xii, a. 4 Brill and Wells: Medicinal Plants, II 175 



Tylophora brevipes has been found in Zambales, Pangasinan, 

 and Cagayan Provinces, Luzon, and also in Mindoro. So' far 

 as we know, nothing has been written about this drug, which 

 is much valued among the Filipinos of the northern provinces 

 of Luzon. The Filipinos use only the fresh or dried roots in 

 the form of a decoction without regard to dose or strength. It 

 is prescribed in cases where a powerful and quick emetic is 

 required. Herb doctors give it as a remedy against fevers, indi- 

 gestion, incipient tuberculosis, asthma, and cough, to help the 

 ejection of bronchial mucus. Some herbists use it as an emmen- 

 agogue and even as a cure for gastralgia. It is said that if a 

 patient is given a very strong dose it may produce vomiting, 

 which will finally kill the patient. 



Tylophora asthmatica W. & A., a species very closely resem- 

 bling T. brevipes, has considerable reputation in India for its 

 medicinal qualities. Kirkpatrick is quoted as saying of his 

 experience with Tylophora asthmatica:™ 



I have administered this medicine in at least a thousand cases and 

 found it most valuable. In dysentery, and as a simple emetic, it is in 

 every way comparable with Ipecacuanha. The dose is from 20 to 30 

 grains, with half a grain or a grain of Tartar Emetic, if strong emesis 

 is required. If the dysentery distinctly arises from intermittent disease, 

 Quinine is conjoined. The form of the medicine I use is the powder of 

 the dry leaf. If the root were used, the supply would soon be exhausted; 

 besides I have found it less certain than the leaf. The preparation of 

 the juice would at all times be troublesome and tedious. In catarrhal 

 and chronic coughs it seems to act well. Its efficacy as a substitute for 

 Ipecacuanha, not only as a simple emetic but as a remedy in dysentery, 

 asthma, and catarrhal affections, is confirmed by the report of Dr. Oswald, 

 Mr. Moodeen Sheriff, and others. According to the latter, the best treat- 

 ment of snake bites consists in producing free emesis by the expressed 

 juice of this plant, and following up its use with diffusible stimulants. 



Dymock 20 likewise speaks in glowing terms of its virtues. 

 Waring 21 refers to it as country ipecacuanha. Because of the 

 flattering accounts of the results arising from the use of Tylo- 

 phora asthmatica and the reputation that T. brevipes already 

 enjoys among the Filipinos, it was decided to make a chemical 

 examination of the latter to determine if its physiological activity 



" Waring, E. J., Pharmacopoeia of India. W. H. Allen and Co., London 

 (1868), 458. 



20 Dymock, W., The Vegetable Materia Medica of Western India. Educa- 

 tion Society's Press, Byculla, Bombay. Trubner & Co., London. 2d ed. 

 (1885), 519. 



21 Waring, E. J., Bazaar Medicines. J. & A. Churchill, London. 4th ed. 

 (1883), 152. 



