EUPHORBIA COROLLATA. FLOWERING SPURGE. I I I 



remedies." His contemporary, Rafinesque, however, seems to 

 have had more charity for them, as he selects our plant, the 

 Euphorbia corollata, as a leading representative of the " Medical 

 Flora of the United States," giving an illustration of it in the 

 curious work bearing that title. He says that, as a purge, the E. 

 corolla ta is the most efficient of all the American species, as only 

 about three to ten grains need to be taken, and that a dose of 

 from ten to twenty is a good emetic. He further says that the 

 action is always proportionate to the quantity taken, which is not 

 the case with common ipecac, and that it is, therefore, more 

 " manageable and safe." It appears that the peculiar medicinal 

 character of this plant was known to the Indians, and Rafinesque 

 notes as a very singular circumstance the close resemblance of 

 the name given to it by the Indians of Louisiana, " Peheca," to 

 the Brazilian name, " Ipeca," more especially as both words have 

 the same meaning, namely, " Emetic Root," 



The root Is somewhat fusiform in shape, with very little ten- 

 dency to branch, and has only a few fibres attached to the lower 

 end. It is covered with a thick bark, which in old plants some- 

 times constitutes two thirds of the whole root, and in this bark 

 the medicinal properties chiefly reside. It seems to have served 

 a good purpose to the Southern Confederacy during the civil 

 war. Dr. F. R. Porcher, who was one of the medical officers in 

 the Confederate service, says, on the authority of Dr. Frost, 

 Professor of Materia Medica in South Carolina Medical College, 

 who had used it in his practice " with great benefit," that " it is 

 as active as ipecacuanha, and fully entitled to the consideration 

 of the profession. . . . Even should it not be employed, every 

 physician should be instructed in its properties, and, when the 

 occasion requires it, know the substitute he can use in case of 

 need." We have been so particular in recording the opinion of 

 our physicians on this subject, because we were unwilling that 

 so pretty a native plant should be regarded as an utterly worth- 

 less thing. 



As a matter of scientific accuracy, we must also note, for the 



