blackish-brown integuments; odor slight; taste, astringent, somewhat smoky and pleasantly bitter, then sweetish.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are (1) Guaranine, identical with Caffeine, 4 to 5 per cent. (see p. 431); (2) Volatile Oil, a trace; (3) Saponin; (4) Tannic Acid.

Dose, 2 gm.; 30 gr.

Preparation.

By

Fluidextractum Guaranæ.-Fluidextract of Guarana. maceration and percolation with diluted Alcohol, and evaporation.

Dose, 2 c.c.; 30 m.

ACTION.

Its effects on the system are mainly those of its alkaloid, and therefore much the same as those of caffeine.

USES.

For headaches chiefly; also in atonic chronic diarrhoea.

FRANGULA. Synonym.-Buckthorn. The dried bark of Rhamnus Frangula Linné (Fam. Rhamnacea), collected at least one year before being used. Habitat.-Europe and Northern Asia.

CHARACTERS.-In quills of variable length, frequently flattened or crushed; bark .03 to 1 mm. thick, externally grayish-brown to purplishblack, with numerous lenticels and occasional patches of foliaceous lichens; inner surface smooth, minutely striated, pale brownish-yellow to deep brown; fracture short and of a purplish tint in the outer layer, fibrous and pale yellow in the inner layer; odor distinct; taste somewhat aromatic, sweetish, and bitter; when chewed, imparting to the saliva a yellow color.

COMPOSITION. Fresh bark contains a glucoside, Frangulin, CH20O10This in the old bark has become converted into Emodin, C1H10Os (also found in Rhubarb), to which the value of the bark is due. Two products are obtained from Frangulin by hydrolysis, Emodin and Rhamnose, CH12O5.

Dose, 1 gm.; 15 gr.

Preparation.

Fluidextractum Frangulæ.-Fluidextract of Frangula. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and Water, and evapo

ration.

Dose, 1 c.c.; 15 m.

ACTION.

When fresh it is a violent gastro-intestinal irritant, but when kept a year, a mild laxative, acting like senna.

USES.

For children and in cases of chronic constipation.

RHAMNUS PURSHIANA.

CASCARA SAGRADA. Synonyms.-Sacred Bark. Chittem Bark. The dried bark of Rhamnus Purshiana De Candolle (Fam. Rhamnacea), collected at least one year before being used. Habitat.-Northern Idaho, and westward to the Pacific Coast.

CHARACTERS.-In quills or curved pieces, of variable length and 1 to 5 mm. thick; outer surface reddish-brown, frequently more or less covered with grayish or whitish lichens, several of which are peculiar to this bark, and with small groups of their brownish fruit-heads; inner surface yellowish to light brownish, becoming dark brown with age and reddened by alkalies, longitudinally striate; fracture short, with projections of bast fibres in the inner bark, and the medullary rays forming converging groups; odor distinct; taste bitter and slightly acrid. COMPOSITION. The chief constituents are-(1) Cascarin, a glucoside said to be identical with Frangulin (see above). (2) Three resins. (3) Acids. (4) A volatile oil. The fresh bark causes much griping, but this unpleasant effect is lost if the bark is kept and properly cured. Dose, 1 gm.; 15 gr.

1. Fluidextractum

Preparations.

Rhamni Purshianæ.-Fluidextract

of

Rhamnus Purshiana. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and Water, and evaporation.

Dose, 1 c.c.; 15 m.

2. Fluidextractum Rhamni Purshianæ Aromaticum.-Aromatic Fluidextract of Rhamnus Purshiana. Rhamnus Purshiana, 1000; Glycyrrhiza, 100; Magnesium Oxide, 125; Glycerin, 250; Compound Spirit of Orange, 10. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and Water, and evaporation, with the addition of sufficient Diluted Alcohol (together with the Compound Spirit of Orange) to make 1000.

Dose, 1 c.c.; 15 m.

3. Extractum Rhamni Purshianæ.-Extract of Rhamnus Purshiana. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and Water; evaporation, and addition of powdered Glycyrrhiza. Dose, 0.250 gm. (250 milligm.); 4 gr.

ACTION.

It is a simple laxative, certain in its action and not causing much griping; also stomachic and tonic.

USES.

Especially for habitual constipation and cases of dyspepsia. accompanied by constipation. As the condition improves, the quantity required daily may usually be gradually reduced.

For White and Red Wine see Part II, Division I. The

Alcohols.

Unofficial Preparation.

UVÆ.

Raisins. The ripe fruit of Vitis vinifera (Fam. Vitacea), the grape-vine, dried in the sun, or partly by artificial heat. Habitat.-Spain.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are—(1) Grape Sugar. (2) Acid Potassium Tartrate. (3) Other acids and salts.

ACTION.

Nutritive; demulcent; diuretic; laxative.

USES.

As a sweetening and flavoring agent, especially in demulcent and amylaceous beverages.

GOSSYPII CORTEX (Gossypii Radicis Cortex, U. S. P., 1890).

COTTON ROOT BARK.-The dried bark of the root of Gossypium herbaceum Linné, or of other species of Gossypium (Fam. Malvacea). Habitat. Subtropical Asia and Africa; cultivated in the United States.

CHARACTERS.-In thin, flexible bands or quilled pieces, the bark 0.2 to 1 mm. thick; outer surface brownish-yellow, with slight longitudinal ridges or meshes, small, black, circular dots, or short, transverse lines, and dull, brownish-orange patches, from the abrasion of the thin cork; inner surface whitish, longitudinally striate; fracture tough, fibrous, the bast-layer separable into thin lamina; odor faint; taste slightly astringent and acrid.

COMPOSITION. (1) A yellow Resin. (2) A fixed Oil. (3) Tannic Acid. (4) Yellow coloring matter.

Dose, 2 gm.; 30 gr.

Unofficial Preparation.

Fluidextractum Gossypii Radicis Fluidum (U. S. P., 1890). Fluidextract of Cotton Root Bark. By maceration and percolation with Glycerin and Alcohol, and evaporation.

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

ACTION.

The same as that of ergot; it is an emmenagogue and abortifacient.

USES.

As a uterine hæmostatic in menorrhagia and metrorrhagia.

GOSSYPIUM PURIFICATUM.

PURIFIED COTTON. Synonym.-Absorbent Cotton. The hairs of the seed of Gossypium herbaceum Linné, or of other species of Gossypium (Fam. Malvacea), freed from adhering impurities, and deprived of fatty matter. Habitat.-Tropical Asia and Africa; cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries.

CHARACTERS.-White, soft, fine filaments, appearing under the microscrope as hollow, flattened and twisted bands, spirally striate, and slightly thickened at the edges; inodorous and tasteless; insoluble in ordinary solvents, but soluble in an ammoniacal solution of Copper Oxide.

PYROXYLINUM.-Pyroxylin.

Synonyms.-Gun Cotton. Soluble Gun Cotton. Calloxylin. A product obtained by the action of Nitric and Sulphuric Acids on Cotton, and consisting chiefly of Cellulose Tetranitrate, C12H16 (ONO2),O. It should be kept in cartons, protected from the light.

SOURCE. Purified Cotton, 100; is immersed in a mixture of Sulphuric, 2200; and Nitric Acids, 1400; washed with a large quantity of Water, Idrained and dried.

CHARACTERS.-A yellowish-white, matted mass of filaments, resembling raw cotton in appearance, harsh to the touch; exceedingly inflammable, burning, when unconfined, very rapidly with a luminous flame; less explosive than Cellulose Trinitrate. Solubility. Slowly but completely in 25 parts of a mixture of 3 volumes of Ether and volume of Alcohol; soluble in Acetone and in Glacial Acetic Acid.

Preparations.

1. Collodium.-Collodion. Pyroxylin, 40; dissolved in Ether, 750; and Alcohol, 250.