BoTANiCAi. Desohiption. —Height abont one foot, siera round, sheathed at liase, dividing into two round petioles, butween w)ucli is the flower. Leaves broadly cordate, in fire to seven lobes, each lobe abont six inches long, from the insertion of the petiole ; two lobod and dentate at apex ; bar. ren stems, with one centrally peltate leaf. S'lower pedunculate, drooping, ■White, about two inches in diameter. Fruit ovate, oblong, large, yellowish, with a peculiar flavor, likened by Wood to the strawberry. It is an indigenous, perennial herb, with a long, jointed, dark brown rhizoma, or root, about half the size of the finger, spreading extensively in rich gvnunds, and giving off fibres at the joints; internally it is yellowish. The frail is fleshy, one-celled, one or two inches in length, of a lemon color, with brownish spots when ripe, and covered with a large, persistent stigma. The mucilaginous pulp is edible, and esteemed as a luxury by many persons; it encloses twelve seeds, in pulpy arils, [The variety named Podophyllum montanum, by Raflnesque, grows in the South.] Mandrake grows throughout tlie United Slates, in low, shady situations, flowering in May and June, maturing its fruit in September and October. Tlie jvioi! is the officinal portion; the proper time for collecting It is In the latter part of October, or early part of November, soon after the ripen, ing of the fruit. The /curt possesses slightly laxative and diuretic properties, the rind and seeds being the medicinal portions. The leaves are deemed poisonous, probably possessing the same proper- ties as the root. Podophyilin is the resin obtained from mandralte, and is very extensively used instead of tlie crude root. Dr. King, the eclectic, claims to have dis- covered and introduced this preparation to the notice of tlie medical pro- fession. It is a yellowisii or yellow-brown powder, insoluble in water, oil of turpentine, dilute Nitric acid, and diluted alkalies. It is said to be composed of two resins, both of which are purgative, one is soluble in alcohol only, the other in alcohol and ether. It has no alkaline or acid reaction, but forms a saponaceous compound with the alkalies. It has a bitter, nauseous and acrid taste. From four to eight grains act as an emeto- cathartic, with griping, nausea, prostration and watery stools. From two dbyGoogle 610. PODOPHTLLDM PKLTATUM. lo four grains as a drastitMjatliartic, with nausea and griping; even on& half a grain often acts as an active cathartic. OFPioiiJAi. Prepakations. — Tincture of the root, with strong alcoliol; dilutions. Podophyllin and its triturations. (The rind of the ftnit, tlie seeds, and the leaves, are all medicinal, the pulp of the fruit edible.) ANALO&tTEB. — Am^ira, ^scttlus, Bryonia, OoUmsoaia, OheUdortiiim, Set- leborus niger. Iris versicolor, LiliuTn, MercuHus Sol., Nitric acid, PitlsatiUa, Siilphur, VeratruTii aifrum. Mind and -SeuBOriam. Stupor, with Toitiiting, purging and collapse. * Depression of spirits; he imagines he is going to die or be very ili. * Hypochondriac mood, from disorder of the liver. (Sale.)