164 RANUNCULACE.E 



woody wedges of the rootlets is one of the best distinguishing 

 characteristics. 



Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



CONSTITUENTS. Besides the ordinary vegetable principles fat, sugar, 

 tannin, and starch there exists a resin which has been by some 

 assigned as the active medicinal constituent. This resin, amounting 

 to about 3}^ per cent., is contained in the resinoid cimicifugin or 

 marcotin of the market. An acrid, crystalline principle, soluble in 

 chloroform, ether, and alcohol, and not precipitated by lead acetate, 

 is also said to exist in the root. Ash, not more than 10 per cent. 



Preparation of Cimicifugin. By precipitating the concentrated tincture with 

 water, a crude article is prepared which is known as the resinoid. A purer form is 

 made by precipitating the tincture of the fresh drug with lead subacetate, remov- 

 ing the lead from solution with HjS, and evaporating. Soluble in alcohol and 

 chloroform. 



ACTION AND USES. Antispasmodic, diaphoretic, and expectorant. It acts 

 like digitalis on the circulation, and as a sedative upon cardiac ganglia; 

 small doses stimulate digestion and secretion; used in rheumatism 

 and disturbances of the menstrual function. It is a powerful uterine 

 stimulant. In large doses cimicifuga causes nausea, headache, ver- 

 tigo, tremors, muscular relaxation, slowing and weakening of the 

 pulse. Dose: 15 to 30 gr. (i to 2 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Fluidextractum Cimicifugae, Dose: 5 to 30 nj (0.3 to 2 mils). 



Extractum Cimicifugae, 3 to 5 gr. (0.2 to 0.3 Gm.). 



134. HYDRASTIS. HYDRASTIS 

 GOLDEN SEAL. YELLOW PUCCOON 



The dried rhizome and roots of Hydras'tis canaden'sis Linne 1 . Yielding not less 

 than 2.5 per cent, of ether soluble alkaloids of Hydrastis. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Plant about 8 inches high, from a thick, knotty 

 rhizome. The single radical leaf simple, 5-lobed; stem 2-leaved at summit; 

 flowers terminal, single, greenish; calyx of 3-petaloid sepals, regular; fruit 

 a head of i-2-ovuled berries. 



SOURCE. The area of the country over which hydrastis grows in suffi- 

 cient abundance to be a commercial source of the drug is embraced 

 in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and West Virginia. It is 

 also found in other portions of the Eastern United States. Large 

 quantities of the drug are now being cultivated. One of the fields the 

 writer has visited, is located in Douglas, Michigan, "Seal Growers," 

 as they are called, have a cooperative Society to promote their inter- 

 ests in the growing of this plant and ginseng, especially. 



