354 MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 



Iris BLUE FLAG. (Not Officinal ) The rhizome 

 and rootlets of Iris versicolor. 



Characters. Rhizome 2 to 4 inches long, jointed, termi- 

 nated by a scar, annulated from the leaf-sheaths, grey-brown. 

 Rootlets long and simple ; odour slight ; taste acrid and 

 nauseous. 



Composition. A resinoid substance, iridin, has been ob- 

 tained from the root, the exact composition of which appears 

 to be undetermined. 



Non-officinal Preparations. 

 Extractum Iridis (TJ. S. P.)- Dose, 1 to 5 gr. 

 Extractum Iridis Fluidum (U. S. P.). Dose, 6 to 60 min. 



A powdered extractive ; dark-brown ; bitter, nauseous, 

 and acrid to the taste. Dose, 1 to 5 gr. 



ACTION AND USES. 



Iridin is a powerful hepatic stimulant or direct chola- 

 gogue, and cathartic ; possibly also diuretic. It is a useful 

 purgative in disorder of the liver and duodenum, whether given 

 alone or combined with other remedies. 



Sarsae Radix JAMAICA SARSAPARILLA. The 

 dried root of Smilax officinalis. Native of Central 

 America ; imported from Jamaica. 



Characters. Roots not thicker than a goose-quill, generally 

 many feet in length, reddish-brown, covered with rootlets, and 

 folded in bundles about eighteen inches long ; scentless ; tasto 

 mucilaginous, feebly bitter, faintly acrid. 



Substances resembling Sarsa : Senega, which is twisted ; 

 Hemidesmus, cracked transversely. 



Composition. Sarsaparilla contains a small quantity of 

 volatile oil, a colourless crystalline neutral principle, smilacin, 

 CigHggOg, resin, starch, mucilage, etc. 



Impurities. Inferior kinds, and Dulcamara. 



Preparations. 



1. Decoctum Sarsse. 1 in 8. Dose, 2 to 10 fl.oz. 



2. Decoctum Sarsse Compositum. Sarsaparilla, 2|- oz. ; Sassa- 



fras, \ oz.; G-uaiacum Wood, oz.; Liquorice, \ oz.; 

 Mezereon, 60 gr. ; Water, 30 oz. Dose, 2 to 10 fl.oz. 



3. Extractum Sarsee Liquidum. 2 in 1. Dose, 1 to 4 fl.dr. 



