174 PIPER ANGUSTIFOLIUM, OR MATICO. 
nal quantity of dry iodide of iron by the following formula, 
viz : 
R. Proto-sulphate of iron, (pure,) - - siss. 
Iodide of potassium, - gij 
Water, gss. 
Simple syrup, - giss. 
Rub the salts intimately together, dissolve them in the 
water, add the syrup, and bottle immediately. This 
preparation has a slightly greenish colour, and contains 
about 56 grs. of dry iodide of iron, and 27 grs. of sulphate 
of potassa. The great readiness with which this syrup is 
made, and the control the physician can exert over the 
strength of it, renders it in many respects an eligible formula. 
W. P. jr. 
ART. XXXIII— EXAMINATION OF PIPER ANGUSTIFOLIUM, OR 
MATICO. 
By Thomas S. Wiegand. 
At the suggestion of Dr. Ruschenberger of the U. S. Navy, 
who first called the attention of the Medical profession of 
this country to the article under consideration, the following 
experiments were undertaken, to learn what the composi- 
tion of the plant is, and to ascertain whether the more active 
constituents might be separated and applied with more of 
advantage or convenience. 
This plant has been the subject of several papers in the 
American Journal of Pharmacy, one of which states that it 
is valuable as a remedy in diseases of the genital organs 
and rectum, and that the natives use this plant for similar 
purposes : the last assertion is probably incorrect, for from 
information received by Dr. R. from Dr. J. H. Scrivener, 
who was practising medicine at Lima in April, 1845, it ap- 
pears that, so far as could be learned from the druggists 
