COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are three resins-(1) Guaiaconic Acid, C19H2005 (70 per cent.). (2) Guaiacic Acid, resembling Benzoic Acid. (3) Guaiaretic Acid, C20H26O4 (about 10 per cent.). These are insoluble in water soluble in alkalies, but precipitated on neutralization. IMPURITY. Rosin. INCOMPATIBLES.-Mineral acids, spirit of nitrous ether, acacia, chlorine water, metallic salts. Dose, 1 gm. (15 gr.). Preparations 1. Tinctura Guaiaci.-Tincture of Guaiac. Abv.-Tr. Guaiac. Guaiac, 200. By maceration with Alcohol, and filtration to 1000. Dose, 4 mils (1 fl. dr.). 2. Tinctura Guaici Ammoniata.-Ammoniated Tincture of Guaiac. Abv.-Tr. Guaiac. Ammon. Guaiac, 200; by maceration with Aromatic Spirit of Ammonia, and filtration to 1000. Dose, 2 mils (30 m). For the Therapeutics of Guaiac see p. 822. XANTHOXYLUM XANTHOXYLUM. Abv.-Xanthox. Synonym.-Prickly Ash Bark. The dried bark of Xanthoxylum americanum Miller, known as Northern Prickly Ash Bark or of Xanthoxylum Clava-Herculis Linné known as Southern Prickly Ash Bark (Fam. Rutacea). Habitat.-North America. CHARACTERS.-Northern Prickly Ash Bark.-In transversely curved fragments or quills, from 2 15 cm. in length; bark from 0.5 to 2 mm. in thickness; outer surface light gray to brownish-gray with grayish patches, of foliaceous lichens bearing numerous small black apothecia; longitudinally wrinkled and with numerous whitish lenticels; the cork occasionally abraded, showing the yellowish or orange inner bark; inner surface yellowish-white, finely longitudinally striate and usually with numerous bright, shining crystals; fracture short, uneven; odor slight; taste bitter, acrid, becoming pungent. Southern Prickly Ash Bark.—In transversely curved or irregular, oblong, flattened pieces, or in quills from 2 to 40 cm. in length, bark from 1 to 4 mm. in thickness; outer surface light gray to brownish-gray, marked by numerous large barnacle-shaped projections of cork, from 0.5 to 3.5 cm. in thickness, otherwise with numerous grayish patches of foliaceous lichens, bearing blackish apothecia, and numerous elliptical lenticels; inner surface light yellowish-brown to olive brown, obscurely longitudinally striate and free from crystals; odor and taste as in Northern Prickly Ash Bark. Resembling Xanthoxylum.—Aralia spinosa, which is nearly smooth externally, and beset with slender prickles in transverse rows. COMPOSITION.-It contains-(1) An acrid, green oil. (2) A crystalline resin, white and tasteless. (3) An acrid, soft resin. (4) A bitter substance, probably an alkaloid. (5) Tannic acid, in small quantity. Dose, 2 gm. (30 gr.). Preparation Fluidextractum Xanthoxyli.-Fluidextract of Xanthoxylum. Abv.— Fldext. Xanthox. By maceration and percolation with Alcohol and water, and evaporation. Dose. 2 mils (30 m). For the Therapeutics of Xanthoxylum see p. 823. SARSAPARILLA SARSAPARILLA. Abv.-Sarsap. The dried root of Smilax medica Chamisso and Schlechtendal, known in commerce as Mexican Sarsaparilla; or Smilax officinalis Kunth, or an undetermined species of Smilax, known in commerce as Honduras Sarsaparilla; or Smilax ornata Hooker filius, known in commerce as Jamaica Sarsaparilla (Fam. Liliacea). Habitat.-Tropical America from Mexico to Brazil. CHARACTERS.—Mexican Sarsaparilla.-In loose bundles, or pressed into bales, single bundles attaining a length or 60 cm. and composed of from 20 to to 35 folded roots attached to a crown with one or more stout stems; roots from 3.5 to 6 mm. in diameter; externally grayish-brown, to dark-brown, minutely hairy, longitudinally furrowed, the furrows containing more or less of a blackish earth; fracture tough, fibrous; internally light-brown with a more or less shrunken, mealy or sometimes horny cortex surrounding the porous central cylinder, pith distinct; nearly inodorous; taste mucilaginous somewhat sweetish and acrid. Honduras Sarsaparilla.—In more or less compact, cylindrical bundles, attaining a length of 55 cm. and a diameter from 8 to 15 cm., consisting of the long, folded roots, bound together by roots of the same plant; roots from 2 to 6 mm. in diameter; externally dark or reddish-brown, longitudinally furrowed, the furrows usually free from soil; fracture fibrous; internally consisting of a grayish-white or dark brown cortex, a light-yellow and porous central cylinder and a whitish pith; taste mucilaginous and slightly acrid. Jamaica Sarsaparilla.-In more or less compact and somewhat flattened bundles, from 30 to 45 cm. in length and from 10 to 15 cm. in width, consisting of the folded roots loosely bound with roots of the same plant; roots from 2 to 5 mm. in diameter; internally grayish-brown to reddish-brown, longitudinally wrinkled, more or less furrowed and bearing numerous coarse fibrous rootlets; taste somewhat sweet and slightly bitter. Resembling Sarsaparilla.-Senega, which is twisted and keeled; Hemidesmus, which is cracked transversely. COMPOSITION. The chief constituents are—(1) Parillin also named Smilacin, Parillinic Acid and Pariglin, about 0.2 per cent., an acrid glucoside, soluble in hot water and Alcohol, insoluble in Ether, closely resembling Saponin. (2) Resin. (3) Calcium Oxalate and other salts. INCOMPATIBLES.-Alkalies, lead acetate. Preparations 1. Fluidextractum Sarsaparilla.-Fluidextract of Sarsaparilla. Abv. -Fldext. Sarsap. By maceration and percolation with diluted Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, 2 mils (30 M). 2. Fluidextractum Sarsaparilla Compositum.-Compound Fluidextract of Sarsaparilla. Abv.-Fldext. Sarsap. Co. Sarsaparilla, 750; Glycyrrhiza, 120; Sassafras, 100; Mezereum, 30. By maceration and percolation in Glycerin, Alcohol and water and evaporation, to 1000. Dose, 2 mils (30 m). 3. Syrupus Sarsaparillæ Compositus.-Compound Syrup of Sarsaparilla. Abv.-Syr. Sarsap. Co. Fluidextract of Sarsaparilla, 200; Fluidextract of Glycyrrhiza, 15; Fluidextract of Senna, 15; Oil of Sassafras, o.2; Oil of Anise, 0.02; Methyl Salicylate, o.2; Alcohol, 19.4; Sugar. 750. By mixing, filtering, dissolving the Sugar, and straining with water to 1000. Dose, 15 mils (4 fl. dr.) For the Therapeutics of Sarsaparilla see p. 823. MEZEREUM MEZEREUM. Synonym.-Mezereon. The dried bark of Daphne Mezereum Linné, Daphne Gnidium Linné or of Daphne Laureola Linné (Fam. Thymeleacea). Habitat.-Europe in mountainous regions, eastward to Siberia; spontaneous in Canada and New England. CHARACTERS.-In flexible, tough quilled pieces or somewhat flattened strips, attaining a length of 90 cm.; from 0.3 to 1 mm. in thickness; outer surface yellowish or olive-brown (Daphne Mezereum) or purplish-brown (Daphne Gnidium) or purplish-gray (Daphne Laureola), smooth, numerous lenticels giving a transversely striated appearance and occasionally with numerous, circular, brownishblack apothecia; outer corky layer easily separable from the middle bark which varies from light green to olive-brown, and with more or less detached bast fibers; inner surface yellowish-white, satiny lustrous, finely striate; fracture tough, fibrous, the inner bark lamellated; odor very slight, taste at first slight, becoming gradually and increasingly pungent and acrid. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- —(1) Mezerein, a soft, acrid resin. (2) An acrid, rubefacient, volatile oil. (3) Daphnin, C15H16O9+2H2O, a bitter glucoside in fine needles or rectangular plates. (4) Coccogin, C20H22O8, a bitter principle. Mezereum is contained in Fluidextractum Sarsaparillæ Compositum. For the Therapeutics of Mezereum see p. 824. STILLINGIA STILLINGIA. Abv.-Stilling. Synonym.—Queen's Root. The dried roots of Stillingia sylvatica Linnè (Fam. Euphorbiacea). Habitat.—Southern United States, in sandy soil. CHARACTERS.-When entire, terete, unequally tapering, rarely branched, usually in pieces attaining a length of 40 cm., and from 0.5 to 3 cm. in diameter; externally reddish-brown, longitudinally wrinkled; fracture very fibrous; internally the bark is light reddish-brown, thick, spongy, finely fibrous, with numerous resin cells and easily separable from the porous, radiate wood; odor distinct; taste bitter, acrid and pungent. COMPOSITION.—(1) Sylvacrol, an acrid resin, soluble in Alcohol and Chloroform. (2) Probably a Glucoside. (3) Resin. (4) Volatile Oil. (5) Tannic Acid. Dose, 2 gm. (30 gr.). Preparation Fluidextractum Stillingiæ.-Fluidextract of Stillingia. Abv.-Fldext. Stilling. By maceration and percolation with Diluted Alcohol, and evaporation. Dose, 2 mils (30 m). For the Therapeutics of Stillingia see p. 824. SASSAFRAS SASSAFRAS. Abv.-Sassaf. The bark of the root of Sassafras variifolium (Salisbury) O. Kuntze (Fam. Lauraceae), without the presence or admixture of more than 2 per cent. of adhering wood, collected in the early spring or autumn, deprived of the outer corky layer and dried. Habitat.-North America from Eastern Texas and Kansas eastward to Florida, and Ontario, in woods. CHARACTERS.-In irregularly transversely curved or quilled pieces, from 1 to 15 cm. in length and 1 to 4 mm. in thickness; outer surface orange-brown, nearly smooth and marked with more or less irregular ridges; inner surface light to dark reddish-brown, obscurely short-striate; fracture short with a thin reddishbrown corky layer and a yellowish-white inner bark; odor, aromatic; taste slightly mucilaginous, astringent, aromatic and somewhat pungent. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are—(1) A volatile oil (see below), about 5 per cent. (2) Sassafrid, a peculiar decomposition product of Tannic Acid. (3) Resin. (4) Tannic Acid. Dose, 10 gm. (21⁄2 dr.). Sassafras is contained in Fluidextractum Sarsaparilla Compositum. OLEUM SASSAFRAS.-Oil of Sassafras. Abv.-Ol. Sassaf. A volatile oil distilled from the root of Sassafras variifolium (Salisbury) O. Kuntze (Fam. Lauracea). CHARACTERS.-A yellow or reddish-yellow liquid, having the characteristic odor and taste of Sassafras. Sp. gr., 1.065 to 1.077 or 25°C. (77°F.). Solubility. In 2 volumes of 90 per cent. Alcohol. Dose, 0.2 mil. (3 m). Oil of Sassafras is contained in Syrupus Sarsaparilla Compositus and Trochisci Cubebæ. For the Therapeutics of Sassafras see p. 824. GROUP XIII.-Drugs Used to Kill Parasites Aspidium, Pomegranate, Pepo, Santonin, Spigelia, Oil of Chenopodium, Staphisagria, Chrysarobin ASPIDIUM ASPIDIUM. Synonym.-Male Fern. The rhizome and stipes of Dryopteris Filix-mas (Linné) or of Dryopteris marginalis (Linné) Asa Gray (Fam. Polypodiacea), collected in the autumn, freed from the roots and dead portions of rhizome and stipes and dried at a temperature not exceeding 70°C. (158°F.). Habitat.-North America, Northern Asia, Europe. CHARACTERS.-Usually with the blackish-brown layers removed; rhizome 1 to 3 cm. in thickness, cylindraceous and nearly straight, or curved and tapering toward one end, usually split longitudinally, roughly scarred with remains of the stipe-bases, or bearing several coarse longitudinal sides and grooves; stipes cylindrical, 3 to 5 cm. in length, about 6 mm. in thickness, nearly straight or somewhat curved, tapering toward one end, and with occasional elongated patches in the still-adhering blackish-brown outer layers; fracture short, pale green in the inner half, the texture rather spongy, and exhibiting in an interrupted circle, from 6 to 12 vascular bundles, each surrounded by an endodermis; odor slight; taste sweetish, astringent, bitter, acrid. Use only those portions as have retained their green color. COMPOSITION.-The chief constituents are- -(1) Filicic acid, C35H42013, a white, amorphous or crystalline body, said to be the active principle. (2) A fixed oil, 6 to 7 per cent. (3) Filicin, C33H40012, a crystalline substance, soluble in Chloroform, Benzol and fixed and volatile oils. (4) Filix-red. (5) Resins. Dose, 4 gm. (60 gr.). Preparation Oleoresina Aspidii.-Oleoresin of Aspidium. Abv.-Oleores. Aspid. By percolation with Ether, distillation of the Ether, and evaporation. Oleoresin of Aspidium usually deposits, on standing, a granular, crystalline substance; this should be thoroughly mixed with the liquid portion before use. Dose, 2 gm. (30 gr.). Caution! Single dose, once a day. For the Therapeutics of Aspidium see p. 337 GRANATUM POMEGRANATE. Abv.-Granat. The dried bark of the stems and roots of Punica Granatum Linné (Fam. Punicacea), without the presence or admixture of more than 2 per cent. of wood or other foreign matter. Habitat.—India and Southwestern Asia; cultivated and naturalized in subtropical countries. CHARACTERS.-The stem bark is mostly in somewhat flattened or transversely curved pieces, to some extent in quills, from 2 to 8 cm. in length; bark from 0.5 to 3.5 mm. in thickness; outer surface yellowish- to grayish-brown, |