ALTHiEA 587 



Action and Uses. — Tragacanth is a demulcent, but is 

 chiefly used in the preparation of mixtures and emulsions to 

 suspend oils, resins and insoluble powders. 



Alth^a. Althaea. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Marshmallow root, E.; racine de guimauve, 

 Fr. ; altheewurzel, eibischwurzel, G.; radix althseae, P.G. 



The root of Althaea officinalis Linne (nat. ord. Malvaceae). 



Hohitdt. — N. and W. Asia and Europe. Cultivated in 

 Europe, and naturalized in E. United States and Australia, 

 growing in salt marshes. 



Constituents. — 1, bassorin, 35 per cent.; 2, pectin, 10 per 

 cent.; 3, asparagin, 1 per cent.; 4, sugar. 



PREPARATION. 



Syrupus Althaeoe. Syrup of Althaea. (U. S. P.) 



Althaea, 50 ; alcohol, 30 ; glycerin, 100; sugar, 700 ; water to make 

 1000. 



Dose. — Ad lib. 



Action and Uses. — Althaea is occasionally employed as a 

 demulcent in irritable conditions of the digestive canal, and 

 as a vehicle in the form of syrup. 



Sacchabum. Sugar. C,M,,0,,. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Saccharum purificatum, B.P.; "refined sugar, 

 cane sugar, E.; sucre, sucre de canne, Fr.; zucker, rohrzuc- 

 ker, G. 



The refined sugar obtained from Saccharum officinarum 

 Linne, and from various species or varieties of sorghum (nat. 

 ord. Graminese) ; also from one or more varieties of Beta 

 vulgaris Linne (nat. ord. Chenopodiaceae). 



Habitat — Indigenous in S. Asia, but cultivated in many 

 tropical and sub-tropical countries. 



Properties. — "White, hard, dry, distinctly crystalline 

 granules, odorless, and having a purely sweet taste. Per- 

 manent in the air. Soluble in 0.5 part of water ; in 0.2 part 



