274 LILIACE^E. 



shorter than the sepals, recurved. Ovary 3 -celled, free from the perianth ; 

 styles 3, diverging. Pod 3-lobed, of 3 membranaceous carpels, united in 

 the axis, but separating when mature, several-seeded. 



A stout herbaceous perennial, 2 to 4 feet high. Stems simple, from a 

 thickened rootstock, beset with numerous strong, fibrous rootlets. Leaves 

 broadly oval, pointed, sheathing at the base, strongly plaited, the lower 

 large, the upper very much reduced. Flowers in dense spike-like racemes 

 arranged in a large, leafy panicle, appearing in June and July. 



Habitat. In swamps and low grounds ; everywhere common, often as- 

 sociated with skunk-cabbage. 



Parts Used. The rhizome and rootlets ; official name, Veratrum viride 

 United States Pharmacopoeia. 



Constituents. The active principles of veratrum viride appear to be of 

 a rather complex character. In 1865 two alkaloids were discovered in the 

 drug, which received the names viridia and veratroidia. The first-named 

 was afterward shown to be impure jervia, while veratroidia, upon inves- 

 tigation, yielded a number of proximate principles. None of these princi- 

 ples, however, have been separated in commercial quantities. At most 

 only a trace of veratrina (veratrine) has been discovered in veratrum viride, 

 this alkaloid being procured for medicinal purposes from the seed of 

 Asagrcea officinalis Lindley ( Veratrum sabadilla Schlecht). 



Preparations. Extractum veratri viridis fluidum fluid extract of vera- 

 trum viride ; tinctura veratri viridis tincture of veratrum viride. United 

 States Pharmacopoeia. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Veratrum viride is a powerful irritant 

 w T hether employed externally or internally. The powdered drug, when 

 snuffed up the nostrils, even in minute quantities, causes violent sneezing ; 

 moistened and applied to the cutaneous surface, it produces redness and 

 burning. Taken internally, it reduces the fulness and frequency of the 

 pulse, and, if the dose be large, or long-continued, excites nausea, vomiting, 

 and purging and causes great prostration. It is used chiefly in inflamma- 

 tory affections of a decidedly sthenic type, particularly those of the respira- 

 tory organs. Many practitioners rely upon it almost to the entire exclusion 

 of other agents in the early stage of pneumonia, claiming that, by control- 

 ling the heart's action, it limits the inflammatory process. Its action is, 

 however, rather difficult to gauge properly, for at the very moment of pro- 

 ducing its happiest effects upon the heart, distressing nausea and vomiting 

 may occur and reduce the patient to a dangerous degree. It is plainly con- 

 tra-indicated in cardiac debility and in all asthenic conditions of whatever 

 nature. 



CHAM^ELIRIUM. DEVIL'S BIT. 



Chamaelirium luteum Gray (Helonias lutea Aitoh). Blazing-Star, 

 Devil's P>it, Starn-ort 



Description. Flowers dioecious. Perianth of 6, separate, spatulate- 



