528 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Fig. 227. 



in hilly situations, but 

 always in rich soil. It 

 flowers from the last of 

 April to the beginning 

 of June. 



The root, which is the 

 part employed, as found 

 in the shops is in long, 

 somewhat twisted, or 

 contorted pieces, about 

 as thick as a small quill, 

 wrinkled and brownish 

 externally, and whitish 

 or yellowish within. The 

 taste is aromatic and 

 bitterish, and is thought 

 to be intermediate be- 

 tween that of ginger and 

 serperitaria, but by some 

 persons considered to be 

 more analogous to that 

 of cardamoms. The 

 taste of the petioles is 

 less aromatic but of a 

 more decided bitter. The 

 smell, especially of the 

 fresh root, is aromatic 

 and grateful. An im- 

 perfect analysis of the 

 root was made by Dr. 

 Bigelow, showing the 

 presence of an Essential 

 oil, a red, bitter, Resinous 

 matter, &c. It was 

 afterwards examined by 

 Mr. Rushton, (Am. 

 Jour. Pkarm. x. 181), and more recently by Mr. Wm. Procter (Ibid. xiii. 

 177). All these analyses prove that the active principle is an aromatic 

 essential oil, and that the A. canadense does not contain either asarin, cam- 

 phor, or asarite. 



Medical Uses. — The root is an aromatic stimulant, and in a warm decoc- 

 tion is possessed of no inconsiderable diaphoretic properties, resembling the 

 Serpentaria in its action on the system, and may be advantageously used as 

 a substitute for it, but is rather more stimulating. It has also been ad- 

 ministered with some success in colic and other painful affections of the 

 stomach and bowels, where no inflammation exists. Dr. Firth gave it with 

 benefit in the tetanus of children arising from cold. The leaves were sup- 

 posed to possess the emetic properties of the European plant, but the obser- 

 vations of Drs. Bigelow and Barton, prove that such is not the case, and that 

 where vomiting has been caused by them, it is more attributable to the 

 quantity taken, than to any inherent emetic qualities of the leaves themselves. 

 When dried and powdered they have powerful errhine properties. The root 

 may be given in powder, tincture, or infusion ; the dose of the powder is about 

 half a drachm. 



A. canadense. 



