IPECACUANHA, in the materia medica, a West-Indian root, of which there are two kinds, distinguished by their colour, and brought from different places; but both possessing the same virtues, tho' in a different degree. The one is grey, and brought from Peru; the other is brown, and is brought from the Brasils: and these are indifferently sent into Europe under the general name of ipeacuanha.
These two sorts have been by some supposed to be the roots of two different plants: but this is a mistake; the only difference is, that one grows in a different place, and in a richer and moister soil, and is better
supplied with juices than the other.
Ipecacuanha is an excellent, mild, and safe emetic; it is also a noble refrigerant; and, given in doses too small to vomit, is the greatest of all remedies for a dysentery. Small doses are also an excellent remedy in diarrhoeas of a more simple kind; and in the fluor albus we hardly know a better medicine.