264 AUACE.E. 



impression which persists for hours. It has beon emploj'ed chiefly in 

 domestic iiraciico, as a Htimulating expectorant, and to lolieve flatulent 

 colic. Topically it has been emjiloyed in aplitlious sore mouth, as a 

 stimulant to indolent ulcers, and in cutaneous ati'ections. 



SYMPLOCARPUS.— Skunk Cabbage. 



Symplocarpus foetidus Salisbury. — Skunk Cabbage. 



Description. — Flowers perfect, thickly crowded upon a globular, short- 

 stalked spadix, which is surrounded and covered by a fleshy, hooded spatlie ; 

 the latter striped and spotted witli puri)le. Sepals 4, hooded. Stamens 

 4, opposite the sepals. Ovary l-(,'elled, immorsed in the fleshy receptacle ; 

 Style 4-angled ; stigma small. Fruit a globular mass, 2 to 3 inches in 

 diameter, composed of the enlarged fleshy spadix enclosing the seeds just 

 below the surface, 



A perennial herb, with a thick descending root-stock, and numerous 

 strong fibrous roots. Leaves all radical, 1 to 2 feet long when fully grown, 

 ovate, cordate, entire, short petioled, smooth and shining green. It blooms 

 very early in spring, sometimes even in winter when the weather is mod- 

 erate ; the fruit matures about September. 



Hahilat. — In bogs and wet places, often associated with veratrum vi- 

 ride ; common. 



Parts Use.i. — Tlie rhi/omc and roots. Formerly official under the name 

 drarontiuin, but diopped from the Pharmacopujia in 1880. 



Constituenl:<. — All parts of this plant have a strong odor like that of 

 the skunk. Tlie root has an acrid, pungent taste, and possesses an acrid 

 principle of a volatile character which has not been isolated. This prin- 

 ciple is dissipated in drying or by heat, and is entii'ely lost Dy long keep- 

 ing. 



Preparations. — It has been employed in infusion, tinctui'e, and in sub- 

 stance. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Skunk cabbage has been used chiefly in 

 spasmodic att'ections, its disgusting odor having jn-obably first attbrded 

 the suggestion. It is said to have produced happy effiects in spasmodic 

 asthma and in hysteria. In the latter it probably acts quite as strongly 

 ii])on the mind as upon the body of the patient, possibly more so. As its 

 activity is diminished or lost b}' long kecjiing, it is essential that the drug 

 be used as fresh as possible, or at least that the preparations employed be 

 made from the fresh plant. 



ACORUS. — SwRRT Flag. 



Acorus Calamus Linne. — Sweet Flag, Calamus. 



Description. — Flowers perfect, thickly crowded upon a cylindrical 

 spadix which emerges from the side of a simple, 2-edged, leaf-like scape. 



