Euphorbia

A genus of some 700 species of trees, shrubs and herbs, mostly with a milky, acrid, or poisonous juice. E. res in if era, of Africa affords euphorbium. E. lathyris, yields oil of euphorbia, an active, but uncertain cathartic. From E. drummondii, drum in is prepared. In N. America, E. corollata. E. ipecacuanha, E. vulgar is, E. prostrate, and other native species have been employed in medicine, there being about 100 species in the U. S. E. pilulifera, of S. America and Australia, has reputed value in asthma and cardiac dyspnea. Dose of the extract gr. j.; of the fluid extract 3 -j; of the tincture 3 -j; to be used with great caution. E. piscidia, of tropical America, a virulent poison, is locally employed as a caustic. Many other species are actively medicinal.