CORTEX CASCARILL^. 



561 



. . . . ^ . fonnula Qi-^H-'^O, and jioints 



out that its solutions in chloroform or ether are dextrogyrate. 



As to the mucilage of euphorbium, it may be obtained from tliat 



portion of the drug which has been exhausted by cold alcohol and 



by ether. Neutral acetate of lead, as well as silicate or borate of 



sodium, precipitate this mucilage, which therefore does not agree with 

 gum arable. 



If an aqueous extract of euphorbium is mixed with spirit of wine, 

 and the liquid evaporated, the residual matter assumes a somewliat 

 crystalline appearance, and exhibits the reactions of iValic Acid. 

 Subjected to dry distillation, white scales and acicular crystals of 

 Maleic and Fumario Acids, produced by the decomposition of the 

 malic acid, are sublimed into the neck of the retort. A sublimate of 

 the same kind may sometimes be obtained directly by heating frag- 

 ments of euphorbium. Among the mineral constituents of the drug, 

 chloride of sodium and calcium are noticeable ; scarcely any salt of 

 potassium is present. 



ommerce 



—The drug is shipped from Mogador. The quantity 

 imported into the United Kingdom in 1870 is given in the Amwd 



>/ 



Uses 



—Euphorbium was formerly employed as an emetic and pur- 

 gative, but as an internal remedy it is completely obsolete. "VVc have 

 been told that it is now in some demand as an ingredient of a paint for 

 the preservation of ships' bottoms. 



CORTEX CASCARILLiE. 



C'ortex Eleuthence; Cascarilla Bark, Sweet Wood Bark Ehv.thera' 



Bark; F. Ecorce de CascariUe; G. Cascarill-Binde. 



Botanical Origin — Croton Eluteria Bennett, 

 tree, exclusively native of the Bahama Islands. 



Histnrv — Tf io -nrif i.ni->>.r^1-i.il-vlo flinf pnc;pa,ri]la 



* a shrub or small 



inter 



Spaniards 



--, ^^--luoivuiy native oi tiie s^mnamii j.S)i<iiiuo. 



. History— It is not improbable that cascarilla bark was imported 



into Europe in the first half of the 17th century, as there was much 



'■course subsequent to the year 1630 between England ami 



the Bahamas.' These islands were occupied in 1G41 by tie 



^r ., who became at that time acquainted with tlie 



l;eruvian bark or Cascarilla (see page 31G), as ^^•c 

 at. page 313. The external appearance of the bark of Eluteria 

 temg somewhat similar to that of Cinchona quiIIs, the lounoi 

 t'egan soon to be known under the name of CJana nova. inis 



tlocumeuts, particular mention is made of 

 «riXdnJtion, actual or attcniptcd, of 



have shown 



T , ^^f>^^ Eleuthera, one of the Bahama 

 ^Maiids, so named from the Greek eXsue^oo?, 

 fei.;^mfyiiig/,.^e or mdepaulmt. 



-iSeutley and Trimen's Med. Plants, 

 l^fti. (1875). 



■ III that year a patent was sn'anted by 

 J^i^arles I. for the incorporation of a Com- 

 pany for colonizing the Bahama Islands, 

 ana a complete record is extant of the pro- 

 ^eeamgs of the Company for the first eleven 

 /ears of its existence. In some of the 



useful platits, as cotton ^^^^^^^fJ^^'^^J^^' 

 pomegranate, palma Chnsti, "^""^^^f^' ^^^ 

 ndigo, madder, and jalap ;_ and there m 

 Xo frequent allusion to the importation of 

 ^1,1^0 uce of the islands, but no mention 

 ScCS. See Calender- ofSta<e Paper.. 

 Colonial Series, Ia74-16(i0 edited by San^.- 

 bury, Loud. 1860. pp. HG. 148. 149. IM. 

 1G8. 185. etc. 



2xN 



