574 CASCARILLA OAK BARK 



scribed. The doses are about one- third of those of the 

 infusion. 



Chiretta, the dried Indian plant, Swertia Chirata, collected 

 when in flower, is closely allied in actions and uses to 

 calumba. It contains an active bitter principle, chiratin, 

 but no tannin. The infusion and tincture of chiretta are 

 prescribed in the same doses as calumba or gentian. 



CASCARILLA 



CASCABILL^E CORTEX. The dried bark of Croton eluteria 

 (B.P.). Nat. Ord. Euphorbiaceae. 



Cascarilla bark is principally imported from the Bahama 

 Islands in quills about the size of a drawing pencil, and 

 varying from two to four inches in length. Its outer surface 

 is fissured, and usually covered with a light-coloured lichen ; 

 its inner surface is smooth and light-brown. It has a 

 strong, pungent, rather nauseous taste ; its aromatic odour 

 is increased by heat, and recommends it as a constituent of 

 fumigatory pastilles. It contains the neutral crystalline 

 bitter cascarillin (C 12 H 18 O 4 ), 15 per cent, of two resins, 

 tannin, and 1*5 of a pungent volatile oil, one portion of 

 which is isomeric with oil of turpentine. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Cascarilla is an aromatic, bitter 

 stomachic, and carminative, allied to cusparia (Angustura 

 bark) and resembling cinchona, but less active, and occasion- 

 ally used in indigestion, diarrhoea, and convalescence from 

 exhausting diseases. 



DOSES, etc. For horses, 3ij- to ^iv. ; for cattle, i. ; for 

 sheep and swine, 3i- to 3ij- ; and for dogs, grs. x. to grs. xl., 

 given in bolus, infusion, or tincture, which is made with one 

 of cascarilla to five of alcohol (70 per cent.). 



OAK BARK 



QUERCUS CORTEX. The dried bark of the smaller branches 

 and young stems of Quercus robur (Q. peduculata). 

 Collected in early spring from trees growing in Britain. 

 (Not official.) Nat. Ord. Cupuliferse. 



Bark from smaller branches of young trees is more 

 astringent than thicker pieces of older growth ; the interior 



