120 IRIDE.E 



CONSTITUENTS. Resin, benzoic and cinnamic acids, and a trace of volatile 

 oil. 



ACTION AND USES. Resembles storax and tolu in medical properties. 

 Dose: 8 to 30 gr. (0.5 to 2 Gm.). Chiefly used as a substitute for shellac, and for 

 making colored varnishes. 



72. ERYTHRONIUM AMERICANUM Smith. ADDER'S TONGUE. DOG-TOOTH 



VIOLET. Habitat: United States. (Leaves.) Alterative. Sometimes ap- 

 plied as a poultice to scrofulous tumors. 



H^MODORACE^) (Liliaceae N.F.). Bloodwort Family 



73. ALETRIS, N.P. COLIC ROOT. STARWORT. The rhizome of Alet'ris 

 farino'sa Linne. Habitat: United States. Small, crooked, about the size of 

 a quill, flattened and tufted above and beset with wiry, white rootlets below. 

 Alcohol extracts its bitter principle. Bitter tonic, diuretic, and vermifuge; 

 used extensively in the treatment of uterine diseases. D6se: 10 to 30 gr. 

 (0.6 to 2 Gm.). 



DIOSCCERACEJE. Yam Family 



74. DIOSCOREA, N.F. WILD YAM. COLIC ROOT. The rhizome of Diosco'rea 

 villo'sa Linn6. Habitat: United States. Expectorant, diaphoretic, anti- 

 spasmodic, and a stimulant to the intestinal canal. It is a valuable remedy 

 in bilious colic. Dose: 15 to 60 gr. (i to 4 Gm.), in fluidextract. 



IRIDE^;. Iris Family 



Perennial herbs, with equitant, 2-ranked leaves, the flowering stem arising 

 from a rhizome or corm. 



75. IRIS, N.F. IRIS VERSICOLOR. N.F. BLUE FLAG. (1890.) A horizontal, 

 jointed rhizome, generally cut into longitudinal slices; externally brown, 

 closely annulate from the leaf-sheath remnants, and near the broad flattened 

 end crowded with long, simple rootlets. Constituents: Acrid resin 25 per cent., 

 fixed oil, starch, gum, tannin, sugar, iridin, and indications of a brownish, 

 viscid, amorphous alkaloid. Preparation of Iridin: Obtained by precipitating 

 hot alkaline solution by an acid. The eclectic method of preparation is to 

 precipitate concentrated alcoholic tincture with water; mix dried precipitate 

 with equal quantity of licorice root. Cholagogue, cathartic and alterative. 

 Dose: 10 to 30 gr. (0.6 to 2 Gm.). 



Fluidextractum Iridis (U.S.P. 1890), . . .Dose: 10 to 30 TTR (0.6 to 2 mils). 

 Extractum Iridis (U.S.P. 1890), I to 3 gr. (0.065 to - 2 Gm.). 



76. IRIS FLORENTINA. ORRIS ROOT. The rhizome of I'ris florenti'na, Iris 

 pallida, and Iris germanica Linn6. Habitat: Northern Italy. In club- 

 shaped pieces or joints, from 75 to 125 mm. (3 to 5 in.) in length, a broad 

 depression or scar terminating the broad end. Externally white, peeled; 

 fracture short, mealy, faintly yello wish- white ; odor violet-like; taste mealy, 

 bitterish, and somewhat acrid. It contains iridin, irone, CisHzoO, a ketone 

 of violet odor, acrid resin, starch, mucilage, bitter extractive, and orris camphor, 

 consisting of a fat impregnated with volatile oil. Cathartic, diuretic. Dose: 

 5 to 15 gr. (0.3 to i Gm.). Chiefly used in tooth-powders and perfumes. 

 (Highly magnified starch grains of Iris, see Fig. 286.) 



77. CROCUS, N.F. SAFFRON. The stigmas of Cro'cus sati'vus Linne". Asia 

 Minor and Greece; cultivated for market in Spain, France, and other temper- 

 ate countries of Europe; also cultivated in the southeastern counties of 

 Pennsylvania. Commercial saffron is mostly of French or Spanish origin; 

 a product of the Cape of Good Hope known as Cape saffron, resembling the 

 genuine in odor, is a flower of a small plant belonging to the Scrophulariacea& 

 ("Pharm. Journal," vi, 462, 1865). "American saffron" consists usually 

 of safflower. The commercial or "hay saffron" consists of orange -brown 

 stigmas, separate, or united (three) to the top of the style, about 30 mm. 

 (i^i in.) long, almost filiform, enlarging toward the top, which is toothed; 

 their edges are rolled in, giving them a flattish-tubular appearance; crisp and 



