BRYONIA 415 



Preparation of Colocynthin. Exhaust alcoholic extract with water, precipitate 

 with lead acetate and subacetate, remove lead from liquid by treating with H 2 S, 

 filter, then precipitate with tannin; suspend the tannate in alcohol, decompose 

 with lead hydroxide, remove excess of lead by H 2 S, filter and evaporate, and wash 

 the residue with ether. 



ACTION AND USES. A powerful hydragogue cathartic, given in combina- 

 tion with weaker purgatives. Dose: 3 to 10 gr. (0.2 to 0.6 Gm.). 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Colocynthidis, Dose: ^ to 2 gr. (0.0324 to 0.13 Gm.). 



Extractum Colocynthidis Com- 

 positum (Extract Colocynth 16 

 per cent., with aloes, scam- 



mony, cardamon and soap),.. . . 5 to 25 gr. (0.3 to 1.6 Gm.). 

 Pilulae Catharticae Composite 

 (8 per cent, of compound ex- 

 tract), 2 to 5 pills. 



PIG. 244. Citrullus colocyntkis Cross-section through outer portion of the fruit, a, a. Paren- 

 chyma, b, Stone cells, c, c, Fibro-vascular bundles. 



545. BRYONIA, N.F. BRYONY. The root of Bryo'nia al'ba and of Bryonia' 

 dioi'ca Linnet Off. in U.S. P. 1890. A dull reddish-brown, longitudinally 

 wrinkled root, usually appearing in the market in transverse disks about 50 

 to 100 mm. (2 to 4 in.) in diameter, of a white or yellowish-white color; bark 

 thin, with a thin, friable cork; the bark is separated by a brown cambium 

 line from the meditullium, in which the wood-bundles are arranged radically 

 and concentrically; the wood- wedges and zones are separated by rather broad 

 rays and concentric circles of parenchymatous tissue; fracture short. In- 

 odorous; taste disagreeably bitter. The active principle is bryonin, C4gH8 Oi9, 

 an intensely bitter glucoside, soluble in water, but best extracted with strong 

 alcohol. Obtained by precipitating the hydro-alcoholic percolate with tan- 

 nin. The moist tannin compound is mixed with lead oxide and then digested 

 with alcohol. The alcoholic solution yields bryonin on evaporation. Drastic 

 hydragogue cathartic, formerly much used in the treatment of dropsy, but 

 now superseded by jalap. Dose: 10 to 30 gr. (0.6 to 2 Gm.). 



Tinctura Bryoniae (10 per cent.) 



(U.S.P. 1890), Dose: I to 4 fl. dr. (4 to 15 mils). 



546. LUFFA. VEGETABLE SPONGE. WASH-RAG SPONGE. GOURD TOWEL. The 

 gourd-like fruit of Luf'fa segyp'tiaca, a vine growing in Arabia and Egypt. 

 The layer of tissue next the epidermis is composed of interwoven woody 



