COCAINA. CRESOL. 25 



COCAINA. 



Cocaine is an alkaloid obtained from the leaves of Erythroxylon Coca and other 

 species of the family Erythroxylacece, tall shrubs native to equatorial South America. 

 The hydrochloride salt of the alkaloid is the substance used in medicine. 



Properties: 



Appearance 

 Color .. 



Solubility : 

 H 2 .... 



C 2 H 5 OH . 



Odor 



Taste 



Incompatibilities: To a 0.5% sol. Cocaine Hydrochloride add 

 AgNOjj, T. S _ Na 2 CO 3) T. S _ 



Cocaine Hydrochloride is decomposed by boiling water. 

 The chief use for Cocaine is to produce regional anaesthesia. 



Cocaine is not without danger, and several substitutes have been offered. Of 

 these the least toxic and least irritating is Procaine, but it is also least powerful. 



COLOCYNTHIS. 



Colocynth is the pulp of the dried fruit of Citrullus Colocynthis (Fam. Cucurbi- 

 tacece), a native of Southwestern Asia and Northern Africa. 



Properties: 



Appearance 

 Color .. 



Odor 



Taste .. 



Colocynth is used in various pills for its strong purgative properties. 

 An official preparation is the Extract, from which is made the Compound Ex- 

 tract, which is one ingredient of Pilulse Catharticae Composite. 



CRESOL. 



The official Cresol is a purified mixture of those isomeric cresols distilled from 

 coal-tar at temperatures varying between 190 C. and 205 C. 



Properties: 

 Appearance Color Odor 



Appearance when mixed with water 



Cresol is an antiseptic of value, but is more readily used in the form of the official 

 Liquor Cresolis Compositus. Prepare this compound as follows: 



In a tared vessel heat 30 Gm. linseed oil over a water bath to a temperature of 

 70 C. In the meanwhile dissolve 8 Gm. KOH (or 5.4 Gm. NaOH) in 5 mils H 2 O, 

 warm to 70 C., add to the linseed oil, and mix thoroughly; then add 3 mils alcohol, 

 continuing to heat the mixture, without stirring, until emulsification is complete. 

 Then add 50 Gm. Cresol, mix thoroughly, maintaining temperature at 70 C., until a 



