32-2 
of Good Hope, and 7ropeolum, containing the garden nasturtium. Of this order 
our only proven plants are the one under consideration and Oxalts stricta, Linn.* 
History and Habitat.—The wild geranium grows luxuriantly in our open 
woods and new clearings, flowering from April to July. 
The American Aborigines value the root of this plant as an astringent in 
looseness of the bowels, and exhaustive discharges of all kinds: it was thus 
brought forward by Colden, Coellen, and Shoepf, and recommended as a remedy 
in the second stages of dysentery and cholera infantum, cynanche tonsillaris, oral 
aphthe, passive hemorrhage, leucorrhcea, etc., in fact the uses of a decoction of 
the root have been great wherever an astringent or styptic seemed to be required, 
Geranium root is officinal in the U. S. Ph. as Extractum Geranii Flutdum, 
and in the Eclectic Materia Medica as Extractum Geranit. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh root, gathered in autumn, is 
chopped and pounded to a pulp and weighed. Then two parts by weight of alco- 
hol are taken, the pulp mixed thoroughly with one-sixth part of it, and the rest of 
the alcohol added. After having stirred the whole well, it should be poured into 
a well-stoppered bottle, and allowed to stand eight days in a dark, cool place. 
The tincture prepared from this mass by filtration, should have a deep reddish- 
brown color by transmitted light, a sweet and astringent taste, and a strong acid 
reaction. This tincture becomes muddy on long standing, but does not deposit; 
at least mine has not yet done so, although it has been made over three years.} 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—An analysis by Dr. Bigelow in 1833 corrobo- 
rated Staples’ determination of ¢annin in quite large percentage, and gallic acid. 
The gallic acid in his hands differed somewhat from that body as extracted from galls. 
Messrs. Tilden (1863) determined beside the above: wo resins, one soluble 
in alcohol, the other in ether; an o/co-resin soluble in ether; gum, pectin, starch, 
sugar, and the usual plant constituents. 
Dr. Staples (1829)§ detected, beside the above, a “peculiar crystalline prin- 
ciple,” which does not seem, so far, to have been analysed or even corroborated. - 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—In moderate doses Geranium causes constipa- 
tion, attended with but fruitless attempts at evacuation ; some pain in the stomach 
and bowels, and tenesmus when a stool is gained; stool odorless. Its action will 
be seen to so far differ but slightly, if at all, from that of Acidum Tannicum, which 
should be studied in this connection. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 32. 
1. Whole plant (once reduced), with a portion of the stem removed : Pamrapo, N. J., May 21st, 1879. 
2. Flower. 
3- Pistil and calyx. 
4. Ovary. 
5. Fruit (once reduced). 
* Author’s proving. See Zrans. Hom. Med. Soc. State N. ¥., Vol. XIX, 1884, p. 136. 
+ A better method of. preparing the tincture, should be by using @7/u¢e alcohol. 
t Am. Four. Phar., 1863, p. 22. % Four. Phil. Col. Phar., i, p. 171. 
