494 
ON  ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA  (PLEURISY  ROOT.) 
fluid  extract  was  prepared  by  the  following  formula,  similar  to 
one  of  those  given  at  page  532,  vol.  xxxi.  of  the  Amer.  Journal 
of  Pharmacy. 
Take  of  Pleurisy  root,  in  Powder  No.  50,  sixteen  ounces  ; 
Alcohol,  three  pints  ; 
Water,  a  pint  and  a  half. 
Mix  the  alcohol  and  water,  and  having  moistened  the  powder 
with  four  fluid  ounces  of  it,  pack  it  in  a  glass  funnel  prepared 
for  percolation,  and  pour  on  the  remainder  of  the  menstruum,  re- 
serving the  first  twelve  fluid  ounces.  After  the  liquor  ceases 
to  pass,  evaporate  the  remainder  in  a  water  bath  to  four  fluid 
ounces  and  mix  it  with  the  reserved  tincture,  and  filter  after 
standing  24  hours. 
Prepared  in  this  way  the  fluid  extract  is  an  elegant  prepara- 
tion fairly  representing  the  root.  The  author  submitted  this 
fluid  extract  to  several  of  his  medical  friends,  and  among  others 
to  Dr.  H.  D.  W.  Pawling,  of  Norristown,  whose  report  is  in- 
serted in  full. 
Report  of  Dr.  Pawling, 
Case  1st.  Mrs.  Mary  Anderson,  aged  jfifty-four,  (habit  plethoric,  mode 
of  living  regular),  was  attacked  with  inflammatory  rheumatism,  on  the  29th 
of  January  last.  Previous  to  my  visit  she  had  purged  herself  freely  with 
senna  and  salts.  Iler  ankles,  knees  and  wrists  were  much  swollen,  and 
exceedingly  painful ;  her  pulse  full  and  bounding.  I  directed  her  to  re- 
peat the  purge,  and  then  to  use  the  fluid  extract  of  Asclepias  tuberosa  in  tea- 
spoonful  doses,  every  two  hours,  until  it  reduced  the  action  of  the  heart 
and  acted  well  on  the  skin.  Fomentations  of  cloths  wrung  out  in  hot 
water  were  applied  to  the  swollen  joints.  Using  this  remedy  for  twenty 
hours,  I  found  on  my  second  visit  it  had  not  acted  as  I  wished,  and  as  the 
method  was  somewhat  experimental  (though  a  tea  made  from  the  weed  is 
a  common  remedy  with  the  country  people  for  the  purpose  of  sweating),  I 
was  inclined  to  continue  in  the  same  plan,  increasing  the  dose.  I  there- 
fore ordered  two  teaspoonsful  to  be  used  every  second  hour,  mixed  in  a  wine- 
glassful  of  hot  water,  sweetened.  After  using  it  in  this  dose  for  a  few 
hours,  the  pulse  was  reduced  in  its  action,  free  perspiration  was  brought 
about,  and  her  whole  condition  rendered  more  comfortable.  The  dose  was 
then  diminished  one  half  again,  and  the  system  kept  under  the  action  of 
the  remedy,  by  a  repetition  every  fourth  hour,  until  complete  convalescence 
was  established. 
"  The  action  of  the  remedy  in  this  case  gave  me  great  satisfaction.  No 
opiates  or  blister  were  resorted  to. 
