98-2 
tion surfaces—in the earlier stages of growth and while enclosed in the anther 
tube—are tightly pressed together and fringed with close, bristly hairs, all together 
resembling the mouth of a full-bearded man, with lips compressed. The tube of 
anthers opens by a pore at the tip and discharges the ripened pollen directly 
through this pore when it is irritated by the back of any insect that may creep 
into the throat of the corolla after nectar. As the pollen is discharged, the stigma, 
by elongation of the style, presses forward, keeping up the discharge by acting as 
a swab, until the cell is completely empty; then, as it projects beyond the pore, 
the compressed lips open and roll back, standing ready to collect the pollen from 
the back of some insect that has been on a visit to a neighboring plant. 
The former uses of this plant were the same as those of L. inflata, than which 
it is less active. The natives of North America are said to have held this plant 
a secret in the cure of syphilis, until it was purchased from them by Sir William 
Johnson, who took a quantity to Europe, and introduced it as a drug of great 
repute in that disease. European physicians, however, failed to cure with it, and 
finally cast it aside, though Linnzus, thinking it justified its Indian reputation, 
gave the species its distinctive name, syphz/itica. The cause of failure may be 
the fact that the aborigines did not trust to the plant alone, but always used 
it in combination with may-apple roots (Pvdophyllum peltatum), the bark of the 
wild cherry (Prunus Virginica), and dusted the ulcers with the powdered bark 
of New Jersey tea (Cenothus Americanus). Another chance of failure lay in the 
volatility of its active principle, as the dried herb was used. It is not officinal in 
the U. S. Ph., nor in the Eclectic Materia Medica. 
-PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The whole fresh plant is chopped and 
pounded to a pulp and weighed. Then two parts by weight of alcohol are taken, 
the pulp thoroughly mixed with one-sixth part of it and the rest of the alcohol 
added. The whole, after thorough mixture, is poured into a well-stoppered bottle 
and allowed to stand eight days in a dark, cool place. The tincture is then sepa- 
rated by straining and filtering. Thus prepared, it has a beautiful, clear, light- 
brown color by transmitted light, a slightly bitter taste and tingling sensation 
upon the tongue, and a strong acid reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—The chemical properties of this plant will 
probably be found to differ from those of L. inflata only in quantity. An analysis 
by M. Boissel resulted in the separation of fatty and butyraceous matters, mucl- 
lage, sugar, earthy salts, and a volatile bitter principle. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—No data upon this is obtainable. We will do 
well, perhaps, to again consult L. inflata, which, in virulence of action, is the type 
of the genus in the Northern States, — 
DEscRIPTION OF PLATE 98. 
1. Whole plant, once reduced ; from Chemung, N. Y., September gth, 1879. 
2. Apex of raceme. 
3- Flower (somewhat enlarged). 
4. Fruit. | : 
5. Pollen, with end view x 380. : 
