Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
Oct.,  1885.  j 
Properties  of  two  Rhamnus  Barks. 
499 
In  regard  to  the  squeamish  action  of  the  drug  noticed  by  Dr. 
Wiltrout,  in  the  Cascara  Sagrada,  this  has  likewise  been  observed  in  the 
bark  of  the  Rhamnus  Frangiila  the  first  year  after  gathering,  but 
when  two  or  three  years  old  retains  only  the  purgative  power,  and  is 
much  similar  in  its  effect  to  that  of  rhubarb,  consequently  most  authorities 
forbid  its  use  until  two  years  from  the  time  it  is  gathered,  and  the 
Norwegian  Pharmacopoeia  requires  the  bark  to  be  kept  one  year  before 
it  is  used  medicinally.  The  glucosic  fermentation  which  is  now  ad- 
mitted to  take  place  by  age  in  the  Frangula,  may  likewise  take  place 
in  the  Purshiana.  On  this  point  I  am  unable  to  give  an  answer  as 
I  could  not  ascertain  the  age  of  the  bark  operated  on. 
The  resins  of  both  species  Avere  obtained  from  the  concentrated  alco- 
holic tinctures  by  adding  them  with  constant  stirring  to  water,  when 
subsidence  had  taken  place,  decanting  the  supernatant  liquids,  washing 
the  precipitates  twice  by  decantation,  with  fresh  portions  of  water,  and 
drying  them. 
Eight  ounces  of  the  bark  was  operated  on  in  each  case.  The  bark 
of  Rhamnus  Purshiana  yielded  250  grains,  or  about  Q^-^  per  cent,  of 
resin,  which  is  dark  in  color  and  almost  black,  but  if  dissolved  in 
caustic  potash  solution  and  precipitated  by  diluted  acetic  acid  it  is  of  a 
l)rown  color.  It  is  very  bitter,  of  a  granular  appearance,  and  contains 
a  small  quantity  of  a  yellow  fixed  oil,  which  on  a  piece  of  white  paper 
produces  a  greasy  stain.  The  resin  is  soluble  in  alcohol,  diluled  alco- 
hol, in  sulphuric  acid  with  a  reddish  brown  color,  and  in  liquor  potassse 
with  a  purplish  red  color ;  it  is  insoluble  in  chloroform  and  ether.  In 
doses  of  1  to  3  grains  it  acted  as  a  laxative  and  cathartic.  The  ex- 
tractive matter  obtained  by  evaporating  the  water  used  in  precipitating 
the  resin  amounted  to  IJ  ounces,  or  18y^Q^  per  cent.,  making  a  total 
yield  of  both  of  24y^Q-  per  cent.  The  watery  extract  is  of  a  dark  red- 
dish browm  color,  when  perfectly  dry  breaks  with  a  snap,  the  fracture 
being  glossy,  but  when  exposed  to  damp  air  it  becomes  soft  and  sticky; 
it  has  an  intensely  lasting  bitter  taste,  much  stronger  than  the  precipi- 
tated resin,  and  its  physiological  action  is  similar,  2  to  3  grain  doses 
having  laxative  effects,  and  5  grains  acting  as  a  cathartic.  It  is  soluble 
in  a  large  quantity  of  water,  freely  so  in  dilute  alcohol,  sparing  soluble 
in  alcohol,  and  almost  insoluble  in  chloroform  and  ether;  with  sul- 
phuric acid  it  forms  a  reddish  brown  solution,  and  Avith  liquor  potassa^ 
makes  a  clear  solution  of  purplish  red  color. 
The  yield  of  r(!sin  from  the  Rhamnus  Catharticus  is  not  so  large  as 
