ON GELSEMINUM SEMPER VIRENS. 
309 
The flowers, which are esteemed poisonous, are yellow, about an 
inch long and half an inch wide at the top, of a fine yellow color, 
and have an agreeable odor, which perfumes the air when they 
bloom. It grows luxuriantly, climbing from tree to tree, form- 
ing a delightful shade. According to Eaton, from whose botany 
we glean part of the above botanical notice, there is a variety 
called inodorum which has scentless flowers. 
The Gelseminum is indigenous to the Southern States, 
and its beauty has caused its introduction into the gardens. 
Medical properties and uses. — The root is the part used, and 
the tincture is the preparation most usually employed, and, as 
made, must be a saturated tincture. The roots, in a green state, 
well bruised, are introduced into a suitable vessel, and covered 
with whiskey or diluted alcohol. After standing two weeks, 
the tincture is separated by expression and filtered. It has a 
dark red color, and a pleasant bitter taste. The dose is from 
ten to fifty drops. The following account of its medical pro- 
perties and affects is taken from a paper in the "Eclectic 
Medical Journal," August 1852, page 353, by F. D. Hill of 
Cincinnati : 
" Gelseminum is stimulant, tonic, and anti-spasmodic: By its relaxing 
effect it produces gentle diaphoresis, and is said to be narcotic. Its ef- 
fect in large doses, or doses too frequently repeated, is extreme relaxation, 
and general prostration of the whole muscular and nervous system. It 
will suspend and hold in check muscular irritability and nervous excite- 
ment with more foree and power than any known remedy. It is of a 
pleasant bitter taste, and performs its wonder-working cures, in all febrile 
diseases, without exciting either nausea, vomiting, or purging. When 
enough has been given to produce its specific effect, the eye is dimmed, 
the vision clouded and double, the head light and dizzy. When these ef- 
fects follow the administration of this remedy, no more should be given 
until the patient has entirely recovered from its influence. 'It may be 
used in all species of fevers, nervous and bilious headache, colds, pneu- 
monia, hemorrhages, leucorrhea, chorea, ague-cake, asthma, and many other 
diseases : but its efficacy has been most admired in all forms and grades 
of fevers.' It should always be used with great care and caution. The 
root is said to possess a resinous principle, which, when extracted by pure 
alcohol, will produce death in very small doses. But no such effect need be 
expected from the proper dose of the common tincture. There is danger 
of carrying it to such an extent as to suspend involuntary muscular action, 
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