BUTEA GUM 441 



Constituents. The chief constituent is kinotannic acid (15 to 

 62 per cent.) ; the insoluble matter may vary from 10 to 46 per cent. 



Uses. Similar to those of kino. 



ELATERIUM 



Source, &C. Elateriumisthe feculence that is deposited, on standing, 

 by the juice of the nearly ripe fruit of the Squirting Cucumber, collected 

 and dried. This plant, Ecballium Elaterium, Richard (N.O. Cucur- 

 bitacece), is a rough, prostrate, trailing plant, common in southern 

 Europe, particularly in the countries bordering on the Mediterranean. 

 It is cultivated to a limited extent in England, the bulk of the 

 commercial drug being imported from Malta. The plant and the 

 drug under notice have long been known, the process described by 

 Dioscorides for making elaterium being almost identical with the 

 method now adopted. 



If the fruits, which resemble small harry gherkins about 3 to 5 cm. 

 long, are allowed to ripen, they are forcibly separated from the 

 peduncles, the seeds and juice being simultaneously ejected. They 

 are therefore collected before they are quite ripe, sliced, and pressed ; 

 the slightly turbid juice is allowed to stand, during which it becomes 

 more turbid, and throws down a deposit which is collected, drained, 

 and dried. This forms the elaterium of commerce. 



Description. Elaterium occurs in thin, opaque, curved pieces 

 about 2 mm. thick, pale green in colour if fresh (presumably from the 

 presence of a little chlorophyll), but becoming greyish green and 

 finally yellowish grey by keeping. It is light and friable, breaking 

 readily with a short, very finely granular fracture exhibiting minute 

 crystals when examined with a lens. It has a slight odour, and bitter, 

 acrid taste. 



Constituents. The active constituent of elaterium, /?-elaterin, 

 has not yet been obtained quite pure. It is an extremely powerful 

 purgative and is accompanied in elaterin by an inactive crystalline 

 substance, a -elaterin. Commercial elaterin is a mixture of inactive 

 a -elaterin (60 to 80 per cent.) and active /3-elaterin. English 

 elaterium yields approximately 20 to 27 per cent of commercial 

 elaterin, Maltese from 14 to 17 per cent. The drug contains in addition 

 fat, inorganic matter, &c. Both a -elaterin and /2-elaterin are con- 

 tained preformed in the juice of the fruit and are not, as has been 

 believed, liberated by the action of an enzyme. 



Adulterations. Elaterium is liable to admixture with chalk and 

 starch. It should yield not more than 8 per cent, of ash. 



Uses. Elaterium is a powerful hydragogue cathartic, producing 

 numerous very watery motions ; it is almost entirely used as a 

 hydragogue purgative in dropsy and uraemia. 



