TRAGACANTH 431 



the upper respiratory and digestive tracts. It may be given freely in 

 "water, but large quantities may undergo fermentation and cause indi- 

 gestion and diarrhea. A 10 per cent, aqueous solution is sometimes 

 injected into the bladder, vagina or rectum in inflammation of these parts. 

 Acacia is chiefly of value in medicine for the preparation of mixtures, 

 emulsions, pills, balls and electuaries. About 3iii of mucilago acacia are 

 required to suspend § i. of oil or resinous tincture. Acacia is sometimes 

 prescribed in genito-urinary irritation. Animals will voluntarily drink 

 aqueous^-solutions. 



Tragacantha. Tragacanth. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Gomme adragante, Fr.; gomma adraganta, G. 



A spontaneously dried gummy exudation from the stems of Astragalus gum- 

 mifer Labilliardi6re, or from other Asiatic species of Astragalus (Fam. Legumi- 

 nosse). 



Habitat. — Asia Minor. 



Prgperties. — In flattened, laraellated fragments varying from ribbon-shaped 

 bands to long and linear pieces, which may be either straight or spirally twisted, 

 and from 0.5 to 2.5 mm. in thickness; whitish to light brown in color, trans- 

 lucent and horny J fracture short; rendered more easily pulverizable by heating 

 to 50° C. ; inodorous; taste insipid, mucilaginous. 



Add 1 Gm. of tragacanth to 50 mils of distilled water; it swells and forms 

 a smooth, nearly uniform, stiff, opalescent mucilage free from cellular fragments. 



Constituents. — 1, arabin, 63.3 per cent., not identical with arabin of acacia, 

 however; 2, bassorin (CoHioOb), 33 per cent, a gum, swells up with water but 

 does not dissolve; 3, starch; 4, ash. 



PREPARATION. 



Mucilago Tragacanthce. Mucilage of Tragacanth. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Tragacanth, 6; glycerin, 18; water to make 100. (U. S.) 

 Dose. — Ad. lib. 



Action and Uses. — Tragacanth is a demulcent, but is chiefly used 

 in the preparation of mixtures and emulsions to suspend oils, resins 

 and insoluble powders. 



Alth^a. Althaea. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Marshmallow root, E.; racine de guimauve, Fr. ; altheewurzel, 

 eibischwurzel, G.; radix althaeae, P. G. 



The root of Althaea ofiScinalis Linng (Fam. Malvaceae), deprived of the brown, 

 corky layer and small roots, and carefully dried. 



Habitat. — N. and W. Asia and Europe. Cultivated in Europe, and natural- 

 ized in E. United States and Australia, growing in salt marshes. 



Constituents. — 1, bassorin, 35 per cent.; 2, pectin, 10 per cent.; 3, asparagln, 

 1 per cent.; 4, sugar, 8 per cent. 



Action and Uses. — Althaea is occasionally employed as a demulcent 

 in irritable conditions of the digestive canal, and as a vehicle in the form 

 of syrup. 



Saccharum. Sugar. CijHjjOu. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Saccharum purifieatum, B. P.; sucrose, refined sugar, cane sugar, 

 E.; Sucre, Sucre de canne, Fr.; zucker, rohrzucker, G. 



The refined sugar obtained from Saccharum oiEcinarum Linne, and from 

 Beta vulgaris Linne var. Ropa Dumort (Fam. Chenopodiaceae), and from other 

 sources. 



Habitat.— Indigenous in S. Asia, but cultivated in many tropical and sub- 

 tropical countries. 



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