228 PRIMROSE. 



a general stimulant is required, and will be found of 

 especial service in the treatment of rheumatism and 

 skin diseases. 



Preparations Fluid extract, bark: Dose,$-i drachm. 

 Solid extract : Dose, 2-4 grains. Fluid extract, berries : 

 Dose, 10-30 drops. Xanthoxylin: Dose, 1-2 grains. 



Distinctive character The Northern bark is in 

 curved or quilled fragments about -^ inch thick, exter- 

 nally brownish grey, with whitish patches, faintly 

 furrowed, with some linear-based two-edged spines about 

 inch long. Fracture short, green in the outer, and 

 yellow in the inner part. Taste, bitterish and very 

 pungent, causing salivation. The Southern bark, which 

 is usually sold, is T \ inch thick and has conical, corky 

 spines sometimes inch in height. 



PRIMROSE. Primula vulgarls, Huds. 



N.O. Primulacea. 

 Parts used Root, herb. 



Action Astringent, antispasmodic, vermifuge. In 

 the early days of medicine this plant constituted an 

 important remedy in muscular rheumatism, paralysis, 

 and gout. Now it is seldom used. In America, Prof. 

 Scudder used a tincture of the fresh plant in bloom, in 

 a strength of 10 ounces to a pint of alcohol, in doses of 

 i-io drops, in extreme sensitiveness, restlessness, and 

 insomnia. The infusion of root is taken in tablespoon- 

 ful doses. 



Distinctive character The leaves are about 5 inches 

 long and i J inch broad, tapering, oblanceolate, rounded 

 above, and tapering below into a winged stalk, reticulated 

 and smooth above, the veins and veinlets prominent 

 beneath and hairy, the margin irregularly and shortly 

 dentate. Taste, insipid. Odour, none. Rootstock 

 knotty, with successive bases of fallen leaves with cylin- 

 drical branched rootlets on all sides. Transverse 

 section reddish, with a central pith. 



