CONVALLARIA IOJ 



adhering earth. The woody zone and pith are about equal in thick- 

 ness, each being about half as broad as the cortical layer. 

 Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



CONSTITUENTS. The activity of sarsaparilla depends upon an acrid 

 glucoside, parillin, C^H^Oio + 2^H 2 O (variously termed smilacin, 

 parillinic acid, pariglin, etc.), frothing with water and otherwise 

 closely resembling saponin in action. Kobert states that two other 

 glucosides are present, saponin (sarsaparilla saponin), 5(C2oH32Oic)- 

 2^H 2 O, and sarsa-saponin, i2(C22H 36 Oio) + H 2 O. These two latter 

 differ from parillin in their being soluble, while parillin is insoluble. 

 The latter constituent is the most poisonous. Ash, not exceeding 

 10 per cent. 



Preparation of Parillin. Exhaust with warm alcohol and concentrate the liquid 

 to a syrup ; add i ^ times its weight of water ; macerate for several days, when a 

 yellow precipitate will form; decant and mix with alcohol, and wash on a filter 

 with 20 per cent, alcohol. 



ACTION AND USES. The efficiency of sarsaparilla as a remedial agent 

 has been and is still much questioned, some declaring it almost inert, 

 others ascribing to it valuable alterative and antisyphilitic proper- 

 ties. Preparations from good, well-preserved specimens are perhaps 

 beneficial remedies in scrofulous affections, and as general blood- 

 purifiers. Dose: 30 to 60 gr. (2 to 4 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Fluidextractum Sarsaparillae, . Dose: 30 to 60 njj (2 to 4 mils). 



Syrupus Sarsaparillae Compositus (fl'ext. 

 20 per cent., with the fluidextracts of 

 glycyrrhiza and senna, and the oils of 

 sassafras, anise, and gaultheria), 2 to 4 fl. dr. (8 to 15 mils). 



Fluidextractum Sarsaparillae Compositum 

 (75 per cent., with glycyrrhiza, sassafras, 

 and mezereum), % to i % fl. dr. (2 to 6 mils) 



59. CONVALLARIA. (C. FLORES AND C. RADIX, N.F.) 



LILY OF THE VALLEY 



The dried rhizome and roots and dried inflorescence of ,Convalla'ria majal'is Linn6. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. A low, perennial, glabrous herb with slender, 

 running root-stocks. Leaves 2, oblong, bright green, and shining. Scape 

 bearing a one-sided raceme of white, bell-shaped flowers. Fruit a few-seeded 

 red berry. 



HABITAT. North America, Europe, and Northern Asia. 



DESCRIPTION OF "ROOT." In pieces from 50 to 75 mm. (2 to 3 in.) long, and 

 about 3 mm. (% in.) thick, the upper end gnarled and wrinkled, and with 

 the remnants of the scape and petiole? attached, tapering at the small end; 

 annulate nodes beset with a circle of eight or ten long, branching, gray rootlets; 

 externally white, fracture white, tough, and fibrous. Odor distinct; taste 

 sweetish, somewhat bitter and acrid. C. Flores see N.F. 



CONSTITUENTS. Two glucosides, convallarin, C 3 4H 6 2Oii (the emetocathartic prin- 

 ciple), acrid prisms, scarcely soluble in, but foaming when shaken with, water; 

 and convallamarin, CzsH^O^, the cardiac acting principle, a sweetish, after- 

 ward bitter, crystalline powder. 



