246 ARISTOLOCHIA SERPENTARIA 



pains in the bowels, and tendency to diarrhoea. It has been 

 extensively employed in typhus and typhoid fevers ; and has ;lso 

 been highly recommended in intermittent fevers; but in the Litter 

 it is commonly given as an adjunct to bark or sulphate of quinia, 

 whose effects it is said to increase in a marked degree. It has 

 likewise been employed as an antidote against the bite of a mad 

 dog, but it has no more value in destroying the effects in such a case 

 than as a remedy in the bites of venomous reptiles. It is, however, 

 used with good results in diphtheria, chronic rheumatism, atonic 

 dyspepsia, and in exanthematous diseases to promote eruption. 

 A strong infusion is also reputed to be serviceable as a gargle 

 in malignant sore throat. Garrod states, that from observations 

 made during many years, he " is inclined to think that serpentary 

 is a remedy of some considerable power, acting in a manner not 

 unlike Guaiacum in stimulating the capillary circulation, and 

 promoting recovery in chronic forms of gouty inflammation ; and 

 as it does not disturb the bowels, it may often be administered 

 when Guaiacum is not easily tolerated." 



Gerarde's Herball, by Johnson (1632), p. 849; Dale's Pharma- 

 cologia (1693); Steph. & Church., Med. Bot. by Burnett, 

 vol. iii, pi. 180; Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii, pt. i, p. 433 ; Pharma- 

 cographia, p. 532 ; Garr. Mat. Med., p. 345 ; U. S. Disp. by 

 W. & B., p. 803 ; Chevallier, Journ. de Pharm., vol. vi, p. 365 ; 

 Wiegand, in Amer. Journ. Pharm., vol. x, 1845 ; Maisch, in 

 Am. Journ. Pharm. (1874), p. 106 ; Proc. Amer. Pharm. Ass. 

 (1873), p, 441 ; Millemann, in Amer. Journ. Pharm., 4th ser., 

 vol. iv, p. 511, and Year Book of Pharmacy (1875), p. 210. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE. 



Drawn from a specimen in the British Museum, collected in Florida. 



1. A complete plant. 



2. Vertical section of a flower, 



3. Flower with the perianth removed. 



4. Transverse section of the ovary. 



5. Fruit. 



6. 7. Upper, and 8. Under surface of the seed. 

 9 and 10. Sections of the same. 



(3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 enlarged.) 



