280 MATERIA MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



3. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Lobelina is probably excreted by the kidneys and skin, and 

 acts as a diuretic and diaphoretic. Except indirectly, these 

 effects are not taken advantage of in medicine. 



ERICACEAE. 



Uvae Ursi Folia BEARBERRY LEAVES. The 

 dried leaves of Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi. From indi- 

 genous plants. 



Characters. Obovate, entire, coriaceous shining leaves, 

 about three-fourths of an inch in length, reticulated beneath ; 

 with a strong astringent taste, and a feeble hay-like odour 

 when powdered ; the infusion giving a bluish-black precipitate 

 with perchloride of iron. 



Composition. Uva ursi contains an inert crystalline gluco- 

 side, arbutin, C 12 H l6 7 , yielding in the urine benzoic acid ; an 

 amorphous bitter glucoside, erieolin, C 34 H 56 2 i ; tannic and 

 gallic acids ; and a neutral body, ursone. 



Incompatibles. Iron salts, lead salts, nitrate of silver, 

 vegetable alkaloids, gelatine. 



Impurities. Leaves of red whortleberry ; detected by being 

 dotted and not reticulated on the under surface, with crenated 

 margins. Also box leaves, which are not astringent. 



Preparation. 

 Infusum Uvse Ursi. 1 in 20. Dose, 1 to 2 fl.oz. 



ACTION AND USES. 



Uva ursi possesses much the same action as Pareira and 

 Buchu, but is more astringent in virtue of the tannic and gallic 

 acids which it contains. The arbutin appears in the urine partly 

 as benzoic acid. Uva ursi is used as a remote astringent and 

 stimulant in diseases of the urine-genital tract, such as 

 chronic catarrh of the pelvis of the kidney, bladder, and 

 urethra. 



SAPOTACE^E. 



Guttapercha GUTTAPERCHA. The concrete 

 juice of Isonandra gutta. A native of Borneo. 

 Sumatra, and other Eastern islands. 



Characters and Tests. In tough flexible pieces, of a light 

 brown or chocolate colour. Soluble or nearly soluble in chloro- 

 form, yielding a more or less turbid solution. 



