ASTRII^-GE^rTS. 83 



Quercus Albce Cortex, white-oak bark. Contains 

 quercitannic acid, quercin, but no gallic acid. 



Catechu, kutch, cutch, a dry extract from the 

 wood of Acacia catechu, natural order Leguminosae, 

 a stout, climbing shrub from the islands of the Indian 

 archipelago. Contains catechu-tannic and catechuic 

 acids. Dose: H., 3i.-iij.; D., gr. v.-xxx. 



Tinctura Catechu Composita, U. S. P. (catechu 

 12, cinnamon 8, dilute alcohol to make 100 parts of 

 finished tincture) . Dose: H., fl. 3 ss.-iij. ; D.,tt[xx.- 

 fl. 3 ij. 



Kino, a gum resin obtained from the juice of 

 Pterocarpus marsupium, natural order Leguminosae, 

 very similar to catechu. Contains kinotannic acid, 

 kinoin. Dose same as of catechu. 



Physiological Action. — Tannic and gallic 

 acids, although similar in action as well as appear- 

 ance and properties, differ in the degree of their ac- 

 tion, tannin being the more powerful astringent of 

 the two. They are both antiseptic, and their contin- 

 ued use disorders digestion, irritates mucous sur- 

 faces, and causes emaciation. Tannin enters the 

 blood as gallic and pyrogallic acids, which change 

 takes place in the stomach; precipitates pepsin and 

 coagulates albumin; checks peristalsis and causes 

 constipation. For these reasons gallic acid is prefer- 

 able to tannin for internal use. Tannin, however, 

 should be used when an antidote for alkaloidal poi- 

 soning is required, since it forms practically insoluble 

 compounds with most of the alkaloids as well as with 

 tartar emetic. Catechu and kino are among the best 



