92 A COMPENDIUM OF 
or in cut transverse sections, Externally of a 
light-brown color, and showing under a fine 
magnifying glass a number of fine medullary 
rays and a very thin bark; the odor is somewhat 
aromatic, and the taste bitter and acrid. Yel: 
low jasmine root contains resin, starch, volatile 
oil, gelsemic acid, and its active principle, gelse- 
mine, a colorless solid with no well-defined crys- 
tallization. This must not be confounded with 
the eclectic preparation by Keith, which is an 
amorphous yellow powder, put up in ounce bot- 
tles. Gelsemium and its preparations are ner- 
vine, anti-spasmodic, and sedative in action on 
the animal economy, but they are highly pois- 
onous, and should, therefore, be used with ex- 
treme caution. In fact, little or nothing is 
known of its true medicinal effects, nor is there 
any antidote of a specific character known to the 
medical fraternity. Gelsemin or gelsemia its 
active principle has been given in doses of from 
one T00-200” to one 300” parts of a grain; the 
dose of the tincture 10 drops (0.06 c.c.); of the 
fluid extract 2 drops (0.12 c.c.), and repeated at 
long intervals, and then only by the advice of 
the physician. The name is derived from the 
Arabic ysmym, and the Latin Semper, a perpet- 
ual vine, ever blooming. . 
Geranium, Geranium, Cranes Bill, from the 
Geranium Maculata —Natural order Gerania- 
cex. The name is derived from the Greek word 
Seranos, a crane, from the fact that the fruit 
resembles a crane’s bill. This perennial plant 
is found growing in great profusion throughout 
California, Oregon, and the Dismal Swamp of 
Virginia. Itis usually found in moist and shady 
