Ne 
180 HELEN E. RICKETTS 
el | * 4 CAN WA a 
NEN qu US GES He ( 
dard synthetic violet. There are several derivatives and variations 
of the original Ionone now on the market, as Ionone a, Ionone 6, 
etc. Since the advent of Ionone, several other synthetic essences of 
violet and of orris root have made their appearance, among them. 
Isirone, Isiraline, Irisal, Iridoron, Irenia, Irine, Iso-Irone, Orrisol, 
(a synthetic duplicating the fixative properties of orris root as well 
as the fragrance of the natural oil). Among the natural essences 
offered are: Iris tenfold, Orris Resinarome, Natural Essence Iris 
Supreme, etc. All this we owe to the Iris! 
Orris root, while rising in importance with the perfumer, at the 
same time gradually lost its good standing with the physician, until 
at present it is but rarely used medicinally. At one time, orris root 
was in great demand by physicians of the continent, various cura- 
tive properties, now discredited, being ascribed to the root. However, 
during the latter part of the period when orris root was losing its 
_ medicinal prestige, its American cousin, /ris versicolor, was gaining 
renown as the ‘‘ vegetable mercury ”. At first it was only accepted 
by doctors of the homoeopathic and eclectic schools, but soon found 
favor with practically the entire profession and was an official drug 
of the United States Pharmacopeia, Sixth Revision (1880-90). 
Iridin, a resinous principle which is extracted from the rhizome, 
still finds some use in England. Jris versicolor is a violent poison in 
over-doses and has caused the serious illness of children who have 
mistaken it for Sweet Flag. Some deaths are accredited to it. This 
Iris is a native of North America and is found along streams and in 
swampy places from Maine to Georgia, eastward to the Mississipi 
River. Iris versicolor, or Blue Flag, as itis known medicinally, has 
long been a bone of contention among the doctors, some declare it 
worthless, while others proclaim its value, meanwhile there has 
annually been a steady demand for the drug. This brings us to the 
problem that the manufacturer of Blue Flag preparations has had to 
face. Many tons of worthless drug have been on the market under 
the name ‘‘ Blue Flag ”, consisting usually of other species and 
varieties of Iris. This substitution and adulteration has seldom been 
intentional, but the botanist must be alert, as the illiterate root 
digger, who usually collect the drug, neither knows nor cares that 
he procures the exact species — he proceeds on the basis of ‘‘ looks ” 
and we can’t.deny that several species look like Jris versicolor, 
especially when itis not in bloom. The botanists of several drug 
houses have studied Blue Flag and have identified Zris virginica and 
Iris caroliniana as among the adulterants; /ris missouriensis has 
also been suggested in this connection. 
Other species of Iris have been used medicinally and domestically 
from time to time, but not to any great extent. Jris missouriensis 
