COLOCYNTHIDIS PULP A 413 



gradually decomposed on exposure, liberating the acids. This oil 

 (Oleum Valerianae, U.S. P. VI) is of a pale greenish color, becoming yel- 

 low and viscid on exposure, and has the peculiar odor of the root. 

 Ash, not exceeding 20 per cent. 



ACTION AND USES. Gentle nerve stimulant and antispasmodic, employed 

 in hysterical disorders. Dose: 15 to 60 gr. (i to 4 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Tinctura Valerianae (20 per cent.), Dose: i to 2 fl. dr. (4 to 8 mils). 



Tinctura Valerianae Ammoniata 



(20 per cent.), 30 to 60 TTJ (2 to 4 mils). 



CUCURBITACE^E. Gourd Family 



Succulent herbs, creeping or climbing by tendrils. Leaves alternate. Flowers 

 monoecious and polygamous; stamens with long and wavy or twisted anthers. 

 Fruit a pepo. 



Synopsis of Drugs from the Cucurbitacea 



A. Root. C. Seeds. 



"* Bryonia, 545. PEPO, 548. 



B. Fruits. Citrullus, 549. 



COLOCYNTHIS, 544. Cucumis, 550. 



Luffa, 546. D. Resin. 



Momordica, 547. Elaterium, 551. 



544. COLOCYNTHIDIS PULPA. COLOCYNTH 



BITTER APPLE. Ger. KOLOQUINTEN 



The dried pulp of the fruit, Citrullus colocyn'this Schrader, containing not more 

 than 5 per cent, of seeds nor more than 2 per cent, of epicarp. U.S.P. IX. 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Stem procumbent, angular, hispid; leaves cor- 

 date-ovate, lobate; tendrils short. Flowers axillary, female flowers solitary, 

 petals yellow with greenish veins. Fruit globose, smooth, 6-celled, with very 

 bitter pulp; seeds whitish, sometimes brownish. 



HABITAT. Asia, Europe, and Africa. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. The fresh fruit has a marbled green surface, not 

 very unlike the watermelon. It has a thick rind inclosing a white, 

 spongy pulp, imbedded in which are numerous light-colored seeds. 

 The fruit on drying loses about 90 per cent, of water, leaving a very 

 light, spongy, white or yellowish-white pulp, which, deprived of the 

 seed, constitutes the official drug. Colocynth "apples," as they 

 appear in the market, contain the seeds, but are deprived of the rindp 

 50 to 100 mm. (2 to 4 in.) in diameter. A cross-section of the spher- 

 ical pulp ("apples") makes apparent three distinct wedges, each of 

 which has two branches; this structure is due to the parietal placentae, 

 which project to the center of the fruit, then divide and turn back, 

 making convoluting branches directed one toward the other. In- 



