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Show 806 CASCARILLA, CASCARILLA. HISTORY. people Jabouring under the dysentery in Holland. It is not at present much used in this country, though Dr. Lewis, in his New Dispensatory, says that. it deserves to be more regarded Whe bark is imported into Europe from the Bahama islands, and particularly from one of them of the name of Eleutheria, from whichits trivial name is derived. But Dr. Wright also found the tree on the sea shore in Jamaica, whereit is common, andrises to about twentyfeet in height. It is the Clutia eleu. teria of Linnzus; the bark of whose Croton cascarilla has none of the sensible qualities of the cascarilla of the shops. This bark is in general imported either in curledpieces or rolled up into short quills, about an inch in width, somewhatresembling in appearancethe Peruvian bark. Its fractureis smooth, and close, of adark brown colour. It is covered with a rough, whitish epidermis ; andin theinside it is of a brownishcast. It has a light agreeable smell, and a moderately bitter taste, with some aromatic warmth. It burns readily, and yields, when burning, a very fragrant smell, resembling that of musk ; a property which distinguishes the cascarilla fromall other barks. Its active constituents are aromatic volatile oil and bitter extractive. Its virtues are partially extracted by water, and totally by alcohol; but it is most effectual when given in sub. stance. MEDICAL USE. It produces a sense of heat, and excites the action of the stomach ; and it is therefore a good and pleasant stomachic, and may be employed with advantage in flatulent colics, internal hemorrhagies, dysenteries, diarrhceas, and similar disorders. As the essential oil is dissipated in making the extract, this only acts as a simple bitter. Cascarilla, or eleutheria bark, is truly a hot, acrid, aromatic bitter, resembling in appearance the Peruvian bark, but is more bitter and pungent, though not so roughandastringent. It has been used as a febrifuge for stopping agues, in the same way as the Peruvian bark, and is much used in such cases among the Germans. It has been given A. D, 1794 and 1795, by doctor Apinus, of Altorf, with success, in remitting and petechial fe. vers: it generally sweated thepatients plentifully, and kept the belly open, giving those whom it did not sweat three or four stools in the day. And in the year 1719 it was foundto be of service in an epidemic dysentery which raged at Paris, and had had not yielded to ipecacuanha; and afterwards was found to produce like good effects when administered by Degencrus to than it is at present. 807 Dose from ten grains to half a drachm, or more. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. Tincture oF Cascari“yA. (Tinctura Cascarille. L. D.) Take of the bark of cascarilla, powdered, four ounces ; proof spirit, two pints: Digest with a gentle heat for seven days, and strain. This is a fine stimulating medicine, and excellent in the gout, or after that disease to give to the stomach tone and system. The dose is two drachms four times a day, in some cinnamon or common water, Restnous Extracr oF CascarinzA. (Extractum Cascarille Resinosum. D.) Take of cascarilla, in coarse powder, one pound; rectified spirit of wine, four pints: Digest for four days, then pour off the tincture, andstrain; boil the residuum, in ten pints of water, to two: evaporatethe filtered decoction, and distil the tincture, in a retort, till both begin to grow thick ; then mix them, and evaporate them to a state fit for making pills. Lastly, they are to be intimately mixed. The dose of this fromten grains to half a drachm. PRESCRIPTIONS. R.. 1. Take of the tincture of cascarili drachms 2, — vitriolicether - - - drops 20, — cinnamon water, simple peppermint water, of each, equal parts - - = ounce 1: Makeinto a draught, to be.taken three times a day. cellent stomachic. An ex- R. 2. Take of cascarilla, reduced to a coarse powder, camomile flowers, — aniseed, of each, equal parts - ounces 2: Put some hot cinders in a shovel, sprinkle this gradually onit, and fumigate the chambers of the sick. docs not keep off infection. It takes off smell, if it |