273 IRIS VERSICOLOR 



found in Canada and all parts of the United States of America, 

 is also official, as follows : IKIS VERSICOLOR. The rhizome (U. S. P. 

 Secondary) . 



General Characters and Composition. The fresh rhizomes 

 resemble in appearance those of Iris florentina and the other 

 species of Iris which form the orris just described, and like them 

 they have an acrid taste, and no marked odour. Their properties 

 are imparted to some extent to water by boiling, but more perfectly 

 to alcohol ; but we have no reliable evidence of their composition. 

 By keeping, their acrimony and medical virtues are said to be 

 impaired. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Blue flag rhizome possesses 

 similiar medical properties to the orris rhizome already described, 

 being purgative and emetic. But although official in the United 

 States Pharmacopoeia, it is but little employed in regular practice. 

 Its chief use is by the class of irregular practitioners known in 

 the United States as " Eclectics," who prepare from it an oleo- 

 resin called iridin or irisin, which is believed to unite cholagogue 

 and diuretic with aperient properties, and which a correspondent 

 of the Lancet states to. cause effects similar to those of a mixture 

 of blue pill, aloes, and rhubarb. 



U. S. Disp., by W. & B., p. 499; Lancet, Aug. 30, 1862, p. 239. 



