92 Botanic Drugs 



stressed this remedy and used it for years in its 

 proper indications, I have given preference to their 

 preparations of the drug. Unless the case is urgent, 

 it is well to begin with small doses; but I never 

 found very small dosage effective, seldom giving 

 less than 5 minims fl. four times a day. But there 

 are cases, especially nephritic ones, in which a 

 decoction seems to be more effective than any other 

 form in which the drug may be exhibited. 



ARALIA 



DWARF ELDER, Aralia hispida. The bark of the 

 root is used. Do not confound with Sambucus Cana- 

 densis, the common elder. The Araliaceae in gen- 

 eral possess aromatic and stimulant properties and 

 are mildly diuretic, the Aralia hispida being the 

 more active. 



The decoction is irritating, owing to emetic and 

 hydragogue principles in the bark being soluble in 

 water; but the fl. made with a large proportion of 

 alcohol largely avoids these irritating principles 

 and most of the unpleasant odor of the plant. 



Aralia is one of the minor diuretics especially 

 adapted to edema from inactive kidneys, and it does 

 not irritate in 5- to 10-minim doses fl. In large 

 doses^-one drachm or over it is cathartic and 

 actively diuretic, and there are cases of dropsy in 

 which it is most serviceable. It is listed in the 

 National Formulary. 



ARI8TOL 



THYMOL IODIDE (U. S. P.). A condensation 

 product of two molecules of thymol with two atoms 

 of iodine, and a useful substitute for iodoform. 



