BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 129 
western Siberia and southern Europe. Broom 
is a shrub arising to the height of 3 to 6 feet, 
with straight, twiggy and angular branches; 
leaves ternate (three leaflets) and minute; flow- 
ers solitary or in pairs, rather large and of a 
bright yellow color, calyx with the upper lip 
entire, keel very blunt (boat-shaped), stamens 
enclosed within the keel. This is what is termed 
as monadelphous (filaments united into one set 
or tube). The pod is black, compressed, hairy 
and contains many seeds. The part found in 
thé stores (which is the only part of the plant 
used in medicine) are the tops, which are thin 
and flexible, and, as a rule, free from leaves, 
which have a disagreeable odor and taste. 
Broom contains a volatile oil termed scoparin, 
almost tasteless; also a colorless oil, a crystal- 
lizable alkaloid, termed sparteina. Broom also 
contains /annin, wax, fat and sugar, as well as 
5 per cent. of ash. Broom tops are diuretic and 
narcotic, and in Jarge doses emetic and poison- 
ous. First recommended by some eminent Rus- 
sian as a remedy in Bright’s disease. The de- 
coction is the only officinal preparation, four __ 
grams ina pint of water. Dose, awineglassful, 
The seeds are sometimes used instead of the 
twigs. 
ern parts of the United States and Canada, and 
is cultivated for hedges and as an ornamental 
garden tree. The Thuja is adorned with ever- 
green leaves, scale-like in character and obtusely 
pointed, resembling the cedar in its general 
Thuja, Arbor Vite, Thuja Occidentalis, 
White Cedar.—Natural order Conifere, This _ 
evergreen tree or shrub is a native of the north- © 
