BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 105 
Podophyllum, May Apple, Mandrake, Hog 
Apple. Podophyllum peltatum.—Natural or- 
der Berberidacez, said to be the connecting link 
between the former natural order and the Ra- 
nunculacez. This perennial plant is a native 
of the North American Continent, and is found 
from Hudson Bay to Florida, It derives its 
name from two Greek words, fous, a foot, and _ 
phullon, a leaf, from the fact that the leaf re- 
sembles the web foot of aduck. The plant at- 
tains a height of from 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 
centimeters), with a very erect stem and creep- 
ing root or horizontal rhizome. Podophyllum 
is both annual and perennial; annual as regards 
the flower, leaves and stalk, and perennial as to 
its root. Flowers white and nodding, having 
from six to nine petals, stamens sixteen (poly- 
androus), and one stigma which is sessile. 
Leaves peltate and subdivided into five to seven 
wedge-shaped lobes. The rhizome, as it occurs 
in commerce, is about 2 inches (5 centimeters) 
long, and about 4 of an inch (5 millimeters) 
thick, with many joints and much wrinkled. 
Externally, of a yellowish-brown color, but of a 
creamy-white internally; the pith is quite ex-_ 
tensive; when thoroughly dry the root has little 
odor, but a persistent, bitter, acrid taste. Po- 
dophyllum contains about 4 per cent. of resin, 
‘also starch, sugar and coloring matter. The 
resin is said to be partly picropodophyllic acid 
and podophyllotoxin. Podophyllum is a chol- 
ogogue, alterative and cathartic, with poisonous 
properties, The dose of the powder is 15 grains 
(1 gram); of the extract and resin podophyllin 
of the stores is from % to % grains (0,008 to 
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