766

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

a roma ticfleet

water. It is reddish brown ; has a balsamic, slightly bitter, not astringent taste ,when thrown on hot coals, evolves an agreeable odour. VtmUSj

3. Extractive. —Has a bitter, not balsamic taste. Its watery solution reddensnand is unchanged by either ferruginous solutions or tincture of nutgalls.

Chemical Characteristics. —The sesquichloride of iron deep®”*the colour of the infusion of cascarilla. The tincture of nutgalls , cal1 *turbidness, and at the end of twenty-four hours a very slight precip ltaThe alcoholic tincture deposits some resin on the addition of water.

Physiological Effects. —Cascarilla bark belongs to the ^

bitters, before noticed (p. 80). That is, it produces the combinedof an aromatic and of a moderately powerful tonic; but it ^ oeSpossess any astringency. Some pharmacologists place it with aromaothers with tonics. Cullen {Mat. Med.), though at one time unceras to which of these classes it belonged, ultimately classed it "’ l V vetonics. Kraus (Heilmittellehre, S. 401) states, that moderate doses brise, in very susceptible, especially in sanguine, subjects, to narc ,° aneffects; but though I have frequently employed it, I never observed 1 ^effect of this kind. Mixed with tobacco, and used for smoking, 1said to cause giddiness and intoxication (United States Dispensatory)■

Uses. —Cascarilla has been employed as a substitute for cinchon Jand, although it is inferior to the latter in tonic and febrifuge qualm ^its aromatic quality frequently enables it to sit easily on the stoma ’without causing either vomiting or purging, which, in irritable affect 1of the alimentary canal, cinchona is apt to produce. In this countryis principally employed in those forms of dyspepsia requiring an aromastimulant and tonic. It is also used in cases of debility generally! ain chronic bronchial affections, to check excessive secretion of nm cIn Germany , where it is a favourite remedy, it is used in many 0 fcases; such as low, nervous fevers, intermittents, the latter stagesdiarrhoea, and dysentery.

Administration. —The powder may be given in doses of from ^grains to half a drachm; but it is a less agreeable form thaninfusion. .. .

1. Infusum Cascarilla:, L. E. D. —(Cascarilla bark, bruised, 31! ;

[Sss. D.~) ; Boiling [distilled, L.) Water , Oj. [Oss. D]. Macerate ^two hours in a vessel lightly covered, and strain [through lm e °calico, E.]). A light and aromatic bitter tonic. It is a good vehicleacids and alkalies. The tincture of cascarilla is usually conjoined vcm 1Dose, from fji. to fgii. ..j^

2. Mistura Cascarilla composita, L. — (Infusion of CascaH

fjxvii.; Vinegar of Squill, fsi.; Compound Tincture of Camphor, *3Mix). Said to be useful in chronic affections of the mucous membraof the lungs. Dose, from f Si. to fjiss. twice or thrice a day. rju

3. Tinctura Cascarilla, L. E. D. —(Cascarilla bark, bruise*. 1moderately fine powder, E.], *v. [3iv. D.] ; Proof Spirit, Oij - Umeasure, D.] Macerate for fourteen [seven, D.] days, and

“ Proceed by percolation or digestion, as afterwards directed for l [ IlCof cinchona,” E.) Generally employed as an adjunct to tonicstomachic infusions. Dose, from fji. to f3ii.