DRUG PLANTS 



375 



gathered every three or four months. They are carefully dried 

 and baled for shipment to manufacturing centers where the 

 alkaloid cocaine, which makes up about 1 % of the leafs weight 

 is extracted. In medicine, this drug is particularly important as a 

 local anaesthetic, but is also used as a tonic 

 for the nervous and digestive systems. 



The dried leaves of the foxglove, a 

 biennial herbaceous plant, yield the valuable 

 drug, DIGITALIS. Foxglove is native to 

 Southern and Central Europe, but is widely 

 cultivated elsewhere including the United 

 States, as an ornamental plant. During 

 times of war, this plant has found a place 

 among our cultivated drug plants, but under 

 ordinary conditions the drug can be pur- 

 chased from abroad cheaper than it can be 

 grown in the United States. Digitalis being 

 a powerful heart stimulant, improving the 

 rhythm and completeness of the beat, is 

 ^widely used in the treatment of heart 

 disorders. 



Oil of eucalyptus is obtained from the 

 leaves of one of the world's tallest trees. 

 Eucalyptus trees are native to Australia, 

 but are widely cultivated in the warmer 

 parts of the world; in the United States they 

 are grown chiefly in California (fig. 243). 

 They have been widely used in soil reclama- 

 tion work since it is fast growing and has an extensive root sys- 

 tem. The oil is light yellow or colorless, and is widely used in the 

 treatment of mucous membrane inflammations such as accom- 

 pany respiratory infections and fevers. 



The small, annual, blue flowered Indian tobacco plant of 

 North America yields the drug lobelia. Indian tobacco is one of 

 our poisonous plants, although cases of poisoning by this species 

 are almost unheard of since it is an inconspicuous plant with dry, 

 uninviting seed-pods. The drug, which is obtained from the 



Fig. 243.— Eu- 

 calyptus trees have 

 narrow lance-shaped 

 leaves and aromatic 

 fruits. 



