672

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

to cool, as at night, a hind of fermentation is readily set, and gas t®copiously evolved. The fluid extract is to be preferred to the ordinarymore consistent preparation. The quantity of extract obtained fromdifferent hinds of sarsaparilla has been already noticed. For furtherinformation on this point I must refer the reader to the papers of M* -Battley {Land. Med. Rep. xix. 168); Mr. Pope ( Med.-Chir. Trans, xb-344); and M. Thubeuf ( Journ. de Pharm. t. xvi. and xviii.)

Extract of Jamaica sarsaparilla, when rubbed on white paper orporcelain, exhibits a reddish tint not observable in the extract of theHonduras hind. The flavour and odour are also characters which assistin distinguishing well-prepared extract. Rubbed up with water it i®almost completely soluble, and the solution, which should be clear, bystanding, deposits scarcely any thing. The dilute solution should » otbecome blue on the addition of a solution of iodine.

Extract of sarsaparilla is declared by many writers to be an inert anduseless preparation; but-the assertions are, for the most part, foundedrather on theoretical than practical considerations. I have extensivelyused it, and believe that when it is properly prepared from Jainaie®sarsaparilla, it is a most valuable and efficient remedy; and the enormon®quantity of it w hich is consumed by the profession generally (includingsome of the most eminent of its members), is a proof that many other®entertain a similar opinion of it. It is given in doses of from hall adrachm to two or three drachms three or four times a day. It should b erubbed down with water, and flavoured by the tincture of orange-peel, ° rby some volatile oil (as the oil of cloves, allspice, lemon, or cinnamon)’Alkalies render its flavour somewhat disagreeable, though they frequentiyincrease greatly its remedial powers.

8. Extractum Sarzm compositum. —Not in any Pharmacopoeia , btdkept m the shops. It is made by mixing with extract of sarsaparilla , a *'extract prepared by evaporating a decoction of mezereon bark, liqu° rlCroot, and guaiacum shavings, and a small quantity of oil of sassafra®;1 ns preparation is employed as a convenient substitute for the coinpound decoction of sarsaparilla. The dose of it, and the mode of e*l»'bition, is the same as of the simple extract. Three quarters of an ou» c0of the compound extract are equal to a pint of the compound decoction-

Other Medicinal Smilacea.

C ^ 11

Tf China root of the shops ( Radix China orientalis) is the produce of Smila x -(Linn.), and is said to come from the province of Onansi, in China . It occurs in laI >ligneous, knotty pieces, of from three to eight inches long, and an inch or two tExternally it has a grayish-brown colour, and internally a lio-bt flesh or yello^ 1 .white colour. It is inodorous, and has a slightly astringent taste. It appears to c °sist of extractive, tannic acid, colouring matter, starch, and woody fibre. It was t"duced into Europe in 1535 as an infallible remedy for the venereal disease, and obtaingreat celebrity in consequence of the benefit which the Emperor Charles thesaid to have derived from it in gout. Its effects are not very obvious, but it is sa' ahe diaphoretic. It tinges the sweat. It has been used in the same maladies as s ar °farilla; viz. venereal diseases, rheumatism, and gout, obstinate skin diseases, & £ -*is given in the form of decoction. ,

The American China toot {Radix Chines Americans}) is brought from JMexico,said to be the produce of Smilax Pseudo-China. ^

Smilax aspera is used in the south of Europe as a substitute for sarsaparilla ithe substance sold in London under that name is brought from India , and is the rduce of Hemidesmus indicus, and will be described hereafter.