pistils. The derivation of 
the name is obscure. 
Apocynum Androsemifolium. Dog’s Bane. 
—Natural order Apocynaceze. This peren- 
nial herb is found growing in the United 
States and Canada, near the shaded woods, at- 
taining a height of from 12 to 36 inches (30 to 
go centimeters), having a purplish stem, spread- 
ing branches, with entire leaves; regular flowers, 
with a 5-lobed corolla which is white with a 
pink tinge of color and bell shape in form; 
stigmas united, without styles. The root as it 
is found in the stores (it is rarely to be had, 
however, ) is in long cylindrical branches 4 to 12 
inches (10 to 30 centimeters) in length, and 4% 
inch in diameter (6 millimeters) ; externally it is 
of a pale brown color, much wrinkled and trans- 
versely fissured ; odor unpleasant, with a persist- 
ent, bitter taste. It is said to contain resin, 
caoutchouc, starch, and a bitter extractive matter, 
a glucoside called apocynein and a peculiar body 
called apocynin. The dog’s bane should not be 
confounded with or mistaken for Canadian or 
so-called Indian hemp, which hasa much thicker 
bark and a more fragile and porous wood. It 
is, however a frequent adulterant. The latter 
plant is still officinal, whilst the apocynum ana- 
rosemtifolium, the one under discussion, is no 
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