Botanic Remedies 



the leaves in five countries. Another of the Com- 

 positae that is a tonic bitter. See "Gentian" for 

 a discussion of the bitters. This drug has been 

 erroneously classed as a cholagogue (Wilcox). It 

 is, however, a mild laxative in full dosage. It 

 has also been classed as a diuretic. As a matter 

 of fact, taraxacum is available only as a simple 

 bitter, in which direction it serves very well; 

 but the dose, to be effective (extract 15 grains, fl. 

 2*/ fluidrachms), is large and may occasion flatu- 

 lence and diarrhea. Furthermore, the root loses, 

 activity in drying. The most rational preparation 

 is the Succus Taraxaci of the British Pharmacopeia, 

 and prepared by adding alcohol to the fresh juice. 

 The dose of this is 1 to 2 fluidrachms. 



Physicians who prescribe certain proprietary 

 viniferous tonics containing taraxacum in ludicrously 

 small quantities, usually also carrying a little phos- 

 phoric acid, will do better if they write for tr. mix 

 vomica, dilute phosphoric acid, compound tr. carda- 

 mon, syrup of orange, and water (no wine). If the 

 patient needs alcohol, compound tr. gentian may 

 displace the water. 



THUJA 



ARBOR VITAE, Thuja Occidentalism one of the 

 Coniferae, a form of cedar, incorrectly called WHITE 

 CEDAR. The true white cedar is Cupressus thyoides. 



Thuja contains a volatile oil called oil of arbor 

 vita in about 1 per cent in the fresh leaves, and it 

 (the oil) contains dextro-pinene as its active agent. 

 There is considerable resin, some wax, a bitter 

 principle, a yellow astringent body, and aromatic 

 principles in thuja. 



