32 PHARMACOPEIAL DRUGS 



having a reputation for treating diseases of the eye. 

 In formulas for eye diseases given by Galen (254a), 

 barberry is authoritatively recognized. The natives of 

 India use an extract made from various species growing 

 in northern India, which is sold in the bazaars under the 

 name "Rusot," and used not only in affections of the 

 eye, but as a tonic and febrifuge. The qualities of both 

 the official drug and its foreign relatives are similar, 

 and were thus introduced by the common people. 



BUCHU (Buchu) 



Mentioned first in 1840 under the name, "Diosma, Buchu." 

 In 1850 the name Buchu became official, this title being still em- 

 ployed in the edition of 1910. Several varieties of Barosma are 

 recognized in different editions of the U. S. P. as producing the 

 official "Buchu" leaves. The 1910 edition names as official the 

 leaves of Barosma betulina, (Short Buchu of commerce), and of 

 Barosma serratifolia (Long Buchu) . 



The Hottentots of the Cape of Good Hope used the 

 leaves of the buchu plant, Barosma betulina, as a do- 

 mestic remedy, and from them the colonists of the Cape 

 of Good Hope derived their information concerning it. 

 Reece (540) and Company, London, 1821, first imported 

 buchu and introduced it to pharmacy and the medical 

 profession, among whom it has since enjoyed more or 

 less favor, as well as in private formulae and domestic 

 practice. Perhaps no "patent" American medicine 

 has ever enjoyed greater notoriety than, about 1860, 

 did a weak decoction of the leaves under the term 

 "Helmbold's Buchu", which in six-ounce bottles was 

 sold in quantities, even car-load lots, commanding the 

 price of one dollar per bottle. During the crusade of 

 this preparation by Helmbold, the medical profession 

 of America, probably inspired by press comments, pre- 

 scribed buchu very freely. Buchu is still in demand, 



