POKE ROOT. 223 



and is, in small doses, an excellent sedative to the ner- 

 vous system. Valuable in acute rheumatism, articular 

 stiffness, &c. 



Preparation Fluid extract : Dose, 5-30 drops. 



Distinctive character Leaves trifoliate, the ter- 

 minal leaflet with a longer stalk, the lateral nearly 

 sessile, about 4 inches long, obliquely ovate, entire or 

 sometimes notched, downy beneath, papery and brittle 

 when dry, sometimes with black spots of exuded juice, 

 turned black on drying. Taste, acrid, somewhat 

 astringent. Odour, none. 



POKE ROOT. Phytolacca decandra, Linn. 



N.O. Phytolaccocex. 

 Syn. Pigeon Berry, Garget. 

 Parts used Root, berries. 



Action Emetic, cathartic, alterative. Poke Root is 

 considered a valuable remedy in dyspepsia, but is 

 mostly used in syphilitic and chronic rheumatism. It 

 also finds use in the treatment of ulcers, ringworm, 

 scabies, granular conjunctivitis, and dysmenorrhcea. 

 The berries are milder in action. 



Preparations Fluid extract, berries : Dose, -1 

 drachm. Fluid extract, root : Dose, -\ drachm. 

 Phytolaccin : Dose, 1-3 grains. 



Distinctive character The root is usually sold in 

 transverse slices, or in pieces split longitudinally, but in 

 either case the characteristic concentric rings are easily 

 seen. The outer surface is brownish grey and wrinkled. 

 The inner whitish and hard, but not woody. Fracture 

 fibrous. Taste, sweetish and acrid. Inodorous. The 

 berries are depressed-globular, purplish black and fleshy, 

 about ^ inch in diameter and composed of 10 carpels, 

 each containing one lens-shaped seed. Taste, sweetish. 

 Inodorous. 



