EUPHORBIACEM 259 



Description, — The drug consists of irregular pieces, 



seldom more tliaii an incli across and 



dull 



yellow or brown waxy-looking substance, among wHcIl por- 

 tions of the angular S2:>iny stem of the plant may be met with. 



k 



The substance is brittle and translucent, and has a somewhat 

 aromatic odour; it is extremely acrid, and the dust is 

 powerfully irritant if inhaled- 



Chemical eomj:>osition. — An analysis of selected fragments free 

 from extraneous matter by Fluckiger ( Vierteljahresschrift fur 

 prakt. Pharm.^ xvii. (1868), 82 — 102) shows the composition of 

 the drug to be as follows : — 



Amorphous resin, C^^H^^O^ 38 



Euphorbon, C^^H^^O 22 



Mucilage 18 



Malates, chiefly of calcium and sodium ...,,. 12 

 Mineral compounds • 10 



100 



The amorphous resin is readily soluble in cold 70 per cent, 

 alcohol. The solution has no acid reaction, l}ut an extremely 

 burning acrid taste. By evaporating the resin with alcoholic 

 potash, and neutralizing the residue with a dilute acid, a brown 

 amorphous substance, the Uiipliorbic Acid of Buchheira, is 

 precipitated. It is devoid of acridity, but has a bitterish taste. 

 From the drug, deprived of the amorphous resin ether or petro- 

 leum takes up the Uuphorhon, which may be obtained in colour- 

 less, although not very distinct, crystals, which are at first not 

 free from acrid taste, but by repeated crystallizations, and finally 

 boiling in a weak solution of permanganate of potash, may 

 be so far purified as to be entirely tasteless. Euphorbon is 

 insoluble in water; it requires about 60 parts of 80 per cent, 

 alcohol for solution at ordinary temperatures. In boiling 

 alcohol it is freely soluble, also in ether, benzole, amylic alcohol, 

 chloroform, acetone or glacial acetic acid. 



Euphorbon melts at 113 to IIG^ 0. without emitting any 

 odour. By dry distillation a brownish oily liquid is obtained, 



