DRUGS 223 



CATECHU 



The drug catechu is obtained from Acacia catechu and also 

 from Uncaria gambir. Both of these trees are native to India 

 and the East Indies. A. catechu is a leguminous tree closely 

 related to the black wattle. The astringent drug catechu is 

 obtained by boiling the heartwood, after cutting it into chips, 

 until the extract becomes a black tar-like mass. In this form 

 the material is called black catechu or cutch. Pale catechu, also 

 called gambler or terra japonica, is obtained by boiling the 

 leaves and twigs of the climbing shrub U. gambir. The mate- 

 rial is used chiefly as a brown dye and is discussed under tans 

 and dyes. 



JALAP 



Jalap is a perennial twining plant {Exogonium purga), na- 

 tive of Mexico and also cultivated in Jamaica,' India, and else- 

 where. The plant bears cordate leaves, purple flowers, and 

 tuberous roots. The roots are collected in the fall and care- 

 fully dried. The dried roots are the official drug. These roots 

 contain 8 to lo per cent, of the resin, consisting largely of a 

 glucosid jalapurgin, which is the active principle of the plant. 

 The jalap belongs to the morning glory family and the flowers 

 closely resemble those of some of the cultivated varieties of 

 morning glory. The roots occur as irregular globoid masses 

 connected by long strands of underground root-stocks. 



SARSAPARILLA 



There are several kinds of sarsaparilla which have been used 

 for medicinal purposes. The Mexican sarsaparilla has been 

 obtained from Smilax medica, the Jamaica sarsaparilla from 

 S. officinalis, and Para sarsaparilla from 5". papyracea. These 

 plants are all climbing vines provided with tendrils, shiny 

 Jeaves, and spiny stems, resembling in that respect our common 



