Botanic Remedies 



As it belongs to the Leguminosae, many of which 

 have active seeds and roots, the root of the red 

 clover may possess active properties; it would be 

 more probable to find activity in the root than in 

 the blossoms. However, the blossoms are used; 

 but always combined with several other drugs, in- 

 clusive of potassium iodide. Therefore, who is to 

 say whether red clover blossoms by themselves 

 possess any activity? There are too many agents 

 used in medicine simply because at one time they 

 were ingredients in poly-pharmacy preparations. 

 One of the best illustrations of this is the number 

 of such agents carried over from one pharmacopeia 

 to another, and yet nearly worthless. As an illus- 

 tration, see the next entry. 



MEZEREUM 



Daphne Mezereum, official in the TJ. S. P. IX, but 

 dropped by all other countries except Mexico, 

 Japan, and Switzerland. An acrid poison of no use 

 internally and yet for long, and even yet, an in- 

 gredient of the compound fluidextract of sarsaparilla 

 and hence alleged to be of service in the treatment 

 of syphilis. What nonsense! As a rubefacient it 

 is vastly inferior to capsicum. Yet the U. S. P. 

 advocates poke fun at the Eclectics and their 

 standards. 



MINTS 



Some of the more important mints, or Labiatae, 

 are separately considered. The remaining ones will 

 be grouped together here. 



Cunilia Mariana, DITTANY, a very fragrant mint 

 essentially the same as pennyroyal. See "Hedeoma." 

 Hyssopus officinalis, HYSSOP, stimulant, aromatic, 



