204 
by the Assyrians and the Egyptians, being used as a mystical 
emblem and appearing on coins and on columns. It is mentioned 
in the Bible as one of the fruits brought back to Moses by the men 
sent to spy out the land of promise. The ancient Greek and Ro- 
man authors describe the virtues of different parts of the plant. 
Decoctions of the bark have been used since time immemorial for 
the removal of tapeworm and other intestinal parasites. 
Poppy, Opium (Papaver somniferum), Opium, U.S.P. The 
the dried exuded latex 
Fs 
capsule a the poppy is carefully incised anc 
constitutes the opium of commerce. The plants are cultivated in 
the opium producing countries, among which are Turkey, Persia, 
India, China, and Egypt. Seed is sown in the fall, but growth of 
the plants is arrested by cold and snow so that they do not flower 
until the following season. Many alkaloids are present, the more 
important being morphine and codeine. The latter is used to allay 
pulmonary irritation and to check coughing. Morphine depresses 
the activity of the entire nervous system, especially the sensory 
centers, and is specific for the relief of pain. Its use as a narcotic 
is well known. 
PsyLLium SEED (Plantago Psyllium), Plantain seed, N.F. Sev- 
eral species of the genus Plantago yield the seed used in medicine. 
‘The plants are cultivated in Europe especially in Spain and France. 
Large amounts of seed are imported from India which produces the 
blond or white psyllium seed from P. ovata. The seeds are very 
rich in gum which swells upon contact with liquids yielding a 
mucilage which because of its bulk and lubricating properties acts 
as a mild but efficient laxative. 
PUMPKIN (Cucurbita Pepo) N.O. The plant is reputed to be 
a native of the Levant from whence it has been introduced through- 
out the world. The seeds contain a principle which is very effec- 
tive against intestinal worms, and it has aa used for this purpose. 
Ruvupars (Rhewm palmatum) U.S.P. also known as Rhubarb 
root. It grows in China and Thibet from which countries it has 
been exported since the earliest times. It is mentioned in Chinese 
herbals dating from 2700 B.C. Highly valued in European coun- 
tries during the Middle Ages, it was one of the very costly drugs, 
worth 12 times the price of benzoin, 10 times as much as cinnamon, 
more costly than opium, and 6 times as dear as fine myrrh. The 
