ee 
” 
ARUM MACULATUM. ORD. XLIV. Piperite. 729 
The root is the medicinal part of the plant, which in a recent 
and lactescent state is extremely acrimonious, and upon being 
chewed excites an intolerable sensation of burning and pricking 
in the tongue, which continues for several hours: when cut in 
slices and applied to the skin, it has been known to produce 
blisters. This acrimony, however, is gradually lost by drying, 
and may be so far dissipated by the application of heat, as to leave 
the root a bland farinaceous aliment ;* its medical efficacy therefore 
resides wholly: uently the 
powdered root must lose much of its power on being ong kept, 
a circumstance which very properly caused the omission of the 
Pulvis ari compositus in the last edition of our Pharmacopeeia. 
Lewis says, “ the fresh and moderately dried roots were digested 
in water, in wine, in proof spirit, and in rectified spirit, with and 
without heat: the liquors received no colour, and little or no 
taste. In distillation neither spirit nor water brought over any 
sensible impregnation from the Arum. The root, nevertheless, 
loses in these operations almost the whole of its pungency.’” The 
qualities of this root are thus enumerated by Bergius: “ Virtus 
recent. siccate: stimulans, aperiens,. incidens, diuretica ; recentis 
vehementissima; annose || nutriens.”*—Dr. Culfen* seems to con- 
sider it as a general stimulant, not only exciting the activity of the 
digestive powers, where they happen to be hispid, but stimu- 
lating the whole system; in proof of this he observes, that it has 
been useful in intermittent fevers. Arum, by ancient writers, is 
@ In this state it has been made into a wholesome bread. It has also been pre- 
pared as starch. The root, dried and powdered, is used by the French to wash 
the skin with, and is sold at a high price, under the name of Cypress Powder: 
It is undoubtedly a good and innocent cosmetic. Withering |. c. These roots 
. are said to possess a saponaceous quality, and have been used in washing linen, 
to supply the place of soap. Raii Hist. p. 1208 
> Lewis M. M. 119. ©, BRS TE. 4 M. M. vol. ii, 212. 
Tales radices Ari annose vix acres sunt, prout supra monuimus, & que 
restare potest acrimonia, mitigatur penitus ebullitione. Cexterum plures Ari species 
apud varias gentes esculenta sunt. Nutriunt omnes suo farinoso. Bergius, |. c. 
No. 52.—vor. 4. 8 y 
¥ 
