390 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



In atonic constipation of horses^ asafetida is prescribed with aloes 

 in ball. Asafetida is occasionally employed as a stimulating expectorant 

 in chronic bronchitis, and in the later stages of bronchial catarrh, but it is 

 probably inferior to animoniacum for this purpose. As an antispasmodic 

 agent, asafetida is useful in functional spasmodic affections, including 

 hysteria, chorea and convulsions. The emulsion may be given in enema 

 to dogs, in the two latter disorders. 



Finally, tincture of asafetida is added to alcoholic liquors in veteri- 

 nary practice to prevent their "misappropriation" by stable attendants, 

 and, applied externally, it may stop feather pulling in birds and bandage 

 chewing in dogs. 



Class 4. — Used Mainly for Their Stimulant and Diuretic Actions on 

 the Kidneys and Genito-Urinary Tract. 



BucHU. Buchu. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Buchu folia, B. P.; feullles de bucco, Fr.; buckubliitter, bucco- 

 blatter, G. 



The dried leaves of Barosma betulina (Thunberg) Bartling et Wendling, 

 known in commerce as short buchu; or of Barosma serratifolia (Curtis) Willde- 

 now, known in commerce as long buchu (Fam. Rutacese). 



Habitat. — South Africa. 



Description. — Short Buchu. Rhomboidally oval or obovate; from 9 to 25 

 mm. in length and from 4 to 13 mm. in breadth; color varying from vivid green 

 to yellowish-green; odor and taste characteristic, aromatic and mint-like. Long 

 Buchu: Linear-lanceolate, from 2.5 to 4 cm. in length and from 4 to 6 mm. in 

 breadth; color, odor, and taste like short buchu. 



Constituents. — 1, a volatile oil, having an odor somewhat like peppermint, IVi 

 per cent.; 2, a stearopten (buchu camphor or diosphenol, CoHioOj), possessing 

 an odor like peppermint and in solution in a liquid hydrocarbon, but crystalliz- 

 ing on exposure to the air; 3, barosmin, a glucoslde, soluble in alcohol (sparing- 

 ly), in ether, volatile oils, diluted acids and alkalies ; 4, gum ; 5, rutin, a bitter 



Dose.—H. & C, ,5i-ii, (30-60); D., gr.xv-xxx, (1-2). 



PHEPARATIONS. 



Fluide.rtractum Buchu. Fluidextract of buchu. (U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration, percolation and evaporation, so that 1 mil= 1 Gm. of 

 buchu. 



Dose.— H. & C, gi-ii, (30-60); D., nixv-xxx, (1-2). 



An infusion (1-20) by steeping leaves in boiling water for half an hour in a 

 closed vessel, is sometimes preferred, and will be taken voluntarily by the larger 

 animals in linseed tea. 



Tinctura Buchu. Tincture of Buchu. (B. P.) 

 Dose. — Same as that of the fluidextract. 



Action and Uses 



The volatile oil and bitter principle act upon the digestive organs 

 as an aromatic bitter, promoting appetite and digestion in small doses, 

 while large doses cause nausea and vomiting in dogs. The volatile oil is 

 absorbed and eliminated by the mucous membranes, particularly of the 

 bronchial tubes and genito-urinary tract. It thus stimulates and dis- 

 infects the mucous membranes, slightly increases the secretion of urine, 

 and imparts its peculiar odor to the latter. 



The drug is of some value in the treatment of chronic or subacute 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



