Nutritive Powder

Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World, 1919, was edited by U. P. Hedrick. - Alfalfa

Medicago sativa Linn. Alfalfa. Lucerne. Europe and the Orient. The leaves are eaten by the Chinese as a vegetable.

The Family Herbal, 1812, was written by John Hill. - Burdock

Botanical name: Arctium lappa Bardana. IF the last-mentioned plant has more credit for medicinal virtues than it deserves, this is not so much regarded as it ought. Providence has made some of the most useful plants the most common; but, because they are so, we foolishly neglect them. It is hardly necessary to describe the common burdock. It may be enough to say, that it grows a yard high, and has vast leaves, of a figure approaching to triangular, and of a whitish green colour. The stalks are round, striated, and very tough: The flowers are small and red, and they grow among the hooked prickles of those heads which we call burs, and which stick to our clothes. Even this seems a provision of nature in kindness to us. In pulling off these we scatter the seeds of which they are composed, and give rise to a most useful plant in a new place. The root of the burdock is long and thick; brown on the outside, and whitish within; this is the part used in medicine, and it is of very great virtues. It is to be boiled, or infused in water, the virtue is diuretic, and it is very powerfully so. It has cured dropsies alone. The seeds have the same virtue, but in a less degree. The root is said to be sudorific and good in fevers; but its virtue in operating by urine is its great value.

The Family Herbal, 1812, was written by John Hill. - Nettle Leaf

Botanical name: Urtica dioica Urtica. Also see: Nettle - Roman Nettle. A plant too common to need much description. It is three feet high; the stalks are angulated and rough; the leaves are large, and of a beautiful shape, regularly from a broad base diminishing to a sharp point, and nicely serrated round the edges; the colour of these and of the stalks is a dusky green, and they are both covered with a kind of prickles, which easily make their way into the skin, and have at their base, a hollow bag of sharp juice, which gets into the wound, occasioning that swelling, inflammation, and pain that follows. The naked eye may distinguish these bags at the bottom of the prickles on the stalk of a full grown nettle, but a microscope shews them all over. The flowers of the nettle, are yellowish, little, and inconsiderable, the seeds are small, and round, the root is long and creeping. The juice of the nettle is good against overflowings of the menses. The root is to be given in infusion, and it works powerfully by urine, and is excellent against the jaundice.

The Family Herbal, 1812, was written by John Hill. - Flax Seed

Botanical name: Linum usitatissimum Linum. A very pretty as well as a very useful plant, cultivated for the sake of its seeds, as well as its stalks. It is three feet high, the stalk is round, slender, firm, and upright. The leaves are small, oblong, and narrow; and they stand irregularly, but in great numbers on it. Toward the top the stalk divides into three or four short branches; and on these stand the flowers; they are large and of a beautiful blue. Each of these is succeeded by a roundish seed-vessel; in which are a number of seeds. This seed is what is called linseed. A tea made of it is excellent in coughs and disorders of the breast and lungs, and the seed bruised is also good in cataplasms and fomentations for swellings. The oil drawn from it is given in pleurisies and peripneumonies with great success, and it is also excellent in the gravel and stone.

The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, Edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others. - Yellow Dock

Rumex. N. F. IV. Yellow Dock. Curled Dock. Radix Lapathi.—Rumex was official in the U. S., 1890, and has been admitted to the N. F. IV and is defined as "The roots of Rumex crispus Linné, or of Rumex obtusifolius Linné (Fam. Polygonaceae), without the presence of more than 5 per cent. of stem bases." N. IV. The roots of rumex are officially described as "Usually split longitudinally or cut into transverse pieces about 2 cm. in length. The entire root, nearly simple, slightly tapering, with few if any rootlets, somewhat twisted, up to 30 cm. in length and 7 cm. in diameter, externally reddish-brown or grayish from adhering soil, finely annulate above, deeply wrinkled longitudinally, marked with small indented root scars which are often transversely elongated and with occasional stem scars or remains of stem, the latter being hollow and finely striated; leaf buds few, obconical; fracture short and dusty, somewhat fibrous. The transverse section exhibits a yellowish or brownish cortex and a whitish or yellowish wood which is finely radiate in the outer portion. When examined under the microscope, it exhibits a thick cortex with several layers of cork, beneath which is an interrupted row of stone cells; a distinct cambium; and vascular bundles with few fibers. The powder, when examined under the microscope, shows calcium oxalate crystals in rosette aggregates from 0.025 mm. to 0.06 mm. in diameter; numerous starch grains ellipsoidal or narrowly elongated, sometimes truncate, up to 0.025 mm. in length; stone cells from 0.04 mm. to 0.2 mm. in diameter, with walls somewhat lamellated, from 0.008 mm. to 0.025 mm. in thickness and with few simple pores; sclerenchymatous fibers few, thin-walled with simple pores; tracheae up to 0.1 mm. in width with scalariform or reticulate thickenings of the wall; cork cells light brown. Rumex yields not more than 10 per cent. of ash." N. F. IV. Several species of rumex have sour leaves, and are distinguished by the common name of sorrel from the others, which are called dock. Of the former, Rumex Acetosa L., or common English sorrel, formerly held a place in the London and Dublin Pharmacopoeias. R. Acetosella L. is the common sorrel of our fields, though supposed to have been originally introduced from Europe. The leaves of both these plants are agreeably sour to the taste, and owe their acidity to acid potassium oxalate with a little tartaric acid. They quite lose this taste in drying. They are refrigerant and diuretic, and may be used advantageously as an article of diet in scurvy. For this purpose they are prepared in the form of salad. The juice of the leaves forms with water an agreeable acidulous drink, sometimes used in fevers. Taken very largely, the leaves are said to have produced poisonous effects. R. scutatus L., of Europe, Northern Africa, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus, also ranks among the sorrels (French sorrel). Of the proper docks, the roots of R. silvestris Wallr., an European plant, and of R. conglomeratus Murr., R. aquaticus, R. sanguineus L., and R. Patientia L., belonging both to Europe and to the United States, may be employed indiscriminately with those of the R. crispus L., which was formerly recognized by the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. R. Britannica L., and R. obtusifolius L., were formerly official. R. Hydrolapathum Hudson, which is the R. aquaticus of the old Dublin Pharmacopoeia, is thought to be the Herba Britannica of the ancients, celebrated for the alleged cure of scurvy and diseases of the skin. The docks are herbaceous plants with perennial roots, and especially distinguished by the sheathing petioles of the leaves. The flowers are small, mostly green, and occur in terminal or axillary panicles. Dock root, from whatever species derived, has an astringent, bitter taste, with little or no odor. The leaves of most of the species are edible when young, and are occasionally used like spinach. They are somewhat laxative, and form an excellent diet in scorbutic cases. The roots are used to dye a yellow color. According to J. H. Salisbury (N. Y. Journ. Med., March, 1855), the petioles of the leaves contain nearly one per cent. of oxalic acid; the cortical part of the root, which is the most active, yielded, on analysis, starch, a little sugar, albuminous matter, gummy matter, bitter extractive, tannic acid of the kind which gives green precipitates with the salts of iron, lignin, and various salts. The root yields its virtues to water and to alcohol, but is injured by long boiling. Dock root is astringent, gently tonic, and has been supposed to have alterative properties, making it useful in skin diseases and even syphilis. From the root of R. Nepalensis Wall., which is largely used in Madras as an astringent for medicinal purposes and for dyeing, O. Hesse has separated three crystalline substances to which he gives the names of rumicin, nepalin, and nepodin. (P. J., lvi; also Proc. A. Ph. A., 1896, 551.) According to Tutin and Clewer (Trans. Chem. Soc., 1910, xcvii) the R. Eckolianus Meissner, a South African herb, contains chrysophanic acid, emodin, and allied products, and is mildly purgative. Tschirch and Well found small quantities of emodin and chrysophanic acid with lapathinic acid, C20H18O14, in the root of R. obtusifolius. (A. de Pharm., 1912, No. 1, 20.) R. aquaticus and R. Britannica are the most astringent. The roots of some species unite a laxative with the tonic and astringent property, resembling rhubarb somewhat in their operation. Such are those of R. crispus and R. obtusifolius; and R. alpinus L., has in some parts of Europe the name of mountain rhubarb. This resemblance is not singular, as the two genera belong to the same natural family. A. Gilbert and P. Lereboullet have discovered a remarkable property of Rumex crispus. For the roots of this plant are said to possess the power of taking up the iron present in the soil, and fixing it in the form of organic compounds of iron. By watering the plants with a solution of iron carbonate, roots are said to be obtained which contain 1.5 per cent. of iron. Rumex is said to give good results in the treatment of chlorosis and anemia. The authors gave the dried and powdered root during meals in doses of fifteen to forty-five grains (1-3 Gm.), in view of their good results they regard it as a valuable iron medicine. Dock root is given in powder or in decoction. Two ounces (62 Gm.) of the fresh root bruised, or one ounce (31 Gm.) of the dried, may be boiled in a pint (480 mils) of water, of which two fluidounces (60 mils) may be given at a dose, and repeated as the stomach will bear it. George G. Flemyng (L. L., i, 1896) reported the death of two sisters, aged respectively five and six and a half years, preceded by symptoms of oxalic acid poisoning as the result of the ingestion of sorrel leaves.

King's American Dispensatory By Harvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd 1898 - Dandelion Leaf

should be collected in September, October, or November. The juice procured by the above method should be evaporated in shallow vessels, by means of steam heat; but the best extract is obtained by evaporation in vacuo. In the process of the British Pharmacoprria, the clear liquid obtained by expressing the crushed fresh root is directed to be heated to 100° C. (212° F.), and maintained at that point for 10 minutes. This is a wise provision, as the albumen contained in the 'uice is thereby coagulated, and may subsequently be removed by straining. In t e evaporation of this extract, too much heat or too long an exposure to the air will spoil it. When the extract is good, it is brownish, not blackish, bitter and aromatic, and not sweet. A blackish-sweet extract is more or less impaired. The extract should be renewed annually, as it loses its virtues by age and exposure. Extract of dandelion is tonic, diuretic, and aperient. It is much recom mended in aflections of the liver, spleen, and kidn _ a, in dropsical diseases, etc. I have made much use of various re arations of dan elion, and the efi'ects are far from being so decided and bene cia as the testimony of writers led me to suppose; we EXTRACTUM TARAXACI FLUIDUM.—-EXTRACTUM TRITICI FLUIDUM. 839 have several agents vastly} superior to it in medicinal efficacy, in the diseases for which it is prescribed. he dose of the extract is from 10 to 60 grains,3 times a day (J. King)

A Manual Materia Medica Pharmacology. Comprising All Organic And Iinorganic Drugs Which Are Or Have Been Official In The United States Pharmacopia by David M. K. Culbreth, Pn.G., M.D. 1917 - Dandelion Root

Taraxacum officinalc, JThe drjed rhizome and roots_ Habitat. Europe (naturalized in N. America); grassy places, roadsides, pastures, fields. Syn. Tarax., Dandelion, Lion's Tooth, White (Wild) Endive, Swine Snout, Cankerwort, Irish Daisy, Milk Cowan, Priest's Crown, Blow (Puff) Ball; Br. Taraxaci Radix; Fr. Pissenlit, Dent de Lion, Couronne de moine; Ger. Radix Taraxaci cum herba, Lowenzahn, Pfaffenrohrchen. Ta-rax'a-cum. L. fr. Gr. rapaaaa, ra.paK.TiKm, to move, disturbing—i. e., its medicinal properties; name assigned the plant by medieval pharmacists. Of-fi-Ci-na'le. L. see etymology of (Rheum) officinale, page 172. Dan'de-li'on. E. fr. L. dens, tooth, + leo, leunis, of the lion—i. e., leaves shape of the lion's tooth (runcinate). PLANT.—Perennial herb, acaulescent; leaves radical, direct from root-crown, 15-22.5 Cm. (6-9') long, 5-7.5 Cm. (2-3') wide, toothed (runcinate), teeth bent backward, 5-6 on a side, sessile, glabrous, bright green; flowers terminal upon hollow scapes, 15-20 Cm. (6-8') high, arising from midst of leaves, golden-yellow, 4 Cm. (If) broad, close at night; fruit achene, compressed, oblong-ovate, terminating in silky, hairy, spreading pappus, elevated on a pale greenish-white stalk, so that when mature the seed attached to this pappus is enabled to be wafted by the wind, to settle down at some distance and there propagate its kind. RHIZOME, cylindrical, somewhat flattened, gradually tapering, usually in broken pieces, 6-15 Cm. (2|-6') long, 5-15 Mm. (|-f) thick, 38 594 ORGANIC DRUGS FROM THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM brownish, longitudinally wrinkled, numerous root- and rootlet-scars, crown simple, branched, with many leaf-bases showing annulate markings, bark 2-T> Mm. (1*5—4') thick, composed of concentric layers of laticiferous vessels; odor slight, inodorous; taste bitter. POWDER, light brown; microscopically—large parenchyma cells containing masses of imilin, fragments with laticiferous vessels, reticulate tracheae, intermediate fibres non-lignified, with pores. Should be kept, after thoroughly dried, in tightly-closed containers, adding occasionally a few drops of chloroform or carbon tetrachloride to prevent insect attack. Solvents: diluted alcohol; boiling water. Dose, 5ss-2 (2-8 Gm.). ADULTERATIONS.—Chiefly chicory (Cichorium 'Intybus), which closely resembles taraxacum, but is paler and has milk vessels in radiating lines. Commercial.—Plant is universal, growing alike in dry and damp places, and was known to the Arabians as a blood-purifier. Rhizome is collected chiefly, spring, autumn, in C. Europe, and loses upon drying 75-85 p. c.; it is sweet after cold weather (early spring), owing to un- crystallizable sugar, 17 p. c., and levulin, 18.7 p. c., but these by au tumn go into or are replaced by in- ulin, in consequence of which the Fio. 410. — Taraxacum officinale: rhizome revealing at head the remnanta of flower stalks and leaf stalks. FIG. 409.—Taraxacum officinale. Fio. 411.—Taraxacum: transverse section of root. milk-juice becomes thicker and more bitter, causing some to believe it then most efficient; that collected in June, July, August may be valu able but is unreliable from lack of uniformity. Extract made from early spring collection is reliable, clear from presence of so little imilin (1.74 p. c.), and often preferred, while that from October collection is equally reliable, but opaque from excessive amount of inulin (24 p. c.), TARAXACUM—TARAXACUM 595 CICHORIACE/E and by many considered best. Dried root often is attacked by maggots, and hence should not be kept beyond a year. CONSTITUENTS.—Milk-juice (containing taraxacin, taraxacerin, 2 resins, and glutinous body), reducing sugars, levulin, inulin (yellow with iodine) 24 p. c., pectin, ash 5-10 p. c. Taraxacin.—Obtained by treating milk-juice with boiling water, evaporating; it is a crystalline bitter principle, non-volatile, acrid, soluble in hot water, alcohol, and ether. Taraxacerin, CgHisO.—Obtained by treating milk-juice with hot alcohol; it is crystallizable, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol. Old extracts may contain calcium lactate crystals, the lactic acid being produced from inosite, which is present in the leaves and stalks, but not believed to be in the root. PREPARATIONS.—1. Extrachtm Taraxaci. Extract of Taraxa- f FIG. 412.—Cichorium Intybus. FIG. 413.—Cichorium: transverse section. cum. (Syn., Ext. Tarax., Extract of Dandelion; Fr. Extrait de Pissenlit; Ger. Lowenzahnextrakt.) Manufacture: Macerate, percolate 100 Gm. with 12.5 p. c. alcohol until exhausted, reclaim, alcohol, evaporate residue on water-bath, frequently stirring, to pilular consistence. Dose, gr. 5-30 (.3-2 Gm.). 2. Fluide.rtractum Taraxaci. Fluidextract of Taraxacum. (Syn., Fldext. Tarax., Fluid Extract of Taraxacum, Fluidextract of Dande lion, Extractum Taraxaci Liquidum; Fr. Extrait fluide de Pissenlit; Ger. Lowenzahnfluidextrakt.) Manufacture: Similar to Fluidextractum Ergotse, page 00; 1st men struum: alcohol 50 Ml. (Cc.), water 40, glycerin 10; 2nd menstruum: diluted alcohol. Dose, 3ss-2 (2-8 Ml. (Cc.)). Una/. Preps.: Decoction, 5 p. c., dose, 5j-2 (30-60 Ml. (Cc.)). Elixir Taraxaci Compositum, 3.5 p. c. (fldext.), + fldext. of wild cherry 2, fldext. of glycyrrhiza (>, +• Succus Taraxaci (Br.), expressed juice (3) and alcohol (1), dose, 3j-2 (4-8 Ml. (Cc.)). PROPERTIES.—Diuretic, tonic, stomachic, aperient, deobstruent. USES.—Congestion and inflammation of liver and spleen, dyspepsia, constipation, consumption, skin affections, dropsies, substitute for coffee. Fresh leaves sometimes used as salad,