STAPHISAGRIA 597 



Class 3.— Used to Destroy Lice. 



Staphisagria, Staphisagria. 



Synonym, — Staphisagrise semina, B.P. ; stavesacre, 

 semina staphidis agrise s. pedicularis, E.; staphisaigre, Fr.; 

 stephauskorner, lausekorner, G. 



The seeds of Delphinium Staphisagria Linn^ (nat. ord. 

 Ranunculaceae). 



Habitat — Shores of Mediterranean ; cultivated. 



Description. — About 5 Mm. long, 3 or 4 Mm. broad, 

 flattish-tetrahedral, one side convex, brown or brownish- 

 gray, with reticulate ridges, containing a whitish, oily, 

 albumen and a straight embryo ;• nearly inodorous, taste 

 bitter and acrid. 



Constituents, — 1, the important principle is delphinine 

 (CsaHasNOg), a white, poisonous, crystalline alkaloid resem- 

 bling veratrine and aconite ; soluble in alcohol, chloroform 

 and ether ; 2, delphisine (C27H46N2O4) ; 3, delphinoidine 

 (O^gHesNaO,) ; 4, staphisagrine (C22H22NO5) ; 5, a fixed oil. 



Action and Uses. — Powdered staphisagria is employed 

 solely to kill lice (pediculi) in ointment (1-2) with benzoin- 

 ated lard or vaseline. Creolin solutions (3-6 per cent.), 

 tobacco infusions (5-10 per cent.), and oil of anise with 

 sweet oil (1-10 per cent.), are also used for the same purpose. 

 The latter mixture is an elegant preparation for pet dogs. 



The tincture of larkspur (delphinium cousolida), another 

 species of the same genus, is also a very efficient parasiticide 

 against pediculi. It contains 1 part of larkspur seeds to 16 

 of alcohol. 



Class 4. — Used to Destroy Fleas. 



Pyrethrum. Pyre^hrum. (Non-official.) 



Synonym. — Persian, Caucasian or Dalmatian insect 

 powder. 



The flowers of Pyrethrum roseum and carneum. 



