Materia medica and therapeutics : for physicians and students . r and alcohol, and contains gallic and tannic acids, gum, resin,apocynin, apocyncin, bitter extractive, etc. Although the entire root DIURETICS—TARAXACUM. 375 is officinal, the bark of the root is probably alone active. , or Dogsbane, is possessed of much the sameproperties as A. cannabinum. Effects and Uses.—Canadian Hemp is diuretic, diaphoretic, seda-tive, and, in continued doses, emeto-eathartic. It is chiefly em-ployed in the treatment of dropsy, in which its action is oftenpowerfully efficacious. It should
Materia medica and therapeutics : for physicians and students . r and alcohol, and contains gallic and tannic acids, gum, resin,apocynin, apocyncin, bitter extractive, etc. Although the entire root DIURETICS—TARAXACUM. 375 is officinal, the bark of the root is probably alone active. , or Dogsbane, is possessed of much the sameproperties as A. cannabinum. Effects and Uses.—Canadian Hemp is diuretic, diaphoretic, seda-tive, and, in continued doses, emeto-eathartic. It is chiefly em-ployed in the treatment of dropsy, in which its action is oftenpowerfully efficacious. It should be given in amounts just suffi-cient to produce diuresis, when a cathartic effect is not best form of exhibition is an infusion (5ss to boiling waterOj, or the same amount may be dissolved in gin Oj); dose,f 5ij-iv three or four times a day. TARAXACUM. Taraxacum Dens-leonis, or Dandelion {Nat. Ord. Compositae),is a small herbaceous, perennial plant, common to most parts ofthe world, and found abundantly throughout the United States. Fig. TARAXACUM DENS-LEONIS. It has a fusiform root, which sends up numerous long, sinuated,bright-green leaves, and flower-stems about six inches high,bearing golden-yellow flowers. The root is the officinal portion,and sho2dd be gathered in the autumn. In the fresh state it isseveral inches long, branched, fleshy, of a light-brown colorexternally, whitish within, and abounds in a milky juice ; the freshroot is preferable for use. When dried it is shrunken, wrinkledand brittle. It is without smell, but has a bitter taste Boilingwater extracts its virtues, which probably depend on a peculiar 376 MATERIA MEDICA ECCRITICS. bitter crystallizable principle termed taraxacm, soluble in waterand alcohol. It also contains taraxacerin, resin, and Dragendorff *found inulin and some sugar. Effects and Uses.—Taraxacum is diuretic and slightly aperient,with some tonic action, and a slight determination to the liver-It is useful in hepatic
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