JEFFEHSONIA — TWIN-LEAF. 79 



maturpf, in Angni?t. The plant is known in vaviouf* sections of the country 

 p:- i^appoose I'out, S(pta}ii Hoof, and Jihudicrrtj Hoot. 



Habitat. — In rich, moist woods from Canada to South Cai'oUnaand west- 

 ward. A very common plant, and (luite widely distributed. 



Parts Used. — The rhizome and rootlets — United States^ Pharmncopnia. 



Constituents. — In addition to the ordinary constituents of jjlants, such 

 as allmmen, gum, starch, mineral salts, etc., there have been found in 

 caulophyllum two rosins, and a principle analogous to saponin. The resins, 

 in an imiwre condition, are obtained by prccipi*^ation from the concentrated 

 alcoholic tincture with water. The precipitate, Avhich amounts to twelve 

 per cent, of the root employed, is known as canlophyllin. It has a sweetish- 

 hitter and afterward somewhat acrid taste, similar to that of the root, 

 and probably represents whatever activity the plant is possessed of. 



Preparations. — There are no official jjreparatious of caulophyllum. A i 

 tae I'oot yields its virtues to alcohol, it may be administered in tincture, oi 

 in the form of the so-called caulophylliu, a commercial article readily ob- 

 tainable. 



3Iedi(al Properties and Uses. — Antispasmodic, demulcent, diaphoretic, 

 diuretic, cmmenagogue, and parturient properties have been attributed to 

 this plant, but upon what evidence it is difficult to decide. Rafinesque 

 sa3's that " as a powerful emmenagogue it promotes delivery, menstruation, 

 and dropsical discharges," and that it was \ised " by the Indians and their 

 imitators for rheumatism, dropsy, colic, sore throat, ci-amp, hiccough, epi- 

 lepsy, hysterics, inflannnation of the vterus, etc." It would seem that 

 many authors, in writing upon this plant since the time of Ra^nesque, have 

 repeated his assertions in one form or auothei", not only without question 

 but generally without ci'edit also. At any rate, little seems to have been 

 added to, while nuich has been sul)tracted from, the estimated value of the 

 plant as a remedy since Rafinesque's time. King, however, says {American 

 Dispe.isatorii) : "In decoction, blue cohosh is preferable to ergot for expe- 

 diting delivery in all those cases whore the delay is owing to debility or 

 want of uterine nervous energy, or is the result of fatigue." This state- 

 ment will be taken cum grano salis by those who, like the author, have 

 made an experimental comparison — or rather contrast — of the two. 



JEFFERSONIA.— Twin-Leaf. 



JefFersonia diphylla Persoon. — Triin-Leaf, Rheumatism Root. 



Desci'iption. — Calyx : sepals 4, petal-like, fugacious. Corolla : petals 8, 

 oblong, flat. Stamens 8, shorter than the petals ; anthers linear-oblong, 

 on slender filaments. Ovary solitary, ovoid, soon becoming gibbous ; 

 stigma 2-lobed, nearly sessile ; ovules 5 or G, attached to one side of the 

 ovary below the middle. Fruit a somewhat stipitate cajisule, opening by 

 a transvei'se, semi-lunar slit near the summit. Seeds numerous, crowded 



