The qualities of Cinnamon depend upon the presence of an essential oil. Benzoic acid has been found in it. It is principally employed to cover the taste of nauseous medicines, and to correct the griping quality of different purgatives. It is, however, in itself, astringent and tonic, whence it has been found efficacious in the relief of alvine fluxes. Adulterations. It is sometimes intermixed with cinnamon from which the oil has been drawn; the fraud is detected by the weakness of the odour and taste of the specimen; sometimes it is mixed with cassia, but this is soon discovered, for cassia is thick and clumsy, breaks short, and smooth, and has a remarkable slimy taste, whereas the fracture of cinnamon is shivery, and its flavour warm and clean. Cinnamon ought not to leave a mawkish taste in the mouth; this circumstance denotes an inferior quality. There is an inferior kind imported into Europe from China, through the hands of private merchants; this is distinguished by being darker coloured, rougher, denser, and by breaking shorter; the taste is also harsher, more pungent, and ligneous, without the sweetness of Ceylon cinnamon. Dose of the cinnamon in powder is from grs. x. to ℈j. Officinal Prep. Aqua Cinnamomi, L.E.D, Spir Cinnamomi, L.E.D. Tinct. Cinnamomi, L.E.D. Tinct. Cinnamom. co. L. Pulv. Cinnamom. comp. L.E.
Cinnamomi Oleum. It is principally imported from Ceylon: it has a whitish yellow colour, a pungent burning taste, and the peculiar fine flavour of cinnamon in a very great degree.[[473]] It should sink in water, and be entirely soluble in alcohol. It is one of the most powerful stimulants which we possess. Dose, ♏︎i to iij, on a lump of sugar.
COCCUS. L.E. (Coccus Cacti.) Coccinella. D.
Cochineal.
It is an insect imported from Mexico and New Spain, and has the appearance of a wrinkled berry or seed of a deep mulberry colour, with a white powder between the wrinkles. Uses. Its medicinal virtues are now entirely discredited, and it is only employed for the sake of its colouring matter, for the purpose of a dye; it was known to the Phœnicians, and was the tolu of the Jews. Its watery solution is of a violet crimson, its alcoholic of a deep crimson, and its alkaline of a purple hue; the colour of the watery infusion is brightened by acids, cream of tartar, and alum, and at the same time partly precipitated. Dr. John has given the name of Cochenelin to this colouring principle, which M. M. Pelletier and Caventou have lately obtained in a perfectly pure state, as a very brilliant purple red powder with a granular crystalline appearance; these chemists propose to call it Carmine, but as Mr. Children very justly observes, if we adopt the term, its termination should be altered, to avoid confounding the pure colouring matter with the pigment in common use. It may be called Carmina, a more harmonious name than Cochenelin, (Ann: de Chimie, vol. viii). Incompatible Substances. The colouring matter is decomposed by sulphate of iron, sulphate of zinc, and acetate of lead. Officinal Preparations. Tinct: Cardamom: comp: L.D. Tinct: Cinchon: comp: L.D. Tinct: Gentian, comp: E. Tinct: Cantharid: D. Adulterations. It is invariably adulterated with pieces of dough, formed in moulds, and coloured with cochineal. I understand that this fraud gives employment to a very considerable number of women and children in this metropolis. A cargo of the counterfeit article was some time since exported, in order to obtain the drawback; by throwing a suspected sample into water, we shall dissolve the spurious ones, and ascertain the extent of the adulteration.
COLCHICI RADIX, ET SEMINA. L.E.D.
Colchicum Autumnale.
The Bulb of the Meadow Saffron.
Qualities. When recent it has scarcely any odour, but its taste is bitter, hot and acrid. Chemical Composition. Its properties reside in a milky juice, and depend upon an alkaline principle; it contains also gum, starch, inulin, and extractive matter, which, when in solution, undergoes a chemical change, analogous, I apprehend, to that which takes place in the infusion of Senna, and it would appear with similar inconvenience. Sir Everard Home ascertained that this deposit, in the vinous infusion, excites nausea and griping, but that it may be removed without destroying the efficacy of the medicine. The alkaline element, similar to that of the Hellebore (Veratria), lately found in it, appears to exist in combination with gallic acid. (Annales de Chimie, tom. xiv. Mai, 1820.) This alkaline body would seem to display its greatest energies by its action upon mucous surfaces; in small portions it excites violent sneezing, and when applied to the membrane of the stomach, immediate vomiting and purging are the result.[[474]] See Veratri radix. The virtues of the bulb of Colchicum are very variable, according to the place of growth and season of the year. Since the third edition of this work, I have been favoured with some valuable observations upon this subject by Mr. Alexander Gordon; he says that it is in its greatest perfection from the beginning of June until the middle of August.[[475]] It is also necessary to extract the virtues of the bulb as soon as it is gathered, for although removed from the earth, the developing process of vegetation continues, and the substance undergoes a corresponding series of chemical changes, and finally becomes as inert as if it had remained in the ground. It is a problem of some importance to discover a method of destroying the vegetable life of the bulb, without at the same time injuring its virtues, for I apprehend that a want of attention to the above precaution frequently renders the vinous infusion inactive. The practitioner engaged in preparing this vegetable remedy will find some valuable directions in the third edition of Thomson’s Dispensatory. The flower of the meadow saffron is very poisonous to cattle. Solubility. Vinegar and wine[[476]] are the best menstrua for extracting its active qualities; by decoction its essential oil is dissipated. Medicinal Uses. It has been much extolled on the continent as a remedy in dropsy, especially in hydro-thorax, and in humoral asthma; its operation however as a diuretic, is less certain than squill, although its modus operandi is analogous to it, as will be seen by referring to our new arrangement of Diuretic remedies. As a specific in gout its efficacy has been fully ascertained; it allays pain, and cuts short the paroxysm. It has also a decided action upon the arterial system, which it would appear to control through the medium of the nerves. Incompatible Substances. In my opinion, acids, and all oxygenated substances render the vinous infusion drastic; on the contrary, alkalies render its principles more soluble, and its operation more mild, but not less efficacious. Magnesia may judiciously accompany its exhibition. Dose of the saturated vinous infusion, the only form in which its successful operation can be insured, fʒss to fʒj, whenever the patient is in pain. See Vinum Colchici. Officinal Preparations. Acetum Colchici, L. Oxymel Colchici, D. Vinum Colchici, L. Spiritus Colchici Ammoniatus, L. Syrupus Colchici Autumnalis, E.
Colchici Semina. Dr. Williams of Ipswich has lately published an account of the efficacy of the Seeds of Colchicum, which he says possess all the virtues of the root, without its pernicious[[477]] qualities; the form in which he administers them, is in that of vinous infusion.[[478]] He also informs me that he has experienced considerable tonic effects from these seeds; and that unlike other narcotic remedies they do not appear to produce, or favour congestion in the head. The seeds ought not to be bruised, as their virtues reside chiefly in the husk, or cortical part.