IPECACUANHA 397 



and probably in the thin, outer layer of cork cells. Recently con- 

 siderable light has been thrown on emetine, CibHsaNaOs, and cephae- 

 line, Ci4H2oNO2, which were formerly supposed to be one body. 

 According to Paul and Cownley ("Pharm. Jour.," 1896) cephaeline 

 is the emetic principle and emetine the expectorant principle of the 

 drug. This naming is unfortunate, and should be reversed. Emetine 

 is amorphous; cephaeline crystalline. Ash, not less than 1.8 per 

 cent, nor more than 4.5 per cent. 



KRYPTONINE. This is the name of a new alkaloid of ipecac, discovered 

 by J. U. Lloyd. The principle itself, as well as its acid compounds, 

 are colloidal in character. It belongs apparently to a new group 

 of principles awaiting further investigation. Filter paper shows a 

 marked adsorptive property to this alkaloid. It is black in mass 

 but of varying color in different solvents. See Proc. Amer. Ph. 

 Asso., 1916. Condensed description Amer. Druggist, Oct., 1916, 

 p. 28. 



Preparation of Emetine. A very simple process is to exhaust the drug with 

 boiling chloroform made slightly alkaline with solution of ammonia. Upon 

 distilling off the chloroform the emetine is left in a very pure condition, and, when 

 dried at iooC., gives a residue which, when weighed, gives one a rough estimate 

 of the value of the drug. Cephaeline is extracted usually with emetine in most of 

 the processes for assay. It is less soluble in ether than emetine. 



Preparation of Ipecacuanhic Acid (Cephaelic Acid). Precipitate decoction 

 with lead acetate, dissolve precipitate with acetic acid, and precipitate solution 

 with lead subacetate; wash and dry. Resembles c'affeotannic acid. 



ACTION AND USES. When locally applied, acts as counter-irritant. 

 Small doses are diaphoretic and expectorant. In large doses a 

 systemic emetic, in minute doses stomachic, aiding digestion. Ipecac 

 has been used, since its introduction into medicine, as a remedy in 

 dysentery, when there is said to be a peculiar tolerance of the drug; 

 but the fact is the stomach almost invariably rejects large doses. 

 Recent experiments prove that ipecac, when deprived of its emetine, 

 possesses its full antidysenteric properties, without the drawbacks 

 of depression, nausea, etc. Accordingly there appears in the market 

 to meet this peculiar demand a preparation made from de-emetin- 

 ized bark. Emetine has recently been highly praised in the treat- 

 ment of pyorrhea, Riggs' disease. Hypodermic tablets of the hydro- 

 chloride, containing from 0.016 to 0.032 Gm. are prepared. Used in 

 the form of injections in diseases due to pathogenic amebas. Also 

 administered internally, "Alcresta Ipecac" when thus administered 

 is decomposed in the alkaline fluid of the intestines with liberation of 

 alkaloids and produce amebacidal action. Tablets of same, repre- 

 senting 10 gr. of ipecac are dispensed. Dose 2 or 3 tablets three times 

 a day at first period of few days, then discontinued for a day or two, 

 if laxative effect is produced. Dose of ipecac as expectorant, i gr. 

 (0.06 Gm.); emetic, 10 to 15 gr. (0.6 to i Gm.). 



