white, lightly radiate, and exhibiting one to three annual rings; pith centric, small.

Dose, 2 gm.; 30 gr.

AQUA HAMAMELIDIS.-Hamamelis Water. From Hamamelis Bark by maceration and distillation with water and Alcohol.

IMPURITY. Formaldehyde.

Dose, 8 c.c.; 2 fl. dr.

HAMAMELIDIS FOLIA.-Hamamelis Leaves. Synonym.—Witchhazel Leaves. The leaves of Hamamelis virginiana Linné (Fam. Hamamelidacea), collected in autumn. Habitat.-North America, in

thickets.

CHARACTERS.-Short-petiolate; blade inequilaterally obovate or oval, about 10 cm. long; base slightly heart-shaped and oblique, margin coarsely sinuate; upper surface pale or brownish-green; under surface light green, with a satiny lustre, the midrib and veins prominent, the few hairs having much thickened walls and a very small lumen; petiole short, stout; odor slight; taste astringent, slightly aromatic and bitter. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- -(1) Tannic Acid, 8 per cent. (2) A bitter principle not yet isolated. (3) Resin.

Preparation.

Fluidextractum Hamamelidis Foliorum.-Fluidextractum of Hamamelis Leaves. By maceration and percolation with Glycerin, Alcohol and water, and evaporation.

Locally, sprains, bruises and superficial inflammations; pharyngitis; nasal catarrh; inflammation or hæmorrhage of the bladder; epistaxis; spongy gums; bleeding piles; fissure of the anus; hyperidrosis; burns; acne and other skin diseases. Internally, diarrhoeal affections.

Kooso.

KOUSSO. Synonyms. - Brayera.

The dried panicles of the pistillate flowers of Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) Gmelin (Fam.

Rosacea). Habitat.-Abyssinia.

CHARACTERS. In rolls or compressed bundles from 25 to 40 cm. long, reddish-brown, each branch arising from the axil of a sheathing bract, and each flower furnished at its base with two rounded bracts; calyxtube top-shaped, pubescent, and bearing a circle, resembling an outer calyx, of five rigid, spreading, obovate purple-veined bracts, which are larger than the five usually shrivelled and incurved calyx-lobes; the five caducous petals usually absent in the drug; carpels two; styles exserted and stigmas broad and hairy; odor slight; taste bitter.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- -(1) Kosin or Koussin, a neutral, active principle, in yellow crystals, tasteless, soluble in Chloroform, Benzol, Ether and Alcohol; insoluble in water. (2) Oil. (3) Gum. (4) Tannic Acid. (5) Two Resins.

Dose, 16 gm.; 240 gr.

Unofficial Preparations.

Extractum Cusso Fluidum (U. S. P., 1890). Fluidextract of Kousso. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol, and evaporation.

Dose, 4 to 15 c.c.; 1 to 4 fl. dr.

Kossinum.-Koussin. Obtained by treating Kousso repeatedly with Alcohol to which Calcium Hydrate has been added; the residue is boiled with water, the liquids are mixed, filtered and distilled, and the residue treated with Acetic Acid.

Dose, 1.20 to 2.50 gm.; 20 to 40 gr.

ACTION.

Anthelmintic and a gastro-intestinal irritant.

Tapeworm.

USES.

PRUNUS VIRGINIANA.

WILD CHERRY.-The bark of Prunus serotina Ehrhart (Prunus Virginiana Miller) (Fam. Rosacea), collected in autumn. Habitat.North America, westward to Minnesota and Louisiana; in woods.

CHARACTERS.-Usually in transversely curved pieces from 3 to 7 cm. long, 0.5 to 4 mm. thick; outer surface pale green to greenishbrown, smooth, with numerous lenticels; inner surface light brown, somewhat reticulately striate or fissured; fracture short, granular; odor bitter almond-like when macerated in water; taste astringent, aromatic, and agreeably bitter.

COMPOSITION. (1) Amygdalin, which yields with water, Glucose, Hydryocyanic Acid (see p. 107), and the Essential Oil of Bitter Almond, (2) Emulsin, probably identical with the emulsin of Bitter Almond. The action of this ferment is destroyed at a boiling temperature. (3) Tannic Acid.

Dose, 2 gm.; 30 gr.

Preparations.

1. Fluidextractum Pruni Virginianæ.-Fluidextract of Wild Cherry. By maceration and percolation with Glycerin, Alcohol and Water, and evaporation.

Dose, 2 c.c.; 30 m.

2. Infusum Pruni Virginianæ.-Infusion of Wild Cherry. Wild Cherry, 40; Glycerin, 50. By maceration and percolation

to 1000.

Dose, 60 c.c.; 2 fl. oz.

3. Syrupus Pruni Virginianæ.-Syrup of Wild Cherry. Wild Cherry, 150; Sugar, 700; Glycerin, 150; Water to 1000. By maceration and percolation.

Dose, 4 c.c.; 1 fl. dr.

ACTION.

Sedative and an aromatic bitter tonic.

USES.

Atonic dyspepsia; chronic gastric catarrh; convalescence from acute diseases; bronchial troubles. The syrup is very largely employed as an ingredient of cough mixtures and as a vehicle.

AMYGDALA.

AMYGDALA AMARA.-Bitter Almond. The ripe seed of Prunus Amygdalus Stokes, var. amara De Candolle (Fam. Rosacea). Habitat.Western Asia; naturalized in the Mediterranean basin; cultivated.

CHARACTERS. Ovate or oblong-lanceolate, 20 to 30 mm. long; seedcoat thin, brown, finely downy; embryo straight, white, with two planoconvex cotyledons; taste bitter and oily. When triturated with water, Bitter Almond yields a milk-white emulsion, which emits an odor of Hydrocyanic Acid.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- -(1) Oleum Amygdala Expressum (see p. 359), 45 per cent., the same fixed oil as in the sweet variety. (2) Emulsin. (3) Amygdalin, CHNO, a crystalline glucoside, having a sweetish bitter taste, which yields Oleum Amygdala Amara. It is very important to distinguish it from the Oleum Amygdale Expressum, which is harmless. The oil of bitter almond is usually very poisonous from admixture of Hydrocyanic Acid; for if moisture has had access to the glucoside Amygdalin, on which, in the presence of water, the emulsion in the almond acts as a ferment, the volatile oil of bitter almond (benzaldehyde), glucose and Hydrocyanic Acid (see p. 106) are formed. C2H2NO11 + 2H2O = C2HO (the volatile oil) + HCN + 2C,H12O. The oil when separated from the Hydrocyanic Acid is not poisonous and is used to flavor sweets. An artificial oil of bitter almond called Nitrobenzol is often substituted, and has caused death.

OLEUM AMYGDALÆ AMARÆ.-Oil of Bitter Almond. SOURCE. A volatile oil obtained from Bitter Almond and other seeds containing Amygdalin, by maceration with water, and subsequent distillation. It should yield, when assayed, not less than 83 nor more than 85 per cent. of Benzaldehyde, and not less than 2 per cent. nor more than 4 per cent. of Hydrocyanic Acid. It should be kept in small amber-colored, completely filled bottles, protected from light and air.

CHARACTERS.-A clear, colorless or yellowish, thin, and strongly refractive liquid, having a peculiar, aromatic odor, and a bitter and burning taste. Sp. gr., 1.045 to 1.060. Boiling point, about 180° C. (356° F.). Optically inactive. Solubility.-In 300 parts of water, and in Alcohol or Ether in all proportions; also soluble in Nitric Acid at ordinary temperatures without the evolution of nitrous vapors.

Dose, .03 c.c.; 1/2 m.

Preparations.

1. Aqua Amygdalæ Amaræ.-Bitter Almond Water. Oil of Bitter Almond, 1; Distilled Water, 999. By solution and filtration.

Dose, 4 c.c.; 1 fl. dr.

2. Spiritus Amygdalæ Amaræ.-Spirit of Bitter Almond. Synonym.-Essence of Bitter Almond. Oil of Bitter Almond, io; Alcohol, 800; Distilled Water, to 1000.

Dose, .5 c.c.; 8 m.

3. Syrupus Amygdala.-Syrup of Almond. Spirit of Bitter Almond, 10; Orange Flower Water, 100; Syrup to 1000. Dose, 4 c.c.; 1 fl. dr.

Unofficial Preparation.

Resorbinum.-Resorbin.

An ointment vehicle prepared by emulsifying Almond Oil by means of a small quantity of yellow wax, gelatin and soap, to which is added some lanolin. It is thought to greatly facilitate the absorption of medicaments.

AMYGDALA DULCIS.-Sweet Almond. Synonym.-Jordan Almond. The ripe seed of Prunus Amygdalus Stokes, var. dulcis De Candolle (Fam. Rosacea). Habitat.-Western Asia; naturalized in the Mediterranean basin; cultivated.

CHARACTERS.-Closely resembling the bitter almond (see Amygdala Amara), but usually broader, with lighter seed-coat, having a bland,