532 ' VEGETABLE DRUGS 



tinctly radiate in the outer portion; fracture short, mealy ; 

 odor slight; taste mucilaginous, slightly aromatic, very 

 bitter. 



Constituents.— 1, calumbin (C21H22O7), a neutral, bitter, 

 crystalline substance ; 2, an alkaloid, berberine (CaoHj^NOj, 

 found in berberis, hydrastis, etc. ; 3, calumbic acid {G^^^fi^-y 

 4, starch, 33 per cent. 



Dose.—R.&G., 5 ss.-i. (30.-60.) ; Sh. & Sw., 3i.-ii. (4.-8.); 

 D., gr.v.-xxx. (.3-2.). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Eoctraetum CalumhcB Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Calumba. 

 (U. S. P.) 



Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol and water, and 

 evaporation, so that 1 Cc. = 1 Gm. of the crude drug. (U. S. P.) 

 Dose. — Same as Calumba. 



Tinctura Calumhce. Tincture of Calumba. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation of calumba, 100 ; in alcohol, 



and water to make 1000. (U. S. P.) 



Dose.—R. & C, lii.-iv. (60.-120.); D., 3i.-iv. (4.-15.). Dose of 



tincture (B. P.) half that of U. S. P. tincture. 



Administration. — Calumba is given in powder on the 

 food, or in the official preparations to the larger animals. 

 The infusion (1-16, B.P.) may be used in the same doses as 

 that of cascarilla. The tincture, and extract (gr.ii.-x., B.P.) 

 are the best preparations for dogs. 



Actions and Uses. — Calumba is a mild but pure bitter. 

 Berberine, calumbin and calumbic acid are all bitter, but 

 none of them possess any powerful physiological action, 

 Calumba is indicated in the same cases as gentian, but, being 

 free from tannin, may be combined with iron preparations 

 without producing an unsightly, inky mixture. It is less 

 irritating than other bitters, and may be prescribed in more 

 irritable conditions of the stomach. Calumba is frequently 

 used during convalescence from the acute diseases and 

 diarrhoea. 



