BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA. 175 
A description of the various kinds of hemp is 
highly entertaining and instructive. The active 
principle of this drug is not well established. 
See Dispensatory, page 369, 18th Ed. Indian 
hemp is an anodyne, nervine, sodorific and nar- 
cotic, and is given in form of extract, fluid ex- 
tract and tincture, all of which are officinal. 
Dose of the extract 1 grain; of the fluid extract 
from 5 to 10 drops; of the tincture 20 drops. 
The origin of the name is said to be Greek, and 
the meaning unknown, 
Castanea, Chestnut, Castanea Vesca,—Nat- 
ural order Cupuliferze. The chestnut is one of 
our most valuable and at the same time one of 
our largest forest trees; it is also found in Eu- 
Tope, and one species is said to measure as much 
as four feet in diameter at the trunk. The 
leaves of the Chestnut are of a rich green color 
petioled, with sinuate or serrated edges, from 3 
to 6 inches long, oblong and lanceolate in form, 
with a smooth surface; odor little or none, taste 
somewhat astringent and mucilaginous. They 
Contain muczlage, resin, and a large per cent. of 
tannin. Flowers in long slender catkins: sta- 
mens many, with anthers two-celled; fertile 
flowers very few, usually three together. Fruit, 
a burr or capsule surrounded with prickles; seed 
rounded on one side and flattened on the other, 
triangular in shape; a seed or nut familiar to 
all as a luxury and food. The leaves are tonic 
and sedative in their action, and are adminis- 
tered in forms of infusion, syrup and fluid ex- 
tract; the latter being the only officinal prepa- 
ration, and given in doses of 15 to 30 drops (1 
to 2 grams). The infusion is made by adding 
