50 BOTANY. 



may at all credit popular report, is well worthy of further investigation as a 

 remedial agent. Unfortunately I have mislaid my notes, and can say now 

 nothing more definite than that it is regarded as a diuretic, and is largely 

 used in baths for rheumatic affections. It is rather unsafe to venture an 

 opinion on its mere appearance; but, if I were to do so, I should say it 

 Mould probably drop into that somewhat vague class of remedies known 

 to physicians as alteratives. 



Euphorbia. — The various prostrate species of this genus have, in the 

 Southwest, a popular reputation as a remedy in bite of rattlesnakes, taran- 

 tulas, etc; and, to meet the demand for it, a tincture is kept on hand in the 

 shops. In absence of this (on the authority of Dr. George Thurber), the 

 fresh leaves bruised, or the dry ones steeped in wine, are applied to the 

 wound. These plants are there known as "Yerba de la Golondrina". While 

 not wishing to cast discredit upon the remedy applied in this way (and that 

 too after the venom has usiially been taken into the general circulation), I 

 can only say it is hard to understand how it could be of any service. 



Ephedra antisyphilitica, C. A. Meyer. "Canutillo," u Tepopote" 

 "Whorehouse Tea." — The names, scientific and popular, might be regarded 

 as sufficiently indicative of the alleged properties of the plant. The stems of 

 the plant are largely used in decoction as a remedy in gonorrhoea. Precise 

 clinical results are wanting to determine its real value. However, by com- 

 mon consent among the populace, and so far as I can learn from medical men 

 of the region, it is of real service. Its close botanical relationship to the 

 balsam-producing Coniferce would appear to suggest that this too must con- 

 tain a like product. This, however, is not confirmed by the careful analysis 

 of Dr. Loew (Vol. Ill, Wheeler's Reports, pp. 611 and 612). The above- 

 ground portion is there shown to yield an aqueous extract of "acid reaction, 

 and an astringent taste, resembling that of tannin." No body resembling an 

 organic base or alkaloid was found The filtrate of the aqueous solution 

 proved the presence of tannin and tartaric acid. Pectin was also shown to 

 be in the filtrate by the "jelly-like precipitate produced by the addition of 

 alcohol." The tannin belongs to the glucosid group, furnishing sugar on 

 treatment with acid and various other compounds, and, upon dry distillation, 

 pvrogallic and carbonic acids. This tannin splits up into sugar '"and a red 



