RANUNCULACEiE. 



93 



Fig. 55. 



type of his genus Macrotys, and altered the specific name to actceoides ; this 

 generic change was approved in part by DeCandolle, who recognised it as a 

 sub-genus of Actcea. In 1828, Rafinesque bestowed an entire new appellation 

 on it, describing it in the Medical Flora as Botrophis serpentaria. Drs. 

 Torrey and Gray consider it 

 as a sub-genus or section of Ci- 

 micifuga. The portion of this 

 plant employed in medicine is 

 the root, which should be gath- 

 ered early in the autumn, and 

 dried in the shade. As found 

 in the shops, it is in the form 

 of a short, rugged, blackish- 

 brown caudex, furnished with 

 numerous long slender radicles, 

 much wrinkled. It has, when 

 fresh, a bitter, nauseous, and 

 astringent taste, but in the 

 dried state the first impression 

 on the palate is mucilaginous 

 and earthy, but in a short time 

 succeeded by a disagreeable ac- 

 rimony. From a want of due 

 care in collecting and drying, 

 it varies much in different 

 samples. It has long been used 

 in domestic practice in this 

 country, and was one of the 

 medical agents of the abori- 

 gines, being in high repute 

 among them in the treatment 

 of rheumatism, and as an em- 

 menagogue. It is recognised 

 by the U. S. Pharmacopoeia in 

 the secondary list, and although 

 not generally used by the pro- 

 fession, is highly esteemed by 

 some, in a variety of com- 

 plaints. 



Medical uses, fyc. The Black 

 Snakeroot is a stimulating tonic, 



and is capable of increasing the secretions from the skin, kidneys, and lungs ; 

 as to its power over the uterus, no satisfactory evidence has been adduced. Its 

 principal celebrity has arisen from its efficacy in rheumatism and affections 

 of the lungs ; in the first of these complaints, there is every reason to believe 

 that it has proved highly beneficial, and it deserves a more extended trial. It 

 has been found very useful in phthisis, in combination with iodine, by Dr. 

 Hildreth of Ohio. (Am. Journ. Med. Sci. Oct. 1842.) It was much used by 

 the Indians as an antidote against the bites of venemous snakes, and from 

 its stimulating diaphoretic properties it is likely that it may be useful for this 

 purpose. The first attempt at analysis of it was by Dr. Mears in 1827, since 

 which it has been examined by Mr. J. H. Tilghman in 1834 (Journ. Phil. 

 Coll. Pharm. vi. 14), and by Mr. J. S. Jones in 1843 (Am. Journ. Pharm. 



C. racemosa. 



