LAPPA 179 



author. Krameria Ixina was also official in past 

 Pharmacopeias. Seemingly, the species of rhatany 

 are all of similar nature, all being dependent for 

 their virtue upon a kindly, astringent, red tannate. 



LACTUCARIUM (Lactucarium) 



Official from 1820 to 1910. In 1830, (Philadelphia edition) 

 it was relegated to the Secondary List, but regained position in 

 1840. 



Several species of Lactuca known to the Old World 

 yield the juice which, when dried, is known as Lactu- 

 carium, an extract known also under the name lettuce 

 opium. The fact that lettuce eaten frequently induces 

 drowsiness was known in ancient times, and its reputa- 

 tion in this direction led Dr. Coxe (171), of Philadelphia, 

 to suggest the collecting of the juice, after the manner 

 employed in the making of opium. His experiments 

 were published in 1799 under the title " Lettuce Opium." 

 Since then, others writing on the subject created a de- 

 mand for lactucarium thus produced. It will be seen 

 that the introduction of this substance to medicine 

 came through usual empirical channels. In this con- 

 nection, a French proprietary syrup had large use 

 (Mayo). 



LAPPA (Burdock) 



Introduced in 1850, but in Secondary List, occupying this 

 position in 1860 and 1870. Official in 1880, 1890 and 1900. 

 Dropped from 1910 edition. 



This widely distributed plant, known under several 

 botanical names, such as Lappa minor (De Candolle), 

 Lappa major (Gartner), and Lappa tomentosa (La- 

 marck), is now official as Arctium Lappa. The com- 

 mercial name, Burdock, seems, however, so expressive 



