BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA. 99 
inches (15 to 30 centimeters), having on each 
stem two or more leaves at the top, one of which 
is completely at the summit and the other below, 
which gives the plant the appearance of being 
bifurcated. The leaves are cordate in shape, 
and have from 5 to 7 lobes, and when in full 
growth they measure from 4 to 8 (10 to 20 cen- 
timeters) inches in width. The flowers are sol- 
itary, white inclining to rose color; the calyx is 
also colored; the stamens are many, and the pis- 
tils numerous, The fruit bears a close resem- 
blance to the raspberry. The rhizome, as it 
occurs in commerce, is about 1 to % inches (4 
centimeters) long and about 4 inch (6 millime- 
ters) thick, annulated and wrinkled, havingmany 
short branches attached to it. Externally of a 
yellow-gray color; internally, decidedly yellow, 
inclining to red. Odor not peculiar; taste bit- 
ter and original. The Hydrastis contains Ber- 
berine, starch, sugar, Xanthopuccine and Hy- 
drastin or Hydrastine, which yields white bitter 
alkaloids, Xanthopuccine much resembles Ber- 
berina or Berberine in general character and 
yields with Iodine brown scales. The Hydra- 
stine of the store is an amorphous powder much 
used by a class of physicians termed Eclectic, 
and contains Hydrastine, Berberine and resin, 
and must not be confounded with the true alka- 
loid which crystallizes in four-sided prisms and 
gives an alkaline reaction. It is white in color 
and dissolves readily in alcoholandether. The 
Golden Seal is tonic, alterative and deobstruent 
in its action, Dose of the Hydrastine of the 
stores (Eclectical) is 3 to 5 grains (0. 20-0. 33 
grams). The fluid extract and tincture are 
officinal, 
