LEPTANDRA 3QI 



/4sQ to ^ 5 gr. (0.00025 to o- 002 Gm.), Digitoxin J-f 2 g r - (0.0005 

 Gm.), Digitalein, crude ^o gr. (o.ooi Gm.). 

 OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Infusum Digitalis (1.5 per cent.), Dose: I to 4 fl. dr. (4 to 15 mils). 



Tinctura Digitalis (10 per cent.), 5 to 30 njj (0.3 to 2 mils). 



Fluidextractum Digitalis, i to 2 TTR (0.065 to 0.13 mil). 



519. EUPHRASIA OFFICINALIS Linne". EYEBRIGHT. The leaves of this 

 common plant have been stated to be almost a specific in acute nasal catarrh, 

 given in the form of infusion. 



520. VERBASCUM THAPSUS Linne. MULLEIN. Both the flowers and leaves 

 of this field weed are used. (V. Flores and V. Folia, N.F.). Mullein contains 

 a large proportion of mucilage, which makes it a good demulcent and emollient. 

 Anodyne properties are also ascribed to it. Popularly used in pectoral 

 complaints, especially consumption, in which it is said to relieve _the cough 

 and also to improve the nutrition. Dose: 2 to 3 dr. (8 to 12 Gm.), in infusion. 

 The dried leaves are sometimes smoked for nasal catarrh. 



521. LEPTANDRA, N.F. LEPTANDRA 



CULVER'S ROOT. CULVER'S PHYSIC 

 The dried rhizome and roots of Veron'ica virgin 'ica Linne. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Stem erect, 2 to 6 feet high. Leaves whorled, 

 in 4's or 7*3, very smooth, or sometimes .slightly downy, lanceolate, serru- 

 late. Spikes panicled; corolla small, pinkish, or nearly white; stamens much 

 exserted. 



HABITAT. United States, east of the Mississippi. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Horizontal rhizome, 4 to 6 inches long, somewhat 

 flattened, about the thickness of a quill, branched, generally broken into 

 pieces an inch or more long; very hard and firm; from a light to a dark brown 

 color; upper side marked with broad stem-scars, under side beset with the 

 remnants of the thin, fragile, wrinkled rootlets. Fracture woody bark 

 thin, blackish, wood-circles one or two, yellowish, pith 6-rayed; tissue sur- 

 rounding pith irregular and angular; inodorous; taste bitter and acrid. 



Powder. Brown. Characteristic elements: Parenchyma of cortex, isodia- 

 metrical or elongated with spherical starch grains ( 2 to 4 /* in diam.) and brown 

 resin; sclerenchyma with bast fibers and narrow, thick- walled stone cells; ducts 

 with scalariform, spiral, simple pores; tracheids, numerous; outer wall of epidermal 

 rootlets very thick; considerable cork from rhizome. 



CONSTITUENTS. Besides tannin, gum, and a small quantity of volatile oil; it 

 contains a crystalline glucoside, the active principle, which should be termed 

 leptandrin instead of the resin or resinoid called by that name ; this resinoid is 

 obtained by precipitating a concentrated alcoholic tincture with water; its 

 action is probably due to a small amount of the crystalline glucoside mixed 

 with it. 



Preparation of Leptandrin. Remove coloring matter from infusion by basic 

 acetate of lead, excess of lead removed by Na 2 CO 3 . Treat resulting liquid with 

 animal charcoal. Extract washed charcoal with boiling alcohol; evaporate; dis- 

 solve in ether to purify. Upon evaporation needle-shaped crystals are obtained 

 which are bitter; soluble in water, alcohol, and ether. The eclectic leptandrin 

 is _ made by precipitating concentrated alcoholic tincture with water, and is a 

 mixture of inert matter with pure leptandrin. 



