234 
Poke  Root  in  Medicine. 
(Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
(     March,  1921. 
severely  purged  from  eating  the  flesh  of  pigeons  which  had  fed 
on  the  berries.  From  the  analysis  in  Annal  de  Chimie,  lxii.,  71,  it 
is  shown  to  contain  an  enormous  quantity  of  potash — 42  in  100 
parts — and  it  is  proposed  to  cultivate  it  for  the  manufacture  of  this 
article.  From  later  examinations  of  Dr.  E.  Donnelly  (Am.  Jour. 
Pharm.,  IX.,  168),  it  appears  to  contain  gum  resin  262,  starch  20, 
potash  2,  a  small  quantity  of  fixed  oil,  and  66.5  of  woody  fibre. 
According  to  the  U.  S.  Dispensary,  it  it  also  somewhat  narcotic,  and, 
as  an  emetic,  is  considered  very  slow  in  its  operation,  sometimes 
not  acting  for  several  hours,  and  then  frequently  upon  the  bowels ; 
but  the  vomiting  produced  by  it  is  not  attended  with  pain  or  spasm. 
In  over-doses  its  effects  are  quite  dangerous.  As  an  alterative, 
the  dose  is  from  one  to  five  grains.  Dr.  Griffith  has  also  used  it 
with  success  in  syphilitic  rheumatism  ('Med.  Bot.,'  535).  In  the 
supplement  to  the  Diet.  Univ.  de  M.  Med.,  1846,  557,  it  is  said 
to  have  been  used  with  good  effect  in  paralysis  of  the  intestines. 
(Precis  des  Travaux  de  VAcad.de  Rouen,  188,  1838;  Comptes  Ren- 
dus  Hebdom.  des  Sci.,  lv.,  12,  January,  1837).  The  ointment,  pre- 
pared by  mixing  one  drachm  of  the  powdered  root  or  leaves  with 
one  ounce  of  lard  has  been  applied  with  advantage  in  diseases  af- 
fecting the  scalp,  as  psora,  tinea,  capitis,  etc.  Dr.  Bigelow  was  suc- 
cessful with  it,  and  Dr.  Haynard  cured  cases  in  which  sulphur  had 
failed.  A  gentleman  informs  me  that  he  has  frequently  seen  the 
sores  of  secondary  syphilis  heal  up  by  the  application  of  a  strong 
decoction  of  the  roots.  Dr.  Braconnot  considers  the  yellow  liquor 
produced  by  the  juice  of  the  berries  one  of  the  most  delicate  tests 
of  the  presence  of  acids.  Dr.  Shultz  procured  from  half  a  bushel 
of  the  berries  six  pints  of  spirits,  sufficiently  strong  to  take  fire 
and  burn  with  readiness.  The  root  of  the  plant  should  be  dug  in 
autumn,  sliced,  dried,  and  kept  in  close-stopped  bottles. 
"Dr.  R.  Moore,  of  Sumter  District,  S.  C,  informs  me  that  the 
berries  of  the  poke  in  alcohol  or  whisky,  a  dessertspoonful  repeat- 
edly given,  has  been  found  one  of  the  most  efficient  remedies  we 
possess  in  rheumatism.  Dr.  Ballard,  of  the  same  district,  has  used 
it  with  satisfactory  results  for  fifty  years.  It  is  very  generally 
employed  in  this  way  by  many.  The  root  is  commonly  used,  ap- 
plied externally,  to  cure  mange  in  dogs.    The  root  should  be  dug 
