B. P., not official. - Cusparia Bark. Synonym. - Angustura Bark. The bark of Cusparia febrifuga (nat. ord. Rutaceae).

Habitat

Tropical South America.

Characters

Flat or curved pieces or quills, 16 cm. or less long, 4 mm. thick, obliquely cut on the inner edge. Externally a yellowish-gray, mottled, corky layer, which can be scraped off, and shows a dark brown resinous layer; inner surface light brown, flaky. Fracture short, resinous, and showing, under a lens, white points or lines. Taste bitter, aromatic. Odor musty, disagreeable. Resembling Cusparia. - Canella Alba, but this is darker, and has pared edges.

Impurity. - Bark of Strychnos nux-vomica (false Angustura bark); its inner surface gives bright blood-red color with Nitric Acid, showing Brucine; Cusparia does not.

Composition

The chief constituents are - (1) Cusparine, or Angustu-rine, a crystalline bitter alkaloid. (2) An alkaloid, Galipeine. (3) An alkaloid, Galipidine. (4) An alkaloid, Cusparidine. (5) An aromatic oil. It is stated that no Tannic Acid is present, but Iron Salts are incompatible with Cusparia.

Incompatibles. - Mineral acids and metallic salts.

Dose, 10 to 40 gr.; .60 to 2.40 gm.

Preparation

Infusum Cuspariae. B. P., not official. - Infusion of Cusparia, Cusparia, 5; Water at 120o F.; 48.80 C (to avoid extraction of nauseous principles), 100.

Dose, 1 to 2 fl. oz.; 30. to 60. c.c.

Action And Therapeutics Of Cusparia

Cusparia bark is an aromatic bitter, having a similar action to calumba. It is used to make Angustura Bitters. In South America it is given in large doses as an antiperiodic.