228 



APOCYNACE^. 



Habitat. — In rich woods from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin and south- 

 ward. 



Parts Used. — The rhizome and rootlets — United States Pharmacopoeia. 



Constituents. — A j)eculiar bit- 

 ter principle, volatile oil, resin, 

 tannin and other common vege- 

 table principles. UjDon which 

 of its chemical constituents its 

 therapeutic virtues depend is 

 not known. 



Preparations. — Ext r actum 

 spigelia fluidum — fluid extract 

 of spigelia. — United States Phar- 

 macojioeia. It is most commonly 

 administered in infusion or de- 

 coction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. 

 — Sjjigelia enjoys a high reputa- 

 tion among the laity as a remedy 

 for lumbricoid worms, but, as it 

 is commonly administered with 

 senna, there is a difiference of 

 opinion as to which of the drugs 

 is the more active agent in the 

 destruction of the worms. How- 

 ever this may be, spigelia is certainly entitled to a share of the credit. It is 

 even capable of producing toxic effects upon the human subject, such as 

 drowsiness, muscular tremor, strabismus, and convulsions, hence the prac- 

 tice of administering it in large and often-repeated doses to young chil- 

 dren, upon the bare suspicion of the presence of worms, cannot be too 

 strongly condemned. 



APOCYNACE>E. 



Character of the Order. — Plants with opposite, rarely alternate, exstijDu- 

 late leaves, and generally an acrid, milky juice. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 

 5-parted, the lobes convolute in the bud. Stamens 5, inserted on the co- 

 rolla ; filaments distinct. Ovaries 2, distinct, but with styles united. Fruit 

 a pod. 



A large order of chiefly tropical plants, represented in North America 

 by only a few genera. 



APOCYNUM. —Dogbane. 



Character of the Genus. — Calyx 5-parted, small, the lobes acute. Co- 

 rolla 5-cleft, bearing 5 triangular scales in the throat oj^posite the lobes. 



Pig. 149.— Spigelia Marilandica. 



