168 RuniAciLE. 



Part Vaed. — Tlio herb — no*- official, Tlio roots of sovornl specios of 

 p;ii]iiuu wcio UHfid by tlio aliorii^'incs iih (lyo-KtulfH. 



diDislilimnfi*. — TliOHO and w^vcral otlicr species of <^aliiiiu contain oitlici" 

 finlihiniiic or asprrfainiif acid, tofj^othcr with other orj^anic, acids, a bitter 

 l)rin(!ii)lo, and connuon vegetable principles. G, trilloruni contains also cou- 

 niarin, to wliioh its fragrant odor is diK;. 



Prepm'atioiis. — There are commercial lluid extracts of some of tlio 

 species, but when nsed at all the })lanis are commonly administered in 

 decoction or in the form of the recently expressed jnice. 



Medical / 'roper tict^ and rws. — Galium Aparine is diuretic and refrig- 

 erant. It has been used in many diseases of th(! urinary organs, in scaly 

 atl'ections of the skin, and in cancer, with asserted benefit-, (r. tritloriun 

 acts in a similar manner, but as it contains coumarin, it might also be ex- 

 j)ected to exert some intluence upon the nervous system. 



CEPIIALANTIIUS.— BiiTTON'-Bi'SH. 



Cephalanthus occidentalis Linne. — nutl()n-P>ui<h. 



Description. — Calyx-tiil)0 inversely pyramidal, the limb 4-toothed. 

 Corolla tubular, slender, its limb -l-cleft, the lobes erect, imbricate in the 

 bud. Stamens •!, stylo filiform, exserted ; stigma capitate. Fruit dry, 

 inversely pyramidal, "1- to 4-celled, separating from the base to the summit 

 into 2 to \ closed, 1-seeded portions. 



^. shrub, 3 to 10 feet high. Leaves opposite or ternate, oval or lancec 

 late, pointed, 3 to 5 inches long. Flowers densely aggregated in close glo- 

 bose heads, axillary or terminal, appearing in July and August. 



Habit a I. — Alargins of swamps and in wet places, Canada and the 

 United States. 



l*art Used. — The bark — not official. 



Const iluent!^. — Ceplialantlius contains tannin, an uncr^'stallizable bitter 

 principle, a principle analogous to saponin, two resins, and common veg- 

 etable principles. 



Pre^xiralionii. — Tlie virtues of the bark are yielded to water and alcohol, 

 and heuce it may be administered in infusion or tincture. 



3[edical J'roperlies and fs^'.s. — Like nearly all vegetable substances pos- 

 sessing bitterness, this has been employed Avith asserted success in inter- 

 mittent and remittent fevers. It has not, however, attained an established 

 reputation, and its medicinal virtues are altogether problematical. 



MITCHELL A.— PAnTmnoE-BEnRV. 



Mitchella repens Linne. — Partridge-Jierr)/, Squaw-Berry. 



Description. — Flowers in pairs with ovaries united. Calyx 4-tootlied, 

 Corolla funnel-formed, with a slender tube, its limb 4-lobed, the lobes 

 spreading, densely bearded inside with white hairs. Stamens 4, inserted 



