18 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
A peculiar principle has been found in the root of this plant by Dr. Dana of New 
bstance, has an acrid taste, is sparingly soluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and ether. 
es base and has been called Sanguinarina. In 1803, Bloodroot was made the _— of an experimental Tnaugural 
vanities Downey, of Maryland. He found that in twenty grain doses it induced nausea and vomiting, with 
fe ‘sensation of heat in the stomach, acceleration of pulse, and in several experiments, a slight degree 
ieee An acrimonious impression was uniformly made upon the fauces, and in Several instances it acted 
8 the ‘hcwele The leaves are endowed with similar powers, and the seeds exert a marked power over the brain 
and nervous system, occasioning torpor, languor, disordered vision, and dilatation of the pupils. These effects were 
confirmed in 1822, by Dr. Bird, of New York, in an Inaugural Dissertation, who speaks of depression of the pulse, 
faintness, dimness of vision, and alarming prostration, as its violent effects. It has been employed in a variety of affee- 
tions, as of the chest, in rheumatism, &c. It was known to Shoeff as a remedy in gonorrhcea. 
It is employed in powder, infusion or decoction, and in tincture. 
Puate X.—Represents the plant in flower, and the capsule. 
York. It is a white pearly 
PoeUr uy Lb sz. 
LINDLEY. 
EssentiaL Cuar.— epals three to four, deciduous, or persistent. Petals in two, three, or more rows, each s 
which is equal in number to the sepals. Stamens hypogynous, twelve to eighteen, arranged in two, ars pa 
tows ; anthers linear, oval, turned inwards. Stigma somewhat peltate. Fruit succulent or capsular, one-celled. 
indefinite. Embryo small. Herbs. Leaves broad, lobed. Flowers radical, solitary, white. (Beck.) cit 
There are few plants belonging to this family. An acrid principle exists in them. They are 
respects both to Ranunculacee and Berberidacew. The following is the only medicinal species. 
PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM. 
| LINNEUS. 
RAY APPL XE. 
Sex. Syst.—Polyandria, Monogynia. 
Gen. Cuar—Sepals three. Petals six to nine. 
7 Somewhat fleshy, not dehiscent. 
PECIF. CHAR , one-flowered. Fruit ovate. i 
__ May Apple has a large, horizontal, creeping, perennial, dark-brown root; the stem is from eight to twelve roe 
high, naked, with Sheathing stipules at the cunea™, 
Inches in length, each bearine peltate leaf. The leaf is large, hanging, divided into five to seven lobes, 
oblong, dentate, and often | 
Lemon, Mandrake, and Raccoon Berry. 
: : y situations along the 
the United States, where it is common in moist woods, and shady situations a% 
ers in May. | 
portion employed in medicine, 
it st , aie is 
it shrinks and becomes darker coloured. Internally it is whitish. The _ 
The odour is faint, but in 
It is Stated to act the part 
| | esi ile, peltate. 
Stamens twelve to eighteen. Stigma large, subsessile, pe 
ints beset 
It is knotted and swollen at intervals, and at these po 
— oa 
powder it smells like ipecacuanha. re 
