AUISTOLOCIIIA — niUTIIWOUT. 



233 



Prf^>rirnf!n)}K. — Commonly fulministorod in infusion. 



Medical, /^•opniir^ and I'sfs. — "Wild f^inj^'or ]i;is ji peculiar, punji^rnt, aro- 

 matic tiistc, and is an aromatic stimulant. In hot infusion it produces 

 diaphoresis, and may relieve the pains of colic. It is, however, less aji^rco- 

 able to most persons than many other drugs of its class, and scarcely de- 

 serves to rank as a medicinal agent. 



ARIHTOLOCIIIA.— BiRTiiwouT. 



Aristolochia Serpentaria Limu'. — Viir/inin Snalrmot. 



Description. — Calyx tubular, contorted, bent in the shape of the letter 

 .S', dilated at both extremities, the limb 5-lobed, and stjmewhat 2-lipped. 

 Stamens (5, the sessile anthers ad- 

 herent to the ;5-lobcd sigma. Pod 

 G-valved, (J-angled, many-seeded. 



A percmnial herb. Stems f?cv- 

 eral, from a short, fibrous-rooted 

 rhizome ; they are simple or 

 slightly branched, llexuous, some- 

 what swollen at the joints, about 

 one foot high, often tinged with 

 red, especially near the base. 

 Leaves alternate, ovate or oblong, 

 cordate or halberd-shaped at the 

 base, pointed, entire, petiolate. 

 Flowers near the root, axillary, 

 on short peduncles, of a stiff 

 leathery texture and a dull brown- 

 ish-purple color, aiipeariug in mid- 

 simnner. 



Ifabifnt. — In rich woods from 

 Connecticut to Indiana and south- 

 ward ; most common along the 

 Alleghanies. 



l^artu I'scfl. — The rhizome and rootlets. Official name : Serpentaria — 

 United States Pliarmaeopwia. 



Const it nerdii. — A small i^roportion of volatile oil, an amorphous bitter 

 principle, and common vegetable constituents. 



Preparations. — Extractura serpentarire fluidum — fluid extract of ser- 

 pentaria ; tinctura serpentarije — tincture of serpentaiia. One of the 

 constituents of tinctura cinchona) composita — compound tincture of cin- 

 chotia. — United States Pharniacopn'ia. An infusion was formerly official. 



Medical l\operties and Uses. — Serpentaria is a stimulant tonic, but may 

 also produce diaphoretic, diuretic, or emetic effects, according to the doge 



Fig. l.'iO. — Aristolochia Scrpcnturia. 



