PHYSOSTIGMA 239 



mucilaginous mass, the thin membranous epicarp (the pericarp being re- 

 moved), and numerous large, somewhat quadrangular, brown seeds, each 

 inclosed in a tough membrane; inodorous; taste sweetish and acidulous. 



CONSTITUENTS. Tartaric acid and acid potassium tartrate, with traces of citric 

 and malic acids. These organic salts amount to about 10 per cent. 



ACTION AND USES. Laxative and refrigerant, in confection of senna. Dose: 

 I to 8 dr. (4 to 30 Gm.). 



250. DIPTERYX. TONKA BEAN. The fruit of a large tree, Dip'teryx odora'ta 



Willdenow, growing in Guiana. Oblong, flattened, rounded at each end, 

 37 to 50 mm. (i% to 2 in.) long; pericarp thin, wrinkled, of a dark-brown 

 color, somewhat glossy, and often covered with small, white crystals of cou- 

 marin; internally oily, pale brown; odor fragrant, similar to vanilla; taste 

 aromatic and bitter. Its odor is due to the aromatic, crystalline principle 

 coumarin. Used as a flavor, as an adulterant of vanilla, and to flavor cigars . 



250 a. COUMARINUM. COUMARIN. The anhydride (C,H4(CH) 2 OCO = 146.05) 

 of ortho-oxycinnamic acid, occurring naturally in Touka, Melilot and other 

 plants, or prepared synthetically, N.P. 



251. FCENUM GRJ2CUM. FENUGREEK. The seeds of Trigonel'la foenum 

 grae'cum Linn6. Habitat: India and the Mediterranean Basin. Brownish or 

 yellowish, rhomboid seeds, about 3 mm. (% in.) in diameter, often wrinkled 

 or distorted. They are divided into two equal lobes by a deep furrow run- 

 ning from the hilum on the sharper edge, diagonally across the sides. Odor 

 peculiar, characteristic; taste mucilaginous and bitter. Used mostly as a 

 demulcent in condition-powders. 



252. PHYSOSTIGMA. PHYSOSTIGMA 

 CALABAR BEAN 



The ripe seed of Physostig'ma veneno'sum Balfour, yielding, by official assay, 

 not less than 0.15 per cent, of alkaloids of Physostigma. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. A lofty, half-shrubby, twining plant, obtaining its 

 name from its peculiar footed stigma. Leaves trifoliate, leaflets ovate. Flowers 

 purplish-pink, in axillary racemes. Legume about 7 inches long. 



HABITAT. Africa. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. About the size of a pecan nut, oblong, some- 

 what flattened, and kidney -shaped, invested with a light to deep 

 chocolate-brown testa. Along its entire convex edge there extends 

 a prominent black furrow, bordered on each side by a reddish ridge, 

 and traversed the entire length by the raphe as a little ridge in the 

 center. This raphe -is terminated at one end by a small funnel- 

 shaped depression, the micropyle. Exalbuminous, embryo large, 

 the cotyledons are concavo-convex, the concave surfaces inclosing a 

 rather large cavity, thus enabling the bean to float upon water. 

 Nearly odorless; taste bean-like, afterward acrid. Spurious cala- 

 bar beans have been called "calibeans" in European commerce, 

 hose occurring the most frequently belonging to the following species : 

 Entada scandens, E. gingalobium D. C., Mucuna urens D. C., and 



