SAN TONIC A 435 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Greenish-brown, small, oblong-ovoid, about 2 mm. 

 (J^j in.) long. They consist of fifteen to eighteen imbricated scales, each 

 having a green midrib containing oil-glands, which inclose four or five tubular 

 florets so minute that they can scarcely be distinguished by the naked eye; 

 odor strong, aromatic; taste bitter, aromatic, camphoraceous. 



Powder. Greenish-brown. Characteristic elements: Parenchyma cells, elon- 

 gated, thin- walled; trichomes, glandular, i or 2 short cells or two or three pairs 

 of cells, non-glandular, one-celled, long, slender, thin- walled; pollen mostly in 

 masses, brown, 15 to 2Oju in diam.; pores distinct. 



CONSTITUENTS. Volatile oil about i per cent., having a characteristic smell and 

 taste, devoid of anthelmintic properties, which reside in the neutral principle, 

 santonin, CisHisOsi. Santonin (Santonium, U. S.) 

 constitutes about 2 per cent, of the drug; it 

 occurs in colorless, rectangular, tabular crystals, 

 which, when exposed to the light, assume a 

 yellow hue. Soluble in 5300 parts of water, 34 

 of alcohol, 78 of ether and 2.5 of chloroform at 

 2 5 C. (77F.). 



Preparation of Santonin. -Digest powdered san- 

 tonica in dilute alcohol mixed with slaked lime; 

 recover alcohol; add acetic acid in excess to residue, 

 which separates santonin in white, shining, odorless FIG. 256. Santonica Head 

 bitter prisms, turning yellow on exposure. and longitudinal section en- 



This important principle is manufactured to a 

 considerable extent in Russia, large factories at Old- 

 berg turning out about twelve tons annually. It is well known to the 

 natives of India, and is now imported from Germany. Much of the 

 imported santonin is adulterated, sometimes to the extent of three-fourths of 

 its weight, with gum and boric acid. These can easily be detected upon exposure 

 as santonin turns yellow. The quantity of santonin in the plant diminishes 

 as the plant grows older and the flowers expand. 



Tests. On dissolving with nitric acid and adding sulphuric acid we get a red 

 color, and on adding Fe 2 Cl6 it changes to violet. With an alcoholic solution 

 of KOH a pinkish-red liquid is obtained, soon becoming colorless. 



On account of the fact that santonin is easily decomposed, it should be kept 

 in amber-colored bottles, away from the sunlight, which converts it into yellow 

 photo-santonic acid. Heating it with alkalies changes it into santoninic acid, 

 while long boiling with baryta water changes it into santonic acid. 



ACTION AND USES. Anthelmintic. Dose: 15 to 60 gr. (i to 4 Gm.), in infusion 

 or electuary. Dose of santonin: ^ to i gr. (0.016 to 0.065 Gm.), in powder 

 or troches. Trochisci Santonini, U.S. VIII., ^ gr. (0.03 Gm.). 







602. CALENDULA. CALENDULA, N.F. 



MARIGOLD 

 The dried ligulate florets of Calen'dula officina'lis Linne. 



DESCRIPTION OF DRUG. Florets about 12 mm. (} in.) long, linear and strap- 

 shaped, delicately veined in a longitudinal direction, yellow or orange-colored, 

 3-toothed above, the short, hairy tube inclosing the remnants of a filiform 

 style terminating in two elongated branches ; odor slight and somewhat heavy ; 

 taste somewhat bitter and faintly saline. 



CONSTITUENTS. Trace of volatile oil, a bitter principle, and a peculiar gummy 

 principle, calendulin, CeHioOs, regarded by some authorities as analogous 

 to bassorin. 



