GLYCYRRHIZA 153 



licorice root 3 parts, and gentian 1 part. The pro- 

 moting advertisement claimed that if chewed instead 

 of tobacco, within a reasonable time it "antidoted" 

 the desire for tobacco. Be it remarked that about that 

 date "fine cut" chewing tobacco (shredded leaf) was 

 introduced to replace "plug" tobacco. 



Tragus (650) employed the dried root of gentian 1552 

 A. D. for the purpose of dilating wounds. Gentian is 

 now in common use in medicine as a bitter tonic. 



GERANIUM (Geranium, Cranesbill) 



Official, in all editions, from 1820 to 1900. Dropped from 1910 

 edition. 



Cranesbill, Geranium maculatum, is native to the low- 

 lands and open woods and copses throughout the temper- 

 ate Eastern United States. Being one of the astringent 

 domestic remedies used in the form of infusion or de- 

 coction in diarrhea, dysentery, sore mouth and similar 

 diseases, it came thus to the attention of observing 

 American physicians, whose use of it finally led to its 

 place in the Pharmacopeia. In Eclectic medication 

 especially geranium is much valued, and occupies a 

 well-established position in all the publications of that 

 school of physicians. 



GLYCYRRHIZA (Licorice Root) 



Official in all editions of U. S. P., from 1820 to 1910. U. S. P. 

 1910 gives as source of Licorice Root Glycrrhiza glabra typica 

 (Spanish Licorice) or of Glycyrrhiza glabra glandulifera (Russian 

 Licorice) . 



Licorice, the dried rhizome and root of glycyrrhiza, 

 is mentioned by Oribasius (479a) and Marcellus (404) 

 in the 4th century, and by Paulus ^Egineta (494) in the 

 7th century. It was known in the time of Dioscoridee 



