52 



MATERIA MEDICA. 



Yields its virtues to alcohol and water ; active ingredients, a volatile 

 oil and a bitter principle. 



Effects. — A stimulant tonic; used in low forms of disease; also, 

 stimulates the secretions ; employed sometimes as an adjuvant to 

 Peruvian bark. 



Dose of powder, 10 to 30 grs. ; of the infusion — made with 3ss. to 

 Oj water — f 3j to f 3ij ; of the tincture, f 3j to f 3ij. The decoction 

 and extract are objectionable. 



Chamomile. — (Anthemis, U. S.) 



Flowers of the Anthemis nohilis^ a small, herbaceous, perennial, 

 indigenous to Europe, but introduced into the United States. The 

 flowers are both double and single ; the latter said to be the strongest. 

 Imported usually from England ; about half an inch in diameter, 

 nearly spherical, of a yellowish-white colour; odour, fragrant and 

 aromatic ; taste, warm, aromatic and bitter ; virtues depend on a vola- 

 tile oil and bitter extractive, which are imparted to water and alcohol. 



Prop. — A mild, stimulant tonic ; useful in convalescence and some 

 forms of dyspepsia ; the warm infusion acts as a diaphoretic and 

 emetic. Dose o^ cold infusion., (3ss. to Oj,) as a tonic, f3ij. 



There are several other herbaceous plants, which are mildly stimu- 

 lant and tonic to the system, as Wormwood [Absinthium)^ Tansey 

 ( Tanacetum)., Horehound {Marruhium). These all contain a volatile 

 oil and a bitter principle. 



ThOROUGHWORT BONESET. (EuPATORIUM, U. S.) 



The herb Eupatorium perfoliatum, — an indigenous perennial, 

 growing in moist places, distinguished by the perfoliate character of 

 its leaves, each pair of which are at right angles to those imme- 

 diately above and below. It has a faint odour, and a strong, 

 bitter taste. Hot water extracts its virtues, which are believed to 

 reside in a bitter principle. The cold infusion acts as a mild, pleasant 

 tonic ; the hot infusion as a diaphoretic, or even as an emetic. 



Cascarilla Bark. — (Cascarilla, U. S.) 



Bark of the Croton Eleutheria^ and of the Croton cascarilla^ trees 

 growing in the West Indies ; chiefly imported from Eleutheria, one 

 of the Bahamas; comes in small-sized quills, and in small chips; 

 epidermis is partially detached. Odour aromatic; when thrown 

 upon hot coals it exhales an agreeable odour like musk ; taste, bitter 

 and aromatic. Used chiefly as an adjuvant to other tonics ; active 

 ingredients, a volatile oil, and bitter extractive. Dose of powder, 20 

 to 30 grs. ; of the infusion, (3j to Oj) f 3ij. 



Canella, U. S. 

 Bark of the Canella alba, a tree growing in the West Indies ; 



