"^^ MATERIA MEDICA. 



green commonly called lignum vUcb. It has no odour except when 

 rubbed or burned ; taste, bitterish and pungent ; activity depends on 

 the contained guaiac. 



^ Guaiac— guaiacwm— is procured by spontaneous exudation ; by 

 boding the raspings and shavings in water; and by heating in the 

 fire billets of the wood which have been bored longitudinally [t 

 comes m masses of a deep olive-brown colour, mixed with various 

 HTipurities; fracture resinous; odour feeble and balsamic ; taste sh^xht 

 at first, but afterwards acrid ; melts by heat, evolving a fragrant 

 odour. Chemically, a mixture of a peculiar extractive and a r?sin ; 

 much more soluble in alcohol than in water. 



^ Effects.— ^iimxiX^ni, alterative, and diaphoretic; in large doses 

 irritant to the bowels. Used in chronic rheumatism, secondary 

 syphilis, and chronic skin diseases. Dose of guaiac, 10 to 30 grains 

 I here are two tinctures, the simple and the volatile, or ammoniated'; 

 the latter is used in dysmenorrhosa ;— dose of either, f 3j. 



Sarsaparilla, U. S. 

 Root of different species of the genus Smilax, as the S. officinalis, 

 S. sarsaparilla, S syphilitica, &c. ; perennial, climbing plants, grow' 

 mg in Mexico and South America. The leaves are ovate, and alter- 

 nately inserted upon short footstalks, with numerous tendrils pro- 

 ceeding from the stem. The roots are very long and slender, 

 inserted upon a common caudex. Several varieties are known —1 

 Honduras sarsaparilla,— comes in bundles two or three feet lono-' 

 consisting of one or more roots, folded lengthwise, and secured by°a 

 fevv circular turns. 2. Jamaica sarsaparilla,— d.\stmgu\shed by the 

 reddish colour of its epidermis, probably of similar origin with the 

 last. 3. Brazilian sarsaparilla, sometimes called Lisbon and Rio 

 JSegro sarsaparilla. 4. Para sarsaparilla ,—Xh:is comes in cylindri- 

 cat bundles, about three feet long and one thick; it is an excellent 

 variety. 



The dried root has but Httle odour ; a mucilaginous and acrid taste, 

 especially when chewed for some time. Imparts its virtues to wate^ 

 and alcohol ; the cortical portion is the most active. It contains a 

 peculiar principle, called sarsaparillin or smilacin, also much 

 starch, hgnin, &c. Long boiling is injurious to it. 



Effects.— ku alterative diaphoretic; sometimes creates nausea and 

 vomiting. Improves the state of the constitution ; slightly strenc^thens 

 and induces plumpness in cachectic cases, and in depraved states of 

 he general health. Useful in secondary syphilis, chronic rheuma- 

 tism, chronic cutaneous diseases, &c. It is not often administered 

 alone ; generally in combination with the other stimulatino- diapho- 

 retics. Dose of powder, 3ss. to 3j ; of the decoctio7i, made by 

 boiling 3j of the root in a pint of water down to f 3x, f 3iv The 

 compound decoction, {Decoctum SarsapariUce Compositum, U S ) is 



