_Pink Root._ _Radix._
[This is an herbaceous plant, growing native in the Southern states. It
flourishes in rich, dry soils, and flowers from May to July. The root,
which is composed of numerous slender fibres, when fresh, is of a
yellowish colour, and has an insipid and nauseous taste. As it contains
on analysis no resin, its proper menstruum is water. It is exclusively
as an anthelmintic that the Pink Root is resorted to, and as such it
possesses unquestionable power. When given to any extent it proves
narcotic, and at the same time purgative. It is probably to this
combination of properties that its efficacy as a vermifuge is to be
attributed. It is chiefly against the Lumbrici that it has been used
with success. It may be given in powder, in doses of from grs. x to xx,
repeated every two hours. The more common and preferable mode of giving
it, however, is that of infusion, made by putting ℥j of the root into a
pint of boiling water. Of this, when cold, from ℥j to ℥iv may be given
every two or three hours, according to the age of the patient. It should
be recollected, that in its fresh state the Pink Root is much more
active than when dried and kept for any length of time.]