46 
ASARUM EUROPiEUM. 
This species of Asarum is indigenous to Britain, but it is an ex- 
tremely scarce native, and seldom to be found in its wild state. 
We met with this plant once in tlie neighbourhood of Matlock, 
Derbyshire,* and we have been informed it is not uncommon in 
isome parts of Cheshire. We are told by Pliny, that the name of this 
plant was often confounded by the ancients with that of Baccharis 
and Nardus, although both the latter plants differ considerably iu 
their appearance from the former ; the English name asarabacca is 
probably derived from Asarum and Baccharis. 
The root of the asarabacca is perennial, strong, and fibrous, the 
leaves rise in pairs immediately from the root, and stand upon long 
petioles ; in form they are kidney-shaped, and of a deep shining 
green; the flowers are bell -shiiped, and arise singly from the b^ise 
of the leaves upon short peduncles ; the calyx is divided at the 
mouth into three or four pointed segments, which are of a dingy 
purple, but towards the base inclining to green ; there is no corolla; 
the stamens are twelve ; the filaments are about half the length of 
the calyx, and furnished with oblong antherae, which are attached to 
the sides of the filaments ; from the germen arises a simple style, 
supporting a reflected stigma, divided into six radiated parts, the 
germen becomes a capsule of a leathery texture, divided into six 
cells, which contain several small oblong seeds. 
Sensible Properties. The roots of asarabacca are externally 
of a greyish brown, internally white; the taste, both of the leaves 
and roots, is acrid and bitter, and when chewed, they slightly heat 
the mouth ; both leaves and roots have rather a disagreeable, though 
not a very powerful smell. " An infusion of the leaves is deep red, 
" tastes rather sharp, and is turned very dark brown by green 
" vitriol, a greyish sediment falling down."f 
Medical Properties and Uses. The root of the asarabacca, 
iu doses of half a drachm or more, almost universally evacuates the 
stomach both upwards and downwards ; from its exciting vomiting 
so constantly, it has been proposed by Linnaeus and others, as a 
substitute for ipecacuan ; it has been observed, that in very fine 
powder it invariably acts as an emetic, but that when exhibited in 
coarse powder, it passes the stomach, and proves cathartic. 
Dr. Cullen says, " the root dried, only so much as to allow it to 
hp powdered, will generally answer as a gentle emetic, in doses of 
* Ray observes, that it is fouud in some woods iu LaucasLire. 
t Giay's Elements of Pharmacy. 
