ARNICA, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Campo alla, the tribe Vernoniacar, the sub-tribe Stews-ion-eft, and the division Eitsenecionca. It has a cylindrical involuere, with equal 2-rowed scales; the flowers of the (link hermaphrodite, tubular ; the limb 5-toothed; the stigmas thickened above, and terminated with a conical pubescent apex ; the flowers of the ray female, bearing degenerated stamens, or with only the rudiments of an anther ; the achenium winged and striated; the receptacle naked; the pappue hairy. One species of this genus grows in Europe, the A. montane, and is known by the common name of Leopard's-Bane. It has obleng-obovate nearly entire 5-nerved radical leaves, a few-flowered stem, with villose or glanduloee pubescent peduncles and involueres. This plant is not found in the British Isles, but je abundant in the meadows and forests of mountainous districts in the middle and north of Europe, and also on the Alps. It blossoms in June and July.
This plant was at one time admitted into all the British Pharmaco peeian, but at the present time is only retained in the Dublin. It does not appear ever to have been much used in this country, and perhaps never sufficiently to refute or confirm the strong recommendations of it by German writers. In Germany all parts of the plant are used, the flowers, leaves, and root. The whole plant, but especially the root, pommies a peculiar aromatic but not pleasant odour, and a nauseous tante. The !dant has been examined by various chemists, and in every part there has been found an acrid train and a volatile oil. In combination with these Chevallier and Lassaigne found in the flowers an acrid bitter principle, which they have called Arnicine, and the root contains a considerable quantity of tannin. In large doses it produces inflammation of the alimentary canal, and coma. In small doses it acts as a general stimulant, increasing the pulsatione of the heart, and acting as a diaphoretic and diuretic. It is used in Germany in caner of low fever, also iu nervous diseases, in itinenorrhcra and ',dynamic diseases generally. The root by means of its tannin acts as a tonic on the system. The root is given in powder in the dose of about 10 grains, three times a (lay, or in infusion. The flowers are used in infusion, in the proportion of 1 drachm of the flowers to 80 of boiling water, of which 2 ounces may be given at a dose. In making this infusion care should be taken that the peplum be prevented from getting into it, by means of straining through a linen bag. The German I'harisineopecins contain several preparation. of
Arnica, amongst others a tincture, an extract, an essence of the flowers, and a vinegar (Archon. Arnica). Amongst homoeopathic practitioners the tincture le applied to wounds and braises, and other external uses, and infinitesimal donee of this eubetaneo are recom mended, according to their practice, in many severe diseases.
(Bischoff, Ned kinisch-Pliarmaccutische Bettina., 1844 ; Christison's Dispensatory.) AltOI'I)EiE, or ARACE.E, Arad', an order of Monocotyledonous Plants, which approach Dicotyledons in the form and veining of their leaven, but agree with the former in everything eine of importance. They are readily known by their flowers being placed very closely upon a cylindrical or lengthened axis, called technically n epadix (fig. 2), which is itself inclosed in a leaf of a peculiar figure, the edges of which are curved inwards till they meet, forming a sort of hollow sheath, which botanists name spathe (fig. 1).
The fruit is generally a cluster of little berries, each of which con tains a small number of seeds. The flowers themselves are extremely variable in stricture ; sometime., having neither calyx nor corolla, and sometimes possessing both those parts; sometimes furnished with anthers opening in a singular manner by little lobes, or having anthers of the commonest construction. Many of the species grow upon the trunks of trees, clinging to them in tropical countries like ivy; a very few are found in Europe, and those are always little stemless herbs ; a small number are small erect shrubs. They are all acrid in a high degree, some of them so much so as to be dangerous poisons, as for example the Dumb-Cane of the West Indies, which paralyses the mouth if only chewed. Nevertheless this acrid principle is so far removed by roasting or boiling, that the underground stems may in some cases be used as food. The Coloca.sia of the tropics, and some other species, are common articles of food among the negroes ; but they are said not to agree very well with Europeans. In this country only one kind of Aroideous plant, the Arum maculation, is found wild.
The root of that species which is vulgarly named the Cuckoo Pint, and its epadixes Lords and Ladies, is eatable when properly prepared, just OA those which have already been mentioned. What is called Port land Sago is prepared from it. The apadixen of some species give out a fetid smell. The emanations of Arum Dracuncul us when in flower produce dizziness, headache, and vomiting.