IPECACUANHA

The root of the Cephaelis ipecacuanha. This important article of the Materia Medica is the produce of South America; it is in short wrinkled pieces, covered with a grey or brownish grey epidermis, and having a central woody fibre, surrounded by a pale grey 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 whilst under the proce of pulverization is apt to excite great irritation of the respiratory organs. From fifteen to twenty grains of powdered ipecacuanha root taken in an ounce of water is one of the safest and surest emetics; in doses of from oue 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 e.met in, 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^. (Iris, one of the genera.) A natural order of herbaceous Endogens inhabiting the Cape and some other places. It differs from AmaryUidacecE e entially in being triandrous, with the anthers turned outwards; from OrchidacecB, in not being gynandrous; and from Zingiberacets and Marantacece, in having three perfect stamens. The species are more remarkable for their beautiful flowers than for their utility. The substance called saffron is the dried stigmata of the Crocus sativus. The various species of Iris, Ixia, Gladiolus, Tigridia, Crocus, ., are among the favourite flowers of the gardener. [s. 625]