ON CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA. 
3 
lored than the main root; it is with difficulty reduced to 
powder. Taste mucilaginous, bitter, and somewhat astrin- 
gent, leaving a sense of acrimony in the mouth; it has a fee 
ble odor, scarcely perceptible in the dried root; it yields its 
virtues to boiling water, ether, and partially to alcohol. 
Medical Properties. — Black Snake Root has a tonic 
power united with that of a stimulating property; it has 
been used with much success by Doctor Young and Doctor 
Physick, in cases of chorea. It is chiefly used in domestic 
practice, in rheumatism, dropsy and various affections of the 
lungs, more particularly those resembling consumption. It 
has the property of stimulating the secretions, particularly 
those of the skin and kidneys. 
Forms of •Administration. — These are the powder, the 
dose of which is ten to fifteen grains; the infusion, made by 
pouring a pint of boiling water on one ounce of the bruised 
root, to be taken in the dose of a wine glass full when cold. 
A decoction has been recommended, but I think this mode 
is objectionable on account of the volatilization of the oil, 
and the insoluble apotheme which precipitates on cooling. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION. 
Experiment 1st. — A decoction was made by boiling one 
ounce of the bruised root in a pint of water for fifteen 
minutes, and filtered; this was of a deep brown color. Af- 
ter standing a short time, a precipitate of a grayish-white co- 
lor was deposited, which consisted of gum and starchy mat- 
ters. With this decoction, iodine struck a deep blue tinge; 
gelatin produced a curdy white precipitate ; sulph. acid 
also produced a white precipitate. To a portion of this 
decoction subacetate lead was added aslong as any precipitate 
was formed. A stream of sulphuretted hydrogen was passed 
into the solution to precipitate the excess of lead; it was then 
filtered and boiled. The solution was evaporated to the 
consistence of an extract, and repeatedly washed, but no- 
thing definite could be obtained. 
