IPECACUANHA

The root of the CephaeHs ipecacuanha. This important article of the Materia Medica is the produce of South America; it is in short wrinkled pieces, covered with a gray or brownish gray epidermis, and having a centra! woody fibre, surrounded by a pale gray cortical part, in which its virtue resides. It has a nauseous odour, and a repulsive bitterish taste. It is difficultly reducible to powder, and the dust which it throws off while tinier the proce of pulverization is apt to excite great irritation of the respiratory organs. From fifteen to twenty grains of powdered ipecacuanha root taker, in an ounce of water is one of the safest and surest emetics; in doses of from one to three or four grains it is a nauseant; and in smaller doses, repeated every four or six hours, as from a fourth of a grain to a grain, it is expectorant and diaphoretic. It contains from twelve to sixteen per cent, of emetin, to which its medical activity is referable. When long boiled with water its emetic power is diminished, but the decoction is aperient. There are several varieties of ipecacuanha, some of which arise from modifications of soil and climate; others appear to be the roots of distinct plants. IRIDACE^E. (Iris, one of the genera.) A natural order of herbaceous Endogens inhabiting the Cape and some other places. It differs from Amaryllidacra; e entially in being triandrous, with the anthers turn°d outwards; from Orrhidacca. in not being gynandrous nnd from Zingibcraceas 616 [s. 630]