BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 57 
Inula Helenium, Elecampane. Natural order 
Composite. Elecampane is a showy perennial 
plant, attaining the height of three to six feet, 
with an erect stem, quite large, rounded, and 
covered with a slight pubescence. The leaves 
are large and alternate, sometimes measuring 
as much as eighteen inches in length, with a 
breadth of four or more inches; somewhat cor- 
date in shape, with acute points and witha 
downy surface beneath. The flowers generally 
grow in clusters at the summit, but they are 
often found solitary, and are of a golden yellow 
color, quite large and showy; involucrum (a 
kind of calyx in umbels), imbricated in many 
rows; outer scales ovate. The flowers of the 
female ray are lingulate in shape; those of the 
disk are hermaphrodite. The root is large and 
fleshy, and is said to contain no starch. As 
found in the stores, it is in various-sized pieces, 
curled or twisted up. When dry the pieces are 
of a light-brown externally, and of a light-gray 
color internally, with little pith to be seen. 
Under a glass of two or three diameters a num- 
ber of resin cells are visible. Elecampane is a 
native of Europe, but is found growing thriv- 
ingly in all parts of the United States. Asa 
remedy it has been known since the days of Hip- 
pocrates. It is diuretic, expectorant, emmena- 
gogue and diaphoretic. Given in form of de- 
coction, one half ounce to a pint of water. 
Inula was highly thought of in days gone by, 
but is now seldom prescribed by the allopathic 
school of medicine. As a domestic remedy it is 
still kept on sale in the stores. It forms an in- 
gredient in cough drops and many nostrums 
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