CORTEX MEZEREL 5^1 



unpleasant odour which is lost in dr3^ing; its taste is persistently 

 burning and acrid. Applied in a moist state to 'the skin, it occasions, 

 after some hours, redness and even vesication. 



Microscopic Structure — The canibial zone is formed (tf about ten 

 rows of delicate unequal cells. The libre consists cliicfly of simple fi'iros 



alternating with parenchymatous bundles, and traversed by medullary 

 rays. The fibres are very long, — frequently more than 3 mm., and from 

 5 to 10 mkni. in diameter, their walls being always but little thickened. 

 In the outer part of the liber there occur bundles of thick-walled bast- 

 tubes, while chlorophyll and starch granules appear generally tlu'ough- 

 out the middle cortical layer. The suberous coat is made up of about 

 30 dense rows of thin-walled tabular cells, which examined in a tan- 

 gential section, have an hexagonal outline. Small quantities of taindc 

 matter are deposited in the carabial and suberous zones. 



Chemical Composition— The acrid principle of mezereon is a 

 resinoid substance contained in the inner bark; it has not yet been 

 examined. The fruits were found by Martius (1SG2) to contain more 

 than 40 per cent, of a ftitty, vesicating oil, which appears to be likewise 



present in the bark. 



fiblc substance 



d afterwards 



acid 



The name Baphnin Las been given to a ciystallizab 

 obtained by Vauquelin in 1808 from Daphne al'pina, an( 

 found by C. G. Gmelin and Baer in the bark of D. Mezerenm. Zwcnger 

 in 18G0 ascertained it to be a ghicoside of bitter taste, having tlie 

 composition C'H'^O'^ + 2 OH', the same as that of ^sculin, the 

 fluorescing principle occurring in the bark of jEscalus Ili/ipocriK- 

 tanum and the root-bark of Gelscmium nitidum Micliaux {G. sem- 

 pervirens Aiton).— Cocco^/m^r, isokted in 1870 by Casselmann from the 

 fruits of D. Mezerenm, appears to be closely allied to if not identical 

 with daphnin. 



When daphnin is boiled with dilute hydrochloric or . 

 it furnishes Daphnetin, C^H^O* + 0H-, described by Zwenger as 

 crystallizing in colourless prisms. By dry distillation ol^an alcoholic 

 extract of mezereon bark, the same chemist obtained Imbellijerone 

 (p. 322). 



Uses— Mezereon taken internally is supposed to be alterative and 

 sudorific, and useful in venereal, rheumatic and scrofulous complaints ; 

 but in English medicine it is never now given except as an ingredient 

 of the Compound Decoction of Sarsaparilla. An ethereal extract o 

 the bark has been introduced (1867) as an ingredient of a V^>^'f''^ 

 stimulating liniment. On the Continent, the bark itself, soaked m 

 vinegar and water, is applied with a bandage as a vesicant. 



Substitutes^Owing to the difficulty of procurin^^ the ^^^^^ l^f ^^'^ 

 root of Z). Mezeretcm, the herbalists who supply the London J^^ '.p^J-^ 

 have been long in the habit of substituting that of i>. ^«"" \^, ^^;;:' ^" 

 evergreen species, not uncommon in ^^oods and hedge-sides in sc^a^ 

 parts of En|land. The BrUlsJi Fhaimacoixsia 18G4 and .Jf ^0 pe "it« 

 Cortex Meterei to be obtained indiscriminately f^?"\ ^'^li^r of he.P 

 species, and does not follow the London College in /"listing on th. 

 bark of the root alone. That of the stem of RLaureola eoi^e^I^onds m 

 structure with the bark of the true mezereon, but wants the piominent 



