Not official.. - The bark of Drimys Winteri, Foster, var. granatensis, Eichler.

Habitat

Venezuela.

Characters

In irregular pieces, outer surface irregular as well as the inner surface; color cinnamon-brown; upon fresh cross-section the bark is seen to be filled with yellowish spots, except in the outer portions; odor aromatic, especially if bruised; the powder is very pungent. Resembling Colo Bark.- Paracoto Bark, which has a less powerful odor and taste; and is marked with deep, whitish furrows upon its surface.

Composition

The chief constituents are - (1) Cotoin (see p. 605). (2) A volatile oil. (3) A resin in large amount. (4) A volatile alkaloid of a peppery taste, probably propylamine. (5) Piperonylic Acid, C8H6O4. Coto is placed here provisionally among the drugs containing Tannic Acid, until its composition can be ascertained.

Dose, 1 to 10 gr.; .06 to .60 gm.

Cotoin

Cotoin. - C22H18O6=377.10.

Characters

A glucoside occurring as a pale yellow, amorphous powder, or in minute, curved, white, fusible prisms.

Solubility

Slightly in water; soluble in Alcohol, Ether, and Chloroform. It has a biting taste, and its powder is irritating to the nostrils.

Dose, I to 2 gr.; .06 to .12 gm.

Action And Uses Of Coto

Coto is not astringent, but because it produces absorption, coto bark and cotoin have established a reputation as remedies for diarrhoea, whether infantile, in phthisis or in typhoid fever. It also checks salivation and night-sweats. A 10 per cent. tincture of coto has been recommended by the British Pharmaceutical Conference. Dose, 10 m.; .60 c.c. every 2 hours, with mucilage or syrup to suspend the large amount of resin which it contains. It should not be combined with Mistura Cretae.