312 



PUNICACE.E 



or purple color, marked with transverse scars and minute black dots; 

 beneath it is a soft, greenish parenchymatous layer, from which it 

 separates easily. The inner surface is whitish, covered with irregular 

 layers of white silky bast fibers, tangentially arranged. Fracture 

 tough. Odorless; taste exceedingly acrid. 



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



CONSTITUENTS. It contains a crystalline glucoside, daphnin, CisHieOg, 



which is not the active principle, however, the medical virtues depend- 



ing upon an acrid resin termed mezerein. 

 ACTION AND USES. Sialagogue, stimulant, and alterative. Externally 



vesicant, in ointment or applied in the form of a small square, 



moistened. Dose: i to 8 gr. (0.065 to -6 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATION. 



Fluidextractum Sarsaparillae Compositum 



(3 per cent.), ......................... Dose: 



to i> fl. dr. (2 to 6 mils). 



PUNIC ACE^). Pomegranate Family 



366. GRANATUM. POMEGRANATE 

 POMEGRANATE 



The stem-bark and root-bark of Pu'nica grana'tum Linne, without more than 2 

 per cent, of adhering wood and other foreign matter. 



FIG. 179. Punica granatum Branch with flowers. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Tree shrubby, 20 feet in height ^branches num- 

 erous, sometimes bearing thorns. Leaves opposite, entire, oblong, pointed 

 at each end. Flowers large, rich scarlet, terminal. Fruit a berry about the 



