69-2 
effects of “heady” wines; its blackish, gummy resin is used as a constituent of 
some varnishes (Griffith); the Amboyian F/edera umbellifera (Aralia umbellifera, 
Lam.) yields a powerfully aromatic camphoraceous resin; and the Ceylon Z. 
lterebinthacea one resembling turpentine. The American aromatic tonics False 
Sarsaparilla (Avalia nudicaulis) and the Angelica tree (A: spinosa) have just been 
dismissed from the Pharmacopeeia of the United States. Among the edible plants 
of this family are the Chinese Diamorphantus edulis, Gunnera scabra, and G, macro- 
cephala. The useful species of Paxax are noted under the next drug. 
History and Habitat.—Spikenard is indigenous to Canada, and the United 
States southward to the mountains of South Carolina and westward to the Rockies. 
It grows along the rocky but rich banks of well shaded streams, and flowers 
in July. 
Concerning the previous use of this species, which was not so extensive as 
that of A. spinosa, nudicaulis, and hispida, Rafinesque says :* “ A. racemosa is used 
by the Indians as carminative, pectoral and antiseptic, in coughs, pains in the breast 
(chest), and mortification ; the root with horse-radish is made in poultice for the feet 
in general dropsy. The juice of the berries and oil of the seeds is said to cure ear- 
ache and deafness, poured in the ears.” Culpepper says :} “It is good to provoke 
urine, and cureth the pains of the stone in the reins and kidneys.” In domestic 
practice it has been made into a composite syrup with the root of /xula helentum, 
and used as a remedy in chronic coughs, asthma, and rheumatism; a tincture of 
the root and fruit has also been used as a stomachic. 
No preparation of this plant is now officinal in the U. S. Ph. or Eclectic 
Materia Medica. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh root, the part used is large 
and thick, the bark is about ,%, inch in thickness, white internally and shows on 
section, many yellow resin’ cells, it readily peels off the ligneous layer surround- 
ing the main bulk of the root. The central portion is somewhat dense, dotted 
with scattered bundles of woody fibre and surrounded by a ligneous sheath 7; 
inch thick, 
The tincture is prepared by chopping and pounding the root to a pulp, 
macerating it for eight days in two parts by weight of alcohol and filtering. It 
results as a clear, slightly brownish-orange liquid by transmitted light, having the 
peculiar, somewhat terebinthic odor of the root, a bitter astringent taste, and an 
acid reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—No analysis of this plant has been published 
as far as I can determine. The analysis of 4. spinosa, by Holden,t Elkins,§ and 
Lilly,|| will give us some idea of the probable nature of the phytochemistry of this 
species, 
* Med. Flor., vol. 2, p. 175. + Complete Herbal, London, so 
t Am. Four. Phar., 1880, p. 390. @ Idem, p. 402. 
|| Period. cit., 1882, p. 433. 
