04 llANUNCULACE.i:. 



COi'TlH, 



Coptis trifolia Salishnry. — (Inhllhrcad. 



JtrKiripliun, — Calyx: sopiils T) to 7, potal-lilco, wliito, dopiduous. Corolln : 

 l)etiils 5 to 7, sniiillor than tlio sopjils, cliib-sliapcd, yullow at the baso, liullow 

 at tho npox. StainnuH 15 lo 25, liypogynouH. PintilH !} to 10, on hIcikIci- 

 HtallvH. Cai)suU),s stcllatoly divorf^in^', stalked, obloiijjf, coinprossed, acu- 

 miiiato with tho porsistoiit style, 4- to 8-seodod. Soeds obloiijjf, 1)lack, 

 Hiiiooth, and Hhiniii^. 



A small poroiiiiial, with cvorj^roou loaves arisiiijjf from a horizontal rhi- 

 zome; which sends oil" in every direetion lon<^ slender libres of a bright 

 yellow color, wheneo the common name of (johUhrcad. Leaves Kmootli, 

 voiTiy, somewhat coriaceous, all radical, on lon{» petioles, ternately divided, 

 tho leaflets about an inch long, romidish, acute at tho base, lobed and 

 <'renato, the crenaturos acuminate. Scape slender, round, bearing one 

 starry-white flowei", about two-thirds of an inch in diameter, and a minute 

 ovate, acute bi-act some distance below it. Blooms in May. 



Habitat. — Swamps and bogs from Canada and the Northeni United 

 States southward along tho mountains to ^laiyland. 



Part.-f L'si.v/. — The whole plant may be employed, but the rhizomes and 

 rootlets are chiotlv used. Formerlv official, it has been discarded from the 

 United States Pliarmacopoiia. 



Constituentti. — Goldtln-ead has a strongly bitter taste, tniattended with 

 astringency. Its most important constituent is bcrherina ; another alka- 

 loid, coptiiia, exists in small proportion. The latter appears to bear some 

 analogy to In'drastia. It contains neither tannic nor gallic acid. 



J'ri'pardfioux. — Tiiere are no otHcial preparations of this plant. It 

 yields its virtues to alcohol and to water. Tho alcoholic tincture is of a 

 beautiful yellow color, and in cases where alcohol is not contra-indicated, 

 may be employed as fully representing the drug. An infixsion is also 

 efficient. 



Mrdival Propertia^ and fTxcs. — Analysis proves goldthread to be a pure 

 and simple bitter. Clinically it acts like calumba, quassia, and other 

 drugs of this class. It was formerly much used as a wash for aphthous 

 isOJ'e mouth, exerting in this instance an influence like that of hydrastis. 

 As ft tonic during convalescence, and in weakened condition of the di- 

 gestive organs, it may be substituted for calumba, quassia, etc., as oc- 

 casion requires. 



HYDRASTIS. 



Hydrastis Canadensis Linnc. — Golden Seal, Yellow-Root, Yelloxo 

 Puocoon, 



Description. — Calyx : sepals 3, small, petal-like, of a pale I'ose-color, 

 falling away soon after the flower expands. Corolla absent. Stamens 



