320

CAM

Q

nary and mesenteric affections : it may be given in combination withchalybeates, aromatics, saline purgatives, or with rhubarb, as circumstan-ces may require. (Form. 34, 15b.) Officinal Preparations. Infus :Calumba. L. Tinct : Calumba. L.E D. It becomes worm-eaten byage. and, in that condition, should be reacted. Those pieces wl'chhave the brightest colour, and the greatest specific gravity, are the best.The root of white briony, tinged yellow with the tincture of Calumba,has been fraudulently substituted for this root.

CAMBOGIA. L./' Stale

Gamboge, \Cambug

(Slalngmitis \Cambugioiiits. /

Gambogia. E.D.

Qualities. Form, lumps of a solid consistence, breaking with a vi-treous fracture ; Odour, none ; Colour deep yellow, bordering on red,and becoming, when moistened, a hrilliant light yellow. Sp. G^av ■•1.221. Taste, slightly acrid, but which is not experienced unless it beallowed to remain long in the mouth. Chemical Composition. Onepart of gum, (Cerasin,') and four parts of a brittle resin ; but this know-ledge throws no light on the nature of its cathartic property. Solubili-ty. When triturated with water two thirds of its substanr e are speedilydissolved, and a turbid solution results ; alcohol dissolves nine tenths,and forms a yellow transparent tincture, which is rendered turbid by theaddition of water ; sulphuric ether dissolves six tenths of the substance ;it is also soluble in alkaline solutions, and the resulting compound is notrendered turbid by water, but is instantly decomposed by acids, and theprecipitate so produced is of an extremely brilliant yellow colour,and soluble in an excess of acid. Incompatible Substancf.s. i v o bodiesappear to produce in gamboge such a chemical change as to destroythe chemicil properties which distinguish it, but by a mechanical ad-mixture, its solubility, and consequently its operation may be mate-rially modified. Dr. Cullen found that the inconvenience arisingfrom its too rapid solubility, and sudden impression upon the stomach,might be obviated by diminishing the dose, and repeating it at shortintervals as directed in Form : 89. Fokms of Exhibition. No formis more judicious than that of pill. Its alkaline solution has been some-times exhibited in dropsy, when it is said to operate both on the bowelsand kidneys Do=E,gr 2 to gr. 6. Uses. It is a powerful drastic cathar-tic, and hydragogue, very liable to excite vomiting, and from this pecu'iaraction upon the stomach it has been frequently employed with successin the expulsion of tenia? (Form: 161.) and it accordingly enters as aningredient into many of the empirical compositions which are sold for thecure of tape worms.* Officinal Preparations. Pil • Camhogitscomp • L. I'here is considerable difference in the degree of purity inwhich this substance occurs in the market ; it should be estimated by itsclearness and brilliancy.

• The Specific of Herrenschwand, which formerly "excited so much interest iuGermaay, consisted of 10 grains of Camboge with 20 of Mib-carbonate of Potass ; al-though it is said that on its being analyzed by order of Elizabeth of .Russia, therewere also found in it both Mercury and Arsenic.

Gamboge is also the basis of the Specific of Clossius.

Golden Spirit of Scjrvv Gr tss- This is merely a solution of Gamboge in th<Spir. \rmor3ciir-. comp'