SCOPARIUM. 22$ 



ACTION AND USES. 



Liquorice is chiefly used for the pharmaceutical purposes 

 just indicated. It has a pleasant taste and flavour, and in- 

 creases the flow of saliva and mucus when slowly chewed or 

 sucked, the increased secretions acting as emollients to the 

 throat. Liquorice is therefore a popular demulcent, much 

 ased to relieve sore throat and coughs. 



Scoparii Cacumina BROOM TOPS. The fresh 

 and dried tops of Sarothamnus Scoparius. From 

 indigenous plants. 



Characters. Straight angular dark-green smooth tough 

 > a bitter nauseous taste, and of a peculiar odour when 

 bruised. 



Composition. Scoparium contains two active principles, 

 iteoparin and spartein t besides other constituents. Scoparin 

 C 2l H 22 Oi , is a yellow crystalline neutral body, said by some to 

 be a diuretic, by others not so. Spartein, C^H^gNa, is a volatile 

 icily-looking liquid alkaloid, allied in appearance, composition, 

 land physiological action to conia. See Conii Fructus, page 250. 



Preparations. 



1. Decoctum Scoparii. 1 dried in 20. Dose, 2 to 4 fl.oz. 

 1 2. Succus Scoparii. 3 of juice of fresh tops to 1 of spirit. 

 Dose, 1 to 2 fl.dr. 



ACTION AND USES. 



Broom has a bitter stomachic and somewhat astringent 



tion in moderate doses, but is not used on this account. Its 



'ffect on the system is still obscure, the only fact 



v known being that it frequently produces free diuresis. 



is believed that the active principles of the plant, either or 



th, pass through the blood and tissues, and stimulate the 



ret ing substance of the kidneys during the process of 



'). Broom is therefore extensively used in this country 



a diuretic in dropsy, especially cardiac dropsy, but is almost 



variably combined with other drugs of the same class, such as 



ritalis, acetate of potash, etc. It should be avoided in acute 



oal dropsy. 



Fterocarpi Lignum RED SANDAL WOOD. 

 le wood of Fterocarpus santalinus. From Ceylon. 

 p 8 



