392 SUBTERRANEAN ORGANS 



toxic, but it is less active than protoveratrine. Rubijervine and 

 pseudojervine are also present, but are said to be inactive. Whether 

 protoveratridine occurs preformed in the drug is doubtful. The 

 roots appear to be somewhat richer in alkaloid than the rhizome 

 (Bredemann, 1906), and should not therefore be discarded. 

 White hellebore also contains resin and starch. 



Uses. White hellebore is a powerful emetic and purgative when 

 administered in full doses. It has been prescribed for gout, but is 

 now usually employed as an external application in certain skin 

 diseases, for the destruction of pediculi and other noxious vermin, 

 and as a moth-powder. 



AMERICAN VERATRUM 



(Green Hellebore, Rhizoma Veratri Viridis) 



Source, &c. Veratrum viride, Aiton (N.O. Liliacece), is a plant so 

 closely resembling F. album that its claim to be considered a distinct 

 species is very doubtful. It is common in the eastern United States, 

 growing in rich woods. The plant is dug up in the autumn, the 

 leaves are cut off close to the crown, and the rhizome is then usually 

 halved or quartered to facilitate drying ; occasionally the roots are 

 cut off ('trimmed' rhizomes), but more frequently they are left 

 attached to the rhizome (' with fibre '). 



The drug is commonly termed ' green hellebore,' but this name 

 is better restricted to the rhizome of Helleborus viridis, Linne ; American 

 veratrum is a more suitable designation. 



Description. The rhizome closely resembles that of F. album, 

 the chief difference being the fact that American veratrum is usually 

 cut longitudinally, whilst white veratrum is commonly entire ; other 

 characters are the brighter, yellowish brown colour and the more 

 shrivelled appearance of the roots. These are, however, variable 

 characters, and there is no definite means of distinguishing the two 

 drugs. 



Constituents. The constituents of Veratrum viride are apparently 

 identical with those of Veratrum album, with the (doubtful) exception 

 that the former contains an alkaloid cevadine that is not found in 

 the latter ; they are present in about the same proportion. 



Uses. American veratrum has been recommended as a sedative, 

 but is seldom prescribed. 



SWEET FLAG RHIZOME 

 (Rhizoma Acori Calami) 



Source, &c. The sweet flag or sweet sedge, Acorus Calamus, 

 Linne (N.O. Aroidece), is a native of Eastern Europe and Central 



