EUPHORBIA PILULIFERA 211 



plant to 2 liters of water may be given in doses of from 6 to 12 

 tablespoon fuls daily. A proper dose of the alcoholic extract 

 is 10 centigrams in 24 hours. Dr. Daruty, of Mauritius, gives 

 the following formula : 



Euphorbia pilulifera dried in the shade .... 30 grams. 



Water 1 1 liters. 



Boil till reduced to 1 liter, cool and add : 



Rum or cognac 30 grams. 



Dose. — 1 wineglassful 3 times a day. 



This decoction relieves the most obstinate asthma, as well as 

 cough and bronchial irritation. It is necessary to use the en- 

 tire plant. The decoction is usually given in the morning, 

 fasting, in the middle of the afternoon and at bedtime. In 

 very stubborn cases another dose may be given in the middle 

 of the night. Frequently the relief is immediate and in some 

 cases a liter of the decoction is enough to effect a cure. If the 

 symptoms return, it is easy to abort them ; they are less dis- 

 tressing and, according to the statements of patients, the medi- 

 cine " gives them air." 



Dr. Hicks Bunting found, in an analysis of the drug, 60 per 

 cent, of insoluble residue, wax, " caucho," resin, tannin, sugar, 

 albuminoids, oxalate of calcium and other salts. 



Dr. Marsset states that the active principle is soluble in 

 water, in dilute alcohol ; insoluble in ether, chloroform, bisul- 

 phide of carbon, and turpentine, but does not give the reaction. 



The toxic dose is 1 gram of dried plant for each kilogram of 

 weight of the animal. 



Botanicae Description. — A small creeping plant with 

 milky juice. Stem 1-2° high, cylindrical, hairy and reddish 

 in color. Leaves opposite, obliquely ovate, rhomboid, serrate, 

 hairy. Petioles very short. Two pointed stipules at the base. 

 Flowers yellowish in hemispherical umbels of 5 divisions, each 

 "subdivided in 2. Involucre universal. Calyx bell-shaped, 



