426 
LECTURES ON TIIE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 
or even cultivated plant of this country ; secondly, from the roots of Germany 
being very liable to adulterations; and thirdly, because they will be there col¬ 
lected without any particular reference to the time of year, and hence will vary 
much in activity from that circumstance. Had English roots been ordered, there 
would have been far better opportunities of obtaining them genuine, and, as far 
as possible, of uniform strength ? 
Benzoinum. —This is an old article of the British Pharmacopoeias. It is 
stated in the British Pharmacopoeia to be a resinous exudation from the stem, 
hence one would naturally conclude that it exuded spontaneously ; but such is 
not the case, the resin only flowing out after the bark has been wounded. 
Bucco, Buchu. —This has also for many years been included in our Phar¬ 
macopoeias, but its botanical source is now properly given as Barosma betulina , 
Barosma crenulata , and Barosma serratifolia. It should be noticed, however, 
that B. crenulata is the B. crenata of Kunze, and Linn. sp. B. betulina , B. 
and W., is correctly stated in the British Pharmacopoeia to be the Diosnia 
crenata , Lodd. Cab. 
Calumba. —This well-known article of the materia medica is stated to be 
derived from Cocculus palmatus , De Cand. The recent investigations of Mr. 
Miers show that De Candolle’s plant is not our Calumba plant, which is the 
Cocculus palmatus, Wallich; the Menispermum Calumba , Roxb. ; and the 
Jateorhiza Calumba of Miers. This is but a recent discovery, and hence the 
authors of the Pharmacopoeia are not answerable for this error.* Amongst the 
characters of Calumba, it is stated to be about two inches in diameter. It is com¬ 
monly less than this and sometimes more, in fact, it varies in diameter generally, 
from about an inch to three inches. 
C amphora. —This well-known substance is described u as a concrete volatile 
oil, obtained from the wood of Camphora officinarum by sublimation, and resub¬ 
limed in bell-shaped masses; imported from China.” The statement in the 
Pharmacopoeia is incorrect, as crude camphor is alone imported, and is after¬ 
wards purified by resublimation in this country. 
Cardamomum. —The Malabar Cardamom obtained from the Elettarici Ccir- 
damomum is alone officinal, as in the last London Pharmacopoeia. The Phar¬ 
macopoeia directs for use u the seeds contained in their capsules, which are to be 
removed when the seeds are employed.” This is not strictly correct, as a capsule 
is a kind of fruit of which the seeds form a necessary part, hence, in removing 
the capsules, we should take away the seeds also. No doubt this expression 
would be understood, and the seeds used as directed, but it would have been 
better to have said—the seeds contained in their coverings (pericarp), which 
are to be removed when the seeds are employed. 
Catechu. —Two kinds of catechu are officinal, as in the last London Pharma¬ 
copoeia ; one is called the Black Catechu, and is an extract of the heartwood of 
Acacia Catechu; and the other is termed Pale Catechu, and is an extract of the 
leaves and young shoots of Uncarici Gambir. Both sorts are directed to be em¬ 
ployed indifferently in the Infusum, Pulvis Compositus, and Tinctura Catechu ; 
ancl the pale catechu alone in the Trochisci Catechu. Surely this is a mistake, 
at least as regards the Infusum and Tinctura Catechu, for such preparations 
would vary much, and more especially in colour, according to the kind of catechu 
employed, and would thus frequently lead the patient to the belief of his medi¬ 
cines being wrongly prepared. 
Chirata, Chiretta. —This was formerly officinal in the Edinburgh and 
Dublin Pharmacopoeias, but not in that of the London College. The entire 
plant ( Ophelia Chirata , DC.) is officinal in the British Pharmacopoeia. It has 
been long employed in India, both by the native and European practitioners, and 
* Miers on the Menispermacese, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Feb. 1864. 
