Du Mez—The Galenical Oleoresins. 
969 
Aspidium Filix-mas Swartz. 
Aspidium mildeanum Goeppert. 
Lastrea Filix-mas Presl. 
Nephrodium Filix-mas Michaux. 
Polyp odium Filix-mas Linne. 
Polystichum Filix-mas Roth. 
Tectarea Filix-mas Cavan. 
Polypodium-nemorale Salisbury. 
Polystichum durum et induratum Schui. 
Polystichum abbreviatnm I)e Candolle. 
In addition to the rhizomes of Dryopteris Filix-mas (Linne) 
Schott, the United States Pharmacopoeia also permits the use of 
the rhizomes of Dryopteris marginalise Linne formerly referred 
to the genius Aspidium as Aspidium margindle Schwartz. It 
should be noted in this connection that the official recognition 
of Dryopteris marginalis Linne appears to have been based on 
the somewhat doubtful statements of but three persons made 
hack in the seventies. These men, Patterson, 1 Cressler, 2 and 
Kennedy, 3 respectively, reported that they had prepared oleo¬ 
resins from the rhizomes of this fern. Two of them, Cressler 
and Kennedy, also stated that their preparations were found to 
be active in the expulsion of tape worm, while Patterson merely 
reported that his preparation resembled the German oleoresin 
of male fern in appearance and taste. There does not appear 
to be any evidence in the literature to show that an oleoresin 
authentically prepared from this rhizome was ever given a trial 
by a reputable physician. Furthermore, there is no evidence 
to the effect that the rhizome is ever used in preparing the 
oleoresin at the present time, a statement which has also been 
made by Rushy. 4 
The definition of Aspidium as given in the ninth revision of 
the United States Pharmacopoeia is as follows: ^The rhizome 
and stipes of Dryopteris Filix-mas (Linne) Schott, or of 
Dryopteris marginalis (Linne) Asa Gray (Fam. Polypodiaceae), 
collected in the autumn, freed from the roots and dead portions 
of rhizomes and stipes and dried at a temperature not exceed¬ 
ing 70° C. Preserve aspidium in tightly closed containers and 
protect from light. ’ 5 
1 Am. Journ. Pharm. (1875), 47, p. 292. 
2 Cressler states that he prepared an oleoresin from what he thought to 
be male fern, but which later proved to be Aspidium marginale. Ibid., 
(1878), 5, p. 290. 
8 Ibid. (1879), 51, p. 382. 
4 Drugg. Circ. (1910), 54, p. 616. 
