Foxglove (Fa., Digitale ; Gza., Fingerhut).—The leaves of Digitalis purpurea have a powerful effect on the action of the heart, and are administered as a sedative, and as a diuretie. The plant is common on silieious soils throughout Europe, but avoids limestone. Tho leaves are often deprived of their thick ribs, before being submitted to gentle heat ; the odour of the dried leaf resembles tea, the flavour is very bitter. It is best to obtain the fresh fioweriug plant, so as to avoid confusion with the leaves of other plants. In Digitalis, the veins are continued alongside the midrib into the stalk of the leaf, a character not found in the leaves of other plants mixed with it. Foxglove leaves are worth about 8d. a lb.
gum-resin obtained from two or more species of Ferula is administered as a stimulating expectorant, and sometimes applied in plaisters. (Seo Resinous Substances.) underground woody stem and root of the Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) has lately been introduced as a remedy for neuralgia. In excessive doses, it causes complete muscular prostration, and sometimes death. The antidotes used are powerful stimulants. In the bark, especially of the young stems, exists a silky fibre.
root of Gentian 'Idea is largely used as a bitter tonic, but is more important as a oondiment. (See Spices.) Ginseng (Fa., Ginseng, Ginsen ; GER., Ginseng).—The root of several species of Panes is accredited by the Chinese with marvellous stimulative and restorative powers, the best varieties sometimes fetching their weight in gold ; Europeans, however, discredit its potency. The drug is taken as an infusion, prepared by steam-heat, iu a sort of double tea-pot ; the dose is G0-90 g-,r., in the morning, repeated for 3-8 days, tea being meanwhile avoided for at least a month. The quality and price 9f the drug vary much according to locality of production, and species. The most valuable species is P. Ginseng, indigenous to almost every part of China ; the best quality of the root was originally colleoted iu Manchuria, till excessive consumption nearly exterminated the plant. The Corean growth is now held in highest estimation, while good qualities are also furnished by Mongolia and Manchuria. The plant has been introduced into Japan, and grows more luxuriantly than in its native soil ; but it becomes an annual, and its root is thought to be less potent. Preference is given to the root of the wild plant, and its quality is supposed to increase with age. After collection, it is macerated and dried, and then appears iu finger-like pieces, 2-4 in. long, hard, brittle, and translucent. It is stored in lead-lined boxes, within an outer ease, the intervening space containing parcels of quick-lime, to maintain absolute dryness. A very inferior variety is the produce of P. a native of N. America. This plant was found wild in the Allegbany and Reeky mountains, and has been spread by cultivation to most of the United States, and Canada. It grows readily, especially in high, rocky places. The root is 3-4 in. long, and 1 in. thick, carrot-like, and occasionally branching. It is collected, dried, and shipped in large quantities to China. The imports of all kinds into the ports of Canton, Hankow, and Kiungchow, in 1877, were :—'Corean, 42 piculs (of 1334 lb.), value 76001. ; Japanese, picul, value 801. ;
American, 966 piculs, value 119,0001.
Guaiacum.--A blackish resin obtained principally from Guaiacum officinale is considered diaphoretic and alterative, and is often prescribed in gout and rheumatism. (See Resinous Substances.) Gulancha, or infusion, or extract (pido), of the stem, leaves, and root of •roseora cordifolia (Cocculus cordifolius) is considered very useful as a tonic, antiperiodic, and diuretic. The plant is a tall, climbing shrub, native of India—from Kumaon to Assam and Burma, and from Colman to the Carnatic—and of Ceylon. The drug commonly exists as slices of woody stem, }-2 in. wide, inodorous, but of bitter flavour. A substitute possessing similar properties, and equally valued as a febrifuge, is yielded by T. crispa, indigenous to Silhet, Pegu, Sumatra, Java, and the Philippines.
Gurjun.—The oleo-resin, or balsam, yielded by several species of Dipterocarpus, is employed in., the East as a substitute for copaiba. (See Resinous Substances.) Hellebore (FR., Ellebore ; GER., Hieswurzel).—Three kinds of Hellebore are known in medi cine :--(1) Black hellebore is the rhizome of Helleborus niger, and is a drastic purgative employed in veterinary practice. The herb is indigenous to S. and E. Europe : it is often cultivated in English gardens, as the " Christmas rose"; and grows wild in Provence, Salzburg, Bavaria, Austria, Bohemia, Silesia, N. Italy, and Greece. It occurs in commerce in knotty pieces, 1 -3 in. long, with a senega-like odour, and bitterish acrid flavour ; it is imported from Germany, and worth about 56s. a cwt. It is very liable to confusion with the closely similar roots of H. viridis, which, in Germany, is valued at 3-5 times the price of the common drug ; and it is occasionally adulterated with Actaa spicata. (2) White hellebore possesses emetic and drastic purgative properties, but is chiefly used as an insecticide, and as an ingredient of itch ointments. It is the root of Veratrwm album, a plant inhabiting moist grassy spots on most of the mountains of Central and S. Europe, also found in Norway, both Missies, near the Amur, in N. China, Saghalien, and Japan. The drug occurs iu conical pieces 2-3 in. long, and /A in. thick, usually without rootlets, with an alliaceous odour when fresh, and a sweetish bitter-acrid flavour ; its powder produces violent sneezing. It is imported in bales from Germany, and distinguished as " Swiss " and " Austrian," the price being also 56s. a cwt. It is sometimes replaced by the root of Veratrum nigrum, a less potent drug. (3) American white hellebore is the root stem of Veratrum viride, used as a cardiac, arterial, and nervous sedative. The plant appears to be a variety of V. album, and is plentiful in swamps, from Georgia to Canada. The drug consists of the rhizome, cut lengthwise in halves or quarters, with pale rootlets attached, and dried. In the United States Pharmacopeia, it is officinal in the form of transversely cut slices, which are usually shrunken and curled by drying.