JEFFERSONIA TWIN-LEAF. 79 



matures in August. The plant is known in various sections of the country 

 as Pappoose Root, Squaw Root, and Blueberry Root. 



Habitat. In rich, moist woods from Canada to South Carolina and west- 

 ward. A very common plant, and quite widely distributed. 



Parts Used. The rhizome and rootlets United States Pharmacopoeia. 



Constituents. In addition to the ordinary constituents of plants, such 

 as albumen, gum, starch, mineral salts, etc., there have been found in 

 caulophyllum two resins, and a principle analogous to saponin. The resins, 

 in an impure condition, are obtained by precipitation from the concentrated 

 alcoholic tincture with water. The precipitate, which amounts to twelve 

 per cent, of the root employed, is known as caulophyllin. It has a sweetish- 

 bitter and afterward somewhat acrid taste, similar to that of the root, 

 and probably represents whatever activity the plant is possessed of. 



Preparations. There are no official preparations of caulophyllum. As 

 the root yields its virtues to alcohol, it may be administered in tincture, or 

 in the form of the so-called caulophyllin, a commercial article readily ob- 

 tainable. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Antispasmodic, demulcent, diaphoretic, 

 diuretic, emmenagogue, and parturient properties have been attributed to 

 this plant, but upon what evidence it is difficult to decide. Kafinesque 

 says that " as a powerful emmenagogue it promotes delivery, menstruation, 

 and dropsical discharges," and that it was used "by the Indians and their 

 imitators for rheumatism, dropsy, colic, sore throat, cramp, hiccough, epi- 

 lepsy, hysterics, inflammation of the uterus, etc." It would seem that 

 many authors, in writing upon this plant since the time of Rafinesque, have 

 repeated his assertions in one form or another, not only without question 

 but generally without credit also. At any rate, little seems to have been 

 added to, while much has been subtracted from, the estimated value of the 

 plant as a remedy since Rafinesque's time. King, however, says (American 

 Dispensatory) : "In decoction, blue cohosh is preferable to ergot for expe- 

 diting delivery in all those cases where the delay is owing to debility or 

 want of uterine nervous energy, or is the result of fatigue." This state- 

 ment will be taken cum grano salis by those who, like the author, have 

 made an experimental comparison or rather contrast of the two. 



JEFFERSONIA. TWIN-LEAP. 



Jeffersonia diphylla Persoon. Twin-Leaf, Rheumatism Root. 



Description. Calyx : sepals 4, petal-like, fugacious. Corolla : petals 8, 

 oblong, flat. Stamens 8, shorter than the petals ; anthers linear-oblong, 

 on slender filaments. Ovary solitary, ovoid, soon becoming gibbous ; 

 stigma 2-lobed, nearly sessile ; ovules 5 or G, attached to one side of the 

 ovary below the middle. Fruit a somewhat stipitate capsule, opening by 

 a transverse, semi-lunar slit near the summit. Seeds numerous, crowded 



