March 18, 1871.3 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
747 
it by exhausting the powders with the mixed alcohol 
and acid is preferable to that now employed, as it gives 
a preparation less prone to deposit by standing. The 
other objections, however, apply to this with equal 
force; for the ingredients afford to the menstruum prin¬ 
ciples which must of necessity separate upon dilution. 
In revising this formula we should keep in view the 
fact that the resulting preparation should be miscible 
-with water without precipitation, hence aromatics of an 
-oleo-resinous nature cannot be used. 
The following formula we have used for some time, 
-and have found entirely satisfactory:— 
Take of Sulphuric Acid, 3 troy oz. 
Fluid Extract of Orange Peel, 1 fl. oz. 
Red Rose Leaves, 2 drchs. 
Boiling Water, 1 fl. oz. 
Alcohol, a sufficient quantity. 
Add the acid gradually to half a pint of alcohol, and pour 
the boiling water upon the rose leaves; when both liquids 
have become cool unite them, add the fluid extract and 
•sufficient alcohol to make up the measure of eighteen 
fluid ounces. Mix thoroughly and filter. 
Elixir of vitriol, thus prepared, has a pleasant aro¬ 
matic odour and flavour, and the beautiful red colour 
of the rose leaves, heightened by the presence of the 
acid. It is miscible with water without turbidity, and a 
specimen, after long keeping, has deposited but a trace 
of sediment .—The Chicago Pharmacist. 
WEST INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Many plants not ordinarily recognized possess almost 
magical powers in the relief and cure of diseases, and 
are worth further investigation, and many that were 
only a few years ago considered of no value, are again 
brought into use in the West Indies. I will here allude 
to but two. The little herb (Verbena officinalis ) generally 
known in the Bahamas by the name of blue flower, is 
acknowledged to possess some medicinal qualities. 
The Spanish name yerba sacra, holy herb, is assumed 
in consequence of its acknowledged and undeniable vir¬ 
tues ; it has been in use in the West Indies as a remedy 
from time immemorial. 
The vervain possesses diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, 
anthelmintic, and antiseptic powers. For children it is 
one of the best preventives against worms. By making 
a decoction or infusion of the leaves once or twice a week, 
and giving this instead of their ordinary drink for 
breakfast, it will keep the bowels regular, the skin free 
•and moist, and they will not then be so frequently 
troubled with those obnoxious companions. If this plan 
were generally adopted, we should hear less of children 
dying suddenly or being attacked with convulsions. 
The expressed j uice of the whole plant also serves as 
a gentle purgative, by taking a tablespoonful for an adult 
every hour till it operates. Externally applied, the juice 
is found to be of no little value in healing fresh cuts and 
wounds, where no proud flesh exists. But it developes 
its qualities in a most marvellous manner in the cure of 
fevers, especially those of the putrid kind, such as yellow 
fever, black vomit, etc., cleansing and purifying the 
system so completely and in such a short time, and in many 
instances where all other remedies have failed to per¬ 
form a cure, as would astonish the most sceptical and 
unbelieving. 
Dr. A. Jackson, a physician of Nassau, Bahamas, states 
that he has used it extensively in his practice for many 
years and with success. He cites numbers of cases, and 
one of putrid fever was cured in eight days, the principal 
ingredient being Verbena. Mr. Kenneth Matheson, 
British Vice-Consul at Bolivia, in a letter to the Governor 
of the Bahamas, dated April, 1853, states that the plant 
was proved to be “ a cure for yellow fever and black 
vomit, and that it was successfully used in restoring to 
perfect health many persons afflicted with that disease 
who had been declared by several medical practitioners 
to be in a hopeless state. The medical men likewise have 
adopted the same remedy with perfect success.” He 
then continues to say, “ that in Jamaica it was also 
proved to be a remedy of great value in t{iis disease, 
having been tried and found as successful.” 
Another plant, called locally the Bitter Bush ( Eupa - 
torium sp.), is stated in Jamaica to be a remedy for 
cholera. 
The class of plants arranged under the head “ Eupa- 
torium ” is as varied and extensive as the surface over 
which they are scattered,—species of it being found in 
every climate and situation throughout the known world. 
Whether they all possess similar principles is a question 
to be decided only by time and inquiry. There are 
many species described as indigenous to Jamaica and 
the other West India Islands, namely:— 
Eupatovium parviflorum ; diffusion ; macrophyllum ; vil- 
losum ; nervosum; cor difolium ; montanum ; rigidum ; ma- 
cranthum ; Pa lea ; trifidum ; conyzoides ; atriplicifolium ; 
repandum ; sinuatum ; obtusifolium; cotinifolium; tri- 
plincrvc ; ivcefolium ; stcediadifolium ; myosotifolium ; spi- 
catum ; furcation ; cubense ; sophiafolium. 
Of these, only three have been a3 yet applied as a re¬ 
medy in cholera. Two, which appear to be E. nervosum 
and E. villosum in St. Catherine’s and the neighbouring 
parishes, and E. rigidum on the north side of the island. 
In collecting the plant, the best mode of proceeding is 
to gather it after the dew has disappeared; and as soon 
as a sufficient quantity has been collected and brought 
in, and whilst fresh, cut the small branches, with the 
leaves on, in lengths of 8 or 10 inches,—put them in 
straight lengths, then tie them up in bundles of half a 
pound and pack them close in a clean box. When the 
bush is allowed to remain for a few hours the leaves 
become dry and crumble into dust when handled. The 
name of Bitter Bush is applied indiscriminately in St. 
Catherine’s and some other parishes in Jamaica to several 
species of Eupatorium , and in St. Ann’s and other parts 
Christmas Bush is in like manner applied to the same 
plant. 
These several species of Eupatorium , variously called 
Bitter Bush and Christmas Bush, have been used in all 
stages of cholera with invariable success. 
The Eupatorium leaves none of those dangerous per¬ 
manent unpleasant symptoms produced by opium, lead, 
zinc, calomel, or by the saline treatment alone. Sup¬ 
pression of urine never occurs, but, on the contrary, when 
that painful and dangerous symptom takes place after 
the use of other remedies, a dose or two of the decoction 
immediately relieves the patient. It is a remedy at every 
man’s door in the tropics, and requires no other prepara¬ 
tion than is necessary to make any other bush tea. Boijt 
two drachms of the bush in a pint of water into a strong- 
decoction, let it get quite cold, and, in case of cholera, 
give a small teacupful (two or three ounces) every half- 
hour until the symptoms are checked ; then extend the 
time (according to the severity of the symptoms) to every 
hour or second hour until the symptoms are entirely 
abated. 
In simple diarrhoea give the same quantity every hour 
or second hour, according to severity of the attack, 
—but seldom more than one or at most two doses are 
required. 
It is, perhaps, as well to give a caution against the 
use of the decoction as a preventive. The Eupatorium 
is a remedy in the existing disease, but the use of it as 
a preventive will be more injurious than otherwise. 
P. L. S. 
Death from Vaccination. —In Liverpool a death 
has followed as the result of vaccination. It appealed 
that the deceased had vaccinated himself from the arm 
of a friend, who was a chemist and druggist, and died 
about ten days afterwards of pyaemia. Medical evidence 
was given to the effect that the deceased was in a very unfit 
state for vaccination, as he was suffering from diabetes. 
