228 



APOCYNACE/E. 



Habitat. — In rich woods from Peuusylvciniii to' Wisconsin and south- 

 ward. 



Furls L'aed. — Tho rhizome and rootlets — United Stales I'hurmacopdm. 



Coudi.luents. — A pecuHur bit- 

 ter ])rinciple, volatile oil, resin, 

 tiumin and other common vege- 

 table principles. Upon which 

 of its choniical constituents its 

 thenipeutic virtues depend is 

 not known. 



Preparations. — Extractum 

 spigelia lluidum— Huid extract 

 of spigelia. — United States Vhar- 

 iiiaenpa'ia. It is most commonly 

 administered in infusion or de- 

 coction. 



Medical Prvjxjiies and Uses. 

 — Spigelia enjoys a high reputa- 

 tion among the laity as a I'cmedy 

 for lumbricoid worms, l)ut, as it 

 is commonly administei'ed with 

 senna, there is a diflerence of 

 opinion as to which of the drugs 

 is the more active agent iy tlic 

 destruction of the worms. How- 

 ever this may be, spigelia is certainly entitled to a share of the credit. It is 

 even capable of producing toxic efYects upon the human subject, such as 

 drowsiness, muscular tremor, strabismus, and convulsions, hence the jDrac- 

 tice of administering it in large and often-repeated doses to young chil- 

 dren, upon the bare suspicion of the presence of worms, cannot be too 

 strongly condennied. 



APOCYNACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Plants with opposite, rarely alternate, exstipu- 

 late leaves, and generally an acrid, milky juice. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 

 H-parted, the lobes convolute in the bud. Stamens .5, inserted on the co- 

 rolla ; filaments distinct. Ovaries 2, distinct, but with styles united. Fruit 

 a pod. 



A large order of chiefly tropical plants, represented in North America 

 by only a few genera. 



APOCYNUM.— DouKAN-. 



Character of the Genus. — Calyx 5-parted, smud, the lobes acute. Co- 

 rolla 5-cleft, bearing 5 triangular scales in the throat opposite the lobes. 



Tic. 110. — SpiKPlia Mnrilandica. 



