ins 



ROSACEA. 



Medical Proiyerties and Uses. — Hardback and other species of spirrea, 

 l)otli iiulifj^eiioiis and exotic, have been used considerably as astringents, 

 both internally and topicallj'. Their action appears to diU'er in no way 

 from ^hat of other simple vegetable astringents. 



GILLEXIA.— Indian Physic. 



G i 1 1 e n ia tr ifo I iata Moonch. — Indian Phi/sic. 



l)(vrripit<m. — Calyx tubular-canipaniilatc, 5-toothed, the teeth some- 

 what reflexed. Corolla : petals 5, unequal, hnear-lanceolate, the two upper 



somewhat separated from the three 

 lower, inserted in the throat of the 

 calyx. Stamens 10 to 20, included. 

 Pods 5, included, 2- to 4;-seeded. 



An herliaceous perennial. 

 Stems severrd from one root, 1 to 

 2 feet high, erect, slender, flexuous, 

 smooth, commonly tinged with red, 

 and considerably bivmched. Leaves 

 alternate, trifoliate ; leaflets ovate, 

 lanceolate, acuminate, shiu-ply sei*- 

 rate. The upper leaf is often sin- 

 gle. Flowers few, nodding, rose- 

 colored or white, forming a loose 

 paniculate corymb, appearing in 

 July. 



Habitat. — Canada and Western 

 New York to Georgia. 



jPart Used. — The root — not of- 

 ficial. 



Coustitiients. — In addition to 

 the ordinary vegetable principles, 

 such as starch, gum, resin, tannin, 

 etc., gillenia possesses a jjeculiar 

 bitter principle, termed (jillenin, to 

 which its therapeutic properties are due. Gillenin has been obtained in 

 the form of a whitish powder, soluble in water, alcohol, ether, and dilute 

 acids. It has a very bitter taste and is an active emetic. 



rrepamtions.—'i^onG are official. The root is commonly administered 

 in powder. A lluid extract occurs as a commercial article. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Gillenia was formerly used, especially in 

 domestic practice, as r.i: emetic. It is said to act like ipecacuanha, though 

 less efficienth'. In very small doses it is said to exert a tonic influence 

 upon the stomach similar to that of ipecacuanha when used in like manner. 



Fio. rM.— anicniii trifoUtita. 



