156 ORD. VIU. Sarmentacew. ARISTOLOCHIA SERPENTARIA. 
a medicine of extraordinary power in counteracting the poisonous 
effects of the bites of serpents, and it has since been much employed 
in fevers, particularly those of the malignant kind: a practice which 
seems founded on a supposition that the morbific matter of these 
fevers is somewhat analogous to the poison of serpents, and that its 
influence upon the human system might be obviated by the same 
means: hence Serpentaria has been considered the most powerful of 
those medicines termed alexipharmics. Modern physicians however 
have exploded this theory of antidotes, and the alexiterials and 
theriacas so industriously studied ever since the first ages of Greece, 
are now wholly disregarded. 
Serpentaria is thought to possess tonic and antiseptic virtues, and 
is generally admitted to be a powerful stimulant and diaphoretic ; 
and in some fevers where these effects are required, both this and 
contrayerva have been found very useful medicines, as abundantly 
appears from the experience of Huxham, Pringle, Hillary, Lysons,. 
and others: yet it may be remarked, that by some of these authors 
this root has been employed too indiscriminately, for there seems to 
us some inconsistency in the practice of —— and giving snake- 
rootin the same fever. 
It is thought by many, that peruvian bark and wine may in every 
case supersede the use of Serpentaria ;* but this opinion is also liable 
to exceptions, as a mixed state of fever has been frequently ob- 
served to prevail, in which the bark has proved hurtful, though this. 
root has evidently had a good effect; and even in intermittent fevers 
the bark has been found more efficacious when joined with Serpenta- 
riathan when given alone ;‘ and this hasbeen also the case in continued 
fevers. The dose of snake-root is usually from ten to thirty grains in 
substance, and to a dram or two in infusion. A tinctura serpentari@ 
is directed both in the London and Edinburgh Pharmacopczias. 
* In cases marked with progressive signs of debility and putridity, there cannot 
be a doubt but that the bark, wine, anda suitable application of cold, are the 
remedies chiefly to be trusted; but by admitting this, we are not to reject Serpen- 
taria as utterly useless in all fevers. 
* Vide Lysons, Practical Essays upon intermitting fevers, p. 13. seq. 
