PODOPHYLLUM 417 



Properties. — Minute, white, hexagonal scales, or prismatic crystals, without 

 odor, and having a slight, acrid, bitter taste. Insoluble in water; soluble in 825 

 parts of alcohol; also soluble in 450 parts of ether, or in 15.5 parts of chloro- 

 form. Permanent in the air. 



Do»e.~D., gr. 1/20-1/12 (.008-.005). 



Actions and Uses of Colocynth and Elaterin. 



The action of colocynth and elaterin is similar in man, but the latter 

 is more powerful. Both greatly increase secretions while they stimulate 

 peristalsis in some degree. Large doses cause painful griping, gastro- 

 intestinal inflammation, excessive watery purging, and collapse. Elaterin 

 frequently fails to purge horses and dogs, although death may follow 

 large doses. Colocynth acts more certainly in the lower animals and is 

 recommended by P. Cagny in dropsy and cerebral disease. Neither drug, 

 however, is of any importance in veterinary medicine. Colocynth is con- 

 tained in the compound cathartic pill given to dogs in doses of from one 

 to three pills. 



Podophyllum. Podophyllum. 



Synonym. — Podophylli rhizoma, B. P.; May apple, mandrake root, E.; rhi- 

 zome de podophyllum, Fr. ; fussblattwurzel, G. 



The dried rhizome and roots of Podophyllum pellatum LinnS (Fam. Ber- 

 berides), yielding not less than 3 per cent, of resin. 



Habitat. — North America. 



Description. — Rhizome horizontal, nearly cylindrical, jointed, compressed on 

 the upper and lower surfaces, sometimes branched; in pieces from 3 to 20 cm. in 

 length, the internodes from 2 to 9 mm. in diameter; externally dark brown, longi- 

 tudinally wrinkled or nearly smooth with irregular, somewhat V-shaped scars 

 of scale leaves; odor slight, more pronounced and characteristic in the powder; 

 taste sweetish and disagreeably bitter and acrid. 



Constituents. — 1, a resin, podophyllin (4-5 per cent.) ; 2, a coloring matter, 

 podophyllic acid. 



PKEPARATIOSr. 



Besina Podophylli. Resin of Podophyllum. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Podophyllin. 



Derivation.— Made by maceration and percolation of podophyllum with alco- 

 hol; partial evaporation, and precipitation of the resin with diluted hydrochloric 

 acid; washing with water, drying. 



Properties. — An . amorphous powder, varying in color from light brown to 

 greenish-yellow, turning darker when subjected to a temperature exceeding 25° 

 C., or when exposed to light. It has a slight, peculiar odor, and a faintly bitter 

 taste. Permanent in the air. Soluble in alcohol and partly soluble in ether and 

 chloroform. 



Constituents. — Chiefly podophyllotoxin (C2sH240o-(-2 H2O), stated to be a mix- 

 ture of a purgative principle, picropodophyUin, and an inert body, podophyllinic 

 acid, associated with a coloring matter, podophylloquercitin, and other resins. 



Dose.—n. & C, 3i-ii, (4-8); D., gr. its-i, (.006-.06). 



Dose.—D., 1 pill. 



Action. — Podophyllin is a powerful though slow acting cathartic. 

 Podophyllotoxin when given in large doses under the skin or into a vein 

 causes glomerular nephritis and hemorrhages into various organs. Large 

 doses cause purging and vomiting in animals, and lethal quantities 

 occasion gastro-enteritis, colic, super-purgation, with bloody fecal evacua- 

 tions, convulsions and death. It acts in the same way whether it is ap- 

 plied externally, injected into the blood, or given internally. Podo- 



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