304 



SUBTERRANEAN ORGANS 



The drug also contains two colourless, crystalline, non-alkaloidal 

 bitter principles, one only of which, Columbia, has been investigated ; 

 this appears to be a lactone, and yields, when treated with acid or 

 alkali, yellow amorphous columbic acid, previously believed to be 

 a constituent of the root. Traces of a fluorescent substance, also 

 obtainable from Columbia, are present in the drug. 



In addition to these principles, mucilage and abundance of starch 

 are present, but no tannin. The drug yields from 4 to 7 per cent. 

 of ash. 



Jateorhizine, CaoH^NO^OH, columbamine, C 21 H 22 N0 5 ,OH, and palmatine, 

 C 21 H 22 NO 6 ,OH, are closely allied to one another and also to corydaline (Cory- 



dalis tuberosa, de Candolle) and to berbe- 

 rine, forming, like the latter, a crystalline 

 compound with acetone. 



Uses. Calumba is employed as 

 a stomachic and bitter tonic. 



Substitutes, &c. Calumba Rhi- 

 zome. This is not unfrequently 

 present in small quantity and 

 occasionally to a considerable 

 amount ; the pieces are narrower 

 (often about 2 to 3 cm. wide), 

 deeper in colour, more woody, and 

 more conspicuously radiate ; they 

 also yield more ash (12 to 17 per 

 cent.). 



Coscinium fenestratum, Cole- 

 brooke (N.O. Menispermacece). The 



stems are occasionally imported from Ceylon under the name of 

 Ceylon Calumba ; these may be cut into slices about the size of 

 calumba, but are readily distinguished by their dark yellow colour, 

 flat surface, not depressed in the centre, and hard, woody (not starchy) 

 nature. They contain berberine (3'5 per cent.). 



Frasera caroliniensis, Walter (N.O. Gentianece). Slices of the root 

 of this plant have been found substituted for calumba, but the 

 occurrence is rare ; the slices are smaller, thicker, and free from 

 starch, but contain tannin. 



FIG. 153. Coscinium fenestratum. 

 Transverse section of stem. Nat- 

 ural size. (Pharmaceutical Journal.) 



PODOPHYLLUM RHIZOME 



(May-apple Root, Rhizoma Podophylli) 



Source, &C. The May-apple, Podophyllum peltatum, Linne (N.O. 

 Berberidece) , is a small herb with a long perennial creeping rhizome. 

 It is a native of and common in the eastern United States and Canada, 



