160 FLORA HOMCEOPATHICA. 



popular remedy, which it has continued up to the present 

 time, C. Bauhin states that it was first introduced into 

 Spain in 1573. Monardes states it was brought from New 

 Spain to Madrid in 1540. The word Sarsaparilla is of Spanish 

 origin, from zarza, a bramble, and parilla, a vine. It has 

 been employed in chronic rheumatism, obstinate skin diseases, 

 and in cachectic conditions of the system generally ; it 

 has been remaiked by Mr. Lawrence, that physicians have 

 no confidence in this drug as a remedy, and surgeons a 

 great deal; and Pereira explains this by stating that, 

 generally, physicians are much less frequently called in to 

 prescribe for those forms of disease in the treatment of which 

 surgeons have found Sarsaparilla so efficacious. To those who 

 have studied the pathogenetic effects of this drug this fact is 

 more easily and more readily explained. 



Description. — Smilax medica has an angular stem, with 

 strong prickles at the knots, and only a few at the intervals. 

 It produces leaves about six inches long, chartaceous, acu- 

 minated, cordate, ovate, or hastate ; and it bears umbels of 

 flowers, which are succeeded by crimson berries, somewhat 

 larger than the mountain ash. 



Geographical Distribution. — South America. Smilax 

 medica is found on the eastern slope of the Mexican Andes, 

 and furnishes the root which is exported from Vera Cruz under 

 the name of Sarsaparilla. 



Parts used in Medicine, and Mode of Preparation, 

 The Roots, which are folded and formed into bundles (Sar- 

 saparilla rotunda) two or three feet long, in the interior 

 of which are found roots of inferior quality, stones, clumps 

 of wood, etc. The roots or runners are furnished with but 

 few rootlets. The colour is dirty or greyish-brown. The 

 cortex consists of a thin epidermis, within which is a thick 

 white amylaceous layer, which gives to this variety {Honduras) 

 its remarkable mealy appearance when broken. This cortical 



