448 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



The root of Cephaelis Ipecacuanha (Brotero) A. 

 Richard (nat. ord. Rubiacese). 



Habitat. — South America from Brazil to Bolivia, and 

 New Grenada. Cultivated in India. 



Description. — About 10 Cm. long and 4 or 5 Mm. thick ; 

 mostly simple, contorted, dull grayish-brown or blackish, 

 finely wrinkled, closely and irregularly annulated, and often 

 transversely fissured ; bark thick, brittle, brownish, easily 

 separated from the thin, whitish, tough, ligneous portion ; 

 odor slight, peculiar, nauseous ; taste bitterish, acrid, 

 nauseating. 



Constitttents. — 1. The alkaloid Emetine (CaoH^oNOj), 

 existing to the extent of 1-2 per cent., and representing in 

 the main the action of the crude drug. It is a white, odor- 

 less, uncrystallizable powder, with a bitter, burning taste, 

 and soluble in alcohol and chloroform ; less so in ether, and 

 very slightly in water, turning yellow on keeping. The 

 impure commercial alkaloid occurs in brownish-red trans- 

 parent and deliquescent scales, very soluble in water. 2. 

 An amorphous, bitter glucoside. 3. An astringent, ipecac- 

 uanhic acid. 4. A volatile oil, starch, gum, tannin, coloring 

 matter, etc. Hemidesmus exists as an impurity, it is cracked, 

 not annulated ; also bitter almond powder, which exhales 

 the odor of prussic acid when wet. Emetine (non-official) is 

 rarely used. 



Bose of Poiodered Boot. — H^ 3 i.-iL (4.-8.) ; C, 3 ii-iv. 

 (8.-15.) ; Sh., 3 ss.-i. (2.-4.) ; D., gr.ss.-ii. (.03-.12). 



Emetic. — D. <fe Sw., gr.xv.-xxx. (1.-2.). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Ipecactianhce Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Ipecac. 

 (U. S. P.) 



Made by maceracion and percolation with alcohol and water, evap- 

 oration of a portion of the percolate, solution of the residue in the 

 reserved portion of the percolate, and addition of alcohol and water, so 

 that 1 Cc. = 1 Gm. of the crude drug. 



Dof^e. — Same as powdered root. 



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