Sarsaparilla. Root of Smilax officinalis and other species of smilax (Nat. Ord. Liliaceae). Separeille, Fr.; Sarsaparill-wurzel, Ger.

Decoctum Sarsaparillae Compositum

Compound decoction of sarsaparilla. (Sarsaparilla, sassafras-root, guaiacum-wood, licorice-root, mezereum.) Dose, oz j — oz iv.

Extractum Sarsaparillae Fluidum

Fluid extract of sarsaparilla. Dose, 3 j — oz ss.

Syrupus Sarsaparillae Compositus

Sirup of sarsaparilla. (Sarsaparilla, guaiacum-wood, rose, senna, licorice-root, essential oils.) Dose, 3 j — oz ss.

Extractum Sarsaparillae Compositum Fluidum

Compound fluid extract of sarsaparilla. (Sarsaparilla, licorice-root, sassafras, mezereum.) Dose, 3 ss — 3 ijComposition.—An alkaloid, parilline, or smilacine, an essential oil, starch, resin, oxalate of lime, and extractive matters. From parilline, by the action of dilute sulphuric acid, is obtained parigenine, a distinct alkaloid.

Antagonists and Incompatibles

Alkalies favor the decomposition of the decoction and fluid extracts. As there is much starch present in the drug, free iodine should not be prescribed with the official preparations.

Synergists

Iodine, mercury, and other so-called alteratives, increase the therapeutical activity of sarsaparilla. Warm clothing increases the action on the skin; diluents favor increased urinary discharge.

Physiological Actions

Much discrepancy obtains in the opinions which have been emitted in respect to the physiological actions of sarsaparilla. Surgeons generally hold to its therapeutical powers; physicians are skeptical. The physiological experiments which have been made, both with the preparations of the crude drug and with the alkaloid, have yielded negative results. Palotta's experiments, made with the alkaloid which he had discovered so long ago as 1825, indicate that eight grains of the alkaloid produce gastric disturbance, vomiting, slowing of the pulse, depression, faintness, and sweating. These results have since been in part confirmed by Cullerier. Boecker, however, making more systematic examination in accordance with modern methods, finds that sarsaparilla is devoid of physiological activity and of therapeutical power (Husemann).

Therapy

From the point of view of the physiological experiments it is not difficult to understand the modern incredulity in regard to the curative power of sarsaparilla. The difficulty of distinguishing between the post hoc and the propter hoc serves to account for the belief still held in some quarters, that this drug is an alterative. Popularly, sarsaparilla is supposed to have extraordinary powers as a "blood-purifier," and its large use at the present time arises from this belief.

Almost the only use of sarsaparilla at the present time is in the treatment of syphilis. It is, of course, not adapted to the primary or to the secondary forms. The experience in its favor, even of those most confident of its powers, restricts its use to the tertiary form in debilitated subjects, who have been broken down by the combined influence of syphilis, mercurialism, and iodism. It has been further demonstrated that the best effects have been obtained by the use of large doses of the compound decoction (Allbutt). As the compound decoction contains guaiac and mezereon, it is difficult to assign the exact share of the sarsaparilla in the result. Furthermore, as a pint or more of the compound decoction must be taken in the twenty-four hours, these large draughts of a warm liquid are not without influence on the functions of the skin and kidneys. It is extremely questionable whether sarsaparilla has any therapeutic power; it is not at all equal us an alterative to some of the remedies indigenous in the United States, to be considered hereafter.

The compound fluid extract, the compound decoction, and the compound sirup of sarsaparilla, are frequently used as vehicles for iodide of potassium and for the bichloride of mercury in secondary and tertiary syphilis.

Scrofula, chronic abscesses, necrosis of bones, old ulcers, and strumous cutaneous affections, are diseases in which sarsaparilla is supposed to be efficacious. It is more used as an adjunct to more active remedies than depended on alone.

Authorities referred to:

Allbutt, Dr. Clifford. The Practitioner, 1870, vol. i.

Gubler, Dr. Adolphe. Commentaires Thérap. du Codex Medicamentarius, p. 304.

Hanbury and Fluckiger. Pharmacographia, p. 636, et seq.

Husemann, Drs. Aug. und Theodor. Die Pflanzenstoffe, p. 1040.