short, stout petioles; summits more or less rounded or acute and emarginate; bases round or acute and mostly unequal; margins entire and narrowly revolute; very smooth, shiny, coriaceous and glandular-punctate; upper surfaces grayish to brownish-green, midribs mostly depressed, under surfaces yellowishor greenish-brown and slightly pubescent on the prominent midvein, peculiarly aromatic when crushed; taste bitterish, becoming somewhat pungent and having a sialagogue effect. Pilocarpus microphyllus.-Leaflets rhomboidally oval to obovate or eliptical, from 1.5 to 5 cm. in length and from 1 to 3 cm. in breadth, the lateral ones nearly sessile, the terminal ones on margined petioles, from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. in length; of a nearly uniform grayish or yellow-green color, rather thin but otherwise resembling Pernambuco Jaborandi. IMPURITIES.-Leaves of species of Piper, not oval-oblong. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- —(1) A liquid alkaloid, Pilocarpine C1H16N2O2, 1⁄2 to 1 per cent. (2) Iso pilocarpine, isomeric with Pilocarpine, obtained, in varying amount as a colorless viscid oil, boiling at 261°C. (501.8°F.), which can be distilled without decomposition. (3) A volatile oil, chiefly a terpene (Pilocarpene, C10H16), about 0.5 per cent. (4) Pilocarpidine, C10H14N2O2, a decomposition product whose action is weaker than Pilocarpine, is found in P. Jaborandi, but not in P. microphyllus. Dose, 2 gm. (30 gr.). Preparation Fluidextractum Pilocarpi.-Fluidextract of Pilocarpus. Abv.Fldext. Pilocarp. One hundred mils of the Fluidextract of Pilocarpus yields not less than 0.55 gm. nor more than 0.65 gm. of the alkaloids of Pilocarpus. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and water and standardization. Dose, 2 mils (30 m). PILOCARPINE HYDROCHLORIDUM.-Pilocarpine Hydrochloride. Abv. -Pilocarpin. Hydrochlor. C1H16O2N2HCl = 244.62. The hydrochloride of an alkaloid obtained from Pilocarpus. SOURCE. Obtained by neutralizing Pilocarpine with diluted Hydrochloric Acid, concentrating the solution, and then setting it aside, over Sulphuric Acid, to crystallize. CHARACTERS.-Colorless, translucent crystals, odorless and having a faintly bitter taste; hygroscopic on exposure to air. Solubility.-In 0.3 part of water in 3 of Alcohol, and in 366 parts Chloroform; insoluble in Ether. IMPURITY. Other alkaloids. INCOMPATIBLES.—Silver nitrate, mercuric chloride, calomel, gold salts, potassium permanganate, tannin, iodides, alkalies. Dose (by mouth), 0.010 gm. = 10 milligm. (% gr.); (by hypodermatic injection) 0.005 gm. = 5 milligm. (12 gr.). PILOCARPINÆ NITRAS.-Pilocarpine Nitras. Abv.-Pilocarpin. Nit. C1N16O2N2HNO3=271.17. The nitrate of an alkaloid obtained from Pilocar pus. SOURCE. By neutralizing diluted Nitric Acid with pure Pilocarpine, concentration and crystallization. CHARACTERS. Shining crystals, odorless, permanent in the air. Solubility.— In 4 parts of water and 75 of alcohol; insoluble in Ether and Chloroform. IMPURITIES.-Pilocarpine hydrochloride and other alkaloids. INCOMPATIBLES.-The same as for the chloride. For the Therapeutics of Pilocarpus and its Alkaloid see p. 551. GROUP II.-Drugs whose Main Action is on the Heart CLASS I. THE DIGITALIS GROUP, DECREASING THE FREQUENCY AND INCREASING THE FORCE OF THE BEAT OF THE HEART Digitalis, Strophanthus, Squill, Sparteine Sulphate, Camphor DIGITALIS DIGITALIS. Ab.-Digit. Synonym.-Foxglove. The carefully dried leaves of Digitalis purpurea Linné (Fam. Scrophulariacea), without the presence or admixture of more than 2 per cent. of stems, flowers or other foreign matter. If made into the official tincture, and assayed biologically, the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.006 mil of Tincture, or the equivalent in Tincture of 0.0000005 gm. of Ouabain, for each gramme of body weight of frog. Habitat.-Europe, in sandy soil and the edges of woods. CHARACTERS.-Leaves, when entire, attaining a length of 30 cm. and a breadth of 15 cm. ovate to oval, abruptly contracted into winged petioles, the latter from 5 to 10 cm. in length, or, in the smaller leaves, nearly absent; margin crenate, irregular (the commercial article usually more or less crumpled and broken), thin, dull, pale green or gray and densely pubescent on the lower surfaces; upper surfaces wrinkled, sparsely hairy; the venation conspicuously reticulated; the midribs and principal veins broad and flat, often purplish, the lower veins continued into the wings of the petioles, odor slight, characteristic; taste strongly bitter. Resembling Digitalis leaves.-Matico leaves, which are more deeply reticulated. COMPOSITION. The chief constituents are (1) Digitoxin, a glucoside, crystallizable, the most active principle, very poisonous, cumulative. Insoluble in water, sparingly in Ether, easily in Chloroform and Alcohol. Exists in minute white crystals. Dose, 0.00025 to 0.000125 gm.; 250 to 10 gr. (2) Digitalin, a crystalline glucoside, possessing in a high degree the actions of Digitalis. It is also called Digitalinum Verum. Soluble in water, 1 to 1000. Dose, 0.0003 to 0.0006 gm.; 200 to 100 gr. subcutaneously. (3) Digitalein, an amorphous glucoside not yet proved to be a definite chemical substance. Soluble in water, and, therefore, suitable for hypodermatic injections; dose 0.0006 gm.; 100 gr., said to be non-cumulative. These three glucosides are believed to represent the cardiac stimulating action of the drug. (4) Digitonin, a glucoside closely allied both chemically and physiologically to, and perhaps identical with, the Saponin of Senega (see p. 143), which probably renders the other active principles soluble in water. This is a cardiac depressant, and is, therefore, antagonistic to the other active principles. (5) Digitin, a glucoside devoid of physiological action. All these five glucosides are non-nitrogenous. (6) Digitalic and Antirrhinic acids. (7) Other usual constituents of plants, as tannic acid, volatile oil, coloring matter, starch, sugar, gum, salts. It will be noticed that Digitalis contains no alkaloids. INCOMPATIBLES.—Acids, alkalies, alkaloidal precipitants (among which are included picric and tannic acids, auric chloride, iodine in a solution of potassium iodide, and potassio-mercuric iodide), ferrous sulphate, lead acetate, vegetable astringents. Physiological Incompatibles.-Aconite, cocaine, hydrated chloral nitroglycerin, strychnine. 1. Fluidextractum Digitalis.- Fluidextract of Digitalis. Abv.— Fldext. Digital. If assayed biologically the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.0006 mil or its equivalent in Fluid extract of 0.0000005 gm. of Ouabain, for each gramme of body weight of frog. By maceration and percolation with alcohol and water and evaporation. Dose, 0.05 mil (1 m). 2. Infusum Digitalis.—Infusion of Digitalis. Abv.-Infus. Digit. 3. Tinctura Digitalis.-Tincture of Digitalis. Abv.-Tr. Digit. For the Therapeutics of Digitalis see p. 429. STROPHANTHUS STROPHANTHUS. Abv. -Strophanth. The dried ripe seeds of Strophan thus Kombé Oliver or of Strophanthus hispidus De Candolle (Fam. Apocynacea), deprived of the long awns. If made into the official tincture and assayed biologically the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.00006 mil of Tincture, or the equivalent of 0.0000005 gm. of Ouabain, for each gramme of body weight of frog. Habitat.-Tropical Africa. CHARACTERS.-Lance-ovoid, flattened and obtusely edged; from 7 to 20 mm. in length, about 4 mm. in breadth and about 2 mm. in thickness; externally of a light fawn color, with a distinct greenish tinge, silky-lustrous from a dense coating of closely appressed hairs (S. Kombe); or light to dark brown, nearly smooth and sparingly hairy (S. hispidus), bearing on one side a ridge running from about the center to the summit; fracture short and somewhat soft, the fractured surface whitish and oily; odor heavy when the seeds are crushed and moistened; taste very bitter. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- —(1) Strophanthin, C31H48012. It exists in all parts of the plant but mostly in the seeds (8 to 10 per cent.). It is a transparent, white, imperfectly crystalline, bitter glucoside (being split up by acids into glucose and Strophanthidin). Very soluble in water; insoluble in Chloroform and Ether. (2) Kombic Acid, which is not identical in all varieties. (3) Ineine, an alkaloid probably inert. (4) Tanghinin, C27H40O8, in rhombic prisms. Dose, 0.06 gm. = 60 milligm. (1 gr.). Preparation Tinctura Strophanthi.—Tincture of Strophanthus. Abv.-Tr. Strophanth. If assayed biologically the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.00006 mil of Tincture, or the equivalent in Tincture of 0.0000005 gm. of Ouabain, for each gramme of body weight of frog. Strophanthus, 100. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and water. Dose, 0.5 mils (8 m). STROPHANTHINUM.-Strophanthin. A glucoside, or mixture of glucosides, obtained from Strophanthus, Kombe Oliver (Fam. Apocyanceæ). CHARACTERS.-A white or yellowish powder, containing varying amounts of water which it does not lose entirely without decomposition. Permanent in the air. Great caution should be used in tasting it and then only in very dilute solutions. Solubility. Very soluble in water and in Diluted Alcohol; less soluble in Dehydrated Alcohol; nearly insoluble in Ether, Chloroform and Benzene. Dose (by mouth), 0.001 gm. = 1 milligm. (60 gr.); (intravenous) 0.00075 = 0.75 milligm. (o gr.). gm. For the Therapeutics of Strophanthus see p. 443. SCILLA SQUILL. Abv.-Scill. Synonym.-Sea Onion. The fleshy inner scales of the bulb of the white variety of Urginea maritima (Linné) Baker (Fam. Liliacea), cut into pieces and carefully dried. If made into the official tincture and assayed biologically the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.006 mil of Tincture, or the equivalent in Tincture of 0.0000005 gm. of Ouabain, for each gramme of body-weight of frog. Habitat.-Basin of the Mediterranean near the sea. CHARACTERS.-In irregular, more or less curved, somewhat flattened pieces, from 0.5 to 5 cm. in length, yellowish-white; somewhat translucent, nearly smooth and lustrous, with slight projections of fibro-vascular bundles; brittle when dry and somewhat flexible when damp; odor slight; taste bitter and acrid. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- -(1) Scillitoxin, the most active principle; (2) Scilli picrin, acting upon the heart; (3) Scillin, producing numbness and vomiting; (4) Mucilage. Dose, 0.1 gm. = 100 milligm. (11⁄2 gr.). Preparations 1. Acetum Scillæ.-Vinegar of Squill. Abv.-Acet. Scill. Squill, 100; Diluted Acetic Acid, by maceration and filtration, to 1000. Dose, 1 mil (15 m). 2. Fluidextractum Scillæ.-Fluidextract of Squill. Abv.-Fldext. Scill. If assayed biologically the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.0006 mil of Fluidextract or the equivalent of 0.0000005 gm. of Ouabain for each gramme of body weight of frog. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol, Diluted Alcohol and water. Dose, 0.1 mil (11⁄2 m). 3. Syrupus Scillæ.-Syrup of Squill. Abv.-Syr. Scill. Vinegar of Squill, 450; Sugar, 800; water to 1000. By solution and straining. Dose, 2 mils (30 m). 4. Syrupus Scillæ Compositus.-Compound Syrup of Squill. Abv.-Syr. Scill. Co. Synonym.-Hive Syrup. Fluidextract of Squill, 80; Fluidextract of Senega, 80; Antimony and Potassium Tartrate, 2; Distilled Water 10; Syrup to 1000. Dose, 2 mils (30 m). 5. Tinctura Scillæ.-Tincture of Squill. Abv.-Tr. Scill. If assayed biologically the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.0006 mil or the equivalent in Tincture of 0.0000005 gr. of Ouabain, for each gramme of body weight of frog. Squill, 100. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and water. Dose, 1 mil (15 m). For the Therapeutics of Squill see p. 447. SPARTEINÆ SULPHAS SPARTEINE SULPHATE. Abv.-Spartein. Sulph. C15H26N2 H2SO4+5H2O =422.39. The sulphate of a liquid alkaloid Sparteine obtained from Cystisus Scoparius (Linné), Link (Fam. Leguminosa). SOURCE.—It is obtained by extracting the plant with water acidulated with Sulphuric Acid, concentrating, decomposing with Sodium Hydroxide, and distilling. The sulphate is prepared from the alkaloid by neutralization with Sulphuric Acid, and crystallization. |