128 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



nent. It has a marked tendency when in a wild state, to multiply its petals, 

 and under cultivation often produces double flowers. It bears transplanta- 

 tion very well, and thrives luxuriantly in a garden. 



This plant was well known to the Indians, who employed it to paint them- 

 selves with, and as a dye for a variety of articles. It has not been used to 

 any extent in the arts, as the colour is apt to fade ; if means could be found 

 to render it permanent, it would become an important article to the manufac- 

 turer. From experiments made by Dr. Downey, it appears that the sulphate 

 of alumine will partially fix the colour on woollen stuffs, and the murio-sul- 

 phate of lead on cotton and linen. 



Medical Uses. — The medicinal powers of Sanguinaria have been in- 

 vestigated by Dr. Downey, who made it the subject of an inaugural disser- 

 tation in 1803, and at a later period, in the fullest manner, by Dr. Tully, 

 who considered it one of the most valuable of our native remedies. He attri- 

 butes to it the action of squill, seneka, digitalis, guaiacum, and ammoniacum. 

 This is evidently going too far, and has not been corroborated by the expe- 

 rience of other practitioners, though there is no doubt of its active properties, 

 which are those of an acrid narcotic, acting, in doses of ten grains to a scruple, 

 as a powerful emetic, and often occasioning a sense of burning heat in the 

 stomach, with vertigo, prostration of strength, and other untoward symptoms. 

 The root is generally used, but every portion of the plant is endowed with 

 active qualities; the seeds are apparently more narcotic than the root, and 

 cause symptoms resembling those produced by stramonium. 



From the experiments of Dr. Dana, in 1824, it is shown that Sanguinaria 

 owes its powers to the presence of an alkaloid principle, which he has called 

 Sanguinarina. His analysis has been confirmed by that of Mr. C. J. Lee (Am. 

 Jour. Pharm., i. 32). It is obtained by digesting the powdered root in 

 alcohol, precipitating with ammonia, decolorizing by means of animal char- 

 coal, redissolving in alcohol, and evaporating to dryness. The principle thus 

 separated is of a white colour, changing, on exposure to the air, to a light 

 yellow ; it is extremely acrid, and possesses the properties of an alkali. The 

 salts it forms with the acids are various rich shades of red, crimson, or scarlet. 

 It has not as yet been employed in medicine. 



Sanguinaria has been successfully administered in many diseases of the 

 lungs, and has been recommended in rheumatism and diseases of the liver. 

 The powder and decoction have also been found useful in the treatment of 

 ill-conditioned ulcers, as an escharotic or wash. Dr. Shanks, of Tennessee, 

 cured a case of gelatinous polypus with Sanguinaria, after extraction had 

 twice failed. (Am. Jour. Med. Sci., Oct. 1842.) Its exact powers in these 

 and other complaints require further investigation, and deserve the attention 

 of the profession. It may be given in powder, of which the dose, as an emetic, 

 is from 10 to 20 grains ; as a stimulant or expectorant, 3 to 5 grains several 

 times a day. It may also be given in infusion, made with half an ounce of 

 the root to a pint of water, the dose being a tablespoon ful. The tincture, 

 which is officinal, may be administered in doses of half a drachm to half an 

 ounce, according to the indications to be fulfilled. 



Dr. Downey states that the leaves are used in veterinary practice in Mary- 

 land, to produce sweating, and thus facilitate the shedding of their hair in the 

 spring; and from our own experience with it for this purpose, we are con- 

 vinced of its efficacy, and also of the powers Of the fresh root, given at inter- 

 vals, mixed with the usual food, in the destruction of bots in these animals. 

 One or two roots, chopped fine and mixed with oats or in a mash, will be 

 generally found sufficient. 



