HYDKASTIS 167 



mucous membrane. Hydrastis is now quite largely employed in the 

 treatment of depraved mucous membranes, as, for example, in chronic 

 rhinitis, the atonic stomach of drunkards, chronic intestinal catarrh, 

 catarrhal jaundice, vaginal leucorrhea, and the later stages of gonor- 

 rhea. It has been recommended in the treatment of uterine hemor- 

 rhages resulting from endometritis, and is said to act well in cases in 

 which Ergot has proved useless. 



In dyspepsia it has been used as a stomachic stimulant, and has 

 received praise in the vomiting of pregnancy. Dose: 30 gr. (2 Gm.). 

 Hydrastine is said to have antiperiodic properties and is given in 

 doses of J-<j2 gr. (0.002 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Hydrastis, ................. Dose: 8 gr. (0.5 Gm.). 



Fluidextractum Hydrastis, ............. 5 to 30 itjj (0.3 to 2 mils). 



Tinctura Hydrastis (20 per cent.), ...... 10 to 60 15; (0.6 to 4 mils). 



Glyceritum Hydrastis (each mil contains i Gm. of drug). Used externally. 



135. ACT^A ALBA.* WHITE COHOSH. The rhizome of Actae'a alb'a Bigelow. 

 Habitat: Southern and Eastern United States. Often found in the European 

 market mixed with black hellebore; its appearance, however, is more like 

 cimicifuga. Violent purgative, irritant, and emetic. 



136. COPTIS, N.F. GOLD THREAD. The herb of Cop'tis trifol'ia Salisbury. 

 Habitat: Northern and Eastern United States. The drug as found k in com- 

 merce consists mainly of long, thread-like, yellow rootlets, attached to a 

 slender, terete rhizome, mixed with trifoliate leaves. Contains berberine 

 and a white alkaloid resembling hydrastine. Tonic. Dose: 15 to 60 gr. 

 (i to 4 Gm.) in decoction. 



137. HELLEBORUS NIGER. BLACK HELLEBORE. The rhizome and roots of 

 Helle'borus ni'ger Linne. Habitat: Central and Southern Europe. Irregular 

 and knotty; externally brown-black; internally grayish, with a thick bark; 

 taste sweetish, bitter, and acrid; odor slight, peculiar. Poisonous; anthel- 

 mintic, drastic cathartic, and emmenagogue. Dose: 5 to 20 gr. (0.3 to 1.3 

 Gm.). 



138. HELLEBORUS VTRIDIS. GREEN HELLEBORE. The rhizome and roots 

 of Helle'borus viri'dis Linnet This resembles above, but is smaller. Used 

 as a diuretic, cathartic, and emmenagogue. Dose: 5 to 20 gr. (0.3 to 1.3 

 Gm.). It should not be confounded with veratrum viride (also called green 

 hellebore), a cardiac and nervous sedative. 



139. XANTHORRHIZA. YELLOW-ROOT. The rhizome of Xanthorrhi'za apii- 

 fol'ia L'Heritier. Habitat: Southern and Central United States. About 

 500 to 1,000 mm. (20 to 40 in.) long, and 10 mm. (% in.) thick; externally 

 of a bright yellowish-brown color; internally yellow; inodorous and bitter. 

 Contains berberine, the alkaline base of berberis vulgaris; it is a matter 

 of record that in many, perhaps most, berberine-yielding plants, a colorless 

 alkaloid accompanies berberine, but, according to Lloyd, a second' alkaloid 

 does not exist in this drug. Used as a tonic. Dose: % to i dr. (2 to 4 Gm.). 



140. PULSATILLA, N.F. PASQUE FLOWER. The herb of Anem'one pulsatil'la 

 and of Anem'one praten'sis Linne", collected soon after flowering. Off. 

 U.S.P. 1890. The" drug never comes into the market in a condition in 

 which the leaf or other parts are readily recognizable, as they are most 

 always broken' or compressed. The U.S.P. 1890, directed that the herb 

 should be carefully preserved, and not kept longer than one year. Even 

 the drying of the plant is said to render the drug unreliable. Constituents: 

 A peculiar acrid crystallizable principle exists in the plant known as anem- 

 onin (CxoHgO^ an acrid, unstable principle not well understood. Some 



Drugs treated of in small type and solid paragraphs are unofficial. 



