MATICO 137 



92. MATICO. MATICO, N.F. 

 MATICO 



The leaves of Pi'per angustifo'lium Ruiz et Pavon, are readily recognized 

 by the prominent veining of their under surface; upper surface dull green, 

 tessellated or checkered. Odor slight, taste aromatic; contains volatile oil 

 (2 per cent.), resin, tannin, a bitter principle and artanthic acid. Used as an 

 aromatic, stimulant, tonic and styptic. Special action on mucous membrane. 

 Dose: % to 2 dr. (2 to 8 Gm.). 



93. YERBA MANSA. The root of Houttuy'nia califor'nica Bentham and Hooker. 



Stimulant, tonic, and astringent; used with good results in malarial fevers. 

 Dose of fl'ext. : 15 to 60 njj (i to 4 mils). 



94. JAMBU ASSU. The root of Pi'per jaboran'di Veil. Used in its native 

 country, Brazil, as a sudorific like pilocarpus. Dose: 15 to 30 gr. (i to 2 

 Gm.). 



95. KAVA, N.F. (KAVA-KAVA). The root of Pi'per methys'ticum, obtained 

 from a shrub indigenous to the Sandwich Islands. A large, woody, but 

 spongy root, having a thin, grayish-brown bark and a yellowish meditullium 

 which is radiate; usually comes in whitish segments. Odor fragrant, like 

 a perfume rather than a spice; taste pungent, slightly benumbing. Used 

 as a remedy in the treatment of diseases of the mucous membrane, as 

 tonic to the digestive organs, and stimulant to the nerves; also as a diuretic. 

 It perhaps has some reputation as a remedy in gonorrhea. 



SALICACEjE. Willow family 



Dioecious trees or shrubs with both kinds of flowers in catkins; fruit bearing 

 numerous seeds furnished with long, silky down. 



96. SAL IX. WILLOW. The bark of Sa'lix al'ba Linne, and of other species of 

 Salix. Habitat: Europe; naturalized in North America. The best bark 

 is that collected from the older branches, coming in thin fragments or quills, 

 the thin brownish or yellowish periderm of which overlays a greenish paren- 

 chymatous layer. The bark from the trunk is deprived of the outer layer, 

 pale cinnamon-brown, exfoliating; fibrous. Inodorous; taste bitter and 

 astringent. Two varieties white willow and purple willow, 5. purpurea (see 

 below). 



CONSTITUENTS. Tannin about 12 per cent., most abundant in the white 

 willow, and a bitter neutral principle, salicin, which is the active glucosidal 

 constituent, occurring and coming into market in silky, shining, white needles 

 or grains; it exists most abundantly in the purple willow, but may be ex- 

 tracted from various other species and from various species of Populus, where 

 it is combined with populin (benzoyl salicin). The degree of bitterness 

 in the barks is probably the best criterion of the value of the several species. 



96 a. SALICINUM (U.S. P. IX) . It occurs in white, shining, bitter crystals; soluble 

 in 28 parts of water and 68 parts of alcohol. Boiled with sulphuric acid it 

 is converted into saligenin or saligenol, C7H 8 O2, and glucose, according to the 

 following formula: Ci 3 Hi 8 O 7 + HO = (C 6 H4)(OH)CH 2 OH + C 6 Hi 2 O 6 . By 

 oxidation with potassium bichromate and sulphuric acid, salicylic aldehyde, 

 CeHyDH.COH, is formed, having the fragrant odor of the oil of meadowsweet 

 (Spircsa ulmaris) and of heliotrope. Tonic, astringent, febrifuge. Dose: 

 15 to 60 gr. (i to 4 Gm.). The bark itself is rarely employed, however, salicin 

 being used instead in doses of 10 to 30 gr. (0.6 to 2 Gm.). Ash, not more than 

 0.05 per cent. 

 Preparation of Salicin. Obtained by adding lead subacetate to a decoction 



of the bark, precipitating the excess of lead with H 2 S. Evaporate liquid. Add, 



near the end of the process, sufficient quantity of animal charcoal to decolorize; 



filter the liquid while hot. Upon cooling, salicin will deposit in crystalline form. 



