Calumba. Calumbo. The root of the Cocculus palmatus, Ca-lumba plant; Lin. Syst., Dioecia hexandria; sometimes called Columbo root; the name was supposed to be derived from Columbo, the modern capital of the island of Ceylon, but it is imported from the Mozambique (Africa).

Description. It occurs in small cylindrical pieces, which are cut into thin disks. These vary in diameter from 1/2 inch to 2 or 3 inches, and in thickness from 2 to 4 lines; the central portion is spongy, yellow, and in concentric layers; the outer portion dark green or olive; the slices usually become concavo-convex in the drying, and thinner in the centre.

Prop. & Comp. Calumbo root has little odour, but a very bitter taste. It contains a neutral non-nitrogenized crystallizable principle, called Columbine (C42 H22 O14), but slightly soluble in water or proof spirit; an acid called Calumbic (C42 H21 O14), and an alkaloid, Berberine (C40 H17 No8), the salts of which are soluble, and yellow; and give the colour to the root. The calumbate of berberine is contained in the infusion and tincture. Berberine was first found in the Berberis vulgaris, and hence its name. It must not be confounded with Beberia, which is officinal, and which is obtained from Bebeeru Bark. There exists also much starch in the root.

Off. Prep. Extractum Calumbae. Extract of Calumbo. [Not officinal in U. S. P.] (Calumbo, in powder, one pound; proof spirit, eighty ounces. Prepared by maceration, percolation, and evaporation to a proper consistence.)

Infusum Calumbae. Infusion of Calumbo. (Calumbo, in coarse powder, half an ounce; cold distilled water, ten fluid ounces.) [From half a troy ounce of powdered Calumbo, a pint of infusion is obtained by percolation. U. S.] An infusion made with cold water.

Tinctura Calumbae. Tincture of Calumbo. (Calumbo, bruised, two ounces and a half; proof spirit, twenty fluid ounces. Prepared by maceration and percolation.) [From four troy ounces of powdered Calumbo, two pints of tincture are obtained by percolation with diluted alcohol. U. S.]

Therapeutics. Calumbo is a bitter stomachic and tonic, useful in debility of the digestive organs, and hence valuable in the noninflammatory forms of gastrodynia, pyrosis, and vomiting; also as a general tonic, especially in the early stages of convalescence from acute diseases; it is often usefully combined, in stomachic affections, with an alkali or alkaline bicarbonate, or with the nitrate of bismuth or hydrocyanic acid.

Dose. Of the powder, 10 gr. to 20 gr., or more; of the extract, 2 gr. to 6 gr.; of the infusion, 1 fl. oz. to 2 fl. oz.; of the tincture, 1/2 fl. drm. to 2 fl. drm.

Incompatibles. The infusion of calumbo now contains no starch in solution, and hence does not strike blue with iodine. Calumbo may be given with salts of iron, as it contains neither tannin nor gallic acid.

Adulteration. Tinged bryony root, also the root of the Frasera Waited, and of a Menisperm from Ceylon, have been substituted for true calumbo.

Pareira. Pareira. The dried root of the Cissampelos Pareira, or Velvet Leaf; Lin. Sys., Dioecia dodecandria; a plant growing in the West Indies and South America.

Description. It occurs in more or less cylindrical-shaped pieces, entire or split longitudinally 1/2 an inch to 4 inches in diameter, and 4 inches to 4 feet in length; externally brownish, wrinkled both longitudinally and transversely; internally yellowish-grey, with concentric circles and radiating rays, and very open or cancellated in structure.

Prop. & Comp. Odour very slight, taste, sweetish and then bitter. It contains a crystalline nitrogenized principle, named Pelosine or Cissampeline (C36 H21 No6), a strong base; besides which there exists some resin, a bitter yellow matter, starch, salts, etc.

Off. Prep. Decoctum Pareirae. Decoction of Pareira. (Pareira, sliced, one ounce and a half; distilled water, one pint and a half. Boil to a pint, and strain.) [The only officinal preparation of Pareira in the U. S. P. is the infusion made by macerating a pint of boiling water for two hours in a troy ounce of bruised Pareira.]

Extractum Pareirae Liquidum. Liquid Extract of Pareira. (Pareira, in coarse powder, one pound. Prepared by maceration and percolation of the powder with water, evaporation to thirteen fluid ounces, and subsequent addition of three fluid ounces of rectified spirit.)

Each fluid part of the extract contains a solid part of the root.

Therapeutics. Pareira is a bitter tonic, like calumbo, but scarcely ever used as such; it is thought to act as a diuretic, and to have an action on the mucous membrane of the bladder. Its use is chiefly confined to chronic catarrhal affections of that viscus, to allay irritation and diminish the mucous discharge; it may be combined with nitric acid or an alkali, according to the state of the urine; it is used also in chronic pyelitis.

Dose. Of powder, 30 gr. to 60 gr.; of the decoction, 1 1/2 fl. oz. to 3 fl. oz.; of the liquid extract, 1/2 fl. drm. to 2 fl. drm.

Adulteration. Roots and stems of other plants are stated to have been occasionally substituted, which have yielded much less extractive matter.

Cocculus. Cocculus Indicus. The fruit of Anamirta or Menisper mum Cocculus, the Cocculus Indicus plant; Lin. Sys.; Dioecia dodecandria; a climbing shrub, growing in the East India Islands and Malabar coast, etc. [Not officinal in U. S. P.]

Description. A berry, between a pea and a bayberry in size, consisting of a dark brown exterior, enclosing a wrinkled, bivalved shell, and a reniform yellowish and oily seed, which should fill at least two-thirds of the shell.

Prop. & Comp. Cocculus fruit contains a non-nitrogenized crystalline neutral principle, Picrotoxine (C10 H6 O4), which resides in the kernel and forms colourless stellate needles; also an alkaloid, Menispermine (C18 H12 NO), united with an acid, Cocculinic acid, contained chiefly in the shell.

Off. Prep. Unguentum Cocculi. Ointment of Cocculus. (The seeds of Cocculus Indicus, eighty grains; prepared lard, an ounce.)

Therapeutics. Cocculus Indicus, as well as picrotoxine, act upon the nervous system as intoxicating agents, apparently upon the cerebellum; they are not, however, used internally in medicine. Externally, in the form of the ointment, Cocculus Indicus is employed to destroy pediculi, and it is likewise occasionally used in chronic skin diseases.