448 BUCKTHORNS 



BUCKTHORNS 



The recently-expressed juice of the ripe berries of Rhamnus 



catharticus, or purging buckthorn. 

 The dried bark of Rhamnus frangula or black alder. (Not 



official.) 

 The dried bark of Rhamnus purshianus or sacred bark 



(B.P.). Nat. Ord. Rhamnese. 



The buckthorns are shrubby, spinous trees, eight or ten 

 feet high. The berried fruit and barks contain a glucosidal 

 body, three resins, one concentrating the activity of the 

 drug, with mallic and tannic acids. 



The berries of R. catharticus are about the size of black 

 currants, contain an acrid, nauseous, bitter juice, which 

 is evaporated, strained, and gently heated with sugar, 

 ginger, and pimento, forming a mild cathartic syrup, of 

 which dogs take fgi. to f ij. ; and cats, f3iv. to fgi. A 

 little senna confection, jalap, or castor oil renders this syrup 

 more prompt and certain. 



The bark of Black Alder, when fresh, acts as a gastro- 

 intestinal irritant ; but when dried and kept for twelve 

 months, oxidation of the resinoid active matters appears to 

 occur, and the fluid extract prepared from the bark may be 

 used as a cholagogue laxative. 



Cascara Sagrada, or sacred bark, brought from the North 

 Pacific coast, has a persistent, nauseous, bitter taste ; 

 contains cascarin, a volatile oil, an acid, a glucoside, and 

 several resins. It is useful in habitual constipation ; it 

 produces peristalsis, especially in the large intestine, but, 

 unless in very large doses, does not materially increase the 

 glandular secretions. It is generally used as the liquid 

 extract, which American practitioners prescribe for dogs 

 and cats as a stomachic bitter and tonic, in doses of TT[v. to 

 Tl\x., and as a laxative in doses of H\v. to 3J-> mixed with 

 mucilage or syrup. Cascara evacuant (Parke, Davis and 

 Co.) is prescribed in doses of 3ij- to ^iv. for well-bred horses ; 

 ll\x. to 3J- f r dogs ; and H|i. to n\x. for cats. 



