what porous; odor distinct, opium-like; taste bitter. Solubility.-Partly soluble in Alcohol and in Ether. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents of Lactucarium are- -(1) Lactucerin or Lactucone, CHO, about 50 per cent., a crystalline principle. (2) Lactucin, C11H12O3 + H2O, resembling mannite. (3) Lactucic Acid. Dose, 1 gm.; 15 gr. Preparations. 1. Tinctura Lactucarii.-Tincture of Lactucarium. Lactucarium, 500; Glycerin, 250; by treatment with Purified Petroleum Benzin and drying, then macerate and percolate with water, and Alcohol; evaporate, filter and add diluted Alcohol to 1000. Dose, 2 c.c.; 30 m. Tincture of 2. Syrupus Lactucarii.—Syrup of Lactucarium. Lactucarium, 100; Glycerin, 200; Orange Flower Water, 50 c.c.; Citric Acid, 1 gm. Add the Orange Flower Water, in which the Citric Acid has been previously dissolved, to the Tincture of Lactucarium and Glycerin, filter, if necessary, and add Syrup It is unreliable as a hypnotic, but sometimes has the desired effect; the syrup is employed as a sedative addition to cough mixtures. Unofficial Preparation. TANACETUM (U. S. P., 1890). Tansy. The leaves and tops of Tanacetum vulgare Linné (Fam. Composite). Habitat.-Asia and Europe; naturalized in North America; cultivated. CHARACTERS.-Leaves about 15 cm. long; bipinnatifid, the segments oblong, obtuse, serrate, or incised, smooth, dark green and glandular; flower-heads corymbose, with an imbricated involucre, a convex, naked receptacle, and numerous yellow, tubular florets; odor strongly aromatic; taste pungent and bitter. COMPOSITION.-(1) Tanacetin, C1HO,, a bitter principle. (2) Volatile oil, 14 per cent. (3) Tannic acid. Dose, 1 to 4 gm.; 1/4 to 1 dr. ACTION. It is an aromatic bitter and an irritant narcotic. USES. It has been used as an abortifacient, but is dangerous in large doses. EUPATORIUM. Boneset. The dried EUPATORIUM. Synonyms.-Thoroughwort. leaves and flowering tops of Eupatorium perfoliatum Linné (Fam. Composita). Habitat.-North America, west to Dakota; in low grounds. CHARACTERS.-Usually occurring in fragments; leaves opposite, united at the base, lanceolate, from 8 to 20 cm. long, tapering, crenately serrate, rugosely veined, rough above, downy and resinous dotted beneath; flower-heads corymbed, numerous, with an oblong involucre of lancelinear scales, and with from ten to fifteen yellowish-white tubular florets, having a bristly pappus in a single row; odor faintly aromatic; taste strongly bitter. COMPOSITION.-Its principal constituents are-(1) Eupatorin, a bitter glucoside. (2) Volatile Oil. (3) Resin. Dose, 2 gm.; 30 gr. Preparation. Fluidextractum Eupatorii.-Fluidextract of Eupatorium. By maceration and percolation with diluted Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, 2 c.c.; 30 m. ACTION. Tonic; diaphoretic (in infusion); mildly laxative. USES. It is a domestic remedy for the commencement of a catarrh, influenza, or muscular rheumatism. LAPPA. LAPPA. Synonym.-Burdock. The dried root of Arctium Lappa Linné, or of other species of Arctium (Fam. Composita), collected from plants of the first year's growth. Habitat.-Europe and Northern Asia; naturalized in North America. CHARACTERS.-Nearly simple, fusiform, of variable length, 5 to 20 mm. in diameter near the crown; frequently split or in broken pieces; externally grayish-brown, longitudinally wrinkled, the crown somewhat annulate, sometimes surmounted by a woolly tuft of leaf remains; fracture somewhat horny; a dark cambium separating the thick brownish bark from the yellowish porous and radiate wood, centrally hollow or containing a white pith-like tissue; odor slight; taste mucilaginous, sweetish, and slightly bitter. COMPOSITION. The chief constituents are-(1) Possibly a glucoside. (2) Inulin. (3) Resin. (4) Tannic Acid, in small quantity. Dose, 2 gm.; 30 gr. Preparation. Fluidextractum Lappæ.-Fluidextract of Lappa. By maceration and percolation with Diluted Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, 2 c.c.; 30 m. ACTION. It is considered to be a diuretic and a diaphoretic alterative. USES. Various chronic skin diseases, especially psoriasis and acne. CALENDULA. CALENDULA. Synonym.-Marigold. The dried ligulate florets of Calendula officinalis Linné (Fam. Composite). Habitat.-Levant and Southern Europe; cultivated. CHARACTERS.-Florets 15 to 25 mm. long, yellow or orange-colored, one- to three-toothed, the short hairy tube occasionally enclosing the remnants of a filiform style and bifid stigma; odor slight and somewhat heavy; taste slightly bitter and faintly saline. COMPOSITION. The chief constituents are (1) A peculiar principle, Calendulin, which is regarded as analogous to Bassorin. (2) An amorphous bitter principle. (3) Gum. Dose, 1 gm.; 15 gr. Preparation. Tinctura Calendulæ.-Tincture of Calendula. Calendula, 200. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol to 1000. ACTION. Probably has no physiological action. USES. The tincture has been employed topically to promote the healing process in wounds, burns, ulcers, etc. DIVISION III.-SUBSTANCES DERIVED FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. COCHINEAL. Synonyms.-Cochineal Bug. Red Scale Insect. The dried female of Pseudococcus cacti (Linné) Burmeister. Habitat.Mexico and Central America; upon Opuntia cochinillifera Miller and other species. CHARACTERS. About 5 mm. long, of a purplish-gray or purplish-black color; somewhat oblong and angular in outline; flat and concave be neath; convex above; transversely wrinkled; easily pulverizable, yielding a dark red powder; odor faint; taste slightly bitter. COMPOSITION. The chief constituents are (1) Carminic Acid, CHISO10, 10 per cent., a glucoside. (2) Coccerin, a wax. (3) Fat, consisting of myristin, and fatty acids. Sulphuric acid and several other reagents precipitate from its decoction the well-known coloring matter, carmine. Cochineal is contained in Tinctura Cardamomi Composita. CANTHARIDES. Synonyms.-Spanish Flies. Blister Beetles. The beetle, Cantharis vesicatoria (Linné) De Geer, dried. Habitat.Southern and Central Europe, mainly on Oleaceæ and Caprifoliaceæ. CHARACTERS. From 18 to 25 mm. long, about 6 mm. broad; flattishcylindrical, with filiform antennæ; black in the upper part, with long wing-cases and ample membranous, transparent, brownish wings; elsewhere of a shining coppery-green color. The powder is grayish-brown, and contains green shining particles. Odor strong and disagreeable; taste slight, afterwards acrid. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- -(r) Cantharidin, C,H,O., 0.4 to 1 per cent., the active principle, a crystallizable body forming colorless plates, soluble in Alcohol, Ether, Acetic Ether, Glacial Acetic Acid, Chloroform, and oils. It is found especially in the generative apparatus, the eggs, and the blood. (2) A volatile oil giving the odor and said to have the same action as Cantharidin. (3) A green oil, the coloring principle, closely allied to chlorophyll. (4) Various extractives and salts. Dose, 0.030 gm. (30 milligm.); 1⁄2 gr. Preparations. 1. Ceratum Cantharidis.-Cantharides Cerate. Cantharides, 320; Liquid Petrolatum, 150; Yellow Wax, 180; Rosin, 180; Lard, 170. 2. Collodium Cantharidatum.-See Pyroxylin, p. 428. |