Asarabacca Leaves.
QUALITIES. The leaves, when recent, are nauseous, bitter, and
acrimonious, and prove violently purgative and emetic, properties which
are impaired by keeping. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, a peculiar acrid
principle, not well understood. SOLUBILITY, water by infusion extracts
their sensible properties, but they are lost by decoction. USES. As an
errhine, Dr. Cullen has remarked that they form the most useful species
of this genus of local stimulants. DOSE, gr. iij. to v. repeated every
night until the full effect is produced. OFFICINAL PREP. _Pulvis Asari
compositus._ E.D.