DRUGS 227 



after which the solution is diluted to make lo gallons of spray- 

 ing material. This insecticide has also proved to be an excel- 

 lent repellent for ants. 



STaOPHANTHUS 



Strophanthus is a twining shrub (S. kombe) of the family 

 Apocynaceae and native of Zambesi and eastern Africa. The 

 shrub bears opposite leaves and showy flowers. The ripe seeds 

 yield strophanthin, an active principle which has the effect of 

 paralyzing the involuntary muscles. Strophanthus has been 

 widely used by the African natives as an arrow poison. 



JABORANDI 



The jaborandi is a small shrub (Pilocarpus jaboratidi), na- 

 tive of Brazil, with pinnate leaves and small flowers in loose 

 spikes. The dried leaves are the official drug. The leaves 

 contain about i per cent, of pilocarpin, an alkaloid used in 

 medicine to increase perspiration and salivation. 



CROTON OIL 



This product is obtained from Croton tigliwm, a shrub or 

 small tree native of India. The tree bears alternate oblong 

 leaves, small flowers in loose racemes, and 3-celled capsules 

 containing seeds like castor beans. The seeds contain a fixed 

 oil (croton oil) which is obtained by pressure. Croton oil is 

 a well known violent and poisonous purgative. 



The physic nut (Jatropha curcas) is a small shrub, native of 

 Central America and South America. The seeds of this plant 

 yield an oil resembling croton oil in its physiological proper- 

 ties. A similar oil is also obtained from Euphorbia calyculata, 

 known as Mexican croton oil. 



