4101-2 
Epigza has no place in the U. S. Ph. In the Eclectic Materia Medica its officinal 
preparations are Extractum Epigee Fluidum, and /nfusum Epigee sit Is also 
the principal component of /xfusum Epigee Compositum, together with Eupatorium 
purpureum, Aralia hispida, and Radix althaa officinalis, this being one of their 
much-used diuretics, 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh leaves, or the whole plant 
gathered when budding to blossom, being chopped and pounded to a pulp and 
weighed, two parts by weight of alcohol are taken, the pulp mixed with one-sixth 
part of it, and the rest of the alcohol added. After thorough succussion the 
whole is poured into a well-stoppered bottle and allowed to stand for eight days 
in adark, cool place. The tincture is then decanted, strained and filtered. 
Thus prepared it is opaque, showing in thin layers a deep brown color; it has 
a pleasant woody taste, is slightly astringent, and of a decided acid reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—The three glucosides, urson, ericolin, and 
arbutin (vide Uva-ursi, 100). Formic acid and a body having properties similar 
to gallic acid have been determined in this plant. 
Tannic Acid.—The amount of this body existing in epigea is given by 
Bowman as 3.5 per cent. , 
Ericinol.—C,, H,,O, a pale-yellow, aromatic oil, is also present. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—Epigza, so far as is determined at present, 
shows no important symptoms of physiological disturbance of the system. The 
provings are scanty; the only one so far published was made upon myself, and 
may be found in the “Hom. Physician,” Oct., 1881, vol. 1, No. 10, pp. 486-9. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE Iot. 
1. Flowering branch, from Waverly, N. Y., April 3, 1880, 
2. Flower showing calyx (enlarged). 
3 Section of flower (enlarged). 
4. Stamen (enlarged). — 
5- Pollen grains x 380, 
