630 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



For the same physiological reason that ergot is employed 

 as a haemostatic, it has been prescribed with alleged ad- 

 vantage in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, 

 and bleeding piles. Ergotin is injected between the skin 

 and vessel walls for the cure of aneurism and varicocele. 

 This treatment is of doubtful utility. 



GossYPn Cortes. Cotton Boot Bark. 

 (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Ecorce de racine de cottonnier, Er.; baum- 

 wollen-wurzelrinde, G. 



The bark of the root of Gossypium herbaceum Linne, 

 and of other species of Gossypium (nat. ord. Malvaceae). 



Habitat. — Sub-tropical Africa and Asia ; also cultivated 

 in the United States. 



Description. — In thin, flexible bands or quilled pieces ; 

 outer surface brownish-yellow, with slight, longitudinal 

 ridges or meshes, small, black, circular dots, or short, trans- 

 verse lines, and dull brownish-yellow patches, from the 

 abrasion of the thin cork; inner surface whitish, of a silky 

 lustre, finely striate ; bast-fibres long, tough and separable 

 into papery layers ; inodorous ; taste very slightly acrid and 

 faintly astringent. 



Constituents. — 1, a fixed oil ; 2, a resin; 3, tannic acid. 



PREPARATION. 



Extraotum Oossypii Radicis Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Cotton 

 Root Bark. (Non-offloial.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with glycerin and alcohol, and 

 evaporation, so that 1 Cc. = 1 Gm. of the crude drug. 



Dose.— H. & C, I ss.-i. (15.-30.); Sh. & Sw., 3 ss.-i. (2.-4.). 



Action and Uses. — Cotton root bark resembles ergot in 

 its actions and uses, bub the drug has not been scientifically 

 studied in full detail. It is an osytoxic, abortifacient, and 

 emmenagogue. 



Cotton root bark is employed during parturition in 



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