54 PHARMACOPEIAL DRUGS 



CHRYSAROBINUM (Chrysarobin) 



Mentioned first in 1880. Official in all editions folbwing. 

 The U. S. P. of 1910 mentions "a substance deposited in the 

 wood of Vouacapoua Araroba" as the official source of Chrysa- 

 robin. 



This substance, formerly supposed to be identical 

 with crude chrysophanic acid, is derived from Goa 

 Powder, a deposit found in the cavities of the trunk of 

 the Andira Araroba, a South American tree. It is used 

 in skin diseases in the same manner as the crude Goa 

 powder, from which it is simply a mechanically sepa- 

 rated material. Goa powder was employed in native 

 medication as a remedy in skin diseases, which brought 

 it to the attention of physicians, and led to its intro- 

 duction into medicine, as well as to its final insertion in 

 the Pharmacopeia. 



CIMICIFUGA (MACROTYS) 



(Black Snakeroot, "Black Cohosh") 



While named in every edition of the U. S. P., it was, in the 

 early editions, found in the Secondary List only. In the edition 

 of 1840 it was promoted to the Primary List, ard since that date 

 it has been wholly official. According to the edition, its nomen- 

 clature varies. In 1820 and 1828, the name CimicifugaSerpentaria 

 is official. In the Philadelphia edition of 1830, C. Serpentaria and 

 C. racemosa are named, while the New York edition of 1830 makes 

 official C. SerpeVttaria and Actcea racemosa. The 1840 and all 

 succeeding editions, including that of 1910, recognize C. racemosa 

 alone, but base their authority upon different botanists, the edi- 

 tions of 1840, 1850 and 1860 naming Torrey and Gray, those of 

 1870 and 1880 Elliott, while all later editions name (Linne") 

 Nuttall. 



Cimicifuga, (Macrotys), is abundantly distributed 

 in rich woodlands over the greater portion of 

 the United States east of the Mississippi River, 

 except in New England and the extreme South. It 

 is also found in Missouri and Arkansas. Because of 

 the color of the root and its reputed use in snake-bite, 



