86 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR, 
EXPECTORANTS. 
This class of remedies act on the mucous membrane of the 
respiratory organ. They are abundant, and useful in colds, 
coughs, asthma, bronchitis, consumption, and all chest 
affections. Lobelia, skunck cabbage, pleurisy root, which 
stand high as expectorants, we have already described. 
ARUM ROOT (Arum Tripnytiu). 
(Indian Turnip, Dragon Root, or Wake Robin), 
As this plant is variously called, has a perennial root, which, 
early in spring, sends up a large oval-shaped variously- 
coloured blade, convoluted at the bottom and bent over at the 
top like a hood, and supported by an erect, round, green or 
purplish neck. Within it is a club-shaped part, green, 
purple, black, or variegated, rounded at the end and contracted 
near the base, where it is surrounded by the stamens or germs 
in the double, and by both in the single plants; the female 
organs being below themale. The upper portions gradually 
decay, while the germs are converted into a compact bunch of 
shining scarlet berries; The leaves, usually one or two in 
number, and upon long sheathing foot-stalks, are composed of 
three oval-shaped leaflets, paler on their under than their 
upper surface, and becoming glaucous as the plant advances. 
There are three varieties of this species, distinguished by the 
colour of the tops, which in one is green, in another dark 
purple, and in a third white. The plant is a native of North 
and South America, and is common to all parts of the United 
States, growing in damp woods, in swamps, along ditches, and 
in other moist, shady places. All parts of it are highly acrid, 
but only the root was formerly recognized. This is roundish, 
flattened, an inch or two in diameter, covered with a brown, 
loose epidermis, and internally white, fleshy, and solid: In 
the recent state it has a peculiar odour, and is violently acrid, 
producing, when chewed, an insupportable burning, biting 
sensation in the mouth and throat, which continues for a long 
time and leaves an unpleasant soreness behind. According 
