141-3 
bottle, and allowed to stand eight days in a dark, cool place. The tincture, pre- 
pared from this mass by pressure and filtration, has a beautiful carmine color by 
transmitted light; no characteristic odor or taste; and an acid reaction. A pene- 
trating biting sensation is noticed upon the tongue a short time after tasting this 
tincture, 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—/olygonic Acid.* This doubtful body is said 
to form in green, deliquescent crystals, having a bitter and acrid taste, and a 
strong acid reaction, and to be soluble in alcohol, choloroform, and ether. Messrs. 
Trimble and Schuchard decide+ that this body is simply a mixture of impure tan- 
nic and gallic acids, together with chlorophyll; and failed in their analysis of this 
plant to isolate a stable active principle ; a volatile principle was, however, appre- 
ciable, which gave the pungency of the plant to all preparations made without the 
application of heat. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—The following essentially enumerate the symp- 
toms noted from ingestion of doses of from 10 to 60 drops of the tincture: Dizzi- 
ness, fullness of the head, and pulsating pain; itching and burning of the eyes; 
irritation of the pituitary membrane and frequent sneezing; heat in the mouth 
and throat, with burning and dryness of the fauces; increased appetite and great 
thirst; nausea and burning of the stomach; rumbling of the abdomen attended by 
colic; great and ineffectual urging to stool; diarrhcea; urging to urinate ; smarting 
of the urethra, and greatly increased pale urine; sharp stitching or pulsating pains © 
throughout the body; a general feeling of weakness and debility; alternate heat 
and coldness; and profuse perspiration from moderate exercise. These symptoms 
point-to an irritant to the mucous membranes of high value in the treatment of 
enteritis, gastritis, cystitis, and other inflammatory diseases of these tissues, 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 141. 
1. Stem in fruit, from Rawlinsville, Pa., Aug. 27th, 1885. 
2. A portion of the base of the plant. : 
3. Seed. 
4. Longitudinal section of seed. 
5- Horizontal section of same. 
(3-5 enlarged.) 
* Dr, C. J. Rademaker, 4m. Your. Phar., 1871, 490. : + Lbid., 1885, 21. 
