Alnus Rubra

(Tag Aia»r.)

BoTANiCAi. Descriptiok This is an indigenous siirub, growing by the aide of streams, in swamps, wet grounds and marshes. It is tlie Alnua semUata of WiMenow, and ia known by tbe common name of Tag Alder, from the tflps, or conea, with wbich it ia covered in -winter.

It grows in clumps or thicltets. S(em» nnraerous, from ten to eighteen feet high. It blossoms in March and April, bearing flowers of a reddish-green color. The ha/rk ia the part uaed in medicine ; it ia inodorous, and haa a slightly bitter astringent taste.

Boiling water and dilute alcohol extract its medi- cinal properties. Alnuin is a dry, powdered extract, aaid to contain the active principles of this agent.

Obticinal Prkpahationb.— Tiie tincture and dilutions made from the bark ; triturations prepared from the Alnuin; a decoction.

Sphbsi; of ACTIOH.— An Aatipsoria; acts principally upon the skin and glandular system,

AnALOeroBS. — BuVpkm; SttlUngia, Arsenicum, Iodide of Potash, (Ham- wmeUe,) Iodide rf Mm-oury, Phytolacca, Eepar Svlphur.

"Cutaneoiia eruptions, sucli as impetigo, (f ) "Scrofulous eruptions, (?) syphilitic skin diseases. (?) " Chronic herpes and porrigo. (?) " Diseases of mucous membrane which arise from or alternate

with eruptions of the skin. " Scrofulous disease of the hip joints. "Hsematuria! and other passive hemorrhages, {JVo promnff.)

AMPELOPSIS aumaUEFOLIA.

(AmeriMn Ii>y.) BoTANiOAJ. DESCRiPriON. — This ia a woody vine, with a rooting, climb- ing stem, and leaves pointed out; leaflets oblong, having a long, projecting and tapering point, having five leaflets on a petal or foot stalk; the edge uneven or dented, smooth, turning crimson in autumn; flowers inconspic- uous, greenish, or wliite, in clusters, regularly divided by pairs, from top to bottom; calyx entire; petals five, distinct, spreading; ovai"y two-colled, cells two-ovuled; slyle very short; berries dark blue, acid, smaller than peaa, and two-celled; cells one or two-seeded. The American Ivy is a common and familiar shrubby Tine, climbing extensively, and, by meani

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.43 APOCYNUM ANDKOSEMIFOLITTM.

of its ra»5icating tendrik, supporting itself firmly upim Lraes, asceni^lng to the lieight of fifty feet. lu tJie same manner it ascenJs and orerspreada walla and. buildings, lis large leaves constituting a lusuriant foliage of dark glossy green. It is found in wild woods and thickets througiiout the United States, and blossoms in July, ripening its small blackish berries in October. In various sections it has different names, as Woodbine, Virginia Oreeper, Five Leaves, Falte Grape, Wild Wood Vine, ete.

Ofsicikal Pbepabations. — The tincture prepared from the fresh, bark and young twigs. [Or a permnnent decoction, using one part by weight to four parts by fluid measure of water, and adding sis parts absolute alcohol.]

Sphere of Actiom.— Antipsoric; affects Uie skin, mucous membrane and glandular system.

AnALOODEB. — Aliivs, Apocyiium, Ar»enieum, Oalctirea. Dulcamara, Ornph- ifeg, Iodine, Gkimaphilla, Phytolaeca, Bumex, SHllingia, Sulphur, BIms.

° Chronic cutaneous eruptions, (?) scrofula.

° Chronic and mercurial rheumatism, (?) indolent ulcers, (?)

chronic brondtitis and laryngitis, (?) di'opsy. (?)

(No proviugs.)

AMYL NITRITE.

{mtrile of Amyl.)

Pharmacology — This diug was discovered by the French chemist, Balard, in 1844 and the attention of physiologists was called to it, ia 18S9, by Guthrie But it was not until 1865 that Dr. Richardson intro- duced it to the profesiion

It is a yellowish oily very volatile liquid, of a very penetrating, per- sistent, fruity odor very highlj inflammable; is lighter than water, boiling at 183° F It may be prepared by gently heating Amylic alcohol (Fusel OiC) in a retort with nilne acid removing the heat as soon as bubbles form, repressing the effervescence, if too strong, by cold water, rectifying from Potassa the distillate p losing over under 313° F., and collecting apart the product ■nhich distills under 170° F.

Officihal Prep aratioh.— Alcoholic dilutions, on the centesimal scale. (Usually inhaled, a few drops at a time.)

AVAijoavm:— Agaricus,(?) BeUadonna,{?) Ether; Glonoine. (See Therapeutics, for symptoms and clinical remai-ks.)