BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 11g 
an expert to distinguish the genuine. Garlic 
has been used as avdiuretic, stimulant, expec- 
torant, and anthelmintic. No longer officinal; 
merely used as a condiment. 
Arum, Indian Turnip, Arum Triphyllum, or 
the Arisaema Triphyllum.—Natural order Ara- 
ceze or Aroidex. Commonly known as Dragon 
Root, Wake Robin, etc. This little perennial 
plant is found growing in shady woods in most 
of the states of the Union. Itsends upasingle 
leaf or spathe, which forms a kind of hood over 
the organs of reproduction; after full growth, 
two leaves appear; these are again divided into 
three elliptical, ovate, pointed leaflets. The 
spathe is often variegated in color and striped, 
but has no flower envelope. The stamens are 
many (polyandrous) with one pistil. There is 
quite a number and variety of the Arum, differ- 
ing only in the character and color of the spathe. 
See Gray’s Botany, page 475. The root orcorm 
of the Indian turnip is depressed and globular, 
about 4-5 to 2 inches broad at the top, with 
many simple rootlets at the bottom; when dry 
it has a grayish-brown color externally. Its 
internal arrangement is granular, showing many 
wood bundles. The Arum contains starch, mu- 
ctlage, sugar, fat, and an acrid principle which 
is extremely volatile. Indian turnip is highly 
irritant, also stimulant, expectorant and dia- 
phoretic in its action. The dose when given is 
8 to 15 grains (% to 1.0 gram). No longer 
officinal; used only as adomestic remedy. The 
name is derived from the Greek words Aron 
and 7rzphulen, meaning three leaves. 
