AMYLUM. 365 



Composition. Areca contains catechu, tannic and gallic acids, 

 areca-red, gum, and oily matter. 

 Dose. I to f oz. 



ACTION AND USES. 



Areca nut is astringent and anthelmmtic, and has been 

 used in diarrhoea and helminthiasis. It is rarely given. 



Farina Tritici WHEATEN FLOUR. The grain 

 of Wheat, Triticum vulgare, ground and sifted. 



Characters. Familiar. 



Composition. Flour consists chiefly of gluten and starch, 

 with gum, sugar, mucilage, and -water. 



From Farina Tritici is made : 

 Mica Panis. Crumb of Bread. 



Mica Panis is contained in Cataplasma Carbonis. 

 Farina Tritici is also contained in Cataplasma Fermenti. 



O Amylum STARCH. C 6 H 10 5 . The Starch pro- 

 cured from the seeds of common wheat, Triticum vul- 

 gare. 



Characters and tests. In white columnar masses. When 

 rubbed in a Wedgwood mortar with a little cold distilled water, 

 it is neither acid nor alkaline to test-paper, and the filtered 

 liquid does not become blue on the addition of solution of 

 iodine. Mixed with boiling water and cooled, it gives a deep 

 blue colour with iodine. 



Preparations. 



1. Glycerinum Amyli. 1 part to 8 by measure ; made by 



heating the mixture to 240 ; a jelly-like preparation. 



2. Mucilago Amyli. 1 in 40. 



Amylum is also contained in Pulvis Tragacanthas Compo- 

 situs (1 in 6). 



ACTION AND USES. 



Starch is a nutritive material of the first order, but is in- 

 troduced into the Pharmacopoeia for medicinal and pharmaceu- 

 tical purposes only. Externally it is protective and absorbent, 



