20 SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS 



majus). Its salts are all soluble in water and form beautiful 

 red solutions. Three other principles have been noticed as 

 constituents of Sanguinaria, one of which is regarded by Riegel, 

 its discoverer, as analogous to the porphyroxin of opium, but this 

 is denied by Gibb ; the second has been termed puccin ; and the 

 third sanguinarinic acid. Sanguinaria is said to deteriorate 

 rapidly by keeping. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Sanguinaria is emetic and 

 purgative in large doses ; and stimulant, diaphoretic, and expec- 

 torant in small doses. It is also said to act as an emmenagogue ; 

 and Eberle states that it exercises a sedative influence on the 

 heart as certain as that of digitalis. In excessive quantities it 

 acts as an aero-narcotic poison. When applied externally it is 

 reputed to have well-marked escharotic properties, and Dr. Fell, 

 of the United States, strongly recommends a mixture of it and 

 chloride of zinc made into a paste with flour and water, as an 

 external application for the destruction of cancerous growths; 

 but from trials made with it at the Middlesex Hospital and else- 

 where in this country it would appear that, if it produces any 

 effect in such cases it must be very small indeed, and that it 

 is, therefore, practically useless for such a purpose. Sanguinaria 

 might probably be useful as a dyeing agent. 



U. S. Disp., by W. & B., p. 769; Ph. Jl., vol. xvii, p. 312, vol. i, 

 2nd ser., p. 454, and vol. iv, 2nd ser., p. 263; Per. Mat. Med., 

 vol. ii, part 2, p. 660. 



DESCRIPTION OP PLATE. 



Drawn from a specimen grown in the Royal Gardens, Kew, flowering in 

 April ; the fruit and seed added from A. Gray. 



1. A bud, showing the sepals. 



2. Vertical section of ovary showing insertion of stamens. 



3. Transverse section of ovary. 



4. Fruit. 



5. Seed. 



6. Transverse section of the same, 



(2, 3 enlarged ; 5, 6 much magnified.) 



