CATHARTIN  FROM  RHAMNUS  CATHARTICA. 
527 
lorized  by  acids,  by  which  operation  the  Rhamnin  is  precipitated. 
It  is  likewise  dissolved  by  strong  chlorohydric  and  sulphuric  acid 
with  the  same  color,  and  precipitated  by  a  large  quantity  of  water. 
Hot  nitric  acid  converts  the  Rhamnin  into  oxalic  acid,  a  yellow, 
bitter  substance,  (perhaps  picrinic  acid),  and  a  new  crystalline 
substance. 
Ripe  buckthorn  berries  yielded  Cathartin,  but  no  Rhamnin  ; 
and  it  is  probable  that  the  Rhamnin  by  the  ripening  process,  is 
converted  into  Cathartin  and  grape  sugar. 
Cathartin  is  a  pale  yellow  powder,  soluble  nearly  in  any  pro- 
portion of  water  and  spirits,  (not  in  pure  ether),  has  a  disagree- 
able, bitter  taste,  like  aloes,  is  neutral,  turns  of  a  dark,  brownish 
green  by  deutochloride  of  iron,  gold  yellow  by  liquor  subacetatis 
plumbi  and  the  alkaloids,  fuses  by  heat,  and  is  decomposed  at  a 
high  temperature;  acted  on  by  nitric  acid,  it  yields  a  good  quanti- 
ty picrinic  acid. 
The  resemblance  of  Cathartin  to  pure  Aloin  is  extended,  like- 
wise, to  physiological  properties.  Dr.  Graff,  president  of  the 
medical  board,  (medical  director,)  wrote  to  me  as  follows  : 
"Since  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  compound  pills  of  cathar- 
tin and  liquorice,  I  have  experimented  with  them  frequently  and 
with  good  effect.  Pills  containing  one  grain  of  cathartin,  cause, 
in  strong  persons,  one  or  two  stools;  in  weaker  ones,  three  or 
four,  without  any  griping.  In  many  cases  the  dose  had  to  be  re- 
peated after  three  or  four  hours,  to  operate  well.  A  young,  stout 
mechanic,  20  years  of  age,  suffering  under  an  affection  of  the 
liver,  had  to  take  three  pills  pro  dose,  two  or  three  times  a  day, 
to  produce  one  or  two  large  discharges  ;  after  taking  them  con- 
tinually, he  wanted  but  one  dose  of  three  pills  for  the  same  effect. 
In  general,  it  is  advisable  to  commence  with  one  grain  of  cathar- 
tin, and  then  to  increase  the  dose  if  necessary.  On  a  sick  man 
one  grain  of  Cathartin  had  no  effect  at  all,  but  taking  two,  he 
had  four  or  five  moderate  stools,  etc.,  etc.  This  remedy  is  cer- 
tainly very  valuable  in  constipation  of  the  bowels,  obstructions 
of  the  liver  and  spleen,  in  haemorrhoids,  hydropsy,  and  gout." 
If  the  juice  of  unripe  buckthorn  berries  be  evaporated  to  the 
consistence  of  a  syrup,  and  then  treated  with  liquor  Hoffmanni, 
(one  part  of  ether  and  two  parts  of  alcohol  of  80°),  cathartin  is 
obtained  in  an  impure  state  ;  but  being  very  powerful  it  will 
