SPIGELIA 355 



HABITAT. United States, Maryland southward and westward in rich 

 woods. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Rhizome thin, bent, purplish-brown, on the 

 upper side marked with stem scars, on the lower side beset with 

 numerous lighter colored, slender, branching rootlets. Fracture 

 short. Odor slight, aromatic; taste sweetish, bitter, and pungent. 



RELATED SPECIES. Another species which has attracted attention as an 

 anthelmintic is Spigelia anthelmia of South America and the West 

 Indies, which in that country is said to have greater medicinal prop- 

 erties than the official. 



A wholesale adulteration of this drug was discovered a short time ago. To 

 the surprise of pharmacognosists this adulterant (a species of Ruellia) had com- 

 pletely replaced the official article in commerce. A cross-section of the authentic 

 drug (rootlets and rhizome) is given in Figs. 203 and 204. 



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



CONSTITUENTS. A volatile alkaloid, spigeline, is the active principle. 

 Ash, not more than 10 per cent. 



Preparation of Spigeline. Distil the powdered drug over a paraffin bath with 

 milk of lime; collect the distillate in HC1 and evaporate to dryness; crystallize 

 from alcoholic solution. 



ACTION AND USES. A powerful anthelmintic. Dose: 15 to 60 gr. (i to 



4 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATION. 



Fluidextractum Spigeliae, Dose: 15 to 60 ttjj (i to 4 mils). 



440. CURARA. CURARE. WOORARI. From Strych'nos castelnaea'na and other 

 species of Strychnos growing in South America, where an extract is prepared 

 by the natives as an arrow-poison. This extract is a blackish, friable solid 

 or of extract-like consistence, having a somewhat resinous appearance, and 

 very hygroscopic. It contains a very bitter and poisonous alkaloid, curarine. 

 As a remedial agent curara has probably little value, although it has been used 

 in tetanus, hydrophobia, epilepsy, and chorea. It is a strong depressant of 

 the motor nerves, causing a gradual loss of muscular power, deepened respira- 

 tion, and death by asphyxia. Dose: Ko t M g f - (0.006 to 0.02 Gm.). 



Curarine (CisHsBN). From the drug Roulin obtained this principle by a very 

 intricate process. The alkaloid is extremely deliquescent and crystallizes in 

 prisms, soluble in water, and changes litmus feebly. 



GENTIANE^;. Gentian Family 



Smooth herbs with a colorless, bitter juice, and containing little or no tannin. 



Synopsis of Drugs from the Gentianea 



A. Roots. B. Herbs. 



GENTIANA, 441. *Chirata, 443. 



Frasera, 442. Sabbatia, 444. 



*Menyanthes, 445. 



