PODOPHYLLUM DIPHYLLUM LINN. 345 
ans. Its root is ufed asa purgative, emetic, and anthel- 
mintic. Ihave made a number of experiments with this 
vegetable, an account of which, together with an engray- 
ing of the plant, I propofe to publith, ata future period. 
Meanwhile, I beg leave to obferve, that it generally 
proves purgative, though I have known it, in feveral ca- 
{es, to operate as an emetic*. The common dofe for an 
adultis from eighteen to twenty grains of the dried root, in 
powder. The advantages of this medicine over the Jalap 
I have often experienced in my practice. In the fir place, 
being one of the moft common vegetables in the United- 
States, it may always be had without the fear of adultera- 
tion, or of injury from worms, &c. /econdly: it operates 
in a {maller dofe than either the Jalap or Rhubarb: third- 
ly: it does not fo frequently as the Jalap prove emetic: 
JSourthbly : it is not fo liable to gripe as this laft-mentioned 
vegetable, and /a/ly, it is not fo naufeous as either the 
Jalap or the Rhubarb. I think, it is pofleffed of fome 
degree of an anodyne, or narcotick, quality. 
I fhall endeavour to procure a quantity of the root of 
the Fefferfonia, and fhall inftitute a feries of experiments, 
with the view to difcover its chemical nature, and its ef- 
feiis upon animal bodies. Meanwhile, Iam induced to 
believe, that I fhall find it poffefled of nearly the fame 
properties asthe Podophyllum peltatum. 
Das I think, 
* J do not well know how it has happined, that the root of the Podophylluim peltatum has fo 
generally been confidered merely asan emetic. It appears from Catefby, that it is called 
Tpecacuanba in Carolina, and this author fpeaks of itas an emetic. Tbe Natural Hiflory of 
Carolina, &c. vol. ¥. p. 24. Dr. Schoepf, who feldom has any thing good of his own, fol- 
lows Catefby in attributing to this plant only an emetic property. Of its purgative quality, or 
of the dofe, he fays nothing. See the Moteria Medica Americana potiffimum regni vegetabilis, 
p. 86. A more refpectabie philofopher, the Count Caltiglioni, has likewife fallen into the 
fame error. See Viaggio negli Stati Uniti dell’ America Seitentrionale fatto negli anni 1785, 1786, 
e 1787. Tomo fecondo, p. 329. Milano. 1790. As Thad not an opportunity of fee'ng this 
gentleman’s travels until after this paper was partly printed, | may be exculed for mentioning 
here, what would have been more properly taken notice of at page 336, that the Count Cai- 
tiglioni did not difcover the Podophyllum diphyllum, in the courfe of his travels. ‘Il Linneo, z 
fays he, ‘* ne annovera un’ altra fpecie fotto il nome di Pode lum diphyllum {coperta dal. Sig. 
6 Collinfon nella Virginia, ma non avendola io veduta, né ef endo fata ben determinata dallo 
§ fteflo Linneo, che pone in dubbio fe poffa efiere una fpecie di Sanguinaria, non ne faro altra 
% menzione.” See Viaggio negli Stati Uniti, &c. tom, % P- 329. 
