COMPOSIT A. 959 
rotatory: power, but it is difficult to examine on account of 
4 its opacity. ; . 
_ The most important principle detected in the leaves, stems 
and flowers of the plant was a bitter alkaloid soluble in éther, 
_ affording reactions with the ordinary alkaloidal reagents, but 
_ giving no special colour reactions. We have provisionally 
_ called this alkaloid Spheranthme. ie 
’ Commerce.—The dried herb, and also the dried flowe 
heads, are sold in the bazars. 
ce INULA HELENIUM, Linn. 
: Fig.— Woodville Med. Bot., t. 26; Bentl. and Psa: 1BbE 
_ Elecampane (Eng.), Aunée (F’r.). : 
_ Hab.—Central Asia, Central and Southern Europe. The 
— root. 
History, Uses, &c.—All the Indian Mahometan 
writers on Materia Medica mention this drug under the names 
of Rasan, Kust-i-sh4mi, or Zanjabil-i-sh4mi, i.e. Syrian Costus 
or Syrian ginger. R4san is a Persian name for the plant which 
has been adopted by the Arabs. From the Burhén-i-Katia we 
learn that the plant is also known in Persia as Pil-gush 
(clephant’s ear), and Gharsa, and is useful for eruptions and 
all kinds-of pains, especially those arising from chill, bites of 
animals, &c. Elecampane is the éAenov of the Greeks, and is 
described by Hippocrates as a stimulant of the brain, stomach, 
kidneys and uterus; it is the Inula of the Romans and the 
Enula campana of medieval writers, and was formerly: much 
used in pectoral affections, such as cough and asthma, and in 
acid dyspepsia, rheumatism, &c. ; an ointment made with it 
was used to cure itch. It is still a domestic remedy in France 
and Germany, and to a less extent in England, and the root 
holds a place in the. Pharmacopoeias of Germany, France an 
the United States of America. The root is preserved as 
pectoral candy on the continent of Kurope, and 
France in the preparation of absinthe, Of late. 
