BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA. 59 
species. One variety is known as the Richard- 
sonia, natural order Rubiacezx, also known as 
the striated ipecac; it is slightly wrinkled, trans- 
versely fissured and annulated, with the wood 
almost as thick as the bark. The white ipecac, 
or what is termed the ionidum ipecacuanha, be- 
longs to the natural order of Violacez; this 
variety is wrinkled longitudinally, of a rusty 
_ white, with a non-annulated surface, whilst the 
wood is porous, yellow, and thick. The striated 
variety of ipecac (Von Linnzus gave as the 
origin) the psychotria emetica, natural order 
Rubiacez, and from all accounts this is the ipe- 
cac of the stores. The root is 4 inches (10 cen- 
timeters) long and 1-6 (4 millimeters) of an inch 
thick, having a dull-brown or grayish appear- 
ance on the surface, with many wrinkles and 
irregularly annulated. The bark is brown, 
thick, brittle, and waxy, and easily separated 
from the tough, white woody portion of the 
root. Ipecac has a faint nauseating odor and a 
nauseous, acrid, bitter taste. The active prin- 
ciple lies in the bark; this when powdered, 
should be of a fine pale-brown color and moder- 
ately heavy. The bark, according to authority, 
forms about seventy-five per cent. of the root, 
and contains starch, resin, fat, albumen, sugar, 
pectin, and the active principle termed emesia, 
a white powder, soluble in alcoho} and chloro- 
form and but slightly in water. Emetine is 
said to exist in combination with a volatile oil, 
glucoside and ipecacuanhic acid. Emetine 
gives to a solution of lime chloride an orange- 
yellow color, also’called emetine. Ipecac is an 
expectorant, alterative, astringent, and emetic; 
dose of the powder, 1 to 30 grains (0.06 to 2 
