tional plants among the Compositae, although we would not expect, from its botanical relationship, that it may be either markedly toxic or quick acting, since none of the poisonous Compositae are rapid in toxic effect.
The natural order Solanaceae, or night-shades, we know are narcotics; hence we would expect to find any one of this order an active drug.
The deduction from all this is: While the plants of the natural order Labiatae might be useful, we would not expect to find active drugs among them; among the Compositae we would expect to find a few agents of toxic or energetic character, while among the Solanaceae we would expect energetic narcotics. Throughout the whole botanical classification we find this rule to be of value in forming some estimate of the probable activity of a botanic drug.
But academic considerations do not always rule in this practical world. Drugs are not selected purely on the basis of their toxicity, since many non-toxic ones are exceedingly useful. There is easily selected a list of botanic drugs of worldwide recognition. The following are recognized in from sixteen to nineteen pharmacopeias. I have arranged them according to botanical order. Note how our academic rule is at sixes and sevens with the practical matter of fact.
THE MOST POPULAR BOTANIC DRUGS 5
Aurantiaceae: Bitter orange peel, lemon oil.
Apocynaceae: Strophanthus.
Burseraceae: Myrrh.
5 List compiled by Gathercoal, Jour. Am. Phar. Ass'n., March, 1916.
