20 7 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
Leaves one to two, or three inches long, and one-third of an inch to near an inch wide, smoothish, slightly serrulate or 
scabrous on the margin, more or less acuminately tapering at apex, and narrowed at base to a short petiole, Spike one 
to two inches long, dense, terminal, somewhat nodding, or flaccid ; pedicels very short, each with an oblong-lance gs 
bract at base, and two minute lateral bracts. lowers greenish-white. Capsule obcordate, compressed, orbicular, 
retuse. Seeds large, pyriform, hairy. ’ 
This plant is an inhabitant of the United States; found in Pennsylvania, but more abundantly in the Southern 
and Western States. It flowers from June to August, and ripens its seeds as it flowers. 
The root, which is the medicinal portion, is of various sizes, sometimes as thick as large quills, and at others minute 
and delicate. The head is disposed in the old roots to be enlarged, rough, and irregular, from the separation of the 
stems annually. It is branched, fibrous, contorted, and twisted, and marked by a sharp line or edge, which extends 
the entire length. It is composed of a cortical substance and a ligneous cord. The colour varies from dark brown to 
a yellow. The dried root resembles the fresh, but is broken with a short fracture. It has a peculiar, disagreeable 
smell, and the taste is at first sweetish, but afterwards acrid and disagreeable. 
In this root have been detected two new acids by Quevenne, Polygale acid and Virgineic acid, as also tannic acid. 
The first is capable of union with bases: it is the principle called by Gehlen Senegin ; the second is volatile and oily, 
and may be the volatile oil detected by Dulong. The acrid taste is due to the polygalic acid. 
The medical properties of Senega are determined by the dose. In large quantity it is a nauseant and emetic; 
in smaller, diaphoretic, expectorant, and diuretic. It cannot be regarded as poisonous, although much inconvenience 
may be induced by an over-dose. It is used in pulmonary affections, principally as a stimulant expectorant. It has 
also been proposed as an emmenagogue. oe 
The introduction to the notice of the medical profession is due to Dr. Tennent, of Virginia, wh became ac- 
quainted with it, from learning that the Indians used it as a remedy in the bites of venomous snakes: hence the name 
of Snakeroot. This remedial power, however, has not been sustained. It has been given in powder, but as it imparts 
its virtues to water, some of t 
he preparations are preferred, as the decoction or syrup. Coxe’s Hive Syrup owes a part 
of its properties to this root. 7 
KRAMERIA 
MARTIUS. 
terior and posterior; the two intermediate ones lateral and eee the 
aller, situated either to the right or left of the posterior exterior sepal, some- 
times wanting. Petals five or rarely f = 
our, hypogynous, smaller than th ; the three superior with long and 
slender claws ; the lamina sometimes aborti a 
ve, severally alternating with the tw ter and inner rior and the 
lateral sepals ; the claws sometimes united into . nee a i . EB tengs 
both are present, or is placed opposite to the e 
abortive stamens? Kunth) opposite the lateral 
laire,) sessile, fleshy, much smaller than the 
unequal, declined ; two usually longer, 
a slender column, which alternates with the two posterior sepals, when 
xterior sepal when the other is abortive; the two lower petals (scales, 
sepals, or alternating with these and the anterior sepal, (ex. A. St. Hi- 
a others, and remote from them. Stamens four, pero mapsentiign a2 
) 7 tate with the lateral unguiculate, and the lower or fles y parts; 
ee taneel alternate with the superior and the lateral petals eas thick, distinct, or the intermediate ones 
= eke | ssl less united; anthers innate, fleshy, somewhat. conical, two-celled, opening at the apex by a single 
aioe: Ge - Ovary one (or incompletely two) celled, densely hairy, gibbous; style subulate, ascending ; yo 
heteten wont Posterior or next the upper petal ; ovules two, pendulous from near the summit of the cell. 
tds ates y and leathery, globose, glochidate, indehiscent, one-celled, one to two seeded. Seed roundish-ovate, an@ 
vith a membranous testa; albumen none. Embryo straight ; cotyledons roundish, plano-convex, fleshy. 
‘Y are spreading or procumbent under-shrubs, much branched from the base, silky or hirsute, with simple 
