95-3 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.— 7. araxacin. This body, when extracted from 
the roots or milky juice, forms in a bitter amorphous mass, soluble in alcohol, 
ether, and water. It was discovered by Polex in 1839, and named by Kromayer, 
who corroborated the discovery in 1861. 
Taraxacerin, C, H,,O.—(Kromayer, 1861). This crystalline principle is said 
to resemble Zactucerin.* It is soluble in alcohol, but not in water. 
Levulin, C, H,,O,—(Dragendorf). This amylose principle has the same 
composition as zzu/in,+ but differs in that it is soluble in water and devoid of 
rotary power. 
Inosite, C, H,, O, (H, O),.—(Marmé, 1864). This hydride of glucose was 
determined in the leaves and scapes, but not in the root, It forms transparent 
rhombic crystals, losing their water of crystallization when exposed to.the air. It 
is soluble in water, the solution having a sweet taste. 
Leontodonium t is simply, or in great part, the inspissated juice of the plant, 
and in a measure the principles ex masse. Mannite, C,H, (O H), has been proven 
by Messrs. T. and H. Smith (1849) to be present only after a sort of fermentation 
had taken place in the juice.§ This is probably the change that takes place toa 
greater or less extent, when the roots are undergoing the winter changes. 
Taraxacum also contains, according to many assayists,|| caoutchouc, resin, 
gum, mucilage, free acid, sugar, wax, and the usual plant constituents. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—Although this plant has received the attention 
of scientists of all nations from remote times, still I know of no attempt having 
been made to determine its toxic action. 
The symptoms caused by repeated doses are, in general: mental excitement, 
vertigo and headache, blotchy white coated tongue, nausea and colic; frequent 
urination; general sticking or stitching pains; sleepiness, chilliness and sweating. 
These symptoms point to a peculiar action upon the liver, causing inaction of that 
organ, Its action upon the skin in causing an exanthem seems to be dependent 
greatly upon the amount of gastric irritation. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 95- 
1, Whole plant, Bergen, N. J., May 14th, 1879. 
2. Root. 
. Ray floret (enlarged). 
. Disk floret (enlarged). 
Fruit. 
. Seed (enlarged). 
Section of root (enlarged). 
IAN EW 
* See Lactuca, 96. 
+ See Inula, 81. 
t Kromayer, 1861. soba; is pert - 
: , Flick. & Han., Pharmacographia, 2 orf, Kromayer, SMarmé, and 
pe bedt Frickhinger, Squire, Polex, John, Overbrook, T. and H. Smith, — 4 
Widemann, 
