CHARACTERS.-A dark-brown, bitter, nauseous powder. ACTION. Iris is a cholagogue and hydragogue cathartic, and has some diuretic action. USES. It is an efficient purgative in malarial and catarrhal jaundice and bilious remittent fever; also used in dropsy. It is said to exert a specific influence in enlargement of the thyroid gland. Unofficial Preparations. CROCUS (U. S. P., 1890). SAFFRON.-The stigmas of Crocus sativus Linné (Fam. Iridacea). Habitat.-Western Asia; cultivated in Spain and France. CHARACTERS.-Separate stigmas, or three, attached to the top of the style, about 3 cm. long, flattish-tubular, almost thread-like, broader and notched above; orange-brown; odor strong, peculiar, aromatic; taste bitterish and aromatic. COMPOSITION. The chief constituents are-(1) Polychroite, CHOO28, an amorphous, brown-yellow Glucoside, soluble in Alcohol and water, splitting into Sugar (Crocose), and red Crocetin (formerly called Crocin), CHO, soluble in Ether and Alcohol. (2) Picrocrocin, Cas HeO1, in colorless, bitter needles, readily soluble in Alcohol and water. (3) A volatile oil, C10H16, I per cent. (4) Fixed oil. IMPURITIES.-Marigold, saffron petals, chalk, and oil. Dose, .30 to 2.00 gm.; 5 to 30 gr. Tinctura Croci (U. S. P., 1890).-Tincture of Saffron. Saffron, 100; by maceration and percolation with Diluted Alcohol to 1000. Dose, 4 to 8 c.c.; 1 to 2 fl. dr. Infusum Croci.-Infusion of Crocus (2 per cent.). Synonym. -Saffron Tea. Dose, freely. ACTION. Mildly aromatic, antispasmodic and anodyne. USES. To color pharmaceutical preparations. Saffron tea is a popular domestic remedy to promote the eruption in measles and other exanthemata, but any diaphoretic action it has is probably owing to the hot water. GINGER.-The dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Fam. Zingiberacea). Habitat.-India; cultivated in the tropics. CHARACTERS.-Laterally compressed, irregularly branched pieces; externally whitish or pale buff, longitudinally striate; fracture shortfibrous, mealy, showing numerous small oil and resin cells and circular groups of fibrovascular bundles; odor agreeably aromatic; taste aromatic and pungent. Resembling Ginger.-Turmeric, which is yellow. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are—(1) An aromatic volatile oil (34 to 2 per cent.), giving the flavor. (2) Resin. (3) Gingerol, to which the pungent taste is due (Thresh). Ginger is contained in Pulvis Rhei Compositus and Pulvis Aromaticus. Dose, 1 gm.; 15 gr. Preparations. 1. Fluidextractum Zingiberis.-Fluidextract of Ginger. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol, and evaporation. Fluidextract of Ginger is used in Syrupus Zingiberis. Dose, 1 c.c.; 15 m. 2. Oleoresina Zingiberis.-Oleoresin of Ginger. By percolation with Acetone, distillation, and evaporation of the residue. Dose, 0.030 gm. (30 milligm.); 1⁄2 gr. 3. Tinctura Zingiberis.-Tincture of Ginger. Ginger, 200. By percolation with Alcohol to 1000. Dose, 2 c.c.; 30 m. 4. Syrupus Zingiberis.-Syrup of Ginger. Fluidextract of Ginger, 30; Alcohol, 20; Sugar, 820; Water to 1000. By trituration with Magnesium Carbonate, 10, solution and filtration. Dose, 16 c.c.; 4 fl. dr. Unofficial Preparation. Trochisci Zingiberis (U. S. P., 1890).-Troches of Ginger. Tincture of Ginger, 20; Tragacanth, 4; Sugar, 130 gm.; Syrup of Ginger in sufficient quantity to make 100 troches. Dose, freely. ACTION. The same as that of other substances containing aromatic volatile oils. USES. Flatulence; diarrhea; atonic dyspepsia: It is much used as a stomachic, carminative and flavoring agent, and is a favorite. domestic remedy for colic and the pain due to acute suppression of the menses. CARDAMOMUM. CARDAMOM.-The dried ripe fruit of Elettaria repens (Sonnrat) Baillon (Fam. Zingiberacea). Habitat.-Malabar; cultivated in India. CHARACTERS. Ovoid or oblong, from 10 to 20 mm. long, obtusely triangular, rounded at the base, beaked, longitudinally striate; of a pale yellow color, three-celled, with a thin, leathery, nearly tasteless pericarp, and a central placenta. The seeds, 15 to 18 in number, are about 4 mm. long, reddish-brown, angular, rugose, depressed at the hilum, surrounded by a thin, membranous arillus, and have an agreeable odor and a pungent, aromatic taste. The seeds alone contain active and valuable constituents. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- —(1) A volatile oil, 4 to 5 per cent., which contains a terpene, C10H10, called Terpinene. (2) A fixed oil, 10 to 11 per cent. The pericarp is medicinally inactive. Cardamom is contained in Extractum Colocynthidis Compositum, Pulvis Aromaticus, Tinctura Gentianæ Composita, and Tinctura Rhei. Dose, 1 gm.; 15 gr. Preparations. Carda 1. Tinctura Cardamomi.-Tincture of Cardamom. mom, 200. By maceration and percolation with Diluted Alcohol to 1000. Dose, 4 c.c.; 1 fl. dr. 2. Tinctura Cardamomi Composita.-Compound Tincture of Cardamom. Cardamom, 25; Caraway, 12; Saigon Cinnamon, 25; Cochineal, 5; Glycerin, 50. By percolation with Diluted Alcohol CYPRIPEDIUM. Synonym.-Ladies' Slipper. The dried rhizome and roots of Cypripedium hirsutum Miller (Cypripedium pubescens Willdenow), or of Cypripedium parviflorum Salisbury (Fam. Orchidacea). Habitat.-North America; in swampy places. CHARACTERS.-Rhizome of horizontal growth, curved, 3 to 10 cm. long; 2 to 6 mm. thick; orange-brown to dark brown; the upper side beset with numerous circular, cup-shaped scars, closely covered below with simple, wiry roots, varying from 3 to 15 cm. in length; fracture of rhizome short, white, that of roots somewhat fibrous; odor heavy, valerian-like; taste sweetish, bitter and somewhat pungent. COMPOSITION.-It contains-(1) A volatile oil. (2) A volatile acid. (3) Two resins. (4) Tannic acid. Dose, 1 gm.; 15 gr. Preparation. Fluidextractum Cypripedii.-Fluidextract of Cypripedium. By maceration and percolation with Diluted Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, 1 c.c.; 15 m. ACTION. It is a gentle nervous stimulant, resembling valerian in its action. USES. Nervous diseases; epilepsy; neuralgia; hypochondriasis. VANILLA. VANILLA. The fruit of Vanilla planifolia Andrews (Fam. Orchidacea). Habitat.-Eastern Mexico, in hot, damp woods; cultivated in the tropics. CHARACTERS.-From 15 to 25 cm. long, and about 7 mm. thick, linear, narrowed and bent or hooked at the base, wrinkled, somewhat warty, dark brown, glossy, one-celled, frequently covered with an efflorescence of Vanillin in acicular crystals, and containing a blackish-brown pulp, with numerous, minute, blackish, ovoid and flattened seeds; odor and taste peculiar and very agreeable. COMPOSITION.-Its chief constituents are-Vanillin, C,H,O,, a crystalline principle, 1.7 to 2.75 per cent., which develops upon the ripening of the pod. (2) Fixed Oil, 11 per cent. (3) Resin. (4) Sugar. (5) Mucilage. Vanillin is the Aldehyde of Methylprotocatechuic Acid; and can be prepared artificially from Coniferin, Carbolic Acid, Guaiacol and Eugenol, C10H12O2, the last being found in Oil of Cloves (see p. 445). Preparation. Tinctura Vanillæ.-Tincture of Vanilla. Vanilla, 100; Sugar, 200; by maceration with Alcohol and Water to 1000. VANILLINUM.-Vanillin, CH,O1 = 150.92. Methylprotocatechuic Aldehyde (CH ̧· OH · OCH, COH 4:3:1), occurring naturally in Vanilla, or made artificially from several orthodihydroxybenzene derivatives. CHARACTERS.-Fine, white, crystalline needles, having the odor and taste of Vanilla and an acid reaction. Solubility. In about 100 parts of water; readily in Alcohol, Ether, Glycerin, or Chloroform. IMPURITY.-Acetanilide. Dose, 0.030 gm. (30 milligm.); 1⁄2 gr. ACTION. It is probably inert as regards any action on the human system. Vanillin is said to be locally irritant and to produce spinal convulsions in frogs. |