186 Botanic Drugs 



The fl. may be given in doses from 1-5 to 3 minims. 

 Helleborin should never be given. Helleborein is 

 given in doses of 1-30 to 1-10 grain. Be cautious 

 with this drug in any form. 



HELONIAS 



UNICORN ROOT, STAR WORT, Chamaelirium luteum, 

 also called Helonias dioica. Often confused with 

 aletris, q. v. In some parts of the country is called 

 BLAZING STAR. 



Pilcher's experiments on the action of plant drugs 

 on the uterus gave negative results with helonias. 

 The root contains a bitter principle; and, indeed, 

 two of the bitters, aletris and helonias, are called 

 Starwort. Then, too, there is another plant, Helenium 

 autumnale, commonly called SNEEZE-WEED and con- 

 taining helenin. 



This latter agent was given elaborate considera- 

 tion by Lamson, in a paper in The Jour, of Phar. 

 and Ex. Ther., July, 1913. It caused lethal gastro- 

 enteritis and failure of the heart and is poisonous to 

 cattle eating it. He suggests its use as a stomachic 

 (the whole plant being used) in small doses. To 

 my personal knowledge, cattle die from the same 

 symptoms after eating either helonias or helenium. It 

 is probable the two drugs would act similarly in man. 



These agents aletris, helenium, and helonias 

 contain, at least when fresh, acrid substances. In 

 large doses they may all act as emmenagogues and 

 abortifacients; but, when they do so act, it is not 

 because they possess any specific influence upon 

 the womb or ovaries, but from the general consti- 

 tutional poisoning and gastro-intestinal irritation 

 they induce. 



