2 90 ANACARDIACE^E 



ANACARDIACE^:. Cashew Family 



Trees or shrubs with gummy, milky or resinous juice, often poisonous. Leaves 

 usually compound. Fruit drupaceous, not infrequently having a strong tur- 

 pentine odor and taste. The seeds of many species yield an abundance of bland 

 oil. Drugs from the order: Rhus Toxicodendron, 316;* Rhus Glabra, 317; Rhus 

 aromatica, 318; Mastiche, 319; Terebinthina Chia, 320; Anacardium, 321; Seme- 

 carpus, 322. 



316. RHUS TOXICODENDRON. POISON IVY. POISON OAK. The fresh 

 leaves of Rhus rad'icans Linne. Off. U.S. P. 1890. The leaves are trifo- 

 liate, the terminal leaflet ovate, stalked, the lateral ones sessile, obliquely 

 ovate. These leaflets are about 100 mm. (4 in.) in length, with margins entire, 

 or coarsely toothed or indented; odorless; taste bitter, acrid, and astringent. 

 The dried leaves are brittle and papery, of a pale green color. Constituents: 

 The fresh leaves abound in an acrid, milky juice, which blackens on exposure 

 to the air, and in contact with the skin causes inflammation and swelling. 

 The acridity is due to what was formerly termed toxicodendric acid, the 

 vapor of which was said to be the cause of vesicular eruptions, but this prin- 

 ciple has been found to be, by Pfaff and Balch, an oil, which was given the 

 name, "toxicodendrol." It is said by some authorities (Bessey) that it is 

 volatile. A. B. Stevens shows the principle to be a resin, soluble in a mixture 

 of ether and alcohol, which solvent removes completely the poison from the 

 parts affected. Bessey has shown by test upon himself that, to sensitive 

 persons, the poison may be communicated without handling the plant, and 

 concludes that the principle is volatile. They also contain tannin producing 

 greenish precipitates with iron salts, wax, fixed oil, resin, etc. 



Preparation of Toxicodendric Acid. To bruised leaves add Ca(OH)2; macerate 

 with water; express; add H 2 SO 4 ; distil. The condensed vapor is a very acrid 

 liquid (see above), which causes the characteristic vesicular eruption of ivy- 

 poison. 



Local irritant and rubefacient. Used in treatment of eczema, but is no 

 longer in vogue. Dose: i to 5 gr. (0.065 to -3 Gm.). 



317. RHUS GLABRA, N.F. RHUS GLABRA 



SUMAC 

 The dried fruit of Rhus gla'bra Linn. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Berries (drupes) about 3 mm. (J6 in.) in diameter, densely 

 covered with a dark -red down. The sarcocarp (the outer portion of a stone 

 fruit) is composed of two layers, the outer being crimson, and the inner whitish; 

 putamen (stone) flattish, ovoid, smooth. Inodorous; taste acidulous and 

 astringent. 



Powder. Dark reddish-brown. Characteristic elements: Thick- walled cells 

 of testa, porous; many celled trichomes deep red in color; seldom dispensed as 

 powder. 



CONSTITUENTS. The acidity of the fruit is due to the acid calcium and potassium 

 malates present; there are also tannic and gallic acid, a red coloring- matter, 

 etc. 



ACTION AND USES. Astringent and refrigerant. Used as a gargle in the form of 

 decoction or fluidextract. Dose: 30 gr. (2 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATION. 



Fluidextractum Rhois Glabrae, (U.S.P. VIII). Dose: i to2fl. dr. (4 to 8 mils). 



318. RHUS AROMATICA Aiton (Var. Trilobata Gray). SWEET SUMACH. 

 An indigenous bush, with leaves smaller than those of R. glabra, and un- 



