The rhizome and rootlets of Spigelia mary-landica.

Characters. - Rhizome two inches (5 centimetres) or more long, about one-eighth of an inch (3 millimetres) thick, horizontal, bent, somewhat branched, on the upper side with cup-shaped scars; on the lower side with numerous, thin, brittle rootlets about four inches (10 centimetres) long; dark purplish brown; somewhat aromatic, sweetish and bitter.

It should not be confounded with the underground portion of Phlox Carolina, the rootlets of which are brownish-yellow, rather coarse, straight, and contain a straw-coloured wood underneath a readily removable bark.

Preparation.

Dose.

Extractum Spigeliae Fluidum......................................................

10-20 min.

Use. - It is very generally used as an anthelmintic, and is best given with a cathartic, as senna.