BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 89 
the Indian has given the right to the common 
names which it bears. The flowers are showy 
and usually solitary. Stamens and pistils uni- 
ted, sepals spreading and resemble the petals, 
the latter rather more narrow; leaves ovate, 
lanceolate, and pubescent. Therhizome as found 
in commerce is horizontal and somewhat bent, 
with many cup-shaped scars on the upper sur- 
face and many rootlets on the under surface. 
As arule, the main root is not above 4 inches 
(10 centimeters) long and only about % of an 
inch (3 millimeters) thick. Externally it pre- 
sents an orange-brown surface; when broken 
the fracture is short; taste bitter, then sweet, 
becoming pungent by continued chewing. Cyp- 
ripedium pubescens contains fannim, Sugar, 
starch, resin, and volatile oti. Its medicinal 
qualities are much lauded by the homeopathic 
school of medicine. Its virtues lie in its di- 
aphoretic, stimulant, and anti-spasmodic prop- 
erties, The dose is 8 to 15 grains. There is 
an officinal fluid extract recognized. 
Dracontium, Foetidum, Skunk Cabbage, Pole- 
cat Weed, etc.—Natural order Aracex. This is 
a perennial native plant found growing in moist 
grounds throughout the North American conti- 
nent. The spathe precedes the leaves, and is 
somewhat hood-shaped, pointed, and fleshy, pre- 
senting a variegated color, either of a yellow or 
purple-brown, and inclosing a spadix which is 
covered with perfect flowers, having four sta- 
mens opposite the sepals. The leaves are ovate, 
or heart-shaped, and measure from 1 to 3 inches 
(3 to 5 centimeters) long, with short petioles. ; 
The rhizome is tuberous, and truncated above 
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