Illicium (U. S. P., 1890). Synonym.-Star Anise. The fruit of Illicium verum Hooker filius (Fam. Magnoliacea). Habitat. -Northern Anam.

CHARACTERS.-The fruit is pedunculate and consists of eight stellately arranged carpels, which are boat-shaped, about 10 mm. long, rather woody, wrinkled, straight-beaked, brown, dehiscent on the upper suture, internally reddish-brown, glossy, and containing a single, flattish, oval, glossy, brownish-yellow seed; odor anise-like; taste of the carpels sweet and aromatic, and of the seeds oily. Resembling Star Anise.-Illicium anisatum Linné (Illicium religiosum Siebold), the carpels of which are more woody, shrivelled, and have a thin, mostly curved beak, a faint, clove-like odor, and an unpleasant taste.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituent is the volatile oil.

Oleum Anisi may be distilled from this as well as from Pimpinella Anisum.

Dose, .30 to 2.00 gm.; 5 to 30 gr.

Oleum Illicii.-Oil of Star Anise. (Distilled.)

Dose, .06 to .30 c.c.; 1 to 5 m.

ACTION.

Its volatile oil, to which it owes its properties, has the same action as oil of anise.

USES.

Externally to relieve local pains and internally in flatulent colic and in bronchitis.

Name of Plant. Myristica fragrans. Myristica fragrans.

GROUP XXVI.

Myristicaceæ.

Part Used.
Kernel of seed.
Arillode of seed.

Name of Drug.
Nutmeg.
Mace.

MYRISTICA.

NUTMEG. The kernel of the ripe seed of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn (Fam. Myristicacea). Habitat.-Molucca Islands; cultivated in tropical countries.

CHARACTERS. Ovoid or ellipsoidal, about 25 mm. long, externally light brown, reticulately furrowed, with a circular scar on the broad end; internally more or less mottled from the infolding of the light brown perisperm and tegmen with the yellowish-brown endosperm; easily cut, the cut surface having a waxy lustre; odor strongly aromatic; taste aromatic, warm and slightly bitter.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are—(1) The fixed oil, 25 to 30 per cent. (see below). (2) The volatile oil (see below), 2 to 8 per

cent.

Nutmeg is contained in Pulvis Aromaticus, and Tinctura Lavandulæ Composita.

Dose, 0.500 gm. (500 milligm.); 71⁄2 gr.

OLEUM MYRISTICÆ.—Oil of Nutmeg. A volatile oil distilled from Nutmeg.

CHARACTERS.-A thin, colorless or pale yellowish liquid, having the characteristic odor of Nutmeg and a warm, spicy taste. It becomes darker and thicker by age and exposure to the air. Sp. gr., 0.862 to 0.910. Solubility. In an equal volume of Alcohol.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are (1) Myristicene, CH 16, a terpene. (2) Myristicol, C,H,,O, a stearopten, isomeric with Carvol. Oil of Nutmeg is contained in Spiritus Ammonia Aromaticus. Dose, 0.2 c.c.; 3 m.

Unofficial Preparations.

Oleum Myristica Expressum.-Expressed Oil of Nutmeg. A concrete oil obtained by expression and heat from Nutmeg. CHARACTERS.-Orange-brown or orange-yellow, mottled, of a firm consistence; odor like Nutmeg.

COMPOSITION.-' -The chief constituents are-(1) Glyceryl Oleate, CH(CH3O2)3. (2) Glyceryl Butyrate, С2H ̧(С1H2O2) ̧. (3) Glyceryl Myristate, CH(CH2O2)з. (4) A little volatile oil. (5) A little resin.

Spiritus Myristica (U. S. P., 1890).-Spirit of Nutmeg. Synonym.-Essence of Nutmeg. Oil of Nutmeg, 50; Alcohol,

950.

Dose, 12 to 1 fl. dr.; 2 to 4 c.c.

MACIS (U. S. P., 1890).

MACE. The arillode of the seed of Myristica fragrans Houttuyn (Fam. Myristicacea). Habitat.-Molucca Islands; cultivated in the tropical countries.

CHARACTERS.-In narrow bands, 25 mm. or more long, somewhat branched and lobed above, united into broader bands below; brownishorange; fatty when scratched or pressed; odor fragrant, taste warm and aromatic.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are-(1) A Volatile Oil, 8 per cent., a greater portion of which is Macene, C10H16. (2) A red fixed Oil. (3) Resin.

ACTION.

Antiseptic; aromatic; carminative; narcotic.

USES.

In cookery, for their pleasant stomachic qualities; nausea; colic; diarrhoea. Externally, rheumatism, neuralgia, paralysis, etc.; ringworm; itching and painful hæmorrhoids.

ACONITE. Synonyms. Monkshood. Wolfsbane. The dried tuberous root of Aconitum Napellus Linné (Fam. Ranunculacea), collected in autumn; it should yield not less than 0.5 per cent. of Aconitine. Habitat.-Mountainous districts of Europe, Asia, and Northwestern North America.

CHARACTERS.-From 10 to 20 mm. thick at the crown; conically contracted below; from 4 to 10 cm. long; occasionally split; longitudinally wrinkled; dark brown and marked with coarse whitish root-scars; fracture short, horny or mealy; internally whitish or light brown; the cambium zone irregular and 5- to 7-angled; odor very slight; taste at first sweetish, soon becoming acrid, and producing a sensation of tingling and numbness, which lasts for some time. Resembling Aconite.Horseradish.

COMPOSITION. The active principle is the very poisonous alkaloid Aconitine (see below). Two other alkaloids are present—Aconine, CHO11, and Benzaconine. Other principles are, perhaps, Pseudaconitine, CHNO11, or Napelline (dose, .o1 to .03 gm.; % to 1⁄2 gr., Merck), Pseudo-aconine, CH,,NO,, Picro-aconitine, CH15NO10, combined with Aconitic Acid, H,CH3O.

Dose, 0.065 gm. (65 milligm.); 1 gr.

Preparations.

By

1. Fluidextractum Aconiti.-Fluidextract of Aconite. maceration and percolation with Alcohol and water, and evaporation.

Dose, 0.05 c.c.; 1 m.

2. Tinctura Aconiti.-Tincture of Aconite. Aconite, 100. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and Water to 1000. Dose, 0.6 c.c.; 10 m.

Unofficial Preparation.

Extractum Aconiti (U. S. P., 1890).-Extract of Aconite. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, .006 to .015 gm.; to 14 gr.

ACONITINA. Aconitine.-C1H1NO12 in amber-colored, well-stoppered vials.

640.55. It should be kept

SOURCE. It is precipitated from an aqueous solution of an alcoholic extract of the powdered root by Ammonia, and then purified.

CHARACTERS.—Colorless or white rhombic tables or prisms, odorless, permanent in the air, and producing, in extremely diluted solutions, a characteristic tingling sensation when brought in contact with the mucous surfaces of the tongue or lips. The alkaloid itself should never be tasted. By partial hydrolysis it yields benzaconine, and on further hydrolysis it forms aconine and benzoic acid. Solubility.—In 3200 parts of water, 22 of Alcohol, 44 of Ether, and 5.6 parts of Benzene; very soluble in Chloroform.

IMPURITIES.-Pseudaconitine and atropine.

Dose, 0.00015 gm. (0.15 milligm.); 10 gr.

Unofficial Preparation.

Unguentum Aconitinæ (B. P.).-Aconitine Ointment. Aconitine dissolved in Alcohol, 1; Oleic Acid, 8; Benzoinated Lard, 41.

ACTION.

First stimulates and then paralyzes the sensory nerves, causing tingling, burning, numbness and finally anæsthesia; also successively stimulates and paralyzes all the parts of the heart's organism, and there is always in the end a complete fall of blood-pressure from paralysis of the heart and vessels. The peripheral vessels and the pupil are dilated. Clonic convulsions may be excited, but the motor nerves are not affected until after the sensory nerves. Moderate doses usually have the effect of quieting the respiratory movements, but large amounts paralyze the respiratory centre in the medulla, and this paralysis begins early and progresses rapidly. The temperature is markedly reduced by aconite. Profuse diaphoresis is commonly caused by it, but it has only a moderate diuretic effect.

USES.

Externally, neuralgia; myalgia; gout; chronic rheumatism; prurigo; pruritus; papular eczema; herpes zoster; chilblains. Internally, in fevers and in the early stages of acute inflammatory affections, especially of the organs of respiration, when the type of the disease is not adynamic. It is contra-indicated in typhoid and other continued fevers of an asthenic character and also in inflammatory conditions of the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane. In conditions in which there is high arterial tension, chiefly of cardiac origin, aconite is a remedy of great value; it may also be of service in simple nervous palpitation of the heart, epistaxis and congestive dysmenorrhoea, and to relieve the pain of aneurism.

Toxicology.-Empty the stomach with the stomach pump or tube; keep patient flat on his back with the feet elevated; artificial respira