270 Botanic Drugs 



Merck's Aspidospermine is given in one- or two- 

 grain doses in pill form. 



QUERCUS 



WHITE OAK BARK, Quercus alba. There are a host 

 of vegetable astringents used for their tannin. 

 White oak bark deprived of its corky layer is one 

 of the best for external use, since the only active 

 agent therein is tannin, no resins or bitter principles 

 interfering with the action. A decoction is used to 

 prevent the formation of bed-sores, and in other 

 indications for an astringent. A fl. is made, how- 

 ever, and is given in 15-minim doses. In the U. S. P. 

 IX galls are recognized, but oak bark has been de- 

 leted. Various species of oak are recognized in a 

 few of the pharmacopeias. Principally used as a 

 commercial source of tannic acid, q. v. 



QUILLAJA 



SOAP BARK, Quillaja Saponaria. Official in sev- 

 eral countries and in the U. S. P. VIII. Q. smegma- 

 dermis is official in France. Quillaja is allied to 

 senega, but the sapotoxin therein makes it too irritant 

 and toxic for internal use; but an infusion makes a 

 good stimulant application for old ulcers and is used 

 as a cleansing agent. 



QUININE AND ITS DERIVATIVES 



Cinchona, q. v., has been separately considered; 

 but quinine and quinine derivatives are so important 

 as to require detailed and individual study. 



One can break out about thirty alkaloids from 

 cinchona; how many exist in the plant structure 

 and how many are produced by chemical manipu- 



