mpR oubia cem. 293 



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and bronchitis I havo employed it witli benefit both for children 

 and adults/^ Dr, Langley recommends a tincture of the fresh 

 herb made with sj)irits of ether (3 ozs. to one pint), dose 20 to 

 60 minims, frequently repeated during the day^ in honey ; it acts 

 as an expectorant and nauseant ; in large doses it is emetic. 



Description. — -4. indica. — Stem erect, from 1 to 2 feet 



high, branchy, round, smooth ; leaves scattered, petioled, ovate- 

 cordate, 3-nerved, serrate, smooth, about 2 inches long and 

 1^ broad ; petioles as long as the leaves; stipules small, subulate ; 

 spikes axillary, generally single, peduncled, erect, as long as 

 the leaves, many-flowered, crowned with a body in the form of 

 a cross, the base of which is surrounded with a 3-leaved 

 calyx, the arms of the cross are tubular, with their mouths 

 fringed, from the base of the cross on one side issues a style-like 

 thread, with a fringed stigma, the body of the cross contains 

 an ovate seed like substance ; male flowers numerous, crowded 

 round the upper part of the spike, calyx 4-leaved, leaflets 

 cordate, filaments minute, numerous ; female flowers below the 

 male, remote ; involucre cup-formed, with an opening on the 

 inner side, striated, smooth, toothed, from 2 to 4-flowercd j 

 calyx 3-leaved. {Roxb.), 



A, panictilata is a pubescent undcr-shrub or herb, with long- 

 petioled ovate-acuminate leaves which are coarsely and equally 

 serrated. The male flowers are in axillary, filiform spikes, 

 and the female in axillary and terminal racemes or panicles ; 

 the bracts are minute and not enlarged in fruit. Capsule If 

 inch in diameter, 3-lobed, glandular, styles 3 — 7-partite. 



Chemical compozition. — The whole plant of A. Tndi'ca w^as dried 

 at a low temperature, reduced to powder, and exhausted with 

 80 per cent, alcohol. The alcoholic extract was mixed with 

 water, acidulatedwith sulphuric acid, and agitated with petroleum 

 ether, and ether ; the solution was then rendered alkaline and 



agitated with ether. 



^troleum 



quantity of dark matter separated, which was partly soluble in 

 ether, and in alkalies, and contained much colouring matter. 



The petroleum ether extract was dark and viscid, and had an 



