OCR Text |
Show §0 CONTRAYERVA. CONTRAYERVA. The root is knotty, an inch or two long, and about half an inch thick, of a reddish brown colour externally, and pale within: long, rough, slender fibres shoot out fromall sides of it, and are generally loaded with small round knots. It has a peculiar kind of aromatic smell, and a somewhat astringent, warm, bitterish taste, with a light and sweetish kind of acri- mony, when long chewed: the fibres have little taste or smell; the tuberous part, therefore, should be alone chosen. This root contains so much mucilage, that a decoctionofit will not pass throughthe filter. Neumann got from 480parts, 190 wateryextract, and afterwards with alcohol 7; and inversely 102 alcoholic, and 60 watery. I find that the tincture reddens infusion of litmus, is precipitated by water, and has no effect on thesalts of iron. Nicholas Monardus, almost two centuries ago, first makes mentionof the plant called Contrayerva; and as this name is of a Spanish origin, signifying ‘antidote to poison,? it might apply to TCE aT me Pa") any plant supposed to possess such virtue. ie We are told by Clusius, that ‘he received from sir Francis Drake some roots which were brought from Peru, where they were highly valued, and reported to counteract the effects of serpents and ail other kinds of poisons. This plant was named, in honour of the cir- cumnavigator, Drakea, and is supposed to be the same as the present. Plamier (Nov. Gen. Plant.) called it Dorstenia ; and Linnzus has followed the same title. Contrayerva is & gentle stimulant and diaphoretic, and is sometimes given in exanthematous diseases » typhus, and dysentery. Its doseis about half a drachm. As to its being g an antii dote agai nst anim al and vegetable poi"als imal i sons, aelittle is; known to Europe an physicians ; but it possesses certainly a stimulant property. Henceit is given as diaphos aa diapho t ) retic andantiseptic in low and maligna nt fevers, small-pox, and 35 bad state of measles; and though use d freely creates no considerable degree of heat.: TT} 'e dose is from ten grains to a drachm n to half a drachm, or more. tis usually joined with the com mmon efferves eller ves.cing dr:raught, given A iver in the state of effervescence. n oo : The Royal London College only order the following : Compounp Powprr or Conrrayerva. (Pulvis Contrayerve compositus. L.) Take of contrayerva, powdered, five ounces; compound powder of crabs claws, one pound and a half: Mix them. This medicine, says the author of the Edinburgh Pharmacopocia, has a very good claim to the title of an alexipharmic and sudorific. The contrayerva, by itself, proves very serviceable in low fevers, where the vis vite is weak, and a ‘diaphoresis to be promoted. It is possible that the crabs claws are of no further service than as they divide this active ingredient, and make it sit more easily on the stomach. I have likewise used this remedy with much success in the diseases incident to children, where the bowels appeared to require an absorbent, and the vital actions wanted to be roused, and the pores to be opened; and have found good from the powder of contrayerva, without the composition, in phagedenic ulcers and incipient mortifications. There are some who would also discard this medicine from our Pharmacopeeias ; but, as I observed before, we have no articles to spare. MEDICAL USE, i subst ha anceis ga n decoction orinfusio PREPARATIONS. Lewis mentions an extract made by rectified spirits which tastes strongly of the contrayerva, and leaves in the mouth a durable, glowing, vibrating kind of pungency, like that of peppermint, but far milder. -This deserves to be tried. |