LAPPA 423 



CONSTITUENTS. A very acrid resinous substance, two acrid oils pyre- 

 thrine, extracted by ether (crystalline, bitter, burning taste), which 

 under action of alcoholic KOH decomposes into piperidine. Most 

 of the parenchymatous cells are loaded with inulin, which forms 

 about 35 per cent, of the root. Ash, not more than 5 per cent. 



ACTION AND USES. Used almost exclusively as a sialagogue in head- 

 ache, neuralgic and rheumatic affections of the face, toothache, etc., 

 or as a local stimulant in palsy of the tongue or throat, or relaxation 

 of the uvula. Dose when chewed: 30 to 60 gr. (2 to 4 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATION. 



Tinctura Pyrethri (20 per cent.), Used externally. 



556. PYRETHRI FLORES. INSECT FLOWERS. The flowers of (i) Pyre'thrum 

 carne'um and Pyrethrum rose'um Weber, yielding, when powdered, Persian 

 or Caucasian Insect Powder, and (2) Pyrethrum cinerariaefo'lium Visiani, 

 yielding Dalmatian Insect Powder, which is more powerful than the Persian 

 powder; this latter is now produced of very superior quality in California by 

 cultivation. The plants resemble matricaria and bear flower-heads about 

 38 mm. (\yi in.) in diameter, surrounded by an imbricate involucre, (i) hav- 

 ing brownish scales with a white scarious (membranous) edge, whitish ray- 

 florets, and yellow disk-florets, and (2) having greenish involucral scales with 

 scarious edge, rose-colored ray-florets, and yellow disk-florets. The flowers 

 seldom come in market, but are in the form of a yellowish-brown or yellowish- 

 green powder, which is used either as a powder or in tincture as an insecticide. 

 It is not actively poisonous to human beings. Its strength or purity, and the 

 variety from which obtained, may be ascertained by microscopical examina- 

 tion. A deficiency of pollen and presence of sclerenchymatous tissue would 

 show a scarcity of flowers and the presence of stems in the powder, and con- 

 sequent inferiority in strength. 



557. INULA, N.P. ELECAMPANE. The root of In'ula Hele'nium. OS. in 

 U.S.P. 1890. Pound in the market in slices cut in various directions. Ex- 

 ternally grayish-brown, wrinkled, with overlapping bark. Internally gray. 

 When dry, breaks with a horny fracture. Odor aromatic, suggestive of orris 

 and camphor; taste slightly bitter, warm, aromatic. Gentle stimulant and 

 tonic, supposed also to have diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, and emmena- 

 gogue properties. Chiefly used in this country for dyspepsia and pulmonary 

 troubles. Dose: ^ to 2 dr. (2 to 8 Gm.), in powder or decoction. 



558. LAPPA, N.F. LAPPA 

 BURDOCK ROOT 



The dried root of Arc'tium lappa Linn6, and possibly of other species of Arctium, 

 collected from plants of the first year's growth. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Root biennial, fusiform; stem i to 3 feet high. 

 Leaves strong-smelling, ovate, with cordate and crenate base, or lanceolate, 

 with cuneate base. Involucre composed of imbricated coriaceous scales, 

 the stiff, needle-like points of which are hooked. Heads solitary or clus- 

 tered; flowers white or light purple, all tubular. Akenes oblong, flattened. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. A fusiform, fleshy root several inches in length and 

 about 25 mm. (i in.) thick, sometimes sliced longitudinally; grayish-brown, 

 longitudinally wrinkled from drying, and having withered scales near the top; 

 internally lighter colored, spongy, a cross-section showing a thick bark (in 

 young roots, thin in old), the inner layer of which, and the meditullium, is 



