Epitome of the Pharmacopeia of the United States and the National Formulary / With Comments

by Albion Walter Hewlett; William August Puckner; Torald Hermann Sollmann; Martin I. Wilbert

Dosage: 0.5 Cc. or 8 minims (N.F.).

*Copaiba (Copaib.), Copaiba, U.S.P. (Balsam of Copaiba, Copaiva).—An oleoresin.

Pale yellow or brownish-yellow, viscid liquid, with an aromatic odor and a persistent, bitter, acrid taste. Insoluble in water and partly soluble in alcohol.

Action and Uses: A mild but disagreeable irritant and diuretic. Used especially in the treatment of gonorrhea, but of doubtful efficiency. The copaiba mixtures as listed below were formerly widely used, but are disagreeable, irrational and usually inefficient.

Dosage: 1 Cc. or 15 minims (U.S.P.).

Massa Copaibae (Mass. Copaib.), Mass of Copaiba, N.F. (Solidified Copaiba).—Copaiba solidified by combination with magnesium oxide.

Dosage: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (N.F.).

Mistura Copaibae (Mist. Copaib.), Copaiba Mixture, N.F. (Lafayette Mixture).—Copaiba (12.5%), spirit of nitrous ether (12.5%), compound tincture of lavender, solution of potassium hydroxide in syrup and mucilage of acacia. Absolute alcohol content about 20 per cent.

Dosage: 8 Cc. or 2 fluidrachms (N.F.).

Mistura Copaibae et Opii (Mist. Copaib. et Opii), Mixture of Copaiba and Opium, N.F. (Chapman’s Mixture).—Copaiba (25%), tincture of opium (3.2%), spirit of nitrous ether (25%), and compound tincture of lavender in mucilage of acacia and water. Absolute alcohol content about 29 per cent.