HAMAMELIS 575 



giijger, chalk and opium. It is also employed internally in 

 dysentery, atonic indigestion, and in leucorrhoea. The 

 decoction (1-16, B.P.) may be exhibited in Oss.-i. doses to 

 the larger animals ; in § i.-ii. doses to smaller patients. 



Hamamelis. Hamamelis. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Witch-hazel. 



The leaves of Hamamelis virginiana Linne (nat. ord. 

 Hamamelacese), collected in autumn. 



Description. — Short, petiolate, about 10 Cm. long, 

 obovate or oval, slightly heart-shaped and oblique at the 

 base, sinuate-toothed, thickish, nearly smooth; inodorous; 

 taote astringent and bitter. 



Constituents. — The most important principle is (1) tannic 

 acid, 8 per cent ; there are also : (2) a bitter substance, and 

 (3) a resin. 



PREPARATIONS. 



Extractum Hamamelidis Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Hamamelis^ 



(U. S. P.) 

 Extractum Hamamelidis Liquidum. (B. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol, glycerin and 

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

 Dose.— H.&C, § i.-ii. (30.-60.); D., 3 ss.-ii. (2.-8 ). 



Action and Uses. — Hamamelis is apparently physiologi- 

 cally inert, as shown by experiments on healthy animals. It 

 nevertheless possesses considerable medicinal virtue as an 

 astringent and styptic. Witch-hazel is a valuable agent 

 applied externally, to stop venous oozing in wounds, and to 

 reduce swelling and pain of bruises and sores. The fluid 

 extract may be diluted with 8, or less, parts of water, for 

 these purposes ; or the B.P. ointment (1-10) maybe employed. 

 Hamamelis is useful in diarrhoea and mucous discharges. It 

 arrests haemorrhage from the uterus, kidneys, lungs and 

 digestive tract ; sometimes in a surprising manner. The 

 fluid extract is a successful haemostatic in bleeding from the 



