146 
RUBIA TINCTORUM. 
M. Magendie says, " Veratrine is parlicHlarly applicable in cases 
where it is necessary to excite quickly a strong action of the bowels. 
When given with this intention, it has answered very well in the 
case of old people, where an enormous accumulation of fzeces 
existed in the great intestine." 
OflF. The Root. 
Off. Pp. Decoctum Veratri, L. 
Tinctura Veratri, E. 
Unguent Veratri, L. 
RUBIA TINCTORUM. 
Dyer's Madder* 
Class Tetrandria. — Order Monogynia. 
Nat. Ord. SxELLATiE, Linn. Rubiace^, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Corolla of one petal, bell-shaped. Berries 
two, one-seeded. 
Spec. Char, Leaves annual. Stem covered >vith short 
prickly points. 
This species of Rubia is the EpevGoJavov of Dioscorides. It is 
a perennial plant, a native of the South of Europe, the Levant, 
and Africa, flowering in June. It was first cultivated in this coun- 
try by Gerarde, since which period its cultivation has become an 
object of national importance, from the immense consumption of the 
roots as a dye-stuff, by the calico printers and dyers. 
The root of this plant is long, round, jointed, composed of suc- 
culent fibres, from which proceed numerous small thready side 
roots, which extend a considerable distance under the ground, and 
throw up many shoots, from which the plant may be propagated ; 
the stems are procumbent, quadrangular, jointed, four or five feet in 
t Fig. a. the flower magnified, b. The calyx, c. The pistillum. d. The anther. 
«. The- fruit. 
