56 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Theobromine (C 7 H 8 N 4 2 ) is a weak alkaloid, crystalline, 

 slightly bitter, slightly soluble in cold water, more soluble in 

 hot water, less soluble in alcohol and ether; stable in the air 

 up to 100° ; sublimes without decomposition at 290° in micro- 

 scopic crystals of the form of rhomboid prisms ending in an 

 octohedric point (Keller). 



This alkaloid is very little used in therapeutics and its 

 physiological action is said to be analogous to that of caffeine 

 but weaker. It is better to use the salt of the alkaloid, and 

 that most frequently employed is the salicylate of soda and 

 theobromine in doses of from 2 to 6 grams daily in solution or 

 pill. Lately, however, Dr. Gram has maintained that theo- 

 bromine is a powerful diuretic operating when other diuretics 

 fail and further that this effect is produced without injuring the 

 heart. The double salt is non-toxic, though sometimes in ex- 

 ceedingly weak patients it produces vertigo. Dr. Gram ad- 

 ministers 6 grams a day in one-gram doses. 



Cacao butter is a white substance, slightly yellowish, unctu- 

 ous to the touch, brittle ; with the agreeable odor peculiar to 

 cacao, and a sweet and pleasant taste. Its density is 0.961, it 

 melts at 30°-33°, and solidifies at 25°. It dissolves in 20 

 parts of boiling alcohol, in 100 parts of cold alcohol and in 

 twice its weight of benzin. Cacao butter is obtained by grind- 

 ing or mashing the roasted seeds in a hot apparatus and mix- 

 ing the mass with a fifth or tenth of its weight of boiling water. 

 It is then pressed between two hot iron plates and the buttei 

 thus obtained is refined by boiling water. It is then put aside 

 in earthen pans, or still better, in moulds, where it solidifies. 

 It does not easily become rancid and, for this reason, enters 

 into the composition of many ointments and pomades, or is 

 used alone. It serves as the base for suppositories and is, 

 finally, a highly valued cosmetic. A common substitute is 

 made by mixing oil of almonds, wax and animal fat. 



Before going further let us describe the composition of 



