FRANGULA 295 



330. jESCULUS GLABRA Willdenow. OHIO BUCKEYE. (Bark.) It has an 

 especial action on the portal circulation and the liver, and promotes the 

 biliary secretions. Dose of fluidextract: 3 to 5 njj (0.2 to 0.3 mil). 



331. jESCULUS HIPPO CASTANUM Linne. HORSE-CHESTNUT. (Bark and 

 Fruit.) Habitat: Asia; cultivated as an ornamental tree in Europe and 

 North America. The bark contains a bitter glucosid, esculin, isomeric 

 with quinovin in cinchona bark, for which it is used as a substitute in Europe. 

 It is tonic, astringent, antiperiodic, narcotic, and antiseptic. The nuts have 

 a similar action, but in addition, are antispasmodic, used chiefly in neuralgic 

 affections. The administration of the fluidextract has been recently recom- 

 mended as a palliative in haemorrhoids. Dose of bark: ^ to 2 dr. (2 to 8 Gm.) ; 

 of the nuts: 5 to 15 gr. (0.3 to i Gm.), generally in fluidextract. 



Preparation of Esculin. Precipitate a decoction of the bark with lead acetate, 

 treat the nitrate with HaS, evaporate and recrystallize. 



332. MACASSAR OIL. A fixed oil expressed from the seeds of Schlerche'ra 



triju'ga Willdenow, a small East Indian tree which is also a source of lac. 

 This oil has a great reputation in its native country as a stimulating appli- 

 cation to promote the growth of the hair, and also as a remedy in skin dis- 

 eases, especially eczema. 



RHAMNACE^). Buckthorn Family 



Shrubs or small trees with simple leaves; branches somewhat spinescent. 

 Flowers somewhat dioecious. Fruit an indehiscent, fleshy, winged drupe, with a 

 hard, woody endocarp, or a pod not arilled. 



333. FRANGULA. FRANGULA 

 BUCKTHORN 



The dried bark of Rham'nus fran'gula.Linne", collected at least one year before 



using. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. An elegant arborescent shrub, -known as the 

 berry-bearing alder. Leaves entire, with about 7 pairs of nearly opposite 

 parallel veins. Flowers perfect, style simple; the fleshy berry is round, red, 

 and on ripening becomes black and juicy. 



HABITAT. Europe and Northern Asia. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Quilled, about i mm. (^5 in.) thick; outer sur- 

 face grayish-brown, or blackish-brown, with numerous small, whitish, 

 transversely-elongated lenticels and occasional patches of foliaceous 

 , lichens; inner surface smooth, pale brownish-yellow; fracture in the 

 outer layer short, of a purplish tint; in the inner layer fibrous and pale 

 yellow; when masticated, coloring the saliva yellow; odor distinct; 

 taste sweetish and bitterish. 



Medullary rays not converging at the outer ends (distinction from 

 Rhamnus Purshiana); stone cells absent (distinction from Rhamnus 

 Purshiana and Rhamnus Calif ornica). 



Powder. Characteristic elements: See Part iv, Chap. I, B. 



CONSTITUENTS. Frangulin, or rhamno-xanthin, Czo^-zoOw, is a crystal- 

 line, lemon-yellow, odorless, tasteless glucoside; and emodin, a red- 



