ORGANIC MATERIA MEDICA. 
423 
horseradish root varying in strength at different seasons of the year is, of itself, 
a sufficient reason for not retaining the infusion in the Pharmacopoeia. 
Arnica.— As this article is entirely new to the Pharmacopoeias of the United 
Kingdom, although well known and much employed in Prussia and some other 
parts of Germany, in Italy, and in the States of North America, it will be ne¬ 
cessary for me to make a few remarks on its botanical and geographical sources, 
its characteristics, and reputed medicinal properties. Arnica root is directed to 
be employed in the British Pharmacopoeia ; but on the Continent and in 
America the flowers are preferred, and ordered in all but one of the prepara¬ 
tions which are there officinal. We are ignorant of the reason why the root is 
ordered in the British Pharmacopoeia. We should have preferred the flowers, 
because they would be more likely to be uniform in their properties from being 
gathered at a definite period ; while the root, from being collected at different 
periods, will necessarily vary considerably in its strength. The plant from 
which this article of the Materia Medica is derived is the Arnica montana , Linn., 
and belongs to the Natural Order Composite. It is a native of the mountainous 
districts of Europe, and of certain parts of North America and Asia. 
The so-called Arnica root is really the rhizome, to which numerous small 
rootlets are attached. The rhizome is more or less twisted, rough from the 
scars left by the leaves which it formerly bore, somewhat cylindrical in shape, 
from one to three inches in length, and two or three lines in thickness. From 
this numerous small rootlets arise of variable length, generally two or more 
inches, and about the thickness of a common knitting-needle. Both the rhizome 
and rootlets have a brownish colour externally. The odour is peculiar, feebly 
aromatic, and disagreeable; and the taste somewhat peppery, bitterish, and 
nauseous. 
The root has been found to contain volatile oil , acrid resin , extractive , gum, 
and woody Jibre. The extractive matter of Arnica flowers, which is doubtless 
similar to that of the root, is said to be identical with cytisin , a poisonous prin¬ 
ciple obtained from the seeds of the common laburnum- tree.* Mr. Bastick has 
also obtained from Arnica flowers a peculiar alkaloid, which he named Arnicina. f 
The properties of Arnica appear to depend essentially upon the acrid resin, 
although these are doubtless modified to some extent by the volatile oil and 
extractive. 
Arnica is very highly valued as a remedial agent in certain parts of the Con¬ 
tinent. It is regarded as a most useful stimulant in typhoid fevers, and in 
various debilitated conditions of the system; in paralysis, amaurosis, and other 
nervous affections, etc. The trials which have been made in this country of its 
remedial virtues do not in any material degree confirm the extravagant encomiums 
which have been passed upon it on the Continent. The dose of our officinal 
tincture is, from two fluid drachms to a fluid ounce , every three or four hours. 
The tincture of Arnica flowers, and also that of the root, have been much em¬ 
ployed as a domestic remedy in this country and elsewhere, as an external ap¬ 
plication in sprains, bruises, etc. The experiments of Dr. Garrod, however, lead 
to the conclusion that its efficacy is entirely due to the rectified spirit employed 
in its preparation, as he found that about the same remedial effects were produced 
upon certain bruised surfaces by the application of either simple rectified spirit 
or tincture of arnica. Altogether, so far as present experience leads us in this 
country, we have reason to believe that the virtues of Arnica, both as an external 
remedy and for internal administration, have been vastly overrated ; and hence 
we do not regard this substance as by any means a valuable addition to the 
Materia Medica of the British Pharmacopoeia. 
Beberee Sulphas.—Nectandra.—T hese articles are entirely new to a 
* Medical Times and Gazette, Nov. 1856, p. 446. 
f Pharm. Journ., vol. x. p. 389. 
