INDIAN HEMP. 75 



clear, but becomes thick and dark by exposure ; colour, ora\ige-red ; 

 odour, peculiar and strong ; taste, hot and bitter ; insoluble in%vater, 

 soluble in alcohol. Chemically, a volatile oil and resin; virtues 

 depend on the oil, which may be separated by distillation. Copaiva 

 will solidify, if exposed to the air in thin layers ; also if rubbed up 

 with magnesia. 



Uses. — A stimulant diuretic, sometimes producing nausea and 

 vomiting ; acts also upon the mucous membranes generally. Em- 

 ployed chiefly in gonorrhoea, before or after the inflammatory symp- 

 toms ; also in chronic dysentery and chronic bronchitis. 



Dose, 20 drops to 3j, 3 times a day ; of the volatile oil, 10 to 20 

 drops. Copaiva often given in the form o? capsules. 



Cantharides. — (Cantharis, U. S.) 



History, &c., described under the head of Epispastics. As a 

 diuretic it is more stimulating than the preceding, being apt to irri- 

 tate the urinary organs, and produce strangury. Used chiefly in 

 chronic disorders of the urino-genital organs, as chronic gonorrhoea 

 and leucorrhcea, incontinence and retention of urine, spermatorrhoea, 

 and amenorrhoea ; also in obstinate skin diseases. Dose, gr. i, two 

 or three times a day ; generally given in the form of tincture,— dose, 

 10 drops, gradually increased till some obvious effect is produced. 



MILDER DIURETICS. 

 Juniper Berries. — (Juniperus, U. S.) 



Fruit of the Juniperus communis, an evergreen shrub, growing 

 in both continents ; — about the size of a pea, globular, of a dark 

 purple colour, glaucous and shrivelled. Imported chiefly from 

 Trieste. Odour, aromatic ; taste, sweetish, warm, and terebin- 

 thinate ; virtues depend on a volatile oil, and are yielded to water 

 and alcohol. 



Effects. — A good, moderately stimulant diuretic and carminative ; 

 used chiefly as an adjuvant ; — with cream of tartar, as a drink, in 

 dropsy. The infusion contains 5j of the bruised seeds, to Oj of 

 water. Dose of the oil, 5 to 15 drops, several times a day. The 

 tops are also occasionally used in medicine. 



Indian Hemp. — (Apocynum Cannabinum, U. S.) 



Root of the A. cannabinum, an indigeneous, herbaceous plant, 

 emitting a milky juice when wounded. Odour, strong ; taste, bitter 

 nauseous; virtues to water and alcohol.' In full doses acts as an 

 emeto-cathartic ; occasionally a very powerful diuretic in some 

 cases of dropsy. Dose of the decoction, (3ss. in Oiij water, boiled 

 down to Oj,) f Jj to f3ij, three times a day. 



