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Aracez.—This order is composed of plants having fleshy corms or rhizomes, 
or, in the tropics, sometimes woody climbers, an acrid or pungent volatile juice, and 
moncecious flowers situated upon the same spadix, destitute of floral envelopes, 
their place being generally filled by a spathe; their fruit is a berry, the seeds of 
which abound in mealy albumen, or the embryo large and fleshy. The leaves are 
generally compound, with sheathing petioles, and more or less reticulate veined. 
The genera are mostly tropical. Besides the genera Arisaema and Symplocarpus, 
finding representation in this work, the following members of this family are of 
interest to us: Caladium seguinum and esculentum, Dieffenbachia seguina, one of 
the most virulent of vegetable poisons, and Arum dracunculus, [talicum, and 
maculaium., 
History and Habitat.—The Indian Turnip grows plentifully about boggy spots 
in deep, rich woo ls. It is indigenous to most portions of the United States and 
Canadas, flowering in May and fruiting in September. The corms, when fresh, 
especially, and all parts of the plant, have a severely acrid juice, imparting an 
almost caustic sensation to the mucous membranes, and swelling of the parts when 
chewed. This action upon the mouths of school-boys, who often play the trick 
of inviting bites of the corm upon each other, gave rise to the common name, 
“memory-root,” as they never forget its effects. This acridity, however, is dissi- 
pated by heat or drying, the roots then becoming very nutrient and palatable, the 
fecula of the corm forming an excellent “arrow-root.” The yield of nutrient mat- 
ter is said to be about one-fourth the whole substance of the corm. This point is 
fully appreciated by the Indians of this country, who consider the roots a delicacy, 
either roasted or boiled. I have roasted them myself, when a boy, and enjoyed 
a repast ve.y pleasing to an empty stomach. Slices of the fresh root, frequently 
laid upon the skin, are said to cause vescication. 
Arum triphyllum is not officinally recognized in either the U. S. Ph. or Eclec- 
tic Materia Medica. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh root, gathered before the 
expansion of the leaves, should be carefully bruised in a covered mortar and 
weighed. Then 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 stirring the whole 
well it should be placed in a well-stoppered bottle and allowed to stand at least 
eight days in a dark, cool place. The tincture, separated by straining and filter- 
ing, should have a pale-brownish-yellow color by transmitted light, a slightly 
sweetish taste, entirely devoid of acrimony, and a neutral reaction to test-paper 
In order to preserve the acrimony of the root, Dr. E. M. Hale recommends 
rapid trituration in ten parts by weight of coarse sugar-of-milk, and keeping the 
preparation in hermetically-sealed jars, protected against heat and light. The 
provings were made with dilutions, 
oe CHEMI CAL CONSTITUENTS.—The acrid principle of this plant, as before 
; intimated, is rapidly dispersed by heat. Dr. Bigelow states that this body escapes 
| oebee inflammable gas, slightly explosive when mixed with air. The extreme vola- 
