CASCARA SAGRADA 



299 



keeping and properly curing, however, this griping principle is destroyed, 

 and the bark becomes more accurate in action and less likely to cause this 

 discomfort. Ash, usually about 8 per cent. 



Purshianin is a glucoside reported by Dohme and Englehardt. Obtained by 

 first removing oil, etc., from the drug by means of chloroform, then extracting the 

 residue with alcohol, etc. It crystallizes from acetone and ethylic acetate in dark 

 brown-red needles, melting at 237. On heating with alcoholic hydrochloric 

 acid it yields sugar and emodin. 



ACTION AND USES. A valuable laxative in chronic constipation. 

 30 to 60 gr. (2 to 4 Gm.). 



Dose: 



FIG. 171. Rhamnus purshiana Cross-section of bark. (20 diam.) A, Cork. B, Group of bast 

 fibers and stone cells. C, Medullary ray. (Photomicrograph.) 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Cascara Sagradae, Dose: 4 gr. (0.25 Gm.). 



Fluidextractum Cascara Sagradae, 15 IE (i mil). 



Fluidextractum Cascara Sagradae Aromaticum, * 30 njj (2 mils). 



335. RHAMNUS CATHARTICA, N.F. BUCKTHORN. The fruit of Rham'nus 

 cathar'tica Linne. Habitat: Europe, Northern Asia, and naturalized in 

 North America. Small, berry-like fruits about the size of a pea, borne on a 

 receptacle at the end of a slender stalk; apex tipped with the style remnants. 

 Smooth, purplish or black when fresh, in which state they are generally used ; 

 wrinkled on drying; four-celled, each containing a single triangular seed, sur- 

 rounded by a brownish-green pulp; odor unpleasant; taste sweetish, afterward 

 bitter and nauseous. They contain rhamnocathartin, rhamnin, sugar, gum, 

 and tannin. A syrup is made from the juice, having strong purgative proper- 

 ties. Dose of syrup: 2 to 5 fl. dr. (8 to 20 mils). The green fruit treated with 

 lime yields a pigment, sap-green. 



336. CEANOTHUS. NEW JERSEY TEA. RED ROOT. The root of Ceano'- 

 thus america'na Linne. Habitat: North America. About 300 mm. (12 in.) 

 long, and 12 to 25 mm. (3^ to I in.) thick, contorted and knotty; bark reddish- 



