BRYONY 321 



vessels ; they somewhat resemble calumba, but may be distinguished 

 by their yellowish grey cork and whitish wood. 

 The student should observe 



(a) The large size and gradually tapering shape, 



(b) The transverse corky ridges, 



(c) The nauseously bitter taste ; 



and should compare small specimens with horseradish root, which is 

 cylindrical and smooth, and has a pungent taste. 



Constituents. An intensely bitter amorphous alkaloid and a 

 dark brown resin, both of which are purgative ; an alcohol, bryonol, 

 and various fatty acids. The autumnal root contains, further, large 

 quantities of starch, the grains of which are exceedingly small and 

 impart a milky appearance to the juice that exudes from a freshly 

 cut surface. 



5. The root when taken internally in full doses acts as a 

 cathartic and diuretic ; applied to the skin it is irritant and may 

 cause vesication. It has been recommended for pleurisy, whooping 

 cough, and bronchitis, and has been given in cases of dropsy. 



Varieties. Bryonia alba, Linne, a Continental species, is dis- 

 tinguished by its monoecious flowers and black berries, the common 

 bryony having dioecious flowers and scarlet berries. It produces a 

 similar root containing probably the same constituents. 



SUMBUL RHIZOME 

 (Sumbul Root, Musk Root, Radix Sumbul) 



Source, &C. The botanical origin of the drug at present known 

 in commerce and official in the British Pharmacopoeia under the name 

 of Sumbul Root is not definitely known. It is generally referred to 

 Ferula Sumbul, Hooker films (N.O. Umbelliferce) , a plant of 

 considerable size, growing in Turkestan. This plant, however, 

 according to Holmes, produces a large napiform root that could 

 scarcely furnish the cylindrical pieces, 3 to 6 cm. long, that form much 

 of the commercial drug, although it was probably the source of the 

 drug of twenty-five years ago, which was apparently obtained from 

 a large fragrant root. F. suaveolens, Aitchison and Hemsley, has been 

 suggested as yielding the commercial drug. 



Description. Sumbul root occurs in short, more or less cylindrical 

 pieces that are remarkable for their extreme lightness ; they vary 

 considerably in size, but are usually from 3 to 6 cm. in width and 

 about the same in length, often dividing in the upper part into two, 

 three, or more branches. The latter are occasionally not more than 



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