88  Examination  of  Cascara  Sagrada.  {'^"'ieb.^im''™' 
The  ferment  alluded  to,  seems  to  be  identical  with  that  existing  in 
numerous  other  vegetable  substances.  While  the  isolation  and  ulti- 
mate analysis  of  this  element  must  of  necessity  be  deferred  for  some 
time,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  it  in  a  state  of  purity,  yet  we 
may  say,  unhesitatingly,  that  its  effects  are  identical  with  those  of  the 
principle  existing  in  cabbage,  licorice  root,  in  frangula  and,  undoubt- 
edly, in  many  other  vegetables.  Its  presence  in  frangula  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  suspected  hitherto,  nor  has  its  raipge  of  possibly 
mischievous  action  been  fully  appreciated.  That  this  ferment,  as  it 
exists  in  cascara,  is  capable  of  producing  griping  or  epigastric  pain,  we 
have  absolutely  demonstrated.  The  necessary  steps  have  also  been 
taken  to  obtain  a  supply  of  fresh  frangula  bark,  in  order  to  decide  the 
question  absolutely,  as  we  are  convinced  that  it  is  this  ferment  in  the 
fresh  bark  which  causes  the  undesirable  results.  The  process  appears 
to  us  very  simple.  If  the  undestroyed  ferment  be  administered  along 
with  the  laxative  ingredients,  as  would  be  the  case  in  a  cold  infusion, 
the  identical  results  follow  as  in  the  bark  itself,  that  is,  a  generation 
of  free  acid,  which  in  the  case  of  the  stomach  would  undoubtedly  be 
lactic  acid,  and  prove  an  unwelcome  visitor  when  produced  in  abnor- 
mal quantities.  In  substantiation  of  this  view,  we  beg  to  quote  Bar- 
tholow  [Materia  3£edica  and  Therapeutics,  p.  69) :  In  large  doses 
(1  drachm)  it  (lactic  acid)  gives  rise  to  epigastric  pain,  flatulence  and 
loss  of  appetite."  How  important  a  recognition  of  this  fact  is  to  the 
scientific  physician  will  be  readily  appreciated,  inasmuch  as  a  great 
deal  of  unnecessary  pain  and  suffering  may  be  prevented.  Its  im- 
portance in  a  pharmaceutical  sense  will  be  recognized  by  those  inter- 
ested when  we  state  that  we  have  demonstrated  that  the  ferment  in 
question  is  operative,  as  far  as  we  are  concerned,  from  the  moment 
that  the  bark  is  removed  from  the  tree.  It  will  follow,  therefore,  that 
a  continuous  decomposition  and  change  is  going  on  in  this  bark,  as 
well  as  in  frangula.  The  means  of  removing  the  difficulty,  and  of 
obtaining  a  permanent  bark  which  retains  all  of  the  medicinal  activity 
in  the  highest  degree  will  be  at  once  apparent,  thereby  enabling  us  to 
secure  from  decomposition  the  principle  next  to  be  considered,  and 
render  the  bark  absolutely  permanent.  A  few  references  may  not  be 
amiss,  in  order  to  indicate  how  near  at  hand  a  recognition  of  this  sub- 
stance should  have  been.  Quoting  from  the  American  Journal  of 
Pharmacy,  1871,  p.  457,  H.  C.  Baildon,  of  Edinburgh,  states  that 
^^I  have  repeatedly  taken  the  decoction  myself  without  griping,"  and 
