138-4 
The tincture, separated from this mass by decantation, pressure, and filtration, 
should have a beautiful, deep reddish-orange color by transmitted light. Its odor 
should be decidedly terebinthic, resembling exactly that of the root before extrac- 
tion; its taste warm, camphoraceous, terebinthic, and at last very penetratingly 
bitter; and its reaction acid. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—Aristolochin. This amorphous yellowish body 
has a bitter and slightly acrid taste, and is soluble both in water and alcohol. 
Oil of Serpentaria.—This yellowish-brown oil is obtained by aqueous distilla- 
tion of the roots. It is lighter than water, and has an odor and taste resembling 
a mixture of valerian and camphor.* 
Aristolochia-camphor.—This body, greatly resembling pure camphor, is 
deposited upon the cool sides of the receiver of the products of an aqueous 
distillation of the root.* 
Gum,'** coloring matter,’ bitter-principle,'** oil,?° resin)2** extractive,!? and 
the volatile oil,?** have been determined in this species. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—Jirg determined as a result of his experiments* 
that Serpentaria caused an excitation of the alimentary tract with subsequent 
determination of blood to all the abdominal viscera, more frequently followed by 
flatulence than mucous secretion. The symptoms usually following doses of from 
2 to 5 scruples of the root were: Copious salivation; eructations : great nausea, 
and vomiting; a sense of weight in the stomach; distention of the abdomen, with 
colic and borborygm, frequent expulsion of flatulence, tenesmus and solid stools, 
with itching at the anus; a sensation of heat, and weight in the head followed 
by cephalagia; violent and frequent desire to urinate with greatly increased 
discharges of pale, watery urine, 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 138. 
‘—2. Whole plant from Pittsburgh, Pa., June 18th, 1885. 
2. Root, and one full length rootlet. 
3. Face view of flower. 
4. Longitudinal section of calyx. 
5. Style, stigma and stamens. 
6. Fruit. Pe aN 
(5 and 7 enlarged.) : 
1 Tilden’s analysis, Four. of Mat. Med., ii, N.S. 203. _ 
ae Chevallier, Jour. de Phar., 1820, 565. 
4 Bigelow, Am. Med. Boty ii, 85. 
ate ‘1 einer Kiinfligen Heilmittellehre, 1825. ; 
