SAPONARIA — SOAPWOllT. * 103 



Part Ut^ed. — The flowerinj^ tops — not officiiil. 



Cdiii^lifut'nL^. — St. John's wort has as yvi yielded to analysis nothing 

 more interesting than a peculiar red coloring matter, and nothing what- 

 ever to inspire contidence in its therapeutic activity. " 



IWparalions. — There are no official preparations. The flowering tops, 

 digested with olive or linseed oil, yiekl a yellowish-red product, termed 

 oleum hi/penci, or red oil, which is a prei^aration considerably used in do- 

 mestic practice. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — In ancient times, when nature unaided 

 v.'ps supposed to ha incompetent to heal a cut- or cure a contusion, St. 

 John's wort was very highly esteemed, and, it may be added, it is still 

 esteemed by those who hold the same opinions of nature's powers. In 

 scientitic medicine, however, it holds no pltice, having become obsolete 

 long ago. One author only of comi)aratively recent date considers " the 

 saturated tinctui-e nearly as valuable as that of ai'nica for bruises, etc." 

 As tincture of arnica, however, apart from the alcohol which it contains, 

 is of doubtful elHcacy in these cases, the above statement does not tend to 

 inspire faith in St. John's wort. 



CARYOPHYLLACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Herbs, with stems swollen at the joints, op- 

 posite, entire leaves, and regular flowers. Sepals -4 or 5, distinct or coher- 

 ing, persistent. Po:tal3 4 or 5, with narrow claws, sometimes Avanting. 

 Stamens distinct, not more than twice the number of the sepals, hypogy- 

 nous or perigynous. Ovary solitary, often supported on a stalk, commonly 

 1-celled, occasionally 3- to 5-celled, with a free central placenta ; styles 2 

 to 5, sometimes united into one. Fruit a 1-celled, many-seeded capsule, 

 opening by 2 to 5 valves or by teeth at the apex. 



Fev/ strictly North American species of this large order are known to 

 possess medicinal virtues. Indeed, plants of this order ai'c everywhere 

 characterized by blaudness and an absence of active or ii-ritating properties. 



SAPOX ARI A. — SoAi'woiiT. 



Saponaria officinalis Linue. — Soaptcort, Bouncing Bet. 



Dexcriplion. — Calyx : sepals united, forming a cylindrical tube, divided 

 at the apex into five pointed teeth. Corolla : petals 5, limb somewhat 

 cordate, claw long and angular with an appendage at the top. Stamens 

 10, longer than the calyx. Styles 2. Capsule short-stalked, 1-celled, 4- 

 toothed, many-seeded. 



A perennial herb, strongly rooted, with erect stem 1 to 2 feet high. 

 Leaves oval, entire, pointed, 3-ribbed, connate. Flowers in axillary and 

 terminal clusters, pale rose-colored or nearly white, often double, appear- 

 ing from July to September. 



