MYRRH A 275 



derm; inner surface light brown, finely striate; bast coarsely fibrous, tough, 

 flexible, the fibers easily separable; inodorous; very bitter. It contains 

 probably quassin or picrasmin, some resin, and a trace of volatile oil. Tonic, 

 used in dysentery and chronic diarrhea. Dose: 8 to 30 gr. (0.5 to 2 Gm.), 

 in infusion or decoction. 



290. CEDRON. CEDRON SEED. From Sima'ba ce'dron Planch, a South 

 American tree. These seeds are used by the natives as a remedy for the 

 bite of poisonous serpents and insects. Cerebral sedative, antispasmodic, 

 and antiperiodic ; poisonous. Dose of fluidextract: I to 8 itg (0.065 to 0.5 

 mil). 



291. AILANTHUS. TREE OF HEAVEN. CHINESE SUMAC. The bark of Ailanth'- 

 us glandulo'sa Des Fontaines, a common shade tree. The powder is of a 

 greenish-yellow color, and has a strong, narcotic, nauseating odor. A power- 

 ful nerve- depressant and antispasmodic, used in asthma, hiccough, twitching 

 of the muscles, epilepsy, etc. When chewed, it produces a general sense 

 of uneasiness, weakness, dazzling, cold sweats, shivering, nausea, etc., similar 

 to that produced by tobacco. These effects depend upon a volatile oil, which 

 is so powerful that persons preparing the extract are often thus affected by 

 the vapor. Dose: 15 to 30 gr. (i to 2 Gm.). 



292. CASCARA AMARGA. HONDURAS BARK. From undetermined species 

 of Picram'naea. A valuable alterative, claimed to be almost a specific in 

 syphilitic affections; it contains an alkaloid, picramnine. The use of tobacco 

 and alcohol is said to counteract its action. Dose: 30 to 60 gr. (2 to 4 Gm.). 



293. CHAPARRO AMARGOSO. Castela Nicholson! Hook. AMARGOSA. Bark 

 of root. West Indies and along the Rio Grande in Mexico and Texas. Prepa- 

 ration: Fluidextract. Properties: Tonic, antiperiodic, astringent. Uses: Con- 

 sidered a specific for diarrhea. Dose: 30 to 60 minims. In pieces about 

 ten inches long by one in width and a quarter in thickness. Outer portion 

 composed of a corky layer ^ 4 inch thick and ash-gray in color. Inner side 

 of a dirty yellowish color; slightly striated. Fracture brittle but fibrous. 

 Slightly aromatic. Very bitter. 



BURSERACE^E 



Tropical trees and shrubs abounding in resinous and oily secretions. Drugs of 

 the order are: Myrrha (294); Olibanum (295); Bdellium (296), and Elemi (297). 



294. MYRRHA. MYRRH 

 MYRRH 



A gum-resin obtained from one or more species of Commiph'ora myr'rha Engler 



and other species. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. A shrub forming the chief underwood of the 

 Arabian and African forests along the shores of the Red Sea. Squamose, 

 spinescent branches, with pale, ash-gray, odorous bark; leaves ternate; flowers 

 solitary, greenish; fruit drupaceous, with the persistent calyx attached. 



SOURCE. Myrrh is now imported from the East Indies, where it is 

 brought from Arabia and the northeastern coast of Africa. It is 

 usually imported in chests containing from one hundred to two hun- 

 dred pounds. The terms Turkish and Indian myrrh are now obsolete. 

 Up to recent times most of the myrrh came from India but now it 

 chiefly comes direct from Aden. 



