Apocynum Androsaemifolium

(Biltei- Boot.)

Botanical DEsCKrpTiON. — This is an indigenous, perennial, herbaceous

plant, from three to six feet in height, and abounding in a milky juice,

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APOCTHrM ANBEOSEMIFOLICM. 43

which exudes when any part of the plant is woucded. The stem is smooth and simple below, blanched abore, usually red on the side exposed to the sun, and covered with a tough, ahrous barlt. It grows in all parts uf the United States, from Carolina to Canada ; is found along fences, wet places, the skirts of woods, and flowers in Juneaud July. The leaves are opposite, having sharp stems, ovate, acute, entire, smooth on both edges, and two or three inches long.

The Bowers are white, tinj^ed with ted, and grow in loose, nodding, terminal or axillary bnnches. Tbe peduncles are furnishet. with veiy small and acute bracts. The tube of the corolla is larger than the calyx, and its border spreading. The fruit consists of a pair of long, linear, acute follicles, containing numerous imbricated seeds, attached to a central receptacle, and eact flirnished with a long seedjJown.

The root, which is the part employed, is large, and like otiier parts of the plant, con- tains a milky juice. Its taate is unplet^ant and extremely bitter.

"The flowers have a pleasant, honey-iike odor, and contain that sub- stance. Bees and other insects collect this honey ; but small flies are often caught by inserting their proboscis lietween tlie flssues of the anthers, when it is not easy for them to extricate it. They are often seen dead in that confined situation, after unavailing struggles — whence one of the names of the plant, 'catch-fly,' No animals eat it." {Bafinesque.)

This plant is known by mauy common names, illustrative of certain physical qualities which it possesses. The name Apocynum, is from the Greek — meaning dog's bane; alluding, probably, to the poisonous effects of the European genus, when given to the canine species. It Is ciJled Milk-weed, Catch-fly, Fly-trap, Bitter-root, Honey-bloom, etc.

The root, when chewed, has an intenaelybitler ami very unpleasant taste; this taste is perceptible in the whole plant, except the flower. A decoc- tion is of a red color, and very hitter. A tincture with alcohol is colorless but very bitter. It contains, therefore, a bitter principle, soluble in water and alcoiiol, and a coloring principle, not soluble in alcohol.

It also con. tains a volatile oil. Bigelow says the milk-like julcecontains caoutchouc. I would advise homcepathic pharmaceutists to make the tincture with dilute alcoiiol, and use the fresh, whole plant, collected just after tlie flower- ing season, In August.

OppiorNAL Pbbpakations.^ Tincture of the root, or whole plant by maceration with dilute alcohol.

Sphere ov action. — It appears to have a marked action on the muscular system and joints, and possibly on serroua tissues.

Ahalogues, — Aconite, AsdepiiM tvierosa. Benzoic acid, Bryonia, Caulo pliyllum, Colchicum,, Oimicifuga, IHa iieraicotoT, Podophyllum.

* Bilious rheumatic and congestive headaches.

* Kheumatic or neuralgic hemicraiiia.

Severe sneezing, with great itching and irritation in nostrils.

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44 APOOTNUM ANDROSEMIFOLTUM.

Face and Teeth.

Swollen sensation of the face and body.

Violent itching of the body and fa«e.

Itching and burning of the face; twitching of the face.

Pain in all the teeth of the lower jaw, left side.

Diarrhcea, with persistent nausea and vomiting.

Copious evacuations in the evening, of soft consistency, bi-own in color, with slight colic,

° Expulsion of worms (asearidea.) {EcleGtih o/uihorities.)

° Constipation. ° Dyspepsia. {Eclectio mithorities.')

Enormous increase of urine. {Prwiary effect.)

Scanty urine with headache. {SeconAa/ry effect.)

Burning sensation in the urethra when urinating,

° Uriemia. ° Scarlatinal dropsy, " Anasarca.

Generative Organs.

(Men.) Tickling sensation at the end of the penis.

Burning in the urethra when urinating,

"Chancres on the glans penis; syphilis, {f)

(Women.) ° Intermitting, bearing down, labor-like pains.

"Dysmenorrhcea, and threatened abortion, with copious flow of urine.

Bronchia, Iiungs, etc.

An expectorant in bronchitis and other puhnonary complaints.

" Bronchial irritation, (rheumatic ?)

Back and Extremities.

° Acute rheumatism, the inflammation confined to the small joints, with much pain and swelling. {I)r. WilUams.)

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APOOYNrM CANNABIHUM.

° Pains in the 11111158, especially the feet. {Dr. Henry.)

Profuse sweating all night, with coldness of the skin.

Great sleepiness, with profuse sweating.

Fever, Heart's action increased ; pulse 98, quick, full.