472 ACANTHAOEJ^. 



possossiug active medicinal properties. It may be obtained by the 



follow^] ng process : — 



The leaves, previonsty exhausted by water, are extracted by means 



of alcohol, sp. gr. '930. The tincture is concentrated vmtil its weight is 

 equal to that of the leaves used, and then diluted b}^ adding thrice its 

 "weight of water. A pitch-like deposit is then formed; difjitalein and 

 • other substances remaining in solution. The dei)0sit dried on blotting 

 paper is boiled with double its weight of alcohol, sp. gr. '907; on cooling, 

 crystals are slowly deposited during some days. They should be washed 

 with a little diluted alcohol ("958) and dried : to purify them, they should 

 be first recrystallized from chloroform, and subsequently from boiling 

 alcohol sp. gr. '828, some charcoal being used at the same time. Digi- 

 talin is thus obtained in colourless needle-sl taped crystals. It assumes 

 an intense emerald green colour when moistened with hydrochloric 

 acid, and has an extremely bitter taste. On the animal economy, it 

 displays all the peculiar effects of digitalis, the dose of a milligramme 

 taken by an adult person once or twice a day occasioning somewhat 

 alarming symptoms, but smaller doses exhibiting the sedative power of 

 the herb. 



Another body occurring in foxglove is the crystallizable sugar 

 called Inosite, which was detected by Marme in the leaves, as well as 

 in those of dandelion (p. 394). Pectic matters are also present in fox- 



glove leaves. 



Uses— Foxglove is a very potent drug, having the effect of reducing 

 the frequency and force of the heart's action, and hence is given m 

 special cases as a sedative; it is also employed as a diuretic. 



Adulteration — The dried leaves of some other plants have occa- 

 sionally been supplied for those of foxglove. Such are_ the leaves 

 of Verhasciiviy which are easily recognized by their thick coat oi 

 branched stellate hairs; of Inula Conijza I)C. and /. Heleniim I. 

 which have the margin almost entire, and in the latter pLant the veins 

 diverging nearly at a right angle from the midrib; in both plants tlie 

 under side of the leaf is less strongly reticulated than in foxglove. i5« 

 to avoid all chance of mistake, it is desirable that druggists shou a 

 purchase the fresh floweriwj plant, which cannot be confounded witu 

 any otlier, and strip and dry the leaves for themselves. 



ACANTHACE^. 



HERBA ANDROGRAPHIDIS. 



Kariydt or Grey at. 



Botanical Ongxn— Amir ogrn pi ds^ panicidaia Nees ab E. ({^J^" 

 i^urm.), an annual licrb, 1 to 2 feet hicrh, couinion througbout in j 

 growing under tbe .shade of trees. It is found likewise in Cey]?"^' 

 Java and has been introduced into the West Indies. la some clisir 

 ot India it is cultivated. 



in^auS'tf^'il ^T' 11'^ '-^"'^ y^"'^'''' filament-Fig. in Beutley and Trime" 

 in allusion to the brush-hke anther and Mtd. PZa/i^.', part 23 (1877). 



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