196 A COMPENDIUM OF 
the dose of which is 2 to 4 fluiddrachms. When 
found in the stores it is usually in neatly com- 
pressed packages, but no longer officinal. The 
name is supposed to be derived from Achilles, 
one of the Trojan heroes, and Millifolium, from 
the number of cits or indentures in the leaves. 
Coptis Trifolia, Three leaf Coptis, Gold- 
thread, etc.—Natural order Ranunculacee. 
Native of Europe and the northern parts of the 
United States. This little evergreen perennial 
plant, with its creeping root and delicate root- 
lets, sends up a number of thread-like stems, at 
the summit of which is a solitary white flower 
with numerous stamens and ovaries. The leaves 
are on long petioles of a bright yellow color; the 
leaflet is obovate in shape, with an acute base; 
their surface is smooth, and presents many veins 
quite small, not more than two-fifths of an inch 
in length. Goldthread contains resin, sugar, 
extractive matter, berberina, and an alkaloid 
called coptina. Odor not peculiar; taste bitter 
and astringent. All parts of the plant are used. 
When found in stores it is in compressed pack- 
ages. Its medical properties are tonic and 
astringent. It was at one time highly thought 
of as a local remedy for sore mouth, and was 
given in form of infusion and tincture; the 
dose of the infusion % to x fluid ounce; of the 
tincture 1 fluid drachm. Name derived from 
the Greek opto, to cut, and the Latin, ¢rz, three 
we Jolia a leaf, on account of its divided leaves, 
Cotula, Mayweed, Wild Chamomile, etc.— 
N atural order Composite, This annual plant, 
with its fibrous root, sends up an erect stem 
