440 



ANIMAL DRUGS 



CONSTITUENTS. Cochineal contains principally a red coloring matter 

 soluble in water, alcohol, or water of ammonia. This coloring matter 

 is composed of carminic acid, Ci 7 Hi 8 Oi (?). 



Carminic acid is obtained by treating the drug first with ether to remove fat, 

 then with alcohol. Let alcoholic solution stand a few days, when carminic acid 

 will deposit as a brownish-purple substance. A vermilion-red powder (carmine), 

 soluble in water, alcohol, and alkalies, is obtained as a combination of this acid 

 with alumina or occasionally with oxide of tin or with albumen. Commercial 

 carmine is made by precipitating the decoction of cochineal with alum or cream of 

 tartar. 



MEDICAL PROPERTIES. Cochineal has some reputation as an anodyne 

 and antispasmodic, but it has not for many years been used as a reme- 

 dial agent, its chief use being that of a coloring matter, and for this 

 purpose it enters into the following preparation. 



OFFICIAL PREPARATION. 



Tinctura Cardamom! Composita (0.5 per cent.), . . . Dose: i fl. dr. (4 mils). 



607. BLATTA. COCKROACH. Periplane'ta orienta'lis Linne 1 . Class, Insecta; 



order, Orthoptera; family, Blattidae. 



HABITAT. Asia (originally); now found in 

 almost all parts of the world, in kitchens, laun- 

 dries, and any warm, damp room. Nocturnal 

 in habit, feeding omnivorously on vegetable and 

 animal products. 



DESCRIPTION. A large (i in. long), dark 

 brown, short-winged, broad, flat, oval insect 

 with long, thread-like antennae. Wings of the 

 female rudimentary; of the male not reaching 

 quite to the tip of the abdomen. Odor disagree- 

 able. 



OTHER SPECIES. Periplaneta americana (Am- 

 erican cockroach) is larger than orientalis, lighter 

 brown in color, and has the wings well de- 

 veloped in both sexes. Numerous in houses 

 about the water pipes; also abundant, often in 

 green-houses, feeding injuriously on various 

 plants. 



Ectobia germanica (German cockroach or 

 Croton Bug), very common in New England 

 cities; smaller than the two preceding roaches 

 (about Yi in. long), very light (yellowish-brown) 

 in color, with two longitudinal dark stripes upon 

 the prothorax. 



Blatta gigantea, found in the West Indies, attains a length of 2 inches. 

 CONSTITUENTS. Foetid oil, ammonia, trimethylamine, and a crystallizable 

 principle, not diuretic, antihydropin. 



ACTION AND USES. Diuretic. Dose: 5 to 10 gr. (0.3 to 0.6 Gm.), in powder 

 or tincture. 



608. HIRUDO. LEECH. Sanguisu'ga medicina'lis Savigny. Class, Vermes; 

 order, Annelida; family, Hirudinea. 



HABITAT. Northern and Central Europe chiefly, but found more or less 

 in all parts of Europe, in ponds of fresh water. 



DESCRIPTION. The body, which varies in length from 75 to 150 mm. (3 to 

 6 in.), is smooth and round, tapering toward both ends, and made up of about 

 100 soft rings or folds. Both ends are provided with a flattened disk, the 

 posterior being the larger, each of which is adapted to fix upon objects by 

 suction. The mouth has three jaws, with a double row of fine sharp teeth in 

 each; the small anal opening is found on the under side of the last posterior 

 wrinkle. Color of black greenish and striped longitudinally with numerous 

 black spots; belly somewhat lighter green. 



FIG. 260. Cockroach (feripla- 

 tieta sp.) (Original). 



