CUSSO MALE FERN 615 



CUSSO 



Kousso. Brayera. The dried pannicles of pistillate 

 flowers of Brayera anthelmintica (B.P.) Nat. Ord. 

 Rosaceae. 



Kousso consists of bundles, rolls, or clusters of pannicles 

 of small reddish-brown flowers. Its active principle is 

 koussotoxin a neutral body, with a bitter taste, insoluble 

 in water, but soluble in alcohol and alkaline solutions. 

 This substance is allied to the active principle of male fern, 

 and its pharmacological action is somewhat similar. It also 

 contains resin, gum, tannic acid, and a volatile oil. 



ACTIONS AND USES. It narcotises and kills intestinal 

 worms, and in fasting dogs, two consecutive doses, given 

 with an interval of two hours, and followed by a purgative, 

 bring away tape- worms. Although it scarcely causes 

 catharsis, full doses nauseate dogs and cats, and sometimes 

 excite colic. Doses sheep, 3J V - to SJ- \ lambs, grs. Ixxx. 

 to grs. cl. ; dogs and cats, according to their size, take grs. x. 

 to 3iiJ-> usually given in infusion, most effectually used 

 unstrained, sweetened with honey or treacle, and the taste 

 veiled by a little peppermint water. 



MALE FERN 



FILIX MAS. The rhizome of Aspidium filix-mas. Collected 

 late in the autumn, divested of its roots, leaves, and 

 dead portions, and carefully dried. Should not be 

 kept more than a year (B.P.). Nat. Ord. Filicinae. 



The male fern grows wild throughout most temperate 

 regions, on the sides of roads and in open woods, especially 

 where the soil is light. Its root stock is perennial, about a 

 foot long and two inches thick ; is scaly, tufted, greenish- 

 brown, and firmly fixed in the ground by numerous black 

 root fibres. The dried root has a disagreeable odour, and a 

 sweet, astringent, nauseous taste. Besides the usual plant 

 constituents, it contains about 4 per cent, of resin, 6 of a 

 green fixed oil, a small amount of volatile oil, with 8 per 

 cent, of the crystalline filicic acid (C 14 H 18 5 ), which is one of 

 its active constituents. There are also several neutral and 



