Origin. - A volatile oil distilled from copaiba.

Description and Properties. - A colorless or pale-yellowish liquid, having the characteristic odor of copaiba and an aromatic, bitterish, and a pungent taste. Soluble in about ten times its volume of alcohol, forming a slightly turbid liquid, which is neutral to litmus-paper. The drug should be kept in well-stoppered bottles, in a cool place. Caryophyllene is an important constituent of the oil.

Dose. - 5-15 minims (0.3-1.0 Cc.) [8 minims (5 Cc), U. S. P.].

Antagonists and Incompatibles. - Copaiba is antagonized by the same drugs which antagonize turpentine. It is pharmaceuti-cally incompatible with aqueous preparations.

Synergists. - The same as for turpentine.

Physiological Action. - Externally and Locally. - Copaiba has no influence of importance, being but slightly stimulant to the skin.

Internally. - Digestive System. - Its action is analogous to that of turpentine and the volatile oils. The ingestion of the drug, even in small doses, is almost always succeeded by eructations tasting of copaiba.

Copaiba exerts no special influence upon the circulatory, nervous, and respiratory systems.

Absorption and Elimination. - The drug enters the circulation with facility, and is slowly eliminated by the skin and mucous membranes generally, although chiefly by the kidneys. The resin which the drug contains is a powerful stimulant of the genitourinary structures, increasing the quantity, and to some extent the solid constituents, of the urine. Large doses irritate the kidneys, occasionally producing strangury, bloody urine, pain in the bladder, etc.

Under the use of copaiba albumin is sometimes found in the urine. Frequently the nitric-acid test with urine may give a reaction as if for albumin, the conclusions being then erroneous, since the resin of copaiba eliminated in the urine is by the action of nitric acid precipitated as a milky cloud, readily differentiated from albumin by heating the urine or mixing it with alcohol, by both of which means the resinous precipitate is dissolved.

Copaiba acts as a stimulant and disinfectant at the points of elimination, in medicinal amounts increasing secretion and imparting to the secretion from the kidneys, bronchial mucous membrane, and skin a peculiar, fragrant odor.

Untoward Action. - It often happens that after a few days' administration of copaiba there is produced in certain individuals an eruption, usually resembling roseola, which later may be transformed into true papules; or the eruption may be scarlatiniform in character, or a true eczema ensue. These eruptions are first noticeable on the upper and lower extremities, backs of the hands and knees, malleoli, etc., and are attended with intense itching.

Under the prolonged use of the drug there may occur serious disturbances of the digestive and genito-urinary tracts.

Poisoning. - In addition to the untoward manifestations already mentioned, very large doses of copaiba produce symptoms similar to those described under Turpentine. Cases have been recorded in which excessive amounts occasioned paralysis and tetanoid attacks.

Treatment of Poisoning. - This should be the same as prescribed under Turpentine.

Therapeutics. - Externally and Locally. - Copaiba is of value in chronic diseases of the skin, such as psoriasis, lupus, etc. The drug has proved valuable in frost-bites.

Internally. - The principal use of copaiba is as a stimulant and disinfectant of the genito-urinary tract in cases of gleet, subacute gonorrhea, vaginitis, cystitis, pyelitis, etc.

In ascites and dropsical conditions, particularly those due to hepatic and cardiac diseases, the resin of copaiba proves a very efficient and reliable diuretic. Under prolonged use, however, a tolerance appears to be established.

Copaiba is a valuable remedy in chronic bronchitis and bron-chorrhea with offensive expectoration.

The drug has been at times given internally with good results in psoriasis, urticaria, etc., although the internal use of copaiba in these disorders is less common than formerly.

The drug has found enthusiastic advocates as a remedy in chronic diarrhea and dysentery, and has also been recommended in chronic proctitis and chronic intestinal catarrh.

Contraindications. - The same as for turpentine.

Administration. - The methods of administration recommended for turpentine are applicable to this drug. It is claimed that many of the untoward manifestations produced by copaiba may be prevented by giving the drug with an alkali. With this object in view, in the Pharmacopoeia of 1890 copaiba was associated with magnesia in the "Massa Copaibae." Yet, while this preparation is perhaps less likely to produce untoward results, it is undoubtedly less active therapeutically than the single drug.