81-2 
History and Habitat.—Inula was one of the most famous of ancient medicines, 
and continued in vogue in the old school until very recent times. It owed the 
reputation it gained to its stimulant qualities. As far back as the Hippocratic 
writings, it is stated to be a stimulant to the brain, the stomach, the kidneys, and 
the uterus. 
This plant is a native of Southern England, now thoroughly naturalized in 
Europe and our country. It grows here spontaneously in the Northern States, in 
damp places along road-sides, the borders of gardens and about the ruins of old 
buildings. It flowers in July and August, and is a strikingly beautiful plant, 
reminding one forcibly of its near relative, the sunflower. 
Inula is simply mentioned in the U.S. Ph. The Eclectic officinal preparations 
are: Decoctum Helenit,and Fxtracium Helcnit Alcoholicum. Inula is also one 
of the components of Syrupus Avahe Compositus. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh roots gathered in autumn 
(those of the second year’s growth in preference, as the older ones are too woody) 
are chopped and pounded to a pulp and weighed. ‘Then two parts by weight of 
alcohol are taken, and having mixed the pulp thoroughly with one-sixth part of it, 
the rest of the alcohol is added; after having stirred the whole well, and 
poured it into a well-stoppered bottle, it is allowed to stand eight days in a dark, 
cool place. The tincture is then separated by decanting, straining and filtering. 
Thus prepared it is, by transmitted light, of a clear amber color, has a 
decided Litter and astringent taste, and an acid reaction to litmus. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—Inulin,* C,H,,O,;. This amylose principle 
is found in the plants of many genera of the order Compositz; but as it occurs 
in greater percentage in this genus, I describe it here. It will be noticed that 
this substance has the same composition as starch, still, though it takes the 
place of that body in the roots of this order of plants, it acts in many ways 
entirely different; for instance, it dissolves readily in hot water, but forms a clear 
solution, not an opaline pasty mass, its reaction with a solution of iodine gives a 
brown, not a blue color. It does not form in the plant as granular shell-like- 
bodies as does starch, but is in solution in the plant juice. Inulin may be thrown 
down from its watery solution by alcohol, forming thus globular masses of white 
needle-like crystals, called in the dried plant “ Sphzro-crystals.” Upon boiling 
this substance with a dilute acid, it is rapidly converted into levulose, but not at 
lower temperature. It is considered by Kiliani to be an anhydride of levulose. 
Elecampane Camphor, formerly called Helinin, was given the composition 
C,,H,,O,, Kallen succeeded in resolving it into two crystallizable bodies which 
he describes as follows: 
Helinin, C,H, 0, a principle devoid of odor or taste, crystallizing in needles 
and fusing at 230° F., and 
Alant-Camphor (Inulol, Inuldéid, Elecampane-camphor), C,,H,,O, not sup- 
posed to be a pure substance; it has an odor and taste resembling peppermint, 
and fuses at 147.2°F. (£¢ supra, W ittstein.) 
* Alan‘in, Menyanthin, Elecampin, Dahlin, Datiscin. 
