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PHARMA COONOSY. 
India and Burmah, and from the leaves and twigs of 
Uncaria ( Ourouparia ) Gambir (Fam. Rubiaceoe), a 
climbing shrub indigenous to the Malay Archipelago, 
and also cultivated in many of the islands thereof, the 
former being known as “black catechu” or “ cutch,” 
and the latter as “pale catechu,” “gambir” or “terra 
japonica.” These extracts are prepared by boiling the 
parts of the trees and shrubs yielding them with water, 
evaporating the strained liquid to a syrupy consist- 
ence and allowing it to harden. 
Description. — Black Catechu. — In irregular masses, 
with fragments of leaves or mats upon the outside, 
dark brown, somewhat shiny ; brittle, more or less 
porous internally; odor slight; taste astringent and 
sweetish. 
Catechu is somewhat soluble in cold water, the 
undissolved portion containing acicular crystals; al- 
most entirely soluble in boiling water, the solution 
giving an acid reaction; not less than 70 per cent, 
should be soluble in 90 per cent, alcohol. Few or no 
starch grains or vegetable tissues should be present. 
Pale Catechu. — Usually in more or less porous ir- 
regular cubes, about 25 mm. in diameter ; externally 
dull reddish brown; friable; internally paler, consist- 
ing chiefly of microscopical crystals; odor slight; taste 
bitter and very astringent. 
Constituents. — Catechutannic acid 25 (black cate- 
chu) to 35 per cent, (pale catechu) ; catechin ; catecliu- 
red, quercetin, and ash about 3 per cent. Pale catechu 
contains in addition a fluorescent principle. 
Adulterants. — Catechu is sometimes adulterated 
with other plant extracts, with various inorganic sub- 
stances, and starch. On account of the inferior quality 
of black catechu in recent } r ears the pale catechu has 
superseded it. 
