RHAMNUS PURSHIANA 263 



United States Navy (Am. Journ. Pharm., 1841), con- 

 tributes an article on this bark which, according to his 

 observations in Chili, 1827, was used principally for 

 cleansing purposes. Dr. Ruschenberger returned from 

 Chili in 1829 with specimens of the bark, stating that 

 as late as 1833 the extract had not been used in Val- 

 paraiso, although in 1835 Dr. J. Stiles, of Valparaiso, 

 was authority for the statement that at that date the 

 extract had been made in that city and was being used 

 experimentally. The natives of South America employ 

 an infusion of quillaja as a wash, which led Dr. Ruschen- 

 berger to say: "From what I have seen of the effects of 

 this cold infusion, I should be disposed to give it a trial 

 as an injection in leucorrhea, with the expectation of 

 very favorable results." The nature of quillaja, so 

 nearly resembling the acridity of senega, led to the ex- 

 pectation that it would parallel that drug in its remedial 

 qualities in the direction of coughs and pulmonary 

 affections. It has not, however, become a favorite, 

 other than as a producer of suds and as a frother for 

 syrups, in which direction the extract has been em- 

 ployed in the making of the popular American beverage, 

 the so-called soda-water, a use of quillaja that the 

 Government has now wisely prohibited. 



RHAMNUS FURSHIANA (Cascara Sagrada) 

 (See also Frangula) 



Rhamnus catharticus (buckthorn berries) was official in 1820, 

 1828 (2d ed. of 1820) and the New York edition of 1830. It was 

 then dropped altogether until 1890, when Rhamnus Purshiana 

 was made official, with the secondary title, Cascara Sagrada. 

 The 1900 edition followed that of 1890. In 1910 the title Cascara 

 Sagrada was made official, Rhamnus Purshiana being mentioned 

 only as the botanical name of the tree yielding the drug. 



Rhamnus, buckthorn, is of wide distribution. The 

 variety catharticus, formerly used in medicine, prevails 



