172 ORD. VII. Sarmentacee. ASARUM EUROPEUM. 
be powdered proves, in a moderate dose, a gentle emetic. It will 
commonly answer in doses of a scruple, sometimes in a less 
quantity,” “and as we judge may be suited to many of the pur- 
poses of the ipecacuanha.’* In small doses it is said to promote 
perspiration, urine, and the uterine flux.‘ Spirituous tinétures and 
watery infusions of the plant possess both its emetic and cathartic 
virtues, but it is said that by co€tion in water the emetic power is 
first destroyed, and afterwards the purgative.’ At present Asarum 
is seldom given internally, as the evacuations expected from its use 
may be procured with more certainty and safety" by various other 
medicines, that it is now chiefly employed as an errhine or sternu- 
tatory, and is found to be the most useful and convenient in the 
-Mat.Med. For this purpose the leaves, as being less acrid than the 
roots, are preferred by the College, and in moderate doses, not 
exceeding a few grains, snuffed up the nose several successive 
evenings, produce a pretty large watery discharge, which sometimes 
continues for several days together, by which headach, toothach, 
*opthalmia, and some paralytic and soporific complaints, have been 
effeCtually relieved. It is the basis of the — sternutatorius, or 
pulvis asari compositus. 
SS Mae. Med. vol. tt. p. 473. 
* ¢¢ Diureticum & emmenagogam insigne: unde Meretricule plus satis frequentant 
decoctum ejus, cum sentiunt se gravidas. Quo tenuius est tritum ed magis urinas 
movere, minus autem alvum ducere, creditur.” Ray Hist. p. 208. ® Raii l. c. 
» Ante aliquot annos civis hujus loci, vir quadratus, difficulter mobilis, sumit, suasn 
anicule, pulverem asari foliorum & radicis ad integrum cochlear, Inde verd hyper- | 
catharsin patiebatur Icthalem,” &c, Wedelius Amenit. M. M, p. 240. & De Med. fac. 
