348 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



some practitioners. Veratrine stimulates intestinal secretion and peristal- 

 sis in the horse, but is inferior to eserine and pilocarpine in that animal 

 as a quickly acting cathartic. 



SECTION VII.— DRUGS ACTING ON THE RESPIRATORY 



ORGANS. 



Ipecacuanha. Ipecac. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym.— l-p&cacuanha, racine bresilienne, Fr.; brechwurzel, ruhrwiirzel, G. 



The dried root of Cephaelis Ipecacuanha (Brotero) A. Richard, known in 

 commerce as Rio ipecac, or of C. acuminata Karsten, known in commerce as 

 Cartagena ipecac (Fam. Rubiaceae), and yielding not less than 1.75 per cent, of 

 the ether soluble alkaloids of ipecac. 



Habitat.— South America from Brazil to Bolivia, and New Granada. Culti- 

 vated in India. 



Descriptiov.— Rio Ipecac. In cylindrical pieces, curved and sharply flex- 

 ous, occasionally branched, from 3 to 15 cm. in length and from 2.4 to 4 cm. in 

 thickness, externally dark brown; odor very slight, the Awt sternutatory; taste 

 bitter and nauseous, somewhat acrid. Cartaaena Ipecac. Cylindrical or slenderly 

 fusiform, more or less tortuous, from 3 to 12 cm. in length, and a thickne=;s of 2 

 mm,, externally grayish-brown. The powder from both vavipties is lisht brown. 



Oonatituents.—i. The alkaloid emetine (C„H, JCHO^O,). existina: to the 

 extent of 2 per cent., and repre^entins in the main the action of the crude drug. 

 It is a white, odorless, uncry<:tallizable powder, with a bitter, burning taste, and 

 soluble in alcohol and chloroform; less so in ether, and very slightly in water, 

 turning yellow on keeping. The impure commercial alkaloid occurs in lirownish- 

 red transparent and deliquescent scales, very soluble in water. (2) Cephaeline 

 (CnHi.NOa), resembling emetine in action. C3) Psychotrine, which is inert. 4. 

 An amorphous, bitter glucoside. 5. An astringent, ipecacuanhic acid. 6. A vola- 

 tile oil, starch, gum, tannin, coloring matter, etc. Hemidesmus exists as an 

 impurity, it is cracked, not annulated: also bitter almond powder, which exhales 

 the odor of prussic acid when wet. Emetine (Emetinae hydrochloridum, U. S.) 

 a white, or very slightly yellowish crystalline powder, without odor, freely soluble 

 in water and alcohol, is rarely used in veterinary practice. 



Dose of Po-wdered Boot.—H., 5i-ii, (4-8); C, 3ii-iv, (8-1.5); Sh., 3ss-i, (2-4); 

 D., gr.ss-ii, (.03-.12). 



Emetic. — D. & Sw., gr.xv-xxx, (1-2). 



PBEPAHATIONS. 



Flwidextractvm Ipecacuanha'. Fluidextract of Ipecac. (U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol, diluted HCl and water, and 

 evaporation so that 1 mil = 1 Gm.'of the crude drug. Asssayed to contain 1.8-2.2 

 per cent, of ether soluble alkaloids of ipecac. 

 Dose. — Same as powdered root. 



Extractum, Ipecacuanhw Liqnidum. (B. P.) 

 Do.?e.— One-half that of the U. S. P. fluidextract. 



Syrupus IpecacvanhiT. Syrup of Ipecac. (U. S. P.) 

 Fluid extract of ipecac, 70; acetic acid, 10; glycerin, 100; sugar, 700; water 

 to make 1000. 



Dose. — D. (expectorant), ni.xv-3i, (1-4). 



Pwlvis Ipecacuanhm et Opii. (U. S. & B. P.) (See opium.) 

 . Tinctura Ipecacuanhw et Opli. (See opium.) 



Action External. — Ipecac, and still more emetine, are decided irri- 

 tants when applied to mucous membranes, raw surfaces, or even to the 

 unbroken skin; causing, variously, hyperemia, vesication, pustulation, and 



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