544 ANIMAL SUBSTANCES 



Constituents. The composition of the resinous secretion appears 

 to be subject to great variation, due probably to the age of the animal, 

 the time of year at which it was killed, and the time the drug has 

 been kept. The amount of moisture present may be as much as 

 40 per cent., resinous matter soluble hi alcohol about 40 to 70 per 

 cent., fatty matter soluble in ether about 8 per cent. Salicin, benzoic 

 acid and a crystalline substance, castorin, are also said to be present, 

 but these statements require confirmation. The characteristic odour 

 is due to a volatile oil. 



Uses. Castor has long been used in the treatment of hysteria 

 and dysmennorhcea ; it also has an action on the heart, and is used 

 in certain forms of heart-disease. 



Varieties. Russian castor, formerly more highly esteemed than 

 the American, is now very rarely imported. It resembles the Ameri- 

 can, but has a more agreeable, less empyreumatic odour. 



Adulterants. Adulteration has been recently effected by empty- 

 ing the castor sac and filling it with brown wood fibre. Pods 

 thus adulterated are much lighter in weight than the genuine. 



ANIMAL SUBSTANCES IN LESS FREQUENT USE 



Cuttle-fish Bone (Cuttle-fish Shell, Os Sepice) is the internal shell of the cuttle, 

 Sepia ojficinalis, Linne (N.O. Dibranchiata). 



A large mollusc common round the coast of Great Britain and abundant in 

 the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, and in the Indian Ocean. The shells of 

 dead animals are thrown up by the sea. Cuttle-fish shell is usually about 20 cm. 

 long, 7 cm. wide, and 2 cm. thick, oval, convex on both sides. The animal 

 consists of a flattened, ovoid head with two lateral extensions, and ten long 

 tentacles surrounding the mouth, which is provided with two large powerful 

 horny beaks. The shell is contained in the muscular mantle. It consists of 

 a hard, concave chitinous coat, upon the concave side of which layers of calcium 

 carbonate have been deposited. Its chief constituents are calcium carbonate 

 (80 to 85 per cent.) calcium phosphate, sodium chloride, and 10 to 15 per cent, 

 of organic matter. It is chiefly used as an ingredient in dentifrices, but has 

 been given internally for sprue and dysentery. 





