8. Trochisci Glycyrrhizæ et Opii.-Troches of Glycyrrhiza and Opium. Extract of Glycyrrhiza, 15; Powdered Opium, 0.5; Acacia, 12; Sugar, 20; Oil of Anise, 0.2; Water, to make 100 troches.

ACTION.

Demulcent; expectorant; laxative.

USES.

As a laxative (in the form of Compound Liquorice Powder) and in irritable conditions of the mucous membrane of the airpassages, bladder and intestines.

ACACIA.

ACACIA. Synonym.-Gum Arabic. A gummy exudation from Acacia Senegal Willdenow and other species of Acacia (Fam. Leguminosa). Habitat.-Eastern Africa, principally Kordofan; Western Africa, near the river Senegal.

CHARACTERS. In roundish tears of various sizes, or broken into angular fragments, whitish or yellowish-white, translucent; very brittle, with a glass-like, sometimes iridescent fracture; nearly inodorous; taste insipid, mucilaginous. Solubility.-Insoluble in Alcohol; slowly and completely soluble in water, forming an odorless, mucilaginous liquid. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituent is Arabin, C12H2O11; combined with Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium. This is not affected by Lead Acetate.

IMPURITIES. Starch, and gum resins.

INCOMPATIBLES.-Alcohol, sulphuric acid, borax, ferric salts and lead

subacetate.

Acacia is contained in Emulsum Amygdala, Mistura Glycyrrhizæ Composita, Pulvis Crete Compositus, Syrupus Acaciæ, and in some Trochisci.

Preparations.

1. Mucilago Acacia.-Mucilage of Acacia. Acacia, 340; Lime Water, 330; Water, to 1000.

Dose, 16 c.c.; 4 fl. dr.

2. Syrupus Acacia.-Syrup of Acacia. Acacia, 125; Sugar, 820; Distilled Water to 1000. By solution with the aid of heat, and straining.

Demulcent.

ACTION.

USES.

Inflammatory conditions of the bronchial, gastric, vesical and intestinal mucous membrane; irritant poisoning; as a vehicle; as an external protective for burns, excoriations and ulcers.

TRAGACANTHA.

TRAGACANTH.-A gummy exudation from Astragalus gummifer Labillardière, and from other species of Astragalus (Fam. Leguminosa). Habitat.-Western Asia.

CHARACTERS.-In ribbon-shaped bands varying in size and from 1 to 3 mm. thick, or in irregular pieces of the same, long and linear, straight or spirally twisted; externally whitish, marked by more or less pronounced longitudinal or excentric lines or ridges; translucent, horny, fracture short, tough, rendered more easily pulverizable by a heat of 50° C. (122° F.). On treating Tragacanth with 50 parts of water, it swells and gradually forms a cloudy, gelatinous mass, which, on warming with Solution of Sodium Hydroxide on a water-bath, becomes yellow and is tinged blue on the addition of Iodine T.S.; the addition of Alcohol to the fluid portion causes a precipitate, but the liquid is not colored blue by Iodine T.S. Resembling Tragacanth.-Squill, which is thicker and opaque.

IMPURITIES. Other gums.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are-(1) Bassorin, CH1О, a gum 33 per cent., only slightly soluble in water, unfermentable. (2) Arabin, 53 per cent., which resembles, but is not identical with the Arabin of Acacia. Precipitated by lead acetate. (3) A little starch. Tragacanth is contained in several Trochisci.

Preparation.

Mucilago Tragacanthæ.-Mucilage of Tragacanth.

Traga

canth, 6; Glycerin, 16; Water to 100. By heating, maceration and straining.

Dose, 16 c.c.; 4 fl. dr.

Unofficial Preparation.

Bassorinum.-Bassorin, which is used as the basis of a skin varnish, is obtained by filtering Tragacanth Mucilage (15 to

100) in a filter heated by steam, evaporating, and mixing with Glycerin.

ACTION.

Demulcent; slightly nutritive.

USES.

Chiefly to suspend insoluble powders; also as a demulcent in pharyngitis, gastritis and intestinal inflammation, and externally as a protective.

TAMARINDUS.

TAMARIND.—The preserved pulp of the fruit of Tamarindus indica Linné (Fam. Leguminosa). Habitat.-India and tropical Africa; naturalized in the West Indies.

CHARACTERS.-A pulpy mass of a light reddish-brown color, darkening with age, containing some branching fibres and numerous reddishbrown, smooth, oblong or quadrangular, compressed seeds, each enclosed in a tough membrane; odor distinct; taste sweet and agreeably acid.

IMPURITY.-Copper.

COMPOSITION. (1) Tartaric, Citric, Malic and Acetic Acids; (2) Sugar; (3) Pectin; (4) Tannic acid and (5) Potassium compounds. Tamarind is contained in Confectio Sennæ.

Dose, 16 gm.; 240 gr.

Unofficial Preparation.

Infusum Tamarindi.—Infusion of Tamarind (50 gm. to 1000 c.c. water).

Dose, freely.

ACTION.

Nutritive; refrigerant; laxative.

USES.

As a laxative; in the form of a drink in fevers.

Unofficial Preparation.

SOJA.

Soja Bean. The bean of Soja hispida (Fam. Leguminosa). The seeds are reniform. Habitat.-Japan; cultivated in Southern Asia.

COMPOSITION. Soluble Casein, 30; Albumin, 0.5; Insoluble Casein, 7; Fat, 18; Cholesterin, 2; Water, 10; Dextrin, 10; Starch, 5; Cellulose, 5; Ash, 5; and a powerful amylolytic ferment.

Demulcent; nutritive.

ACTION.

USES.

The flour contains sometimes not more

In the form of bread and biscuits, made from the flour, for diabetics, as a substitute for gluten bread. but a small amount of starch or sugar, than 2 to 4 per cent.

GERANIUM.

Synonym.-Cranesbill. The dried rhizome of Geranium maculatum Linné (Fam. Geraniacea). Habitat.-North America, in woods and thickets.

CHARACTERS. Of horizontal growth, cylindraceous, somewhat flattened and rather sharply tuberculated, 2.5 to 10 cm. long; 3 to 15 mm. thick; longitudinally wrinkled, dark brown; fracture short, pale reddishbrown or purplish; bark thin; wood indistinct; central pith large; odor slight; taste strongly astringent.

COMPOSITION.-(1) Tannic Acid, 12 to 17 per cent. (2) Gallic Acid. (3) Pectin.

Dose, 1 gm.; 15 gr.

Preparation.

Fluidextractum Geranii. Fluidextract of Geranium.

By

maceration and percolation with Glycerin, Alcohol and water, evaporation.

Dose, 1 c.c.; 15 m.

Unofficial Preparation.

Decoctum Geranii. Decoction of Geranium (5 per cent.). This may be made with milk if preferred.

Dose, 30 to 60 c.c.; 1 to 2 fl. oz.

Chaulmoogra Oil.-The expressed oil from the seed of Gynocardia odorata (Fam. Bixinea). Habitat.-East India.

CHARACTERS.-This is a whitish substance which is solid at 42° C. (107° F.), and is of an acid reaction. Sp. gr., at above temperature, 0.930. Solubility. In Ether, Chloroform, and

Alcohol.

COMPOSITION.-Chiefly Gynocardic Acid, C1H2O2, a yellowish oily body with a burning taste.

Dose, .30 to 1.20 c.c.; 5 to 20 m, in capsules.

Locally irritant.

ACTION.

USES.

Especially in leprosy; also for bruises, sprains and stiffness, chronic rheumatism, scaly eruptions, and cutaneous syphilitic lesions.