| Nitrogenous matter | 3·1 |
| Sugar | 14·7 |
| Inulin | 1·9 |
| Pectic Acid | 0·9 |
| Pectin | 0·4 |
| Cellulose | 1·5 |
| Fatty matter | 0·2 |
| Mineral matter | 1·3 |
| Water | 76·0 |
| ——— | |
| 100·0 |
From the above it will be seen that this esculent contains no nitrogen.
ARTIFICIAL FOODS. See Farina.
ASARABAC′CA (ăs-ă-). Syn. As′arum, A. Europæ′um: (Linn.), Nar′dus monta′na*, &c., L.; Asaret, A. d’Europe, Cabaret, Azarum C., Nard sauvage, Oreille d’homme, &c., Fr.; Hazelwurtzel, Ger. The ασαρον of Dioscorides, a small round, hard, stemless, hardy herbaceous plant, bearing chocolate-coloured flowers; and of the nat. ord. Aristolochieæ (DC.). It grows freely in central France, and is found in woods and shady places in Lancashire, Westmoreland, and other parts of England. Hab. Europe, between 37° and 60° latitude.—Root & rhizome (AS′ARI RA′DIX) has a pepper-like odour and an acrid taste:—Leaves (A. FO′LIA) less odorous, though bitter-tasted, acrid, and aromatic; formerly officinal in the pharmacopœias:—Whole plant (ASARABACCA of the shops) nauseant, emetic, and purgative. Before the introduction of ipecacuanha it was the common emetic (6 to 9 of the green leaves in whey); but, owing to the violence of its action, it has long fallen into disuse. Its common name in France (CABARET, or public-house plant) is said to have arisen from its frequent employment to relieve the stomach of those who had drunk too hard. It is now almost solely used as a sternutatory or errhine, and is probably one of the best.
According to Gräger[84], asarabacca contains three volatile, oily principles, which may be obtained by distillation with water:—Volatile oil (o′leum as′ari):—As′arite, an odourless, tasteless, and crystalline solid; fusible and volatilisable, yielding white and very irritating fumes:—As′arum-cam′phor, differing chiefly from the last in being precipitated, by water, from its alcoholic solution in cubes or six-sided prisms, instead of delicate flexible needles. Also a brownish, bitter, crystallisable principle (AS′ARINE, AS′ARUM-BIT′TER), which is soluble in alcohol.
[84] Gobel and Kemze, ‘Pharm. Waarenk,’ 1830-1.
Uses, Dose, &c. Dried leaves, 20 to 30 gr., or root, 10 to 12 gr.; as a purge or emetic. As an errhine—leaves, 3 to 5 gr.; root, 1 to 3 gr.; in powder, snuffed up the nose every day, or every other day, at bedtime. It excites irritation and a copious watery discharge, more or less muculent, which frequently continues to flow for several days, and occasionally proves highly useful in certain affections of the brain, eyes, mouth, nose, ear, and throat, on the principle of counter-irritation. It has been found “particularly serviceable in cephalalgia (headache), obstinate headache, chronic ophthalmia (inflammation of the eyes), and some other lethargic affections.” (Dr A. T. Thomson.) In dimness of sight (especially that arising from fatigue or congestion), deafness, and slight paralytic affections of the mouth, tongue, lips, or eyelids, not of a serious organic character, and particularly in chronic earache, it also sometimes affords relief after other remedies have failed. It constitutes the basis of several Cephalic snuffs, Asarabacca-snuff, Baron McKinsey’s medicinal powder (or SNUFF), and several other like nostrums, which are much extolled by their venders, and sold at marvellously high prices. See Patent Medicines, Powders, Snuffs, &c. (also below).
AS′ARIN (-rĭn). C20H26O5. Syn. Asarone. A species of stearopten, discovered by Görtz, in asarabacca. It has an aromatic taste and an odour resembling camphor, and is said to be emetic. It is probably a mixture of asarum-camphor and some partially oxidised volatile oil. (See above.)
As′arine (of Gräger). Syn. Asari′na, L. The crystallisable bitter principle of asarabacca, noticed above. It is said to greatly resemble cytisine.
AS′ARITE (-rīte). See Asarabacca.