ON HEMIDESMUS INDICUS. 
399 
which he termed smilasperic acid, (in the belief, which at 
that time prevailed, that the root was that of Smilax as- 
pera.) Dr. Ashburner published a paper on this root in the 
London and Edinburgh Physical Journal* in which he 
speaks in high terms of its efficacy in many of those cases in 
which sarsaparilla is recommended. 
It has generally been administered in the form of a syrup, 
but an infusion and a decoction have also been used, the 
proportions being the same as those adopted in the decoction 
of sarsaparilla, namely, two ounces of the root to a pint of 
water.t There is no recognized formula for the syrup, un- 
less that of the Pharmacopoeia for syrup of sarsaparilla be 
taken as the standard, which has been proposed in conse- 
quence of the supposed similarity of the remedies. It is 
particularly necessary, however, in making the syrup of 
Hemidesmus indicus, to avoid a high temperature, which 
would dissipate the volatile principle of the root, and on this 
account, the following method of manipulation has been 
adopted with a satisfactory result: — 
Take of the root of Hemidesmus indicus 1 lb. avoirdupois* 
Refined sugar - - 1 lb. " 
Distilled water, about - - 3 pints. 
Bruise the root sufficiently to separate the bark by sifting, 
and reject the wood. Add to the bark an equal bulk of 
washed sand, moisten with water (three or four ounces) so 
as to ensure its intimate mixture, and pack it well in a dis- 
placement apparatus. Add as much water as it will absorb, 
macerate for four hours, and displace the liquor by the ad- 
dition of a further portion of water. Reserve the first six 
ounces. Add more water until it passes through tasteless. 
Then evaporate the latter portion to three ounces, in which, 
with the addition of the first six ounces, dissolve the sugar 
with as moderate a heat as possible. By this means, the 
* Vol. lxv., p. 189. 
t Dr. Pereirah Elements of Materia Medica, p. 1289. 
