Botanic Remedies 207 



diuretic, as it contains very little arbutin and has 

 other principles of a disturbing nature. 



Gaultheria, q. v., STAGGER-BUSH or Andromeda 

 Mariana, and Kalmia are also Ericaceae. Gaultheria 

 is important on account of its oil, but it also con- 

 tains arbutin. Stagger-bush causes the death of 

 many lambs and calves that eat it. The allied 

 Kalmia angustifolia and Kalmia latifolia are nearly 

 similar in action and are also reputed to kill small 

 animals. Andromedotoxin is said to be the toxic 

 agent involved. 



I doubt the truth of this, at least as regards 

 Kalmia. Sourwood, referred to a paragraph back, 

 is an andromeda, and it is not poisonous; but the 

 Andromeda Japonica, as grown in Japan, contains 

 andrometoxin, which may or may not be the same 

 thing as andromedotoxin. The azaleas and rhodo- 

 dendrons are also said to contain it; and it is alleged 

 to be the toxic principle of the Ericaceae generally. 

 Now just bear in mind that huckleberry, blueberry, 

 cranberry, heather, sand myrtle, beetle-weed, Indian 

 pipe, beech-drops, and a veritable host of other 

 plants are Ericaceae, very few of which are toxic 

 and just an occasional one of medicinal interest. 

 I am inclined to the view that methyl salicylate 

 figures more than does andrometoxin (or andromedo- 

 toxin) as an ericaceous toxic agent. 



Kalmia latifolia has been recommended as a 

 remedy in syphilis, fevers, hypertrophy of the 

 heart, and a host of other affections. Homeopathic 

 texts recommend it in rheumatism and locomotor 

 ataxia. It is used from the "200th potency" to 5 

 minims fl. I have tried it out in a number of cases 

 and failed to find it of any value in any of its indi- 



