BITTER-SWEET 205 



J. This drug, which has bitter and tonic properties, is highly 

 esteemed in India, and much used as a tonic. In this country it is 

 now but seldom prescribed, probably on account of the very disagree- 

 able nature of its bitterness. 



Adulterations. The name chiretta being applied in India to a 

 number of bitter plants, it is not surprising that other more or less 

 similar bitter drugs are occasionally mixed with or substituted for the 

 official chiretta. Sometimes, too, plants that resemble true chiretta 

 in appearance but are much less bitter make their appearance under 

 the name of chiretta. Among the substitutions and adulterations 

 may be mentioned Swertia angustifolia, Buch-Hamilton ; S. alata, 

 Royle ; S. trichotoma, Wallich, &c. ; Andrographis paniculata, Nees ; 

 the root of Rubia cordifolia, Linne, &c. The large continuous pith, 

 dark colour, and intensely bitter taste are sufficient to distinguish 

 $. Chirata from other species of the same genus ; the opposite leaves 

 and bicarpellary, unilocular fruits, from plants belonging to natural 

 orders not possessing these characters. 



Japanese Chiretta, derived from S. chinensis, Franchet, is a much 

 smaller plant ; the stem varies from 10 to 35 cm. in length and 1 to 

 2 mm. in thickness, and is brown or purplish brown ; the root is 

 straight or only slightly oblique ; it yields more alcoholic extract and 

 is more bitter than S. Chirata. 



BITTER-SWEET 



(Stipites Dulcamaras) 



Source, &c. The bitter-sweet or woody nightshade, Solarium Dul* 

 camara, Linne (N.O. Solanacece), is a perennial shrubby plant with long 

 climbing or straggling stems, common in England in hedges and 

 thickets. It produces small purplish blue flowers and red berries. 

 During the Middle Ages it was much used as a medicine ; now it is 

 seldom employed. 



The young stems are green and hairy, but as they grow older the 

 hairs fall off, and they become quite smooth ; the stems are gathered 

 when about two or three years old, cut into short pieces, and dried. 



Description. Bitter-sweet stems occur in commerce in short pieces 

 about 6 mm. in diameter, of a light greenish or brownish yeUow 

 colour, bearing occasional alternate scars. They are nearly cylindrical, 

 quite glabrous, and more or less longitudinally furrowed and wrinkled. 

 The yellow, glossy, corky layer can easily be scraped off, and the green 

 primary cortex disclosed. The wood is yellowish, and exhibits, in 

 older pieces, distinct annual rings. The stems are usually hollow in 

 the centre, the remains of the pith being attached to the inner surface 

 of the ring of wood. 



