Hemidesmus. Hemidesmus. The Root of Hemidesmus Indicus; [Not officinal in U. S. P.] Lin. Syst., Pentandria digynia. Indian Sarsaparilla. Native of India.

Description. Hemidesmus occurs in long cylindrical pieces; the colour of the cortex is dark, marked by longitudinal divisions and deep circular rings; the central portion ligneous; it has a somewhat fragrant odour, and an agreeable bitter taste.

Prop. & Comp. It yields its active properties to boiling water, and contains a peculiar volatile, crystallizable substance, with acid properties: this has been called hemidesmic acid, but little is known concerning it.

Off. Prep. Syrupus Hemidesmi. Syrup of Hemidesmus. (Hemidesmus, four ounces; refined sugar, twenty-eight ounces; boiling distilled water, twenty fluid ounces.)

Therapeutics. Its action is supposed to be the same as sarsaparilla, and it has been used as a substitute for that root, especially in India, in syphilitic cutaneous eruptions, etc, and also in some diseases of the kidney.

Dose. Of the Syrup, 1 fl. drm. to 2 fl. drm. The Syrup of Hemidesmus must be looked upon more as a flavouring than a medicinal agent, as the amount of the drug contained in an ordinary dose of this preparation is very small.

A decoction may be made from it, in lieu of sarsaparilla, when the real action of hemidesmus is required. Dose from 1 fl. oz. to 4 fl. oz.

Cynanchum Argel, the leaves of which have been referred to as constituting one of the adulterations of senna, belongs to this natural order.