RADIX CIMICIFUG^. 15 



Microscopic Structure — The tissue is formed of large angular 

 thin-walled cells loaded with starch which is either in the form of 

 isolated or compound granules. The vascular bundles contain numer- 

 ous spii'oid vessels which seen in ti-ansverse section appear arranged 

 so as to form about four rays. The outer coat of the root is made 

 up of about six rows of compressed, tabular cells with faintly brown- 

 ish walls. 



Chemical Composition — ^The root contains Atisine, an amorphous 

 alkaloid of intensely bitter taste discovered by Brought<.m/ who assigns 

 to it the formula C*H"*N"0*, obtained from concurrent analysis of a 

 platinum salt. The alkaloid is readily soluble in bisulphide of carbon 

 or in benzol, also to some extent in water. It is of decidedly alkaline 

 reaction, devoid of any acridity. Atisine has also been prepared (1877) 

 by Duuin" from the root in the laboratory of one of us. We have 

 before us its hydroiodate, forming colourless crystallized scales, which 

 we find to be very sparingly soluble in cold alcohol or water. At 

 boiling temperature the hydroiodate of atisine is readily dissolved; the 

 aqueous solution on cooling yields beautiful crystals. They agree, 

 according to Dunin, with the formula C^'ff'N-O'. HI + OH- ; this 

 chemist has also shown atisine not to be poisonous. The absence in 

 the drug of aconitine is proved by medical experience,^ and fuUy con- 

 firmed by the absence of any acridity in the root. 



Uses — The drug is stated to have proved a valuable remedy in 

 intermittent and other paroxysmal fev^ers. In ordinary intermittents 

 it may be given in powder in 20-grain doses. As a simple tonic the 

 dose is 5 to 10 gi-ains thrice a day. 



Substitutes — ^The native name Atis is applied in India to sevei*al 

 other drugs, one of which is an inert tasteless root commonly referred 

 to Asparagus saiiiientosus L. In Kunawar the tubers of Aconitum 

 Napellus L. are dug up and eaten as a tonic, the name atis being 

 applied to them as well as to those of A. lieterophylluni* 



RADIX CIMICIFUG^. 



Badix Actcew racemosce ; Black Snake-i-oot, Black Cohosh, Bughane. 



Botanical Origin — Chnicifuga racemosa Elliott {Actcea ra^emosa 

 L.;, a perennial herb 3 to 8 feet high, abundant in rich woods in 

 Canada and the United States, extending southward to Florida.^ It 

 much resembles Aetata spicata L., a plant widely spread over the 

 northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America, occurring also in Britain; 

 but it differs in having an elongated raceme of 3 to 8 inches in length 

 and dry dehiscent capsules. A. spAcata has a short raceme and juicy 

 berries, usually red. 



» Pharm Journ. vi. (1875) 189 ; ako structure, which he illustrates by en- 

 Blue Book, East India Chinchona Cultiva- gravings. 

 tio°, 1877. 133. ^Pliai-m. of India, 1868. 4. 434. 



- Dr. M. Dunin von Wasowicz has •* Hooker and Thomson (on the authority- 

 devoted to the drug under notice an of Munro) Flor. Ind. 1855. 58. 

 elaborate paper in the Archiv der Phar- * for figure, see Bentley and Trimen. 

 made, 214 (1879) 193-216, including its Med. Plants, Vxrt 2Z (XST,). 



