BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA. Ig! 
of the genus homo. The flowers occur in loose 
terminal panicles of a red-rose color, tubular in 
form, and divided into five partitions, termina- 
ting in a five-lobed plaited rose-colored border, 
having within its tube five stamens and one pis- 
til; fruit a capsule, ovate in shape, with two 
valves and two cells, containing many kidney- 
shaped seeds. Tobacco is emetic, diuretic, sed- 
ative, and at one time highly valued in form of 
an enema in strangulated hernia; contains a/bu- 
men, resin, gum, extractive matter, zcotine; 
nicotina, a colorless fluid, nearly devoid of smell, 
but of an acrid burning taste and very poisonous. 
There is no officinal preparation of tobacco: the 
enema is only recommended by the British Phar- 
macopeeia. Name of Indian origin, and first 
described and introduced by Jean Nicot. 
Uva Ursi, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi.—Natu- 
ral order Ericaceee, commonly known as Bear- 
berry. This evergreen trailing plant is a native 
of the northern part of the British Islands, but 
naturalized in the United States. The leaves 
have short petioles, surface smooth and shining, 
are obovate in shape, and resemble in a high 
degree the leaves of the box. They are about 
four-fifths of an inch (2 centimeters) in length, 
and quite prominently veined; as found in com- 
merce, they are of a dull-green color on the 
upper surface and inclined to be brown and rough 
upon their under surface; odor resembling hay ; 
taste bitter and astringent. They contain /an- 
nin and gallic acids, arbutin, ursone and ericolin. 
The flowers of the Uva Ursi are of a pale-rose 
color, in terminal clusters, with five petals, ten 
Stamens, short style, with an obtuse stigma; 
