neutral, the other acid in reaction (podophyllinic acid). According to V. Podwissotzki, of Dorpat, podophyllum and podophyllin both contain a resinous, bitter, amorphous substance, which is very active and which he calls podophyllotoxin. This consists of two principles, picropodophyllin (crystalline, bitter) and podophyllinic acid (inert). Power * has shown that the rhizome con

FIG. 30.

PODOPHYLLUM PELTATUM.

tains no berberine nor any other alkaloid, and his investigations have been confirmed by Maisch.

Effects and Uses.-Podophyllum is therefore an active hydragogue cathartic, with an especial determination to the upper

*

Proceedings Am. Pharm. Assoc., 1877, p. 420. On the Resin of Podophyllum

Peltatum."

portion of the alimentary canal, and a pretty decided cholagogue action which, according to Rutherford, is due to stimulation of the hepatic secreting apparatus, and is greater when purgation is not profuse, and vice versa. He also concludes that purgation is due to intestinal irritation, which is essentially the conclusion reached by Anstie.* As a cholagogue and purgative, one of the following pills may be given at bedtime: R Resinæ podophylli, gr. ij; extracti colocynthidis compositi, gr. xxiv; extracti belladonnæ, gr. iij. M. Ft. pil. xij. It is an ingredient in several cathartic nostrums. Dose, in powder, gr. xx; of the abstract, gr. -j; of the fluid extract, mx-xx; of the extract (alcoholic), gr. v-xv; of the resin, gr. 1-j.

Podwissotzki found that the effects of podophyllum depended upon picropodophyllin, small doses of which caused purging while large doses produced vomiting.

As this is very expensive when pure, he recommends a 1 per cent. solution of podophyllotoxin in alcohol, which he gives in doses of gtt. xxx in wine.

He uses it in chronic constipation from sluggishness or atony of the muscular fibres, and in catarrhal jaundice. When podophyllotoxin is given internally, a cathartic effect is produced in about four hours; if given hypodermically, in about two hours. Dose, for a child, gr. 12026; for an adult, gr. 1-}, once or twice a day; eight or ten hours should elapse before the second dose is taken.

CHELIDONIUM

Chelidonium majus, known also as Celandine or Tetterwort (Nat. Ord. Papaveracea), is a perennial HERB growing in waste places, indigenous to Europe, but naturalized in North America. The stem is about two feet high, and hairy; the leaves are alternate, the upper ones sessile, light-green above and glaucous beneath, lyrately pinnatifid, the pinnæ ovate-oblong, obtuse, coarsely crenate or incised. The flowers appear from May to September, are of a bright golden-yellow color, and arranged in small axillary umbels on long peduncles. Chelidonium contains

* Med. Times and Gazette; Vol. 1, pp. 326, 487; "Report on the Phys. Action of Podophyllin."

neutral, the other acid in reaction (podophyllinic a ing to V. Podwissotzki, of Dorpat, podophyllum a both contain a resinous, bitter, amorphous sub very active and which he calls podophyllotoxin. two principles, picropodophyllin (crystalline, b phyllinic acid (inert). Power* has shown that t

portion of the alimentary canal, and a pretty decided cholagogue action which, according to Rutherford, is due to stimulation of the hepatic secreting apparatus, and is greater when purgation is not profuse, and vice versa. He also concludes that purgation is due to intestinal irritation, which is essentially the conclusion reached by Anstie.* As a cholagogue and purgative, one of the following pills may be given at bedtime: R Resina podophylli, gr. ij; extracti colocynthidis compositi, gr. xxiv; extracti belladonnæ, gr. iij. M. Ft. pil. xij. It is an ingredient in several cathartic nostrums. Dose, in powder, gr. xx; of the abstract, gr. -j; of the fluid extract, mx-xx; of the extract (alcoholic), gr. v-xv; of the resin, gr. 1-j.

Podwissotzki found that the effects of podophyllum depended upon picropodophyllin, small doses of which caused purging while large doses produced vomiting.

As this is very expensive when pure, he recommends a 1 per cent. solution of podophyllotoxin in alcohol, which he gives in doses of gtt. xxx in wine.

He uses it in chronic constipation from sluggishness or atony of the muscular fibres, and in catarrhal jaundice. When podophyllotoxin is given internally, a cathartic effect is produced in about four hours; if given hypodermically, in about two hours. Dose, for a child, gr. 12026; for an adult, gr. -, once or twice a day; eight or ten hours should elapse before the second dose

is taken.

CHELIDONIUM

Chelidonium majus, known also as Celandine or Tetterwort (Nat. Ord. Papaveracea), is a perennial HERB growing in waste places, indigenous to Europe, but naturalized in North America. The stem is about two feet high, and hairy; the leaves are alternate, the upper ones sessile, light-green above and glaucous beneath, lyrately pinnatifid, the pinne ovate-oblong, obtuse, coarsely crenate or incised. The flowers appear from May to September, are of a bright golden-yellow color, and arranged in small axillary umbels on long peduncles. Chelidonium contains

* Med. Times and Gazette; Vol. 1, pp. 326, 487; “Report on the Phys. Action of Podophyllin."

pellier Scammony, is occasionally imported into the United States. It is blacker than the genuine article, has a feeble balsamic odor and a very bitter, nauseous taste.

Effects and Uses.-Scammony is an energetic hydragogue cathartic, operating sometimes with great violence, and seldom given except in combination with other cathartics. We have seen no recorded fatal cases of poisoning by scammony; Orfila* ascertained that so much as 3iv in dogs only produced diarrhoea. Dose, gr. v-xv of the pure drug, gr. x-xxx of the drug of the shops; of the resin, gr. iv-viij. Scammony resin is of pleasanter smell and taste than jalap resin, produces less griping, and is less apt to cause vomiting. It is much used in the form of compound extract of colocynth.

COLOCYNTHIS-COLOCYNTH.

Colocynth is the FRUIT (deprived of its rind) of Citrullus Colocynthis or Bitter Cucumber (Nat. Ord. Cucurbitaceae), an annual plant of the south of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa, resembling the common watermelon. The fruit has a thin but hard rind, but is peeled and dried for exportation, and comes to

us from the Levant. It consists of light, whitish, spongy balls, about the size of a small orange, filled with numerous seed. For medicinal use the pulp only is employed, and the seed, which are inactive, are rejected. The pulp has a feeble odor and a nauseous, intensely bitter taste. It yields its virtues to both water and alcohol, and contains a peculiar glucoside termed colocynthin (C56H84O23), resin, colocynthitin, etc.

"Toxicologie Générale," Vol. I, p. 758.