% 
17-2 
closely set, each resembling a half meat of the hickory-nut. /7z2t an egg-shaped, 
yellow edible berry, 1 to 2 inches long, irregularly blotched, and retaining the 
withered stigma, or is marked by its scar; seeds enclosed within a copious, pulpy 
arillus ; emdryo minute, situated at the base of the fleshy albumen. 
History and Habitat.—The May-apple is indigenous throughout the United 
States, growing profusely upon wet meadows and in damp, open woods ; it flowers 
in May, and fruits in August. The apples, when fully ripe, are gathered, especially 
by children, who seem to relish their sweet, mawkish taste. I have also seen them 
exposed for sale in markets, though catharsis often follows indulgence in them, 
and, to susceptible persons, it is often quite severe. The fruit tastes somewhat 
like that of the paw-paw (Asimina triloba), and is much esteemed by the abo- 
rigines. The odor of the flowers is nauseous; I am always forcibly reminded 
of a bad case of ozena when inhaling their perfume (?). The foliage and stems, 
when appearing in spring, have been used for a potherb, and in some cases with 
fatal results. Only one species of Podophyllum is recognized in this country, 
although Rafinesque has mentioned two others, together with ten named varieties, 
There is, however, one other species of this genus growing in the mountains of 
Nepaul, the Podophyllum hexandrum. 
This plant constitutes one of the principal remedies used by the American 
aborigines, by whom it is especially valued on account of its cathartic action. 
Their use of the drug as an anthelmintic seems to be successful only as far as 
purging is concerned; specifically, it has no anthelmintic power. The use of podo- 
phyllum as a component of cathartic pills is very general. 
The officinal preparations of the U.S. Ph. are: Adbstractum Podophylh, Ex- 
tractum Podophylhi, Extractum Podophylli Fluidum, and Resina Podophylii; the 
Eclectic: Decoctum Podophylii, Tinctura Podophylli and Podophylliin, and as a 
component of Emplastrum Picis Compositum, Pilule Aloes Composite, Tinctura 
Corydalis Comp., Pilule Baptisie Comftosite, Pilule Copaibe Composite, Pilule 
Ferrt Composite, Pilule Leptandrini Composite, Pilule Podophyllini Composite, 
Pulvis Leptandrint Compositus, and Pulvis Podophyllint Compositus. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh root should be procured 
after the fruiting season, and chopped and pounded to a pulp and weighed. 
Then take two parts by weight of alcohol, mix the pulp thoroughly with one- 
sixth part of it, and add the rest. After stirring the whole well pour it into a 
well-stoppered bottle, and allow it to stand at least eight days in a dark, cool 
place. ‘The tincture, separated by straining and filtering, should have a brownish- 
orange color by transmitted light, a bitter, acrid taste, and an acid reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—From many careful examinations and assays 
of the root of this plant, F. B. Power * and Prof. Maisch + claim the absence of any 
alkaloid, their observations in this respect being corroborated by Podwissotzki, 
whose exhaustive analyses of the resin} are largely drawn from here. 
* 1377. 
+ Am. Four. Phar., 1879, p. 580. 
t Archiv. fiir experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmacognosie, v. xiii, 1 and 2, 1880; sie Pharm. fe Cen fiir 
Russland, Nos. 44-50. 1881. F. B. Power, in Am. Four. Phar., 1882, p, 102. 
