82 nympii^aceyE. 



strated by Professor Maiscli and others, neither berberina nor any other 

 alkaloid. 



Pre2Mrafions. — Abstractum podophylli — abstract of podophyllum ; ex- 

 tractum podophylli — extract of podophyllum ; extractum podophylli flu- 

 iduni — fluid extract of podophyllum ; resina podophylli — resin of podo- 

 phyllum (incorrectly tevmed podojyhi/Uin). — United States Pharmaco-posia. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Podophyllum is an active cathartic, in- 

 creasing the intestinal secretions and producing copious and somewhat 

 watery stools, resembling jalap in its mode of operation, though its effects 

 are produced much more slowly. Its action is attended with considerable 

 griping, and sometimes nausea, which, however, may be, to a great ex- 

 tent, obviated by administering it in combination with other cathartics or 

 with sedatives. In over-doses it produces violent emeto-catharsis, and has 

 not unfrequently caused fatal prostration. That it exerts a special in- 

 fluence upon the functions of the liver seems to have been abundantly 

 demonstrated by clinical experience ; and in those cases of inactivity of 

 this organ so frequently met with in the condition vaguely but ex- 

 pressively termed " biliousness," few remedies act as satisfactorily. As an 

 aid to overcoming the habit of constipation, administered alone or in 

 judicious combinations, few drugs equal and fewer still surpass it in 

 efficacy. Thus, though analogous to jalap in some resjjects, it has a 

 wider range of usefulness. It is used by eclectics as a substitute for mer- 

 cury in the treatment of syphilis, and has even been denominated " vege- 

 table calomel," on account of its supposed efficacy as an alterative. There 

 is little reason, however, for supposing that it exerts any direct or spe- 

 cific effect upon syphilis, or that its alterative influence extends beyond the 

 mere increasing the hepatic and intestinal secretions. It would, therefore, 

 be extremely unwise to rely upon it to the exclusion of mercui'y and the 

 iodides in the treatment of so grave a disease as syphiHs. 



NYMPH/EACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Aquatic perennial herbs, with horizontal rhi- 

 zomes and peltate or cordate fleshy leaves, either floating on the surface 

 of the water or borne above it upon long petioles. Sepals usually 4, 

 sometimes confounded with the numerous petals, and these often passing 

 gradually into stamens ; stamens indefinite in number, inserted in the 

 torus above the petals, with petaloid filaments, and adnate, introrse 

 anthers, opening by two longitudinal clefts ; torus large and fleshy, sur- 

 sounding the ovary, which is many-celled and many-ovuled, with radiat- 

 ing stigmas. Fruit many-celled, indihescent ; seeds very numerous, borne 

 on the sides or back of the cells, and not on the ventral suture. 



An order comj)rising five genera in North America, namely, Braseuia, 

 Cabomba, Nelumbium, Nviphar, and Nymphsea, and these are represented 



