188 TWENTY-FIRST REPORT. 



43. Solanum Dulcamara L. (Bittersweet). The stems of this plant were 

 formerly official and are included iu the National Formulary. It is a very 

 common climbing or twining plant in and about Ann Arbor, and is distin- 

 guished by its purplish or blue flowers, which are replaced in the fall by small 

 red ovoid berries. 



44. Solanum Douglasii Dimal. A plant somewhat resembling in its 

 general habit the common night-shade (Solanum nigrum). It is a native of 

 California, and the interest in the plant lies in the possibility of its being a 

 source of- solanine, an important gluco-alkaloid, which is used in the treat- 

 ment of nervous diseases. 



45. Solanum nigrum h. (Common Night-shade). An annual plant grow- 

 ing in many parts of the United States. There are varying reports as to 

 whether any parts of this plant are really poisonous. It should be investi- 

 gated. It has ordinarily been difficult to secure the plant iu any quantity, 

 and it is rather gratifying that it can be grown so easily and obtained in any 

 quantity desired. 



46. Symphytum officinale L. (Comfrey). A European plant, which is 

 cultivated to some extent, but which has also escaped from the gardens. The 

 root is the part highly esteemed and used in the treatment of pulmonary 

 disease in domestic pi'actice in Europe. It is rather a coarse herb, having 

 large ovate or ovate-lanceolate leaves, the petioles being attached to the stem 

 and the flowers varying from yellowish to pink or blue. 



47. Tanacetum, vulgarc L. (Tansy). This common garden plant was 

 at one time official in the United States Pharmacopoeia. It has been used in 

 the treatment of a great variety of diseases. 



48. Thymus vulgaris L. (Common or garden thyme). A small ever- 

 green shrub, indigenoiis to Spain and Italy, and extensively cultivated in 

 Europe and the United States. Our supply of this drug came to us formerly 

 from Germany. It is now somewhat extensively cultivated in New York state, 

 and its cultivation should be extended. It yields thymol, a principle which 

 is largely used in the treatment of hookworm. It is also a valuable disin- 

 fectant, being used like carbolic acid. It has the advantage of possessing a 

 more agreeable odor. ~™' 



49. Vcrhascum nigrum L. and Verhascum phlomoides L. These two plants 

 resemble the common mullein. They are to some extent used in medicine, 

 but one of the chief objects of cultivating them has been to study the plants 

 at close range with a view of detecting their presence in Digitalis, the foreign 

 drug sometimes being admixed with these leaves. 



50. Valenana officinalis L. (Valerian or garden heliotrope.) A rather 

 pretty herbacous plant with piunately compound leaves and large cymes of 

 white or rose colored flowers. The rhizomes and roots are used in medicine. 

 The plant has been cultivated locally in the United States and should be of 



