534 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Action and Uses. — Taraxacum is a simple stomachic and 

 bitter aijd may be employed in place of gentian or calumba. 

 It has been generally taught that taraxacum is an hepatic 

 stimulant and increases the secretion of bile. This has been 

 proved fallacious. The extract is often used as an excipient 

 in preparing masses. 



Hydrastis. Hydrastis. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Golden seal, yellow root, yellow puccoon, 

 orange root, Indian dye, Indian tumeric, E.; racine d'hydras- 

 tis de Canada, Fr.; Canadische gelbwurzel, G. 



The rhizome and roots of Hydrastis canadensis Linne 

 (nat. ord. Ranunculacese). 



Habitat — North America in woods, west to Missouri and 

 Arkansas. 



Descripion. — Rhizome about 4 Cm. long and 6 Mm. 

 thick ; oblique, with short branches, somewhat annulate 

 and longitudinally wrinkled ; externally brownish-gray ; 

 fracture short, waxy, bright reddish-yellow, with a thickish 

 bark, about ten narrow wood-wedges, broad, medullary rays 

 and large pith. Roots thin, brittle, with a thick yellow bark 

 and subquadrangular, woody centre. Odor slight ; taste 

 bitter. 



Constituents. — 1, berberine (CjoHj-NOJ, an alkaloid 

 occurring in yellow crystals and found in many plants of 

 the families Berberacese, Ranunculaceae, andMenispermacese ; 

 2, hydrastine (CjiHaiNOg), a colorless, crystalline alkaloid, 

 soluble in alcohol and ether ; 3, canadine (CoiHgiNOJ, occur- 

 ring in white, acicular crystals. 



Dose.—H. & C, 3 ii-- 1 i. (8.-30.); Sh. & Sw., 3 i.-ii. (4.-8.); 

 D., gr.v.-3i. (.3-4.). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Hydrastis Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Hydrastis. 



(U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol, glycerin and 

 water, and evaporation, so that 1 Cc. = 1 Gm. of hydrastis. 



