COLOCYNTHIDIS PULPA. L.E.D.
(Cucumis Colocynthis.)
Colocynth. Coloquintida. Bitter Cucumber.
Qualities. The medullary part of this fruit, which is alone made use of, is a light, white, spongy body. Taste, intensely bitter and nauseous. Odour, when dry, none. Chemical Composition. Mucilage, resin, a bitter principle, and some gallic acid. Solubility. Alcohol and water alike extract its virtues, but the active principle resides both in the portion soluble in water, and in that which is insoluble. Medicinal Uses. It is a very powerful drastic cathartic, and was employed by the ancients in dropsical and lethargic diseases. Many attempts have been made to mitigate its violence, which is best effected by triturating it with gummy farinaceous substances, or the oily seeds; the watery decoction or infusion is much less severe, and has been recommended in worm cases, but it is rarely employed, except in combination with other purgatives. Thunberg informs us, (see his Travels, vol. ii, p. 171) that this article is rendered so perfectly mild at the Cape of Good Hope by being pickled, that it is absolutely used as food both by the natives and colonists. Mixed with paste or other cements, it is used to keep away insects, which it does by its extreme bitterness. Dose, grs. iv. to x. Incompatible Substances. The infusion is disturbed by sub-acetate, and acetate of lead; nitrate of silver; sulphate of iron, and by the fixed alkalies. Officinal Preparations. Extract. Colocynth. L. Extract. Colocynth. comp. L.D. Pil. Aloes cum Colocynth. D.E. (B) When the fruit is larger than a St. Michael’s orange, and has black acute pointed seeds, it is not good.
CONFECTIONES L. Confections.
Under this title the London College comprehends the conserves and electuaries of its former Pharmacopœias; but in strict propriety, and for practical convenience, the distinction between conserves and electuaries ought to have been maintained. Saccharine matter enters into each of these compositions, but in different proportions, and for different objects. In conserves it is intended to preserve the virtues of recent vegetables; in electuaries, to impart convenience of form. See Electuaria.
Confectio Amygdalarum. L. This preparation affords an expeditious mode of preparing the almond emulsion; it should be used in the proportion of a drachm to each fluid-ounce of distilled water.
Confectio Aromatica. L. Electuarium Aromaticum. E.D. This is a very useful combination of various aromatics, to which the London and Dublin colleges have added a carbonate of lime; this circumstance makes the preparation a judicious constituent for the exhibition of active salts, liable to be invalidated by the presence of acid in the stomach, but, at the same time, rendering it incompatible with acids, antimonial wine, &c. These observations do not of course extend to the aromatic electuary of the Edinburgh pharmacopœia. See Form: 15, 42, 49, 125, 126. Dose, ℈j to ʒj.
Confectio Cassiæ. L. The ingredients of this confection are manna, tamarind pulp, and syrup of roses. It is gently laxative, and from its agreeable flavour is well calculated for children. The pharmaceutist, in preparing it, must take care that he does not substitute the syrup of the red, for that of the damask rose; a substitution, as stated under the head of Syrupi, not very unusual. The confection does not ferment or become acescent. Dose, ʒj to ℥j.
Confectio Opii. L. Electuarium Opiatum. E. This is a combination of aromatics with opium, intended as a substitute for the Mithridate and Theriaca of the old pharmacopœias. It is highly useful in flatulent cholic and diarrhœa, and in all cases where a stimulant narcotic is indicated. One grain of opium is contained in grs. 36 of the London, and in grs. 43 of the Edinburgh preparation. Dose, grs. x to xxx.