438 MENISPERMACEX.— BERBERIDACE, 
reputed to be used to a great extent (chiefly by publicans) to impart a 
bitter taste to malt liquor, and to increase its intoxicating effects; but it 
must be admitted that we have no very satisfactory evidence on this point. 
The average annual imports of Cocculus indicus from India are about 50,000 
Ibs., a quantity, it is said, sufficient to drug 120,000 tuns of beer. It has 
been also employed externally to destroy vermin, and for the cure of some 
skin diseases. It owes its active properties to a poisonous neutral principle 
contained in the seed, called picrotoxin. The pericarp also contains two 
isomeric alkaloids in minute quantity, which have been named menispermine 
and paramenispermine, of which but little is known. 
Chondrodendron tomentosum.—The root of this plant, which is a native 
of Brazil, as shown by Hanbury, is the original Pareira brava, and is the 
drug on which its reputation was founded. It is official in the British 
Pharmacopeia. (See Cissampelos.) The stem possesses similar but less 
powerful properties ; it is, however, frequently mixed with the root. Pareira 
root contains an alkaloid which has been named cissampeline or pelosine, 
but which Fliickiger has proved to be identical with beberine, the active 
principle of Bebeeru bark. (See Nectandra.) 
Cissampelos.—C. Pareira was official in the British Pharmacopeeia as the 
botanical source of Pareira root. It possesses tonic and diuretic proper- 
ties. The true Pareira root of commerce is not, however, derived from 
Cissampelos Pareira, but from Chondrodendron tomentosum, as noticed 
above in referring to that plant. Other spurious kinds of Pareira brava 
are derived from Abutu rufescens, which yields White Pareira brava ; from 
Abuta amara, Yellow Pareira brava ; and also from other Menispermaceous 
plants. 
Coscinium fenestratum.—The wood and bark of the stem possess tonic 
and stomachic properties. The stems have been imported into this country 
from Ceylon, and sold as true Calumba root ; they contain much berberine. 
Jateorhiza—Jateorhiza Calumba is now official in the British Pharma- 
copceia as the botanical source of Calumba root, so well known as a valuable 
stomachic and tonic. The tonic and stomachic properties of Calumba root 
are especially due to a peculiar neutral principle, called calumbin, It also 
contains berberine and calumbic acid, to the presence of which its properties 
are also, to some extent at least, due. 
Menispermum canadense, Yellow Parilla or Moonseed.—The root yields 
the eclectic remedy called menispermin, which is reputed to be alterative, 
tonic, laxative, diuretic, and stimulant; and to be especially useful in 
syphilitic, cutaneous, and rheumatic affections. This root has also been sold 
in the United States under the name of Texas Sarsaparilla. 
Tinospora cordifolia.—The root and stems are official in the Pharma- 
copeeia of India, and are known under the name of Gulancha ; they possess 
well-marked tonic, antiperiodic, and diuretic properties. 
Order 8. BERBERIDACE, the Barberry Order.—Character. 
—Shrubs or herbaceous perennial plants. Leaves alternate (fig. 
383), compound, usually exstipulate. The leaves are frequently 
apparently simple, but in such cases it will be found that the blade 
is articulated to the petiole, which is evidence of their compound 
nature. The stem is generally free from hairs and other appen- 
dages of a similar character, but it is often spiny (jig. 383). 
These spines are nothing more than the hardened veins of some 
of the leaves, between which the parenchyma is not developed. 
Sepals 3, 4, or 6, deciduous, in two whorls (jig. 876). Petals 
equal to the sepals in number and opposite to them, or twice as 
many, hypogynous. Stamens hypogynous (fig. 878), equal to 
