Botanic Drugs 



These remarks are made simply to show how 

 vague many of our therapeutic recommendations 

 are. Certainly it is foolish to contend that aromatic 

 rhus is indicated at all in an established polyuria. 

 Nevertheless it is not fair wholly to discredit the 

 drug. The astringent terebinthinates fill a useful 

 place. See "Abies." 



The dose of fl. aromatic rhus is 15 to 30 minims. 

 Give it on sugar, since the preparation is not miscible 

 with water. 



SUMACH BERRIES, Rhus glabra. Was official in 

 the U. S. P. VIII. The diluted fl. is a simple but 

 effective astringent, used in the treatment of aphthae, 

 salivation from mercury, and as a gargle. 



CHINESE GALLS, Rhus semialata, official in Japan; 

 used for the contained tannin. Rhus diversiloba, of the 

 Pacific slope, POISON OAK, and Rhus toxicodendron, 

 the POISON IVY of the Eastern States, have similar 

 toxic effects. The JAPANESE POISONOUS SUMACH, 

 R. vernicifera, the American Rhus vernix or R. 

 venenata, and some tropical species, are closely allied 

 if not similar as regaTds toxicity. 



"The toxic principle is an amber colored non- 

 volatile liquid resin which has acidic and phenolic 

 properties, and which may be readily oxidized to a 

 black, lustrous, durable varnish." 1 



PHARMACOLOGY. The poisonous principle is pre- 

 served for a long time in alcohol. Many animals 

 can eat this plant with impunity, but it is asserted 

 some of the smaller animals are poisoned by it. 

 Man is not constantly affected by the plant. I 



Stevens and Warren: Am. Jour. Pharm., 1907, CXXIX, 518. 

 Pfaff: Jour. Exper. Med., 1897, ii, 188. 

 Syme and Acree: Am. Chem. Jour., 1906, XXXVI, 301. 

 McNair: Jour. Am. Chem. Soc., 1916, XXXVIII, 1417. 



