CASCARA SAGRADA
   The dried bark of Rhamnus Purshiana, De Candolle (Nat. Ord. Rhamnaceae). A shrub of Northern Idaho and the Pacific coast. Dose, 5 to 30 grains. Common Names: Sacred Bark, Chittem Bark. Principal Constituents.—Several resins, a volatile oil, and cascarin, a glucoside thought to be identical with frangulin obtained from Frangula. Preparations.—1. Specific Medicine Cascara. Dose, 15 to 60 drops. 2. Extractum Cascarae Sagradae, Extract of Cascara Sagrada. Dose, 4 to 8 grains. 3. Fluidextractum Cascara Sagradae, Fluidextract of Cascara Sagrada. Dose, 10 to 60 minims. 4. Fluidextractum Cascarae Sagradae Aromaticum, Aromatic Fluidextract of Cascara Sagrada. Dose, 10 to 60 minims. Specific Indications.—Constipation due to neglect or to nervous and muscular atony of the bowels; minor ailments, dependent solely upon constipation, with intestinal atony. Action and Therapy.—Cascara is a simple and practically non-griping purgative, acting with but little or no prostration and never causing a watery stool. It has, moreover, a tonic action upon the stomach and bowels, and does not produce an after constipation. It is the most popular and most efficient agent for chronic constipation, and may be given for a considerable time without increase of dosage. In fact, the dose may be gradually decreased from day to day often with the result of completely curing the constipation. Cascara is adapted to cases of atony of the intestines. When other simple ailments depend upon constipation they may often be remedied-by cascara. It is an efficient purgative in pregnancy, in hemorrhoids with loss of rectal tone, in atonic dyspepsia with costiveness, and in sick headache due to atonic sluggishness of the bowels. Gastric and duodenal catarrh, with jaundice, are often rectified by cascara, and it has given good results in chronic diarrhea when accompanied by hepatic torpor. Only preparations of old cascara bark are desirable; the fresh bark is emetic and otherwise disturbing. The taste of cascara is extremely bitter. This may be modified to a large degree by the addition of fluidextract of licorice and spirits of anise and sassafras. The aromatic fluidextract is a pleasant preparation and has less of a tendency to cause griping. A good laxative is the following: Rx Specific Medicine Cascara (or the Fluidextract of Cascara), 2 fluidounces; Fluidextract of Licorice, 1/2 fluidounce; Essence of Anise, 1 drachm; Simple Syrup,to make 6 fluidounces. Dose: One half to one teaspoonful at bedtime. If a more profound action is desired a half drachm of Specific Medicine Podophyllum may be added.¹

MITCHELLA^MITCH
   The whole plant of Mitchella repens, Linné (Nat. Ord. Rubiaceae). Dry woods, hemlock forests, and damp places in the United States. Dose, 5 to 60 grains. Common Names: Partridgeberry, Squawberry, Squaw-vine, Checkerberry, Deerberry, One-berry. Principal Constituent.—An undetermined saponin-like body. No alkaloid, glucoside, nor volatile oil present. Preparations.—1. Specific Medicine Mitchella. Dose, 5 to 60 drops. 2. Syrupus Mitchellae Compositus, Compound Syrup of Partridgeberry (Mothers' Cordial). (Contains Mitchella, Helonias, Viburnum Opulus and Caulophyllum, Brandy, Sugar and Essence of Sassafras.) Dose, 2 to 4 fluidounces, 3 times a day. Specific Indication.—As a partus praeparator. Action and Therapy.—Based upon the practice and traditions of the American Indians this plant was eagerly adopted into domestic and early botanic and Eclectic therapy. It is believed by some to have a salutary influence upon the pregnant woman, easing many of the distresses incident to her condition, giving a sense of well-being and strengthening her for the ordeal of child birth. If it has any virtue it lies in quieting nervous irritability and giving a psychologic balance throughout the latter months of pregnancy. There seems to be reliable testimony to the effect that it assists in sustaining against miscarriages where such accidents have previously occurred. As a female regulator it has also had many devoted advocates. The Mother's Cordial is a popular and more rational preparation.¹

OLEUM CAJUPUTI
   Oil of Cajuput, Oil of Cajeput. A volatile oil distilled from the leaves and twigs of several varieties of Melaleuca Leucadendron, Linné (and others...MM) (Nat. Ord. Myrtaceae). The white or broadleaved tea tree of the Moluccas and adjacent islands. Description.—A light, thin, bluish-green liquid (after rectification colorless or yellowish) having an agreeable and decidedly camphoraceous odor, and a bitterish aromatic taste. With an equal volume of alcohol it forms a clear solution. Dose, 1 to 10 drops. Principal Constituents.—Cajuputol (Cineol or Eucalyptol) (C10H16O) (over 65 per cent), a constituent of many oils; terpineol and a small quantity of terpenes. Preparations.—1. Mistura Cajuputi Composita, Compound Cajuput Mixture (Hunn’s Drops; sometimes called Hunn’s Life Drops and Compound Tincture of Cajeput). Contains oils of cajuput, clove, peppermint, and anise, of each 1 fluidounce dissolved in 4 fluidounces of alcohol. A popular antispasmodic during the Cincinnati cholera epidemics of 1849-51. Dose, 10 to 60 drops well diluted, or in syrup, mucilage, brandy, or sweetened water. Large and repeated doses will cause gastro-intestinal inflammation. 2. Linimentum Cajuputi Compositum, Compound Cajuput Liniment (oils of cajuput, sassafras, and hemlock, 1 ounce each; soap, an adequate amount to form a liniment). Action and Therapy.—The compound liniment of cajuput is a useful stimulant and discutient. It is principally used in mammitis. The compound tincture of cajuput is effective in the relief of pain, as neuralgia, pleurodynia, myalgia, chronic joint inflammations, and in nervous headache. The oil applied to the cavity of a carious tooth sometimes relieves toothache. Internal. Oil of cajuput may be used for the same purposes as the other aromatic oils, chiefly as a stimulating carminative to relieve intestinal pain, spasmodic colic, and cramps, and to alleviate hiccough, nervous vomiting, and congestive dysmenorrhea. It is also a good stimulant in the cough of phthisis, and chronic forms of bronchitis and laryngitis. The Compound Cajuput Mixture is a most valuable agent in cholera morbus, being used by Eclectic practitioners oftener than any other medicine, except in severe cases when the conjoint use of morphine is necessary.¹

SARSAPARILLA^SMAR
   The dried root of (1) Smilax medica, Chamisso and Schlechtendal; or (2) Smilax officinalis, Kunth, or an undetermined species; or (3) Smilax ornata, Hooker filius (Nat. Ord. Liliaceae). Tropical America, Mexico to Brazil. Dose, 30 grains. Common Names: Sarsaparilla; (1) Mexican Sarsaparilla; (2) Honduras Sarsaparilla; (3) Jamaica Sarsaparilla. Principal Constituents.—The acrid glucoside parillin (smilacin, salseparin, or parillic acid) closely resembling saponin; resin and a volatile oil; and calcium oxalate, etc. Preparations.—1. Specific Medicine Sarsaparilla. Dose, 1 to 30 drops. 2. Fluidextractum Sarsaparillae Compositum, Compound Fluidextract of Sarsaparilla (contains Sarsaparilla, Licorice, Sassafras, Mezereum). Dose, 10 to 60 minims. 3. Syrupus Sarsaparillae Compositus, Compound Syrup of Sarsaparilla (contains Fluidextracts of Sarsaparilla, Licorice, Senna, Oil of Sassafras, Oil of Anise, and Methyl Salicylate, Alcohol, Sugar, and Water). Dose, 2 to 6 fluidrachms. Action and Therapy.—Sarsaparilla once held a high reputation as an alterative; it is now considered practically valueless. Almost the only use made of it at present is as a vehicle for iodides and other alteratives. For this purpose the compound syrup is largely preferred. Sarsaparilla is not wholly inert and its long-continued use may cause ulceration of the mucosa of the intestines. Some believe it also to possess an active cardiosedative principle, probably sarsaponin.¹

SASSAFRAS^SASSA
   The bark of the root of Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees (Nat. Ord. Lauraceae). Woods of eastern half of North America. Dose, 1 to 3 drachms. Common Name: Sassafras. Principal Constitutents.—A volatile oil (Oleum Sassafras), sassafrid, a decomposition product of tannic acid, resin, and tannin. Preparations.—1. Sassafras Medulla, Sassafras Pith. (Insipid, light, spongy, white and odorless, cylindrical pieces.) 2. Oleum Sassafras, Oil of Sassafras. Yellow or reddish-yellow liquid having the taste and aroma of sassafras; soluble in alcohol. Dose, 1 to 15 drops, on sugar or in emulsion. 3. Specific Medicine Sassafras. Dose, 5 to 30 drops, in syrup or on sugar. Action and Therapy.—External. Oil of sassafras is rubefacient and obtundant, and has been used to discuss wens, and to relieve rheumatic and other painful conditions, as bruises, sprains, and swellings. A mucilage of the pith (2 drachms to Water, 16 fluidounces) was formerly much used in acute ophthalmias. An infusion of the bark is a domestic remedy for rhus poisoning. Internal. Sassafras tea is a popular alterative, diaphoretic, and carminative. It and the oil are decidedly stimulant. The latter, like other aromatic oils, has been used with more or less success in cystitis with much mucoid flow, and in so-called chronic gonorrhea. The mucilage of the pith may be used as a demulcent. From ten to fifteen drops of the oil, administered in hot water or upon sugar, will sometimes relieve the pangs of dysmenorrhea. The chief use of sassafras oil is to flavor pharmaceutic syrups and other preparations.¹