ARISTOLOCHIACL.E. 91 
expunged from the Pharmacopeia. The root contains a camphor-like principle and 
a bitter product called Asarin, which is combined with gallic acid. To these it is 
indebted for its action on the human system. ‘Taken into the stomach in a state of 
very fine powder, it causes vomiting ; in coarse powder it generally purges. It was 
formerly employed as an emetic instead of ipecacuanha, but, from the violence of its 
effects, it is now laid aside in medical practice; it is, however, used in veterinary 
medicine to vomit and purge. The fine powder applied to the nostrils causes sneezing, 
and a flow of mucus from the membrane which lines those parts. It is, therefore, 
extensively employed as an errhine, and is the basis or chief ingredient of many 
cephalic snuffs. It is used in chronic inflammations and some other diseases of the 
eye, and in headaches. When these last arise from disorders of the digestive functions, 
such means can be of no avail; when they are connected with congestion or fulness 
of the vessels of the head, the increased discharge from the Schneiderian membrane 
may give temporary relief, in the same way as a few drops of blood flowing sponta- 
neously from the nose, or obtained by puncturing the membrane. 
GENUS I—ARISTOLOCHIA. Lin. 
Perianth tubular, the tube extended and inflated beyond the ovary 
and generally contracted at the throat; limb irregular, oblique, simple 
or divided, the upper part of the tube and limb separating circumscis- 
silely immediately above the ovary. Stamens 6, the filaments entirely 
adnate to the short thick style, so that the anthers appear sessile and 
situated on the style. Stigma of 6 spreading lobes. Capsule coria- 
ceous, opening by six valves. 
Climbing or erect herbs or shrubs, with alternate leaves, often ovate 
or roundish or reniform, cordate or hastate. Flowers lateral or axillary. 
Perianth tube often remarkably curved above the ovary. 
The name of this genus of plants has reference to its supposed efficacy in child- 
birth, and is derived from the Greek words, dprorog (aristos), best, and Aoxeta (locheia), 
parturition. 
SPECIES I—ARISTOLOCHIA CLEMATITIS. Lim. 
Puiate MCCL. 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. XII. Tab. DCLXIX. Fig. 1340. 
Billot, Fl. Gall. et Germ. Exsicc. No. 449. 
Rootstock extensively creeping, cylindrical. Stem erect, not 
climbing, flexuous, simple. Leaves ovate deltoid, deeply cordate, 
subobtuse. Flowers in umbellate fascicles in the axils of the leaves, 
erect. Peduncles shorter than the perianth and much shorter than the 
leaves. Lip of the perianth ovate-triangular, acuminate. 
Among old ruins. Rare, and not indigenous, confined to the south 
and east of England. I have seen specimens only from Lakenhaim, 
N2 
