KAMALA. A powder consisting of the minute glands obtained from the capsules of the Rottlera tinctoria, a plant belonging to the nat. ord. Euphorbiaceæ. Kamala is imported from India, where it is known under the name of kameela. The rottlera, from which it is obtained, is a tree from 15 to 20 feet in height, indigenous to India and to many of the East Indian Islands.
Kamala has long been employed in India as a remedy for tapeworm, and within the last few years has been given for the same purpose in this country with very general success. It may be administered in doses of from thirty grains to three drachms, suspended in water, rubbed up with mucilage, or mixed with syrup. In large doses, such as three drachms, it sometimes purges violently. After the third or fourth motion the worm is generally evacuated dead. A second dose may be taken in about four hours should the first fail to act; or instead of a second dose, some castor oil may be given. Kamala is also used externally by the natives of India in various skin complaints, particularly in scabies. It is also said to have proved useful in herpetic ringworm.
Cotton, Linen and Jute.
Dr Anderson obtained from the resinous colouring matter, which is the principal constituent of kamala, a yellow crystalline substance, to which he gave the name rottlerin. The existence of rottlerin has since been confirmed by Mr Groves, who found that it becomes changed by exposure, a circumstance to which he attributes its non-detection in old specimens of the drug, and to which may very reasonably be attributed Leube’s failure to find it.
The ‘British Pharmacopœia’ ascribes the following ‘characters’ to kamala:—“A fine granular mobile powder, of a brick-red colour; it is with difficulty mixed with water, but when boiled with alcohol the greater part is dissolved, forming a red solution. Ether dissolves most of it, the residue consisting principally of tufted hairs. It should be free from sand or earthy impurities.”
Kamala forms a very considerable article of export from India, it being a valuable dye.
KA′OLIN. Syn. China clay, Porcelain c. A fine white clay, derived from the decomposition of the felspar of granitic rocks. The potteries and porcelain works of this country are chiefly supplied with this substance from extensive tracts of it which occur near St Austie, Cornwall. See Clay.
Elsner[9] gives the following process for distinguishing kaolin from ordinary clay:—He agitates it in a test-tube with pure strong sulphuric acid till a uniform mixture is produced, decants the acid after subsidence, dilutes it carefully with six volumes of water, and supersaturates the cooled solution with ammonia.
[9] Dingl., ‘Pot. Journ.’ (Watts).