STILLINGIA.

STILLINGIA. Synonyms.-Queen's Root.

Queen's Delight. The dried root of Stillingia sylvatica Linné (Fam. Euphorbiacea). Habitat. -Southern United States, in sandy soil.

CHARACTERS.-Slenderly fusiform, usually in cut pieces, of variable length and 0.5 to 3 cm. in diameter; externally reddish-brown, longitudinally wrinkled; fracture fibrous, bark light reddish-brown, 0.5 to 4 mm. thick, spongy, finely fibrous, with numerous resin cells, easily separable from the porous, radiate wood; odor distinct; taste bitter, acrid, and pungent.

COMPOSITION.-(1) Sylvacrol, an acrid resin, soluble in Alcohol and Chloroform. (2) Probably a glucoside. (3) Resin. (4) Volatile Oil. (5) Tannic Acid.

Dose, 2 gm.; 30 gr.

Preparation.

By

Fluidextractum Stillingiæ.-Fluidextract of Stillingia. maceration and percolation with Diluted Alcohol, and evaporation.

Dose, 2 c.c.; 30 m.

ACTION.

In large doses emetic and cathartic; in smaller ones, alterative.

USES.

Syphilis; cutaneous and hepatic disorders.

ELASTICA.

The prepared

RUBBER. Synonyms.-India-rubber. Caoutchouc. milk-juice of several species of Hevea Aublet (Fam. Euphorbiacea), known in commerce as Para Rubber. Habitat.-In tropical countries. CHARACTERS. In flask-shaped or roundish masses, or in pieces of the same with sharply incised surfaces and a laminated structure; floating on water; externally brownish to brownish-black, internally of a lighter tint, mottled; odor creosote-like; nearly tasteless. Solubility. Pure Para Rubber is insoluble in water, diluted acids, or dilute solutions of alkalies; soluble in Chloroform, Carbon Disulphide, Oil of Turpentine, Petroleum Benzin, and Benzene. When heated to about

125° C. (257° F.), it melts, remaining soft and adhesive after cooling. COMPOSITION.-(1) A solid Hydrocarbon, CH32. (2) Fat. (3) Volatile oil. (4) Coloring matters. On combining it with 10 per cent. of Sulphur, Vulcanized Rubber is obtained; with 50 per cent., and hardening by pressure, Vulcanite or Ebonite is produced.

None.

ACTION.

USES.

For making plasters, bougies, pessaries and syringes.

RHUS GLABRA. Synonym.-Sumach. The dried fruit of Rhus glabra Linné (Fam. Anacardiacea). Habitat.-North America, west to Colorado and Idaho; in barren soil.

CHARACTERS.-Flattened-ovoid, 3 to 4 cm. in diameter, externally deep crimson, glandular-tomentose; endocarp smooth, shiny, enclosing a single seed; inodorous; taste acidulous and astringent.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are (1) Tannic Acid, of which it contains from 6 to 27 per cent. (2) Gallic Acid. (3) Acid calcium and potassium malates. (4) A red coloring matter.

Preparation.

Fluidextractum Rhois Glabræ.-Fluidextract of Rhus Glabra. By maceration and percolation with Glycerin and Diluted Alcohol, and evaporation.

USES.

Locally, aphthæ and other forms of stomatitis; pharyngitis; wounds and ulcers. Internally, mild catarrhal affections of the stomach and bowels.

Unofficial Preparations.

RHUS TOXICODENDRON (U. S. P., 1890).

Rhus Toxicodendron. Synonyms.-Poison Ivy. Poison Oak. The fresh leaves of Rhus radicans Linné (Fam. Anacardiacea). Habitat.-North America, west to Wyoming and Texas; in

thickets.

CHARACTERS.-Long-petiolate, trifoliolate; the lateral leaflets sessile or nearly so, about 10 cm. long, obliquely ovate, pointed; the terminal leaflets stalked, ovate or oval, pointed, with a wedgeshaped or rounded base; the leaflets entire and glabrous, or variqusly notched, coarsely toothed, or lobed, more or less downy; when dry, papery and brittle; inodorous; taste somewhat astringent and acrid. Resembling Rhus Toxicodendron.-The leaves of Ptelea trifoliata, which are similar in appearance, but have all the leaflets sessile.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are-(1) Toxicodendric Acid, a volatile Acid. (2) Tannic Acid. (3) Fixed Oil.

Dose, .06 to .30 gm.; 1 to 5 gr.

Tinctura Rhois Toxicodendri.-Tincture of Rhus Toxicodendron (1 part of the dry leaves to 5 parts, by weight, of Alcohol).

Dose, .006 to .12 c.c.; to 2 m.

ACTION.

Irritant; rubefacient; vesicant; narcotic.

USES.

Externally, bruises and burns. Internally it has been employed in paralysis, nocturnal enuresis and cutaneous diseases, but it is a dangerous remedy and probably of little therapeutic value.

MASTICHE.

MASTIC.-A concrete resinous exudation from Pistacia Lentiscus Linné (Fam. Anacardiacea). Habitat.-Mediterranean basin.

CHARACTERS.-In subglobular, lenticular, elongated or pear-shaped tears, about 3 mm. in diameter, pale yellow or greenish-yellow, transparent, having a glass-like lustre, the surface sometimes very slightly dusty; brittle; becoming plastic when chewed; of a weak, balsamic odor, and a mild terebinthinate taste. Solubility.-Completely in Ether and almost completely in Alcohol. Resembling Mastic.-Acacia, which is larger, rougher, and more opaque.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are (1) A resin, CH2O2, Mastichic Acid, 90 per cent.; soluble in Alcohol. (2) Masticin, a resin, insoluble in Alcohol. (3) Volatile oil, C10 H16, 1 to 2 per cent.

Pilulæ Aloes et Mastiches.-See Aloes, p. 262.

ACTION.

It is a mild stimulant.

USES.

As a masticatory; for filling decayed teeth; for cements and varnishes.

EUONYMUS. Synonyms.-Wahoo. Spindle Tree. The dried bark of the root of Euonymus atropurpureus Jacquin (Fam. Celastracea). Habitat.-United States, southward to Florida, and westward to Wisconsin in shady woods.

CHARACTERS.-In quilled or curved pieces, 3 to 7 cm. long and 0.5 to 5 mm. thick; outer surface ash-gray, with blackish patches, detached in thin and small scales; inner surface whitish or slightly tawny, smooth; fracture short, whitish, the inner layers of a laminated appearance; odor distinct; taste sweetish, somewhat bitter and acrid.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are (1) Euonymin, an amorphous resin, very bitter. (2) Atropurpurin, a crystalline glucoside. (3) Citric, Tartaric and Malic Acids.

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

Preparations.

1. Fluidextractum Euonymi. — Fluidextract of Euonymus. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and Water, and evaporation.

Dose, 0.5 c.c.; 8 m.

2. Extractum Euonymi.-Extract of Euonymus. Synonym. —Euonymin. By the evaporation of the Fluidextract and the addition of powdered Glycyrrhiza.

Dose, 0.125 gm. (125 milligm.); 2 gr.

ACTION.

It is an energetic purgative and a gastric and hepatic stimulant; also slightly diuretic and expectorant.

USES.

Chiefly in cases of dyspepsia and constipation associated with impaired derangement of the liver.

GUARANA. Synonym.-Brazilian Cocoa. A dried paste chiefly consisting of the crushed seeds of Paulinia Cupana Kunth (Fam. Sapindacea), yielding, when assayed, not less than 3.5 per cent. of its peculiar alkaloidal principles. Habitat.-Northern and Western Brazil. CHARACTERS. Usually in cylindrical sticks, about 3 to 5 cm. in diameter, hard, dark reddish-brown; fracture uneven, often fissured in the centre, pale reddish-brown, showing fragments of seeds invested with