396 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



strychnine poisoning, but is inferior to chloral, bromides 

 and anaesthetics, and while it is antagonistic to a certain 

 extent, and alters the character of strychnine convulsions, 

 yet animals die more quickly when poisoned by both strych- 

 nine and eserine, than by strychnine alone. 



Gelsemium. Gelsemium. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Eadix gelsemii, yellow jessamine, E.; racine 

 de jasmin jaune, Fr.; gelber jasmin-wurzel, G. The rhizome 

 or roots of Gelsemium sempervirens (Linne) Persoon (nat. 

 ord. Loganiacese). 



Habitat — Southern United States. 



Description. — Cylindrical, long, or cut in sections, mostly 

 from 5 to 15 mm. and occasionally 3 cm. thick, the roots 

 much thinner ; externally light yellowish-brown, with pur- 

 plish-brown longitudinal lines; tough; fracture splintery; 

 bark thin, with silky bast-fibre closely adhering to the pale, 

 yellowish, porous wood, which has fine medullary rays, and 

 in the rhizome a thin pith ; odor aromatic, heavy ; taste 

 bitter. 



Constituents. — The most important is the first alkaloid. 

 1. Gelsemine, C64H69N4O12. A colorless, crystallizable, bitter 

 principle, soluble in alcohol and ether, and slightly in 

 water. 2. Gelseminine, a brown, amorphous, bitter alkaloid. 

 3. Gelseminic acid. 4. A volatile oil. 



Dose.—B.., 3 i.-ii. (4.-8.); D., gr.v.-x. (.3-.6). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Extraetum Oelsemii Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Gelsemium. 



(U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration, percolation and evaporation, so that 1 Cc. 

 = 1 Gm. of the crude drug. 



i)ose.— H., 3 i.-ii. (4.-8.); D., mv-x. (.3-.6). 



Tinctura Oelsemii. Tincture of Gelsemium. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Gelsemium, 150; alcohol and water to make 1,000. Made by- 

 maceration and percolation. (U. S. P.) 



Dose.— H., |ss.-i. (15.-30.); D., nxv.- 3 i. (1.-4.). 



