BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 1i7 
Aconitum Napellus, Aconite.—Natural or- 
der Ranunculaceze. Commonly known as Monks- 
hood, Wolfsbane, etc. This perennial plant 
is found throughout the mountainous , dis- 
tricts of Europe and western North America; it 
usually attains a height of 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 
meters), sending up new shoots or stems annu- 
ally, which terminate in a spicate raceme of 
handsome blue flowers, resembling the cowl of 
amonk, or helmet. The leaves have five wedge- 
shaped lobes. The petals are five in number, 
two superior and three inferior; the latter are 
often abortive or immature. The calyx has 
five sepals ; seeds numerous, black and wrinkled. 
The aconite has a tuberous and somewhat con- 
ical root, much bent, with many scars of rootlets. 
Externally, the root is dark brown; internally, 
of a creamy white, having as many as seven pith 
trays. Aconite has little or no odor, but a very 
acrid taste, producing a numbness of the tissues 
of the tongue. Aconite root contains sugar, fat, 
resin, and the alkaloids of aconitine pseudoco- 
metine aconina pseudoconine picroconitine and 
acontitic acid; the latter alkaloids are said to be in- 
corporated in the aconitza or aconitine. Another 
author of equal weight holds that aconz¢e contains 
4 alkaloids, 3 of which are amorphous and one 
crystallizable aconitine. Aconite and its con- 
stituents are sedative, diaphoretic, and anodyne 
in their action. Used in form of abstract, ex- 
tract, fluid extract, and tincture; also, in com- 
bination with other remedies, forming liniments 
and plasters. Dose of the extract, from % to1 
grain (0.03 to 0.06 grams) ; dose of the tincture, 
3 to 5 drops (0.18 too.3 grams). Aconite is very 
