CHARACTERS.-Usually in bundles consisting of flat, oblong pieces, about 30 cm. in length and from 10 to 15 cm. in width; outer surface of a light brown or buff color, with occasional dark brown patches of adhering cork, longitudinally striate and with detachable bundles of bast-fibers, and colored blackish upon the addition of a very diluted iodine test solution; inner surface light yellowishbrown, nearly smooth and finely striate, only slightly darkened upon the addition of the same test solution; fracture fibrous with projecting bast-fibers, the broken surface porous, due to the large mucilage cells; odor distinct; taste mucilaginous. COMPOSITION.-It contains—(1) Mucilage. (2) Tannic Acid. For the Therapeutics of Elm see p. 541.

GLYCYRRHIZA

GLYCYRRHIZA. Abv.-Glycyrrh. Synonyms.-Liquorice Root. Licorice. The dried rhizome and roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra typica Regel et Herder, known as Spanish Licorice, or of Glycyrrhiza glabra glandulifera Regel et Herder, known as Russian Licorice (Fam. Leguminosa). Habitat.-Southern Europe and Western Asia; cultivated.

CHARACTERS.-Spanish Licorice (also known as Italian, Levant, Persian, Turkish, or Arabian Licorice).—Nearly cylindrical, upper portion more or less knotty; usually in pieces from 14 to 20 cm. or more in length and from 5 to 20 mm. in thickness; externally yellowish-brown or dark-brown, longitudinally wrinkled, the thinner rhizomes often having prominent alternate buds, the thicker rhizomes having distinct corky patches; fracture coarsely fibrous; internally lemon-yellow, radiate; bark from 1 to 3 mm. in thickness; wood porous, in narrow wedges, rhizome with small pith; odor distinctive; taste sweetish and slightly acrid. Russian Licorice.-Nearly cylindrical, somewhat tapering, sometimes split longitudinally, from 15 to 30 cm. in length and from 1 to 5 cm. in diameter; when deprived of the outer corky layer, it is externally pale-yellow; fracture coarsely fibrous; internally lemon-yellow; wood radially cleft; odor distinct; taste sweetish. Resembling Licorice.-Pyrethrum and Taraxacum, which are not sweet.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- —(1) Glycyrrhizin, C24H36O9, about 6 per cent., a yellow amorphous glucoside, probably in combination with Ammonia. With acids this yields a very bitter substance, Glycyrrhetin, and Glucose. (2) Asparagin, about 3 per cent. (3) Glycyramin. (4) An acrid Resin. (5) Starch.

Dose, 2 gm. (30 gr.).

Glycyrrhiza is used in Fluidextractum Sarsaparilla Compositum, Massa Hydrargyri, Pilulæ Ferri Iodidi, and Tinctura Aloes.

Glycyrrhiza and its preparations are added to many prescriptions, generally to cover their nauseous taste. They conceal very well that of Aloes, Cascara Sagrada, Ammonium Chloride, Hyoscyamus, Senega, Senna, Turpentine, and very bitter substances, as Quinine Sulphate.

Preparations

1. Elixir Glycyrrhizæ.-Elixir of Glycyrrhiza. Abv.-Elix. Glycyrrh. Fluidextract of Glycyrrhiza, 125; Aromatic Elixir, 875.

2. Extractum Glycyrrhiza.-Extract of Glycyrrhiza. Abv.-Ext. Glycyrrh.

CHARACTERS.—In flattened, cylindrical rolls, or as masses of a glossy, black color externally; fracture brittle, sharp, smooth, conchoidal; taste characteristic and sweet. Not less than 60 per cent. of it is soluble in cold water. This is the commercial Extract of Glycyrrhiza.

Extract of Glycyrrhiza is contained in Pilula Ferri Iodidi, Trochisci Ammonii Chloridi and Trochisci Cubebæ.

3. Extractum Glycyrrhizæ Purum.-Pure Extract of Glycyrrhiza. Abv.-Ext. Glycyrrh. Pur. Glycyrrhiza by maceration with percolation with Ammonia Water and water, and Chloroform Water and water, and evaporation.

Pure Extract of Glycyrrhiza is used in Fluidextractum Cascaræ Sagrada Aromaticum.

4. Fluidextractum Glycyrrhizæ.-Fluidextract of Glycyrrhiza. Abv. -Fldext. Glycyrrh. By maceration and percolation with Ammonia Water, Chloroform Water, Alcohol and water, and evaporation. Dose, 2 mils (30 m).

Fluidextract of Glycyrrhiza is used to prepare Syrupus Sarsaparillæ Compositus.

5. Glycyrrhizinum

Ammoniatum.-Ammoniated

Glycyrrhizin. Abv.-Glycyrrh. Ammon. A sweet principle, combined with Ammonia, obtained from Glycyrrhiza.

SOURCE.-Glycyrrhiza, by maceration and percolation with Water of Ammonia and Water; precipitation with Sulphuric Acid, solution with Water of Ammonia, and drying.

CHARACTERS.-Dark-brown or brownish-red scales, without odor, and having a very sweet taste. Solubility.-Freely in water and soluble in Alcohol.

Dose, 0.250 gm. = 250 milligm (4 gr.).

6. Mistura Glycyrrhizæ Composita.-Compound Mixture of Glycyrrhiza. Abv.-Mist. Glycyrrh. Co. Synonym.-Brown Mixture. Pure Extract of Glycyrrhiza, 30; Syrup, 50; Acacia, 30; Antimony and Potassium Tartrate, 0.240; Camphorated Tincture of Opium, 120; Spirit of Nitrous Ether, 30; Water, to 1000.

Dose, 10 mils (21⁄2 fl. dr.).

7. Pulvis Glycyrrhizæ Compositus.-Compound Powder of Glycyrrhiza. Abv.-Pulv. Glycyrrh. Co. Synonym.-Compound Licorice powder. Senna, 180; Glycyrrhiza, 236; Oil of Fennel, 4; Washed Sulphur, 80; Sugar, 500.

Dose, 4 gm. (60 gr.).

For the Therapeutics of Glycyrrhiza see p. 540.

LINUM

LINSEED.-Flaxseed. The ripe seeds of Linum usitatissimum Linné (Fam. Linacea), without the presence or admixture of more than 3 per cent. of other

seeds or foreign matter. Habilat.—Levant and Southern Europe; cultivated and spontaneous in most temperate countries.

CHARACTERS. Ovate or oblong-lanceolate, flattened, obliquely pointed at one end, from 3 to 5 mm. in length; externally chestnut-brown, very smooth and shiny, the raphe extending as a distinct, light-yellow ridge along one edge; easily cut with the finger nail, internally olive-green; oily; odor slight; taste mucilaginous and oily.

Linseed or Flaxseed Meal is light olive-brown with reddish-brown fragments; the latter very coarse. It must be free from any unpleasant or rancid odor. COMPOSITION.-(1) A viscid, fixed oil (see below). (2) Mucilage, 15 per cent. in the epithelium. (3) Proteids, 25 per cent. (4) Amygdalin, in minute quantity.

OLEUM LINI.-Linseed Oil. Abv.—Ol. Lini. Synonym.-Oil of Flaxseed. A fixed oil expressed from Linseed. Linseed Oil which has been "boiled" should not be used.

CHARACTERS.—A yellowish, oily liquid, having a peculiar odor and a bland taste. When exposed to the air, it gradually thickens, darkens in color, and acquires a strong odor and taste. Sp. gr., 0.925 to 0.935 in 25°C. (77°F.). Solubility. Slightly in Alcohol; miscible with Ether, Chloroform, Petroleum Benzin, Carbon Disulphide or Oil of Turpentine.

COMPOSITION.-It most characteristic principles are- —(1) Linolein. (2) Myristin. (3) Palmitin. (4) Albumin, a large percentage, to which its drying properties are due.

IMPURITIES. Free acid, rosin, rosin or mineral oils, and non-drying oils. Dose, 30 mils (1 fl. oz.).

Linseed Oil is contained in Linimentum Calcis, and Liquor Cresolis Compositus. For the Therapeutics of Linseed see p. 534.

SACCHARUM

SUGAR. C12H22O11=342.8. Abv.-Sacch. Synonym.-Sucrose. It is obtained from Saccharum officinarum Linné (Fam. Gramineœ), and from Beta vulgaris Linné var. Rapa Dumont (Fam. Chenopodiacea) and from other sources. Habitat. Southern Asia; cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries.

CHARACTERS.-White, hard, dry crystals, or as a white crystalline powder, odorless, and having a sweet taste. Solubility.-In 0.5 part of water and in slightly over 0.2 part of boiling water; and in 170 parts of Alcohol; insoluble in Ether or Chloroform.

IMPURITIES.-Glucose, inverted sugar, insoluble salts, ultramarine, Prussian blue, calcium, sulphates and chlorides.

Preparation

Syrupus.-Syrup. Sugar, 850; Distilled Water, by solution with heat, and straining to 1000.

Syrup thus prepared has a Sp. gr. of about 1.313 at 25°C. (77°F.). Syrup is used to prepare Elixir Aromaticum and the Compound Syrups.

For the Therapeutics of Sugar see p. 539..

Glucose.

GLUCOSUM. Glucose. Abv.-Glucos. Synonyms. - Syrupy Liquid Glucose. A syrupy product obtained by the incomplete hydrolysis of Starch, consisting chiefly in dextrose (d-glucose) (C6H12O6=180.10) and dextrins.

SOURCE.-By boiling Starch, water and Sulphuric Acid, neutralizing with chalk, and concentrating the filtrate.

CHARACTERS.-A colorless or slightly colored, thick syrupy liquid. It is odorless or nearly so and has a sweet taste. Solubility.-Very soluble in water, sparingly in Alcohol.

IMPURITIES.-Free acid, starch, sulphur dioxide. For the Therapeutics of Glucose see p. 540.

MALTUM

MALT. Synonym.-Byne. The grain of one or more varieties of Hordeum sativum Jessen (Fam. Gramineæ), partially germinated artificially, and then dried at a temperature not exceeding 55°C. (131°F.). It is capable of converting not less than five times its weight of starch into sugars.

CHARACTERS.-Yellowish or amber-colored grains; crisp when fractured; the interior surface nearly white. It has an agreeable, characteristic odor and a sweet taste due to the conversion of the starch in the seed into maltose, through the action of Diastase. Malt floats on cold water.

COMPOSITION.-It contains the ferment Diastase, which can convert starch into Dextrin and Maltose. Thus 10(C6H10O5)+4H2O=4C12H22O10 (Maltose) + C12H20O10(Dextrin).

Preparation

Extractum Malti.-Extract of Malt. Abv.-Ext. Malt. By maceration, dilution with warm water, digestion at a temperature not exceeding 60°C. (140°F.), straining and evaporation by means of a water-bath or vacuum apparatus.

CHARACTERS.—It is a sweet, thick, brownish liquid, like honey, forming an emulsion with oils. Most specimens are too viscid for prolonged use. Sp. gr., should not be less than 1.350 nor more than 1.400 at 25°C. (77°F.).

COMPOSITION.-This varies very much. The chief constituent is Maltose (C12H22O10); there is also some Dextrin (C12H20O10), some Diastase (unless destroyed by boiling), albumin, inorganic salts contained in barley, and sometimes Alcohol.

Dose, 15 gm. (4 dr.).

For the Therapeutics of Malt see p. 538.

DIASTATUM.-Diastase. A mixture containing amylolytic emzymes obtained from an infusion of malt. It converts not less than 50 times its weight of potato starch into sugar.

CHARACTERS.-A yellowish-white, amorphous powder or in translucent scales; odorless and tasteless. It converts starch into dextrin and maltose. Solubility. It is soluble in water, the solutions being more or less turbid; almost insoluble in Alcohol.

Dose, 0.5 gm. = 500 milligm. (8 gr.).

For the Therapeutics of Diastase see p. 645.

AMYLUM

STARCH. Abv.-Amyl. Synonym.-Corn Starch. The starch separated from the grain of Zea Mays Linné (Fam. Graminea). Habitat.-Tropical Asia and Africa; cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries.

CHARACTERS.-In fine powder or irregular, angular, white masses; consisting chiefly of polygonal, rounded or spheroidal starch grains, from 0.003 to 0.035 mm. in diameter, usually with a lenticular or 3- to 4-rayed central cleft, or in the rounded grains, with a circular marking; inodorous; taste slight, characteristic. Solubility. Insoluble in cold water and in Alcohol; on boiling in 15 parts of water and cooling, it yields a translucent, whitish jelly.

COMPOSITION.-Its ultimate composition is C.H10Oы, but it consists of a mixture of various modifications of Starch-cellulose and Starch-granulose.

Preparation

Glyceritum Amyli.-Glycerite of Starch. Starch, 10; Water 10; Glycerin, 80. By trituration, and heating with Glycerin.*

For the Therapeutics of Starch see p. 547.

GROUP XII.-Drugs Acting on Metabolism

Guaiac, Xanthoxylum, Sarsaparilla, Mezereum, Stillingia, Sassafras

GUAIACUM

GUAIAC. The resin of the wood of Guaiacum officinale Linné, or of Guaiacum sanctum Linné (Fam. Zygophyllacea). Habitat.-West Indies.

SOURCE.-By melting the resin of the heartwood by fire.

CHARACTERS.-In irregular fragments or in large, nearly homogenous masses, occasionally in more or less rounded or ovoid tears enclosing fragments of vegetable tissues; externally brown, becoming greenish-gray-brown on exposure, the fractured surface having a glassy luster, the thin pieces being translucent and varying in color from reddish to yellowish-brown; odor balsamic; taste slightly acrid. Solubility.-Readily soluble in Alcohol, Ether, Chloroform, Creosote, and in solutions of the alkalies. Resembling Guaiac.-Myrrh, Scammony, Benzoin, Aloes, and Rosin, but these have no greenish tinge.