This section is from the book "The London Medical Dictionary", by Bartholomew Parr. Also available from Amazon: London Medical Dictionary.
(From Asclepius, its inventor; called also hirundinaria, contrayerva Germanorum, vincetoxicum). Tame Poison, Silken Cicily, and White Swallow wort. A. vincetoscicum Lin. Sp. Pi. 314.
It resembles the apocynum, or dog's bane; and like it yields a milky juice.
The roots, when fresh gathered, smell like the root of valerian, but lose their odour by drying: chewed, they are sweetish at the first, then bitterish. In doses from Э i. to 3 i. it is sudorific and diuretic. In these characters it hath been so commonly used by the Ger-mans as to have obtained the name of contrayera Germanorum.
It is said to be useful as an emmenagogue; and has been employed, though with little success, in dropsy: from its connection with many poisonous plants, it is, however, suspicious, and to be used with caution.
Asclepias asthmatica, Lin. Supplem. 171. Wil-denow, Sp. Pi. v. i. p. 1270. This is a plant from the island of Ceylon, and is slightly emetic and cathartic. Its chief use, as the name indicates, is in pituilous asthmas, and is given in decoction or syrup.
 
Continue to: