CHARACTERS.-Colorless, rhombohedral crystals, or a crystalline powder; odorless, and having a slightly saline and somewhat bitter taste. It is hygroscopic. Solubility.-In 1.1 parts of water and 3 of Alcohol; insoluble in Ether and Chloroform.

IMPURITIES.-Ammonium salts, aniline, and readily carbonizable organic

For the Therapeutics of Sparteine Sulphate see p. 569.

CAMPHORA

CAMPHOR. Abv.-Camph. C10H160 or C9H16CO=152.13. Synonyms. -Gum Camphor. Laurel Camphor. A ketone obtained from Cinnamomum Camphora (Linné) Nees et Ebermaier (Fam. Lauracea); it is dextro-rotatory. Habitat.-China and Japan.

SOURCE. The branches and chipped wood are exposed to the vapors of boiling water, the volatilized Camphor is condensed, drained and pressed from the adherent volatile oil (Oil of Camphor), and subsequently refined by sublimation in vessels of glass or iron. Camphor is, at present, usually obtained by tapping the trees and collecting the exudation.

CHARACTERS.-White, translucent masses or granules, of a tough consistence readily pulverizable in the presence of a little Alcohol, Ether, or Chloroform; having a penetrating, characteristic odor, and a pungent aromatic taste. Sp. gr., 0.990 at 25°C. (77°F.). Burns with a smoky flame. Solubility.-Slightly soluble in water, but freely in Alcohol, Ether, Chloroform, Carbon Disulphide, Petroleum Benzin, or in fixed or volatile oils. When Camphor is triturated, in about molecular proportions, with Menthol, Thymol, Phenol, or Hydrated Chloral, liquefaction ensues.

COMPOSITION.-Camphor is an oxidation product of Pinene (see p. 216), and may also be derived from Cymene found in Oil of Caraway and Oil of Eucalyptus. The official camphor is called Laurel Camphor. Borneol, known as Borneo, Sumatra or Barus Camphor, often in commerce, substituted for the official camphor, which it closely resembles, is derived from Dryobalanops Camphora, and known from the official variety by sinking in water. It is C10H18O; that is to say, an alcohol. The common form of Borneo Camphor is dextro-rotatory, but lævo-rotatory and inactive varieties are known.

IMPURITY.-Chlorinated products.

Dose (by mouth), 0.2 gm. = 20 milligm. (3 gr.); (by hypodermatic) 0.1 gm. = 10 milligm. (11⁄2 gr.).

Camphor is contained in Linimentum Belladonnæ, Linimentum Chloroformi, Linimentum Saponis, and Tinctura Opii Camphorata.

Preparations

1. Aqua Camphora.-Camphor Water. Abv.-Aq. Camph. Camphor, 8; by trituration with Alcohol, 8; and Purified Talc, 15; addition of Distilled Water, and filtration to 1000.

Dose, 10 mils (2 fl. dr.).

2. Linimentum Camphora.-Camphor Liniment. Abv.-Lin. Camph. Synonym.-Camphorated Oil. It yields not less than 19.5 per cent. nor more than 20.5 per cent. of Camphor. Camphor, 200; Cotton Seed Oil, 800. This is not intended for hypodermatic use.

3. Spiritus Camphora.-Spirit of Camphor. Abv.-Sp. Camph. It yields not less than 9.5 per cent. nor more than 10.5 per cent. of Camphor. Camphor, 100; by solution in Alcohol, 1000; and filtration.

Dose, 1 mil (15 m).

CAMPHORA MONOBROMATA.-Monobromated

Camphor. Abv.

Camph. Monobrom. Ortho-monobrom-camphor, C10H15BrO or C,H15Br·CO= 231.04.

SOURCE. By heating Bromine and Camphor, at 77.7°C. (172°F.), solution in Benzin, and re-crystallization from hot Alcohol. C10H16O+2Br=C10H15BrO+HBr.

CHARACTERS.-Colorless, prismatic needles or scales or as a powder, having a mild but characteristic camphoraceous odor and taste; permanent in the air. It is decomposed by prolonged exposure to sunlight. Solubility.-Almost insoluble in water; soluble in 6.5 parts of Alcohol, in 1.6 parts of Ether, in 0.5 part of Chloroform.

IMPURITY.-Soluble bromide.

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

For the Therapeutics of Camphor see p. 449.

CLASS II.—THE ACONITE GROUP, DECREASING THE FREQUENCY AND FORCE OF THE BEAT OF THE HEART

dried tuberous roots of Aconitum Napellus Linné (Fam. Ranunculacea), without the presence or admixture of more than 5 per cent. of stems or other foreign matter. It should yield not less than 0.5 per cent. of the ether-soluble alkaloids of Aconite. If made into a fluidextract and assayed biologically the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.00004 gm. for each gramme of body weight of guinea-pig. Habitat.-Mountainous districts of Europe, Asia, and Northwestern North America.

CHARACTERS. More or less conical or fusiform, 4 to 10 cm. in length, 1 to 2 cm. in diameter at the crown; externally, dark-brown or grayish-brown, smooth or longitudinally wrinkled, the upper end with a bud, remains of bud-scales or stem scars, the other portions with numerous root-scars or short rootlets; fracture short, horny or somewhat mealy; internally, bark light or dark brown, 1 to 2 mm. in thickness, the cambium zone usually 5- to -8 angled with a small fibro-vascular bundle in each angle, pith whitish or light brown, from 2

to 7 mm. in diameter; odor very slight; taste sweetish, soon becoming acrid, and developing a tingling sensation, followed by numbness. Resembling Aconite. -Horseradish.

COMPOSITION.-The active principle is the very poisonous alkaloid Aconitine (see below). Two other alkaloids are present-Aconine, C26H39O11, and Benzaconine. Other principles are, perhaps, Pseudocontine, C36N39NO11, or Napelline, C17H41NO8, Picro-aconitine, C31H45NO10, combined with Aconitic Acid, H2C&H2O6.

Dose, 0.03 gm. = 30 milligm. (1⁄2 gr.).

Preparations

1. Extractum Aconiti.-Extract of Aconite. Abv.-Ext. Aconit. It yields not less than 1.8 per cent. nor more than 2.2 per cent. of the ether-soluble alkaloids of Aconite. If assayed biologically, the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.00001 Gm. for each gramme of body weight of guinea-pig. By maceration and percolation with Tartaric Acid and Alcohol, treatment with and decantation of Purified Petroleum Benzin, and evaporation. Dose, 0.01 gm. = 10 milligm. (1% gr.).

2. Fluidextractum Aconiti.—Fluidextract of Aconite. It yields not less than 0.45 per cent. nor more than 0.55 per cent. of the ether-soluble alkaloids of Aconite. If assayed biologically the minimum lethal dose should not be greater than 0.0004 mil for each gramme of body weight of guinea-pig. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and water, and evaporation.

Dose, 0.03 mil (1⁄2 m).

3. Tinctura Aconiti.-Tincture of Aconite. Abv.-Tr. Aconit. Aconite, 100; by maceration and percolation with Alcohol and Water. It yields one-tenth the amount of ether-soluble alkaloids and requires ten times the amount for a Minimum lethal dose for guinea-pig as the Fluidextract.

Dose, 0.3 mil (5 m).

It should be remembered that Fleming's Tincture of Aconite, which is found in the shops, is nearly seven times stronger than the official.

ACONITINA.—Aconitine. alkaloid obtained from Aconite.

Abv.-Aconitin.

C34H47O11N=645.39.

An

SOURCE. It is precipitated from an aqueous solution of an alcoholic extract of the powdered root by Ammonia, and then purified.

CHARACTERS.-Colorless or white rhombic tables or prisms; possessing no odor and permanent in the air. The alkaloid itself should never be tasted, and its solutions only when largely diluted, and then with the utmost caution. A drop of an aqueous solution (1 in 100,000) placed upon the tongue, produces a tingling and numbing sensation. Solubility.-In 28 parts of Alcohol, 65 of Ether, and 7 parts of Benzene; very slightly soluble in water.

IMPURITIES.-Pseudaconitine or atropine.

INCOMPATIBLES.-Those common to all alkaloids. See p. 122.

VERATRUM VIRIDE. Abv.-Verat. Vir. Synonyms.-Green Hellebore. American Hellebore. The dried rhizome and roots of Veratrum viride Aiton (Fam. Liliacea) without the presence or admixture of more than 5 per cent. of stems or other foreign matter. Habitat.-North America, in rich woods.

CHARACTERS.-Rhizome upright, obconical, usually cut longitudinally into 2 or 4 pieces, from 2 to 7 cm. in length and 1.5 to 3 cm. in diameter, externally light brown to dark brown or brownish-black, frequently bearing at the summit numerous, closely arranged, thin leaf-bases, otherwise rough and wrinkled, somewhat annulate from scars of bud-scales, and bearing in the outer portion numerous roots, the lower part more or less decayed; fracture hard and horny; internally yellowish or grayish-white, marked with numerous, irregular, fibro-vascular bundles, inodorous but sternutatory; taste acrid and bitter. Roots nearly cylindrical, from 3 to 8 cm. in length and from 1 to 3 mm. in diameter, externally light brown to yellowish-brown, deeply transversely wrinkled; fracture short, bark whitish, very thick, enclosing a porous central cylinder. Resembling Veratrum.-Valerian, Serpentaria, and Arnica, but Veratrum has thicker rootlets, and no odor.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are (1) Veratrine (Cevadine), C32H49NO9, a powerful alkaloid which occurs in two forms, one crystalline and the other amorphous. (2) Protoveratrine, C32H51NO11, almost rivaling Aconitine in its toxicity. (3) Veratridine. (4) Jervine. (5) Pseudojervine, an alkaloid. (6) Rubijervine, uncrystallizable and sternutatory. (7) An inactive resin.

1. Fluidextractum Veratri Viridis.-Fluidextract of Veratrum Viride. Abv.-Fldext. Verat. Vir. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and evaporation.

Dose, 0.1 mil. (11⁄2 m).

2. Tinctura Veratri Viridis.-Tincture of Veratrum Viride. Abv.— Tr. Verat. Vir. Veratrum Viride, 100; by maceration and percolation, with Alcohol to 1000.

Dose, 0.5 mil (8 m).

It should be remembered that Norwood's Tincture of Veratrum, which is found in the shops is four and one-half times stronger than the official.

VERATRINA

VERATRINE.-Abv.-Veratrin. A mixture of alkaloids obtained from the seeds of Asagræa officinalis (Chamisso and Schlechtendal) Lindley (Fam. Lilacea). Habitat.-Mexico to Venezuela.

SOURCE.—(1) The seed is exhausted with Alcohol, and the Alcohol recovered by distillation. (2) The residuary liquid is diluted with water to precipitate the resins and filtered. (3) Ammonia is added to the filtrate when Veratrine is precipitated. (4) It is then re-dissolved, decolorized, and re-precipitated.

CHARACTERS.—A white or grayish-white, amorphous powder, odorless, but causing intense irritation and sneezing when even a minute quantity reaches the nasal mucous membrane. Great caution should be used in tasting it. It is slightly hygroscopic. Solubility.—In 1760 parts of water, 2.8 of Alcohol, 4.2 of Ether and in 0.7 part of Chloroform at 25°C. (77°F.); insoluble in Petroleum Benzin. IMPURITIES. Various foreign alkaloids.

For the Therapeutics of Veratrum Viride and Veratrine see p. 461.

GROUP III. Drugs Acting Chiefly on the Respiratory Organs. Senega, Sanguinaria, Ipecac, Lobelia, Aspidosperma, Eriodictyon, Wild Cherry, Almond, Benzaldehyde.

SENEGA

SENEGA.-Abv.-Seneg. Synonyms.-Seneca Snakeroot. Senega Snakeroot. The dried roots of Polygala Senega Linné (Fam. Polygalacea), without the presence or admixture of more than 5 per cent. of stems or other foreign matter. Habitat.—United States, westward to Minnesota.

CHARACTERS.-Usually in broken pieces; when entire slenderly conical, more or less tortuous, from 3 to 15 cm. in length and 2 to 10 mm. in thickness, and bearing a few rootlets; crown knotty, with numerous buds and short stem-bases; externally brownish-yellow; the crown, rose-tinted, longitudinally wrinkled, frequently marked by a keel; fracture short, wood pale yellow, usually excentrically developed; odor peculiar, penetrating; taste sweetish, afterwards acrid. Resembling Senega root.-Arnica, Valerian, Serpentaria and Green Hellebore, but none of these have a keel.

COMPOSITION. The active principle is Senegin (C32H54O18). Also called Saponin, which is a colorless, amorphous glucoside, insoluble in Alcohol, but forming a soapy emulsion when mixed with boiling water, and is decomposed by Hydrochloric Acid into glucose and Sapogenin. It acts like Digitonin (see p. 136) and is found in many plants.

IMPURITIES.-Other roots are mixed with it.

Dose, 1 gm. (15 gr.).

Preparations

1. Fluidextractum Senegæ.-Fluidextract of Senega. Abv.-Fldext. Seneg. By maceration and percolation with Ammonia Water, Alcohol and water, and evaporation.

Dose, 1 mil (15 m).