Botanic Remedies 203 



dentifrices. It has an action similar to euonyrnus, 

 but is little used now as an internal remedy, being 

 apt to create gastric disturbance. Dose, 10 to 30 

 grains. 



BLUE FLAG, Iris versicolor. Not official now, but is 

 listed in the National Formulary. This is the species 

 common in the U. S. Like the Iridaceae generally, 

 it is possessed of acrid properties. The best prepa- 

 ration is a saturated tincture made from the fresh 

 root. The fluid preparations disintegrate in time. 



In full doses iris is an active emeto-cathartic quite 

 violent in action. In smaller doses it acts much 

 like podophyllum. It is an admirable remedy in 

 sick headache and as a mild cholagogue. 



Like many of the acrid drugs with eliminative 

 properties, iris is an alterative if continued in small 

 doses for a long period; it stimulates the glandular 

 system, and has an influence in reducing soft glandu- 

 lar enlargements with no specific pathology. As 

 vegetable "alteratives" go, it is a good one. 



The fl. is used in doses of ^4 to 5 minims. 



JALAP 



Exogonium purga. Universally official. Jalap and 

 scammony yield rather similar resins which are 

 complex mixtures. The really active portion of 

 these resins may be an eleterin-like body which is 

 highly irritating. The resin of jalap is nearly 

 tasteless. 



Jalap is marked by a definite tendency to promote 

 intestinal secretion, and this gives it a place of value 

 when the feces are hard and dry and when watery 

 evacuations may aid in the treatment of dropsy, as 

 in Bright's disease. The compound powder (jalap 



