149 



605. COLCHICDM AUTUMNALE, continued. 



black mustard seed ; but is distinguished from it by its larger size, by 

 not being pungent, and by being very hard. For micr. section of the 

 oorm and fig. of starch, see Berg, Anat. Atlat, taf. xxiv., fig. 59. The 

 conns lose nearly threo-fuurths of their weight in drying. They are said 

 to be most active in autumn, and to preserve their qualities better if 

 dried whole than if sliced. Pharmacographia, p. 637. 



606. VEEATRUM ALBUM, L. (White Hellebore.) 



a. Rhizome. See Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 285. 



Note. This rhizome closely resembles that of Veratrum viride ; but the 

 latter has much whiter rootlets, which are usually present. In V. album, 

 the roots are often absent, either partly or entirely. For micr. section 

 of root and starch, see Berg, Anat. Atlas, taf. xxi. 



607. VERATUM VIRIDE, Ait. (American Hellebore, Indian Poke, 



Swamp Hellebore.) 



a. Rhizome. 



Note. The rhizome is official in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia as well as in 

 the B. Pharmacopoeia. It is used as an arterial and nervous sedative. 

 See Wood and Bache, Ditpens., p. 853 ; Pharmacographia, p. 633. This 

 must not be confounded with Phytolacca decandra, which is also called 

 poke. The specimen of V. viride was presented by Dr. E. Cutter, of 

 Woburn, Massachusetts. See P. J. [2] , voL iv., p. 134. Green helle- 

 bore, a name sometimes applied to this drug, belongs properly to Helle- 

 borus viriilis, a ranunculaceous plant. For fig. of plant, see Bentley and 

 Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 286. 



ACORACE^:. 



608. ACORCS CALAMUS, L. (Sweet Flag, Butch, Vassamba.) 



a. Rhizome. 



6. Ditto. Fine specimen. 



c. Ditto, preserved wet. 



d. Spadix. 



Note. The rhizome of Iris pseudacorus sometimes occurs mixed with 

 this drug; but it may be recognised by its dark colour, astringent taste, 

 and absence of aroma. Pharmacographia, p. 616. It is used in pot 

 pourri, and in India as a remedy for infantile diarrhoea. It is an aro- 

 matic tonic, and is useful in atonic dyspepsia. Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., 

 pt. i., p. 140. The volatile oil is used in making aromatic vinegar and 

 for scenting snuff. For micr. section of root, see Berg, Anat. Atlas, 

 taf. xx. See also Treat. Bot., p. 13. Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, 

 tab. 279. 



609. SYMPLOCARPUS FCETIDUS, Bart. ; DRACONTIUM F<ETIDUM, Big. 



(Skunk Cabbage.) 

 a. Root. 



Note. The root has a strong garlic-like odour when fresh, hence its 

 name. It is official in the secondary list of the U. S. Pharmacopoeia, 

 under the name of dracontium. It is used as an antispasmodic and 

 expectorant in asthma. It loses its properties by age. Wood and Bache, 

 Ditpens., p. 355. 



