604 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



abrasion of the thin cork ; inner surface whitish, of a silky 

 lustre, finely striate ; bast-fibres long, tough and separable 

 into papery layers ; inodorous ; taste very slightly acrid and 

 faintly astringent. 



Cotistituents. — 1, a fixed oil ; 2, a resin ; 3, tannic acid. 



PREPARATION. 



Extractum Gossypii Radicis Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Cotton 

 Root Bark. (U. S, P). 

 Made by maceration and x)ercolation with glycerin and alcohol, and 

 evaporation, so that 1 Cc. = 1 Gm. of the crude drug. 



Dose.— H. &C., I 8s.-i. (15.-30.); Sh. & Sw., 3 ss.-i. (2.-4.). 



Action and Uses. — Cotton root bark resembles ergot in 

 its actions and uses, but the drug has not been scientifically 

 studied in full detail. It is an oxytoxic, abortifacient, and 

 emmenagogue. 



Cotton root bark is employed during parturition in 

 uterine inertia, to prevent post-partum haemorrhage, to 

 induce abortion, and to arrest metrorrhagia. A decoction 

 (5iv. to qt. boiled down to Oi.) is said to be more active 

 than the fluid extract. Dosc—B.. & C, Oi. (500.); D., 3 i.-ii. 

 (30.-60.). 



Ergot is generally to be preferred as a more thoroughly 

 understood and reliable drug. 



SECTION XVI.— COLCHICUM. 



OoLcmci Kadix. Colchicum Root. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Colchici cormus, B.P.; meadow saffron root, 

 colchicum corm, bulbus sen tuber colchici, E.; bulbe de 

 colchique, de safran batard, Fr.; zeitlosenknollen, G. 



The corm of colchicum autumnale Linne (nat. ord. 

 Liliaceae). 



Habitat — England and continental Europe. 



Description. — About 25 Mm. long, ovoid, flattish and 

 with a groove on one side ; externally brownish and 



