thetically from either Catechol by methylating, or from Ortho-anisidin by diazotizing and boiling.

CHARACTERS.-A colorless, or yellowish crystalline solid, or a colorless or yellowish, strongly refractive liquid, having an agreeable aromatic odor. Sp. gr. of liquid, 1.110 to 1.114. Solubility.—In 53 parts of water and in 0.8 part of Glycerin at 25°C. (77°F.); but separates from it on the addition of water. IMPURITIES.-Oily hydrocarbons.

Dose, 0.5 mil (8 m).

GUAIACOLIS CARBONAS.-Guaiacol Carbonate. Abv.-Guaiacol. Carb. (C;H;O)2CO3 = 274.11. A Guaiacol derivative, CH1(OCH3)O)2·CO.

SOURCE. By passing Phosgene gas (Carbonyl Chloride, COCl2) into Guaiacol, previously dissolved in a Sodium Hydroxide solution. The Carbonate is obtained by crystallization.

CHARACTERS.-A crystalline powder; odorless and tasteless or having a slight aromatic odor and taste. Solubility.-Insoluble in water; soluble in 60 parts of Alcohol, 1 of Chloroform, and 18 of Ether at 25°C. (77°F.) freely in boiling Alcohol; slightly in Glycerin or fixed oils.

IMPURITY.-Free guaiacol, readily carbonizable impurities.

Dose, 1 gm. (15 gr.).

For the Therapeutics of Guaiacol see p. 596.

GROUP V.-The Purgatives

CLASS I.-THE LAXATIVES

Manna, Castor Oil

MANNA

MANNA. The dried saccharine exudation of Fraxinus Ornus Linné (Fam. Oleacea). Habitit.-Basin of the Mediterranean.

CHARACTERS.-In irregular, more or less elongated, flattish, 3-sided pieces; externally yellowish-white; friable, somewhat waxy; internally nearly white, porous and crystalline in appearance, odor slight but characteristic; taste sweet, slightly bitter and faintly acrid. Manna also occurs in irregular masses, consisting in part of brittle or soft, resin-like fragments; from yellowish-white to yellowish-gray in color. The quantity of yellowish-white fragments must not be less than 40 per cent. of the whole. On heating 5 parts of Manna with 100 parts of Alcohol to boiling, and filtering, the filtrate should rapidly deposit crystals of Mannite.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- -(1) Mannite, C¿Hs(OH)6, 90 per cent. (2) Glucose. (3) Fraxin, C32H36020. (4) Mucilage. (5) Resin.

Dose, 15 gm. (240 gr.).

Manna is contained in Infusum Sennæ Compositum.

For the Therapeutics of Manna see p. 653.

OLEUM RICINI

CASTOR OIL. Abv.-Ol. Ricin. A fixed oil obtained from the seeds of Ricinus communis Linné (Fam. Euphorbiacea). Habitat.-India; cultivated.

CHARACTERS.-A pale yellowish or almost colorless, transparent, viscid liquid, having a faint, mild odor, and a bland, afterwards slightly acrid and generally nauseating taste. Sp. gr., 0.945 to 0.965. Solubility.—It is miscible with Dehydrated Alcohol or Glacial Acetic Acid.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- —(1) Ricinolein, C3H5(C18H3403) 3, which is the Ricinoleic Acid (C18H34O3) Glyceride. This constitutes the chief bulk. (2) Other fixed oils, as palmitin, stearin, etc. (3) Possibly an alkaloid, Ricinine, not purgative. According to some authorities an active principle which has not yet been isolated.

IMPURITIES.—Foreign oils.
Dose, 15 mils (4 fl. dr.).

Castor oil is contained in Collodium Flexile.

For the Therapeutics of Castor Oil see p. 653.

CLASS II. THE SIMPLE PURGATIVES

Rhubarb, Senna, Frangula, Cascara Sagrada, Aloes

RHEUM

RHUBARB.-The rhizomes and roots of Rheum officinale Baillon, Rheum palmatum Linné, and the var. tanguticum Maximowicz (Fam. Polygonacea), and probably other species of Rheum, growing in China and Thibet, deprived of most of the bark tissues and carefully dried. Habitat.-Western and Central China, and Thibet.

CHARACTERS. Subcylindrical, barrel-shaped, or conical pieces known in commerce as "rounds," or in plano-convex pieces known in commerce as "flats," or in irregularly formed pieces, frequently with perforations; it is hard and moderately heavy, attaining a length of 17 cm. and a diameter of 10 cm., often cut in pieces of variable form and size; outer surfaces yellowish-brown, mottled with alternating longitudinal striæ of grayish-white parenchyma and reddish or brownish medullary rays; small stellate groups of fibro-vascular tissue and occasionally reddish-brown cork patches, smooth and sometimes covered with a bright, brownish-yellow powder; fracture uneven and granular, presenting a characteristic mottled appearance; odor aromatic, characteristic; taste characteristic, slightly bitter and astringent, gritty when chewed and tingeing the tongue yellow.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are—(1) Chrysarobin, С35H26O7, which yields Chrysaphanic Acid, C15H1004; about 3 per cent. Synonyms.—Rhein. Crysaphan (see Chrysarobin, p. 241). It is not known if the plant, Rhubarb contains any Chrysaphanic Acid, for when kept the Chrysaphan, which gives the yellow color, quickly oxidizes to Chrysaphanic Acid. (2) Emodin, an anthra

cene body (C14H10) see p. 657. (3) Erythroretin. (4) Phæoretin. (5) Aporetin. (6) Rheotannic Acid, C26H26O14, to which the astringency is due. (7) Lime Oxalate, 35 per cent., to which the grittiness is due.

IMPURITIES.-English Rhubarb; different taste, smell, and with
Turmeric, which is turned brown by Boric Acid.

starch.

excess of

Rhei. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and Water, and evaporation.

Dose, 1 mil (15 m).

3. Pilulæ Rhei Compositæ.-Compound Pills of Rhubarb. Abv.—Pil. Rhei. Co. Rhubarb, 13, Aloes, 10; Myrrh, 6; Oil of Peppermint, 0.5, to make 100 pills. Each pill contains 0.13 gm., 2 gr., of Rhubarb. Dose, 2 pills.

Abv.

4. Pulvis Rhei Compositus.—Compound Powder of Rhubarb. Pulv. Rhei. Co. Synonym.-Gregory's powder. Rhubarb, 25; Magnesium Oxide, 65; Jamaica Ginger, 10.

Dose, 2 gm. (30 gr.).

5. Syrupus Rhei.-Syrup of Rhubarb. Abv.-Syr. Rhei. Fluidextract of Rhubarb, 100; Potassium Carbonate, 10; Spirit of Cinnamon, 4; Water, 50, Syrup to 1000. By solution.

Dose, 10 mils (21⁄2 fl. dr.).

6. Syrupus Rhei Aromaticus.-Aromatic Syrup of Rhubarb. Abv.Syr. Rhei. Arom. Synonym.-Spiced Syrup of Rhubarb. Aromatic Tincture of Rhubarb, 150; Potassium Carbonate, 1; Syrup to 1000. By mixture.

Dose, 10 mils (21⁄2 fl. dr.).

7. Tinctura Rhei.-Tincture of Rhubarb. Abv.-Tr. Rhei. Rhubarb, 200; Cardamom Seed 30. By maceration and percolation, with Glycerin, Alcohol and Water to 1000. Dose, 4 mils (1 fl. dr.).

8. Tinctura Rhei Aromatica.-Aromatic Tincture of Rhubarb. Abv.Tr. Rhei. Arom. Rhubarb, 200; Saigon Cinnamon, 40; Clove, 40; Myristica, 20. By maceration and percolation with Glycerin, Alcohol and

water, to 1000.

Dose, 2 mils (30 m).

For the Therapeutics of Rhubarb see p. 657.

SENNA

SENNA, Abv.-Senn. The dried leaflets of Cassia acutifolia Delile, known in commerce as Alexandria Senna, or of Cassia angustifolia Vahl, known in commerce as India Senna, (Fam. Leguminosa), without the presence or admixture of more than 10 per cent. of stem tissues, pods, seeds and other impurities.

CHARACTERS.-Cassia acutifolia.-Usually unbroken, occasionally in fragments, leaflets inequilaterally lanceolate or lance ovate, from 2 to 3.5 cm in length and from 6 to 10 mm. in breadth, having extremely short, stout petioles; acutely cuspidate, entire, subcoriaceous, brittle, pale green or grayish-green, sparsely and obscurely hairy, especially beneath, the hairs appressed; odor characteristic; taste somewhat mucilaginous and bitter. Habitat.-Eastern and Central Africa.

Cassia angustifolia. Synonym.-Tinnivelly Senna. Leaflets usually unbroken, from 2 to 5 cm. in length and from 6 to 14 mm. in breadth, usually more abruptly pointed than those of Alexandria Senna, yellowish-green, and smooth above, paler beneath; in odor and taste closely resembling Alexandria Senna. Habitat.-Eastern Africa to India cultivated.

Resembling Senna.—Argel leaves (the leaves of Solenostemma Argel) Hayne Fam. Asclepiadea), which are sometimes present in Alexandria Senna and which re equilateral, 1-veined, thick, wrinkled, glaucous, and possess 3-celled hairs. These leaves are similar to those of Uva Ursi and Buchu.

COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are—(1) Cathartinic Acid, C180H192 N82SO2, an amorphous sulphurated glucoside. It exists as salts of earthy bases, such as Calcium and Magnesium, which are soluble in water. Cathartinic Acid is capable of decomposition into glucose and Cathartogenic Acid. (2) Emodin, an anthracene body, see p. 657. (3) Sennacrol and Sennapicrin, C34H58O17, glucosides, which do not, in most preparations, contribute to their action as they are insoluble in water. (4) Chrysaphanic Acid in small amounts as a

coloring matter (see p. 160).

Dose, 4 gm. (60 gr.).

Preparations

1. Fluidextractum Sennæ.-Fluidextract of Senna. Abv.-Fldext. Senn. By maceration, percolation with Alcohol and water, and evaporation.

Dose, 2 mils (30 m).

Fluidextract of Senna is used to prepare Syrupus Sarsaparillæ Compositus.

2. Infusum Sennæ Compositum.-Compound Infusion of Senna. Abv.-Inf. Senn. Co. Synonym.-Black Draught. Senna, 60; Manna, 120; Magnesium Sulphate, 120; Fennel, 20; Boiling water to 1000. Dose, 120 mils (4 fl. oz.).

3. Pulvis Glycyrrhiza Compositus.-Compound Powder of Glycyrrhiza. Abv.-Pulv. Glycyrrh. Co. Synonym.-Compound Licorice

Powder. Senna, 180; Glycyrrhiza, 236; Oil of Fennel, 4; Washed Sul

phur, 80; Sugar, 500.

Dose, 4 gm. (60 gr.).

4. Syrupus Sennæ.-Syrup of Senna. Abv.-Syr. Senn. Fluidextract of Senna, 250; Oil of Coriander, 5; Syrup to 1000.

Dose, 4 mils (1 fl. dr.).

For the Therapeutics of Senna see p. 660.

FRANGULA

FRANGULA. Abv.-Frang. Synonym.—Buckthorn Bark. The dried bark of Rhamnus Frangula Linné (Fam. Rhamnaceœ). Habitat.-Europe and Northern Asia.

CHARACTERS.-In quills varying in length, frequently flattened or crushed; from 0.15 to 1 mm. in thickness; outer surface grayish-brown to purplish-black with numerous prominent, lighter-colored, transverse lenticels and occasional patches of foliaceous lichens; bearing small, blackish apothecia; inner surface smooth, dark brown with occasional purplish blotches, longitudinally striate, becoming red when moistened with solutions of the alkalies; fracture short, slightly fibrous in the inner layer; odor distinctive; taste slightly bitter.

COMPOSITION.-Fresh bark contains a glucoside, Frangulin, C20H20010. This in the old bark has become converted into Emodin, an anthracene body (see p. 657), to which the value of the bark is due. Two products are obtained from Frangulin by hydrolysis, Emodin and Rhamnose, C6H12O5.

Dose, 1 gm. (15 gr.).

Preparation

Fluidextractum Frangulæ.-Fluidextract

of Frangula. Abv.

Fldext. Frangul. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and

CASCARA

SAGRADA. Synonyms.-Sacred

Bark. Chittem Bark. Rhamnus Purshiana. The dried bark of Rhamnus Purshiana De Candolle (Fam. Rhamnacea). Habitat.-Northern Idaho, and westward to the Pacific Coast. CHARACTERS.-Usually in flattened or transversely curved pieces, occasionally in quills; bark from 1 to 5 mm. in thickness; outer surface dark brown or brownish-red, longitudinally ridged, often nearly covered with grayish or whitish lichens, bearing small, blackish apothecia, sometimes with numerous lenticels, and occasionally with mosses; inner surface light yellow, light brown, or reddishbrown, longitudinally striate, turning red when moistened with solutions of the