RED ROSE 65 



be easily distinguished by their greenish colour, small outer sepals 

 densely covered with short hairs, and fertile stamens ; they are often 

 unexpanded. They are said to possess emetic properties, and to be 

 a much less active anthelmintic than the pistillate flowers ; the 

 Pharmacopoeia, by describing the drug in panicles, properly excludes 

 the use of loose kousso. 



Use. Kousso is used as an anthelmintic, tapeworms being readily 

 killed by it. In large doses it produces nausea, vomiting, and colic. 

 It is commonly administered in the form of an infusion, the dregs 

 being swallowed, but probably an ethereal or ether-alcohol extract 

 would be preferable. 



RED-ROSE PETALS 

 (Petala Rosae Gallicae) 



Source, &c. The red or Provins rose, Rosa gallica, Linne (N.O. 

 Eosacece), is probably indigenous to southern Europe, but has been 

 cultivated as a garden plant in numerous varieties everywhere. For 

 medicinal use the red rose is grown in England (Oxfordshire, Derby- 

 shire, &c.), in the south of France, near Hamburg, &c. 



The drug is collected by plucking the whole of the unexpanded 

 petals from the calyx. The little masses of petals are then either 

 used fresh for the preparation of the confection, or dried, in which 

 state they are officially employed for making the infusion ; in the 

 latter case they are often gently sifted to remove the stamens. The 

 petals of the red rose are obovate in outline, velvety, and of a deep 

 purplish red colour, with a paler claw. 



Description. When collected as described they remain united hi 

 small conical masses of a deep purplish red colour, paler towards the 

 base ; these, however, are often broken up into the separate petals 

 for convenience in use. They possess a delicate rose-like aroma and 

 slightly astringent taste. 



Constituents. Red-rose petals contain a trace of volatile oil, 

 gallic and possibly quercitannic acids. The colour is due to the 

 glucoside cyanin (microcrystalline, dark brown powder, 2 per cent.) 

 which is probably combined with an acid ; when present as a 

 potassium salt (as in cornflowers) cyanin produces a dark blue 

 colour. The crystalline yellow substance obtained by Naylor and 

 Chappel (1904) was probably a decomposition product of cyanin. 



Substitutes. Red-rose petals should have attached a portion of 

 the paler base of the petal. Artificially coloured petals, may be 

 recognised by their uniform dark reddish colour. 



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