

IPECACUANHA. 267 



fore given only as bitter stomachics and tonics. The 

 amount of tannin contained in them indicates that they 

 may be used when an astringent effect is also desired, either 

 locally, as in passive diarrhoea, or remotely, as in sweating, 

 chronic mucous discharges, and purulent formations ; and 

 avoided in constipation, dyspepsia, or irritability of the bowels. 

 The red bark is especially astringent. 



Cinchonia, and other non-officinal alkaloids and products of 

 bark, may be employed as substitutes for quinia, their action 

 being very similar. Cinchonia is from \ to $ as powerful as 

 quinia. 



Ipecacuanha- IPECACUANHA. The dried root 

 of Cephae'lis Ipecacuanha. Imported from Brazil. 



Characters. In pieces three or four inches long, about the 

 size of a small quill, contorted and irregularly annulated. 

 Colour, brown of various shades. It consists of two parts, the 

 cortical or active portion, which is brittle, and a slender tough 

 white woody centre. Powder pale brown, with a faint 

 nauseous odour, and a somewhat acrid and bitter taste. 



Impurities . (1) Hemidesmus, which is cracked, but not 

 annulated ; (2) Almond meal (in powdered ipecacuanha), de- 

 tected by odour of prussic acid when moistened. 



Composition. Ipecacuanha contains from ^ to 1 per cent, of 

 enietin, which is its active principle ; ipecacuanhic or cephaelic 

 acid ; starch, gum, etc. JEmetin, C 2o H 3o N0 5 , is a crystalline 

 alkaloid, white, becoming yellow, odourless, bitter, compara- 

 tively insoluble in water, forming salts with acids which are 

 readily dissolved in ordinary media. 



Dose. As an expectorant, to 2 gr. ; as an emetic, 15 to 

 30 gr. 



Preparations. 



1. Pulvis Ipecacuanha Cpmpositus. "Dover's Powder." 



Ipecacuanha, 1 ; Opium, 1 ; Sulphate of Potash, 8. A 

 light fawn-coloured powder. Dose, 5 to 10 gr. 



from Dover* ' Powder is prepared : 



Pilula Ipecacuanhas cum Scill|. Compound Powder 

 of Ipecacuanha, 3 ; Squill, 1 ; Ammoniacum, 1 ; Treacle, 

 q.s. Dose, 5 to 10 gr. 



2. Pilula Conii Composita. 1 in 6. See Conii Folia. 



3. Trochisci Ipecacuanhas. ^ gr. in each. Dose, 1 to 3. 



4. Trochisci Morphias *>t Tpf>r n p.^ an h a . Ipecacuanha, , gr. ; 



Hydrochlorate of Morphia, -fa gr. in each. See Opium , 



page 1>7. 



