OLEUM CAJUPUTI 323 



HABITAT. East Indies. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. A light bluish-green (probably due to copper), 

 limpid liquid having a penetrating, agreeable odor, and a warm, 

 camphoraceous, bitter, afterward saline or cooling, taste. Specific 

 gravity 0.912 to 0.925. It has a slightly acid reaction. 



CONSTITUENTS/ The principal constituent is the hydrate of the hydro- 

 carbon, cajuputene, Ci H 16 (Cajuputol, C 10 Hi6H 2 0), said to be 

 identical with eucalyptol, or cineol, from eucalyptus. The commer- 

 cial oil often contains a trace of copper, not in large enough quantities, 

 to be dangerous, however. 



ACTION AND USES. Highly stimulant, carminative, and a counter- 

 irritant in rheumatism. Dose: i to 10 nj (0.065 to 0.65 mil). 



COMBRETACE^E 



375. MYROBOLANUS. MYROBOLANS. The fruit of Termina'lia chebu'la 

 Retzia, and of other species of Terminalia growing in the East Indies. Ob- 

 long, pyriform, or roundish-oval, from 30 to 50 mm. (1^5 to 2 in.) in length, 

 dark brown or orange color. Several varieties of the fruit are used occasion- 

 ally as a mild laxative and astringent, but now principally in the arts for 

 tanning, etc. 



ONAGRARIE^. Evening Primrose Family 



376. EPILOBIUM. WILLOW-HERB. The herb of Epilo'bium angustifo'lium 



Linne. Habitat: Northern Hemisphere. It has a smooth, reddish stem, 

 branching above, arising from a long, yellowish-white root, and bearing 

 the purplish-pink flowers in a raceme resembling those of the willow; hence 

 the name willow-herb. Demulcent and astringent. Dose: 30 to 60 gr. 

 (2 to 4 Gm.). 



377. (ENOTHERA BIENNIS Linn6. EVENING PRIMROSE. Habitat: North 

 America. Astringent, alterative. 



ARALIACE^. Ginseng Family 



Synopsis of Drugs from the Araliacea 



A. Root. B. Rhizome. 



Panax, 378. Aralia Nudicaulis, 379. 



*Aralia Racemosa, 379 a. 

 Aralia Hispida, 380. 



378. PANAX. GINSENG. (Official, 1840-1880). The root of Pa'nax quinque- 

 fo'lium Willdenow. Cultivated in Ohio, West Virginia, Minnesota, and quite 

 extensively and profitably in Michigan, and exported to China, where, from 

 its fancied resemblance to the human figure, it is supposed to possess miracu- 

 lous powers in preventing and curing diseases, and where at one time it was 

 valued at its weight in gold. It has, however, little medicinal properties 

 except as a demulcent and aromatic stimulant; not used extensively in medi- 

 cine. It is a soft, yellowish-white, fusiform root, about the thickness of the 

 finger, with two or three equal branches below. A cross-section shows a hard 

 central portion, surrounded by a thick, soft, white inner cortical layer; with 

 thin bark, containing numerous reddish resin-cells; wood- wedges narrow; 

 medullary rays broad; odor feeble; taste sweet, slightly aromatic. The sweet 

 principle is panaquilon, Ci2H 2 5O 9 . 



