1th2 
The medical history of this species seems to hang upon the laurels of L. vud- 
garis of Europe. It was first mentioned by Schoepf,* but Drs. Pendleton and 
Rogers*+ first presented it in tangible form as an agent in incipient phthisis with 
hemoptysis. Rafinesquet thought exceeding well of its general properties, and as 
a means of producing diaphoresis without debility ; he judged it a tonic sedative, and 
found it very useful in hemoptysis, and internal inflammation; he further claims 
that it acts somewhat like Digatalis, lowering the pulse, without producing any 
bad effects, nor accumulating in the system. Dr. Williams speaks of the plant§ as 
being “one of the most valuable styptics (hemostatics?) we possess in our vege- 
table Materia Medica. Most writers accept the idea that the plant is narcotic ; 
we, however, infer, both from our own experience and that of others, that it is 
only sedative in that it removes, by checking hemorrhage, that nervous excita- 
bility and mental fear always accompanying such conditions. It is certainly an 
excellent hemostatic, very useful in generous doses, striving for its primary effect 
in epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematemesis, and menorrhagia. But two days have 
passed, at this writing, since we checked one of the most serious cases of epistaxis 
in our practice by the exhibition of teaspoonful doses of the tincture, one drachm 
to the ounce of water, ten minutes between doses; three doses alone were suffi- 
cient, after two hours of hemorrhage and the patient (a healthy man) greatly 
reduced. Dr. King says,§ Lycopus is decidedly beneficial in the treatment of 
diabetes, having cured when other means were useless, and has been of service 
in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. 
This valuable remedy was dismissed from the U. S. Phar. at the last revision ; 
in the Eclectic Materia Medica the officinal preparation is Jufusum Lycopus. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The whole fresh flowering herb is 
treated as in the preceding drug. The resulting tincture has a clear brown color 
by transmitted light; an herbaceous odor; an astringent and slightly bitter taste ; 
and an acid reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—The analysis of the Tildens|| determined the 
presence of a peculiar bitter principle, insoluble in ether, another soluble in ether, 
the two forming more than ten per cent. of the whole solid extract; tannin, and the 
usual plant constituents. The plant, according to the observations of myself and 
others, contains also a volatile oil. The properties of the plant are given up to 
water, and all seem to remain on drying except the last. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—The symptoms caused in the human body by 
doses varying from ten drops to three drachms of the tincture, and of a wineglass- 
ful of the infusion all point to the drug as increasing the tonicity of the capillaries 
and diminishing the vis-a-tergo in the larger vessels and the action of the heart 
itself. The symptoms, other than those of circulation, were: Nausea; flatulence, 
lng ED S Med. and Phys. Four., 1, 179. % Am. Disp., 1870, 494. 
a + Med. Flor., U1, 20. | || Four. of Mat. Med., vol. I, N.S. 1859, 326. 
_ p Am. Med. Assoc., 1849, 902. oe : ‘Allen, EZncyc. Mat. Med. V1, 69. 
