Amygdala. Jordan Almonds. The seed of Amygdalus communis (the sweet variety), the Sweet Almond Tree; Lin. Syst., Icosandria monogynia; growing in Syria, Persia, also in Northern Africa and Southern Europe. The seed, from trees, cultivated about Malaga.

Amygdalae Oleum. Almond Oil. The oil expressed from the seeds of Amygdalus communis (both bitter and sweet varieties).

[Amygdala Dulcis. Sweet Almond. The kernel of the fruit of Amygdalus Communis, variety dulcis.

Amygdala Amara. Bitter Almond. The kernel of the fruit of Amygdalus Communis, variety amara.

Oleum Amygdalae Amarae. Oil of Bitter Almond. The oil obtained by distilling with water the kernels of the fruit Amygdal Communis, U. S., variety amara.

Oleum Amygdalae Dulcis. Oil of Sweet Almond. The fixed oil obtained from the kernels of the fruit of Amygdalus Communis, variety dulcis. U. S.]

Description. The character of the almond seed is well known; it is above an inch in length, lanceolate, acute, with a clear cin namon-brown seed-coat, and a bland, sweetish, nutty-flavoured kernel: the bitter almond is the smaller of the two. The oil is of a very pale-yellow colour, made by expression, and whether obtained from the sweet or bitter variety is the same in properties and composition, being nearly inodorous, or having a nutty odour with a bland oleaginous taste.

Prop. & Comp. Both varieties of almonds contain about 50 per cent. of the fixed oil, an albuminous principle, soluble in water, called emulsine, with sugar, gum, and woody fibre; the bitter variety, in addition to these, possesses a peculiar white crystalline principle, Amygdaline, (C40 H27 No22), soluble in water and alcohol, the solutions having a slightly bitter taste. It is to the presence of this body that the peculiar properties of the bitter almond are due, for when anygdaline is acted upon by the emul-sine, as occurs on moistening the almond, a species of fermentation ensues, and hydrocyanic acid (H Cy) and volatile oil of hitter almonds or hydride or hyduret of benzol (C11H5 O2 + H) are formed, with a little sugar and formic acid, and hence poisonous effects may result from such a decomposition.

The volatile oil, when deprived of prussic acid, is not poisonous, and resembles in appearance other volatile oils; on exposure it absorbs oxygen, and is converted into benzoic acid (C14 H5O3 + HO); it is procured by distilling the marc, left after the expression of the fixed oil from bitter almonds, with water; that sold in the shops is intensely poisonous from the large amount (from 4 to 8 per cent.) of prussic acid contained in it.

The fixed oil, sp. gr. 0.92, consists of margarine dissolved in oleine, and possesses no peculiar properties distinguishing it from other fixed oils. The bitter almond is not officinal, except as a source of the fixed oil.

Off. Prep. - Of Almonds. Mistura Amygdalae. Almond Mixture. (Compound powder of almonds, two ounces and a half; distilled water, one pint.)

Pulvis Amygdalae Compositus. Compound Powder of Almonds.

Synonyms. Confectio Amygdalae, Lond.; Conserva Amygda-larum, Edin.

(Jordan almonds, eight ounces; refined sugar, in powder, four ounces; gum arabic, in powder, one ounce.)

Of Almond OH, Used in unguentum cetacei, and unguentum simplex, etc.

Therapeutics. Sweet almonds are nutritive, from the albuminous, oleaginous, and saccharine matters contained in them; they are likewise demulcent, and are either used on account of this property, or more commonly the officinal preparations are employed as vehicles for the exhibition of other remedies: the fixed oil may be also used as a demulcent; in large doses it is purgative. Bitter almonds are poisonous in large quantities, and their exhibition is not advisable, the amount of prussic acid generated being very variable, and the officinal acid can always be prescribed with equal advantage and much greater safety. (See Acidum Hydrocyanicum Dilutum.)

Dose. Of pulvis amygdalae compositus, 60 gr. to 120 gr.; of mistura amygdalae, 1 fl. oz. to 2 fl. oz.; of oleum amygdalae (fixed), 1 fl. drm. to 1/2 fl. oz.

Prunum. The Prune. The dried fruit of the Primus domestica, or common Plum Tree; Lin. Syst., Icosandria monogynia; growing in Syria and in different parts of Europe.

Description. The finest and sweetest varieties are used as a condiment; the smaller kind, more acid and less pleasant, are employed in medicine. They are about an inch long, ovate, wrinkled, black, sweet, and somewhat austere.

Prop. & Comp. Prunes contain some malic acid, sugar, and a purgative principle the nature of which is unknown. Prunes are contained in confect. sennae.

Therapeutics. Seldom prescribed by the physician, but often used as a laxative or domestic medicine; they are somewhat apt to cause flatulence and griping.

Dose. 2 oz. and upwards. Prunes are often added to an infusion of senna to increase its purgative action and render it more palatable.

Lauro-Cerasus. The leaves of Prunus Lauro-Cerasus, or Cerasus Lauro-Cerasus, the Cherry Laurel [not officinal in U. S. P.];

Lin. Syst., Icosandria monogynia; a native of Asia Minor, but cultivated in English gardens.

Description. The leaves of the cherry laurel are four or five inches long, and about two broad; coriaceous in texture, ovate-lanceolate or elliptical, with a few dentations; shining and smooth on the upper surface, dull on the under and of a lighter colour, with two or four glands, and strong short foot-stalks; emitting a ratifia odour when bruised.

Prop. & Camp. On distillation with water they yield volatile oil and some prussic acid; neither of these substances are present in the leaves; Amygdaline, however, exists in them, and it is by the decomposition of this principle that the above products are obtained. (See Amygdala.)

Off. Prep. Aqua Lauro-Cerasi. Laurel Water. [Not officinal in U. S. P.] (Fresh leaves of common laurel, one pound; water, two pints and a half. Distil one pint.)

Therapeutics. Action as that of prussic acid. The strength of the above preparation is very variable, and this fact constitutes the great objection to its use, especially as all the valuable effects may be obtained by the use of the officinal acid.

Pose. 10 min. to 30 min. or more.

[Prunus Virginiana. Wild Cherry Bark. The bark of Cerasus Serotina. U. S. Lin. Syst., Icosandria monogynia. A fine tree, indigenous in the United States.

Description. The bark is in pieces of various sizes, deprived of its epiderm, of a reddish-brown colour, a bitter taste, and having an odour of bitter almonds.

Prop. & Comp. The bark contains a bitter principle and small quantities of amygdalin and emulsin, by the mutual reaction of which, in the presence of water, hydrocyanic acid is disengaged.

Off. Prep. Infusum Pruni Virginiani. A pint of infusion is made from half a troy ounce of powdered bark, by percolation with cold water.

Extractum Pruni Virginiani Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Wild Cherry Bark. Two pints of syrup, containing a little alcohol, are made from sixteen troy ounces of wild cherry bark, and two troy ounces of sweet almonds.

Therapeutics. Wild cherry bark is tonic, and slightly calmative and anodyne.

Dose. Of the infusion, 1 to 3 fluid ounces; of the fluid extract, 1 to 2 fl. drm.]

Cusso. Kousso. The flowers of Brayera anthelmintica [Brayera. Koosso. The flowers and unripe fruit of Brayera anthelmintica. U. S.]; they are said to be dioecious. The tree is a native of Abyssinia, growing chiefly on elevated ground, several thousand feet above the level of the sea.

Description. Small reddish-brown flowers, on hairy stalks, the outer limb of calyx five-parted, the segments ovate reticulated. The general colour of kousso, viewed en masse, is yellowish green, with the purple edges of the petals of the flower appearing pretty frequently and streaking the ground colour. It has a peculiar odour, somewhat like that of tea. It is safer to buy it with the flowers whole than in a state of powder, as in the latter case it is more readily adulterated.

Prop. & Comp. Kousso may be obtained either in the form of powder or of the dried flowers. It contains a volatile oil, gum, sugar, etc, and a crystallizable principle, koussine, but whether its active properties are due to the latter substance is unknown.

Off. Prep. Infusum Cusso. Infusion of Kousso. [Not officinal in U. S. P.] (Kousso, in coarse powder, a quarter of an ounce. Boiling distilled water, four fluid ounces. Prepared without straining.)

Therapeutics. Kousso acts as an efficient anthelmintic. Whether it is superior to other remedies of the same class, is as yet doubtful; it has little or no cathartic power, and the subsequent administration of a purgative is generally required to bring away the entozoa, which the kousso seems to destroy. It has been chiefly employed in cases where the tape-worm is suspected, or known to be present. Occasionally nausea, and even vomiting, are induced by the drug.

Dose. Of kousso, 1/2 oz. for an adult: 1/8 oz. to 1/4 oz. for a child. Of the infusion (including the infused flowers), 4 fl. oz. to 8 fl. oz.