FICUS 151 



consist mostly of a sweet, viscid pulp, in the center of which are numerous 

 small, yellow ovaries, or akenes, popularly regarded as seeds; odor peculiar; 

 taste sweet, mucilaginous. When soaked in water they may be opened out 

 to their original pear-shaped form, showing the short stalk, or its scar, at 

 the base or pointed end, and scales at the large end surrounding an orifice 

 near which the staminate flowers were situated; the numerous akenes, or 

 ovaries, of the pistillate flowers cover the walls of the hollow interior. 



CONSTITUENTS. Grape sugar (60 to 70 per cent.), gum, fat, and salts. 



ACTION AND USES. Nutrient, laxative, and demulcent. Their principal use 

 medicinally is as a laxative diet in constipation, freely given, which action in 

 dried figs is mainly due to the indigestibility of the seeds and tough skin. 

 Dose: 4 dr. (15 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATION. 



Confectio Sennae (12 per cent.), Dose: I to 3 dr. (4 to 12 Gm.). 



115. MORTIS. MULBERRY. The fruit of Mo'rus ru'bra, M. nigra, and M. 

 alba Linne, indigenous trees. Dense, cylindrical spikes of the small fruit, 

 differing in size, shape, and color in the different species. They are all 

 usediin the fresh state as a refrigerant. 



SANTALACEJE. Sandalwood Family 



116. SANTALUM ALBUM, N.F. SANDALWOOD. The wood of San'talunfal'bum 

 Linne", and other species of Santalum. It comes in billets from 100 to 150 



FIG. 65. Santalum album Branch. 



mm. (4 to 6 in.) in diameter, or in split slices; color varying, yellowish, whitish, 

 or brownish; it has only a feeble taste, but an aromatic odor, particularly 

 when rubbed or in powder. Contains from i to 4 per cent, of volatile oil. 



