Sarsa. Jamaica Sarsaparilla. The dried root of Smilax officinalis. Sarsaparilla; Lin.. Syst., Dioecia hexandria; native of Central America, imported from Jamaica.

Description. Sarsaparilla consists of the rhizome or root-stock, called also the chump, with numerous roots attached, generally several feet long, but of different lengths and thickness in different varieties; these roots often give off secondary rootlets, which are themselves again finely subdivided; they are then said to be bearded. On a transverse section of the roots they are seen to consist of a cortex or rind, and a ligneous cord, or meditullium inclosing the pith. According to the characters of these layers the Sarsaparillas of commerce have been classified by Dr. Pereira into the non-mealy and mealy varieties.

In the non-mealy varieties the cortex is deeply coloured and not mealy. Although some starch granules can be detected under the microscope, still the number is comparatively few. The diameter of the meditullium is generally four or five times greater than that of the cortex. Oil of vitriol applied to a transverse section causes both cortex and wood to become of a dark red tint, and iodine shows but a small amount of starch. Under this division are included the Jamaica, the Lima, and the true or lean Vera Cruz.

The Jamaica, the only officinal Sarsaparilla, occurs in bundles, from a foot to a foot and a half in length, with spirally twisted roots, not thicker than a goose quill, several feet in length, folded, with numerous rootlets (bearded) of a reddish-brown colour. Jamaica Sarsaparilla has a mucilaginous and slightly bitter and acrid taste; it is not mealy, but yields much extractive matter when heated with water.

Lima Sarsaparilla occurs in bundles, about two or three feet long, folded with the chump in the interior, of a greyish-brown colour; it is derived from Smilax officinalis.

The true Vera Cruz is not often found in commerce; it is lean, unfolded, with few rootlets; the chump is present.

The mealy varieties are distinguished by the large amount of starch contained in the inner cortical layers, which are sometimes equal in thickness to the meditullium; they break with a starchy fracture: the cortex is often cracked transversely, and sometimes falls off; they have occasionally a swollen appearance, and are then named gouty. If a drop of sulphuric acid be added to a transverse section, the mealy coat is unchanged, the ligneous zone becomes dark purple, and when a solution of iodine is applied, the starchy layer becomes evident, from the formation of the blue iodide of starch.

The mealy varieties include the Honduras, the Brazilian, and the Caraccas, or gouty Vera Cruz.

The Honduras occurs in bundles, about three feet long, composed of the folded roots, secured by a few circular twists; of a dirty brown colour, with many lateral fibers, but no chump; it is very mealy. It is brought from the Bay of Honduras. The botanical origin is doubtful.

The Brazilian or Lisbon occurs in bundles, from three to five feet long, composed of the unfolded roots, bound together very tightly by a flexible stem; of a reddish brown colour, with few rootlets. It comes from the Brazils, through Lisbon. It is probably derived from Smilax papyracea, and Smilax officinalis.

Caraccas, or Gouty Vera Cruz. In bundles, two feet and a half long, and one foot broad, of a pale yellow colour. The chump is present, and is very mealy. Derived from Smilax officinalis and syphilitica.

Prop. & Comp. Sarsaparilla contains a volatile oil, starch ligneous fibre, and a peculiar principle occurring as a white powder, Smilacin, of which little is known; soluble in hot water and alcohol, but almost insoluble in cold water; it colours sulphuric acid red.

Off. Prep. Decoctum Sarsae. Decoction of Sarsaparilla. [Not officinal in U. S. P.] (Jamaica sarsaparilla, not split, two ounces and a half; boiling distilled water, thirty fluid ounces. Reduce to a pint.)

Decoctum Sarsae[Sarsaparilla. U. S.] Compositum. Compound Decoction of Sarsaparilla. (Jamaica sarsaparilla, not split, two ounces and a half; sassafras, in chips; guaiac wood turnings; fresh liquorice root, bruised - of each a quarter of an ounce; meze-reon, sixty grains. Boiling distilled water, thirty fluid ounces. Reduce to a pint.)

Extractum Sarsa Liquidum. Liquid Extract of Sarsaparilla-(Jamaica sarsaparilla, not split, one pound; distilled water, at 160°, fourteen pints; rectified spirit, one fluid ounce. Prepared by macerating and digesting the sarsaparilla in the water, and evaporating by a water bath to one-half, or until the specific gravity of the liquid is 1.13; the spirit is added when the liquid is cold. The specific gravity should be about 1.095.) [Sarsaparilla, sliced and bruised, six troy ounces; bark of sassafras root, sliced, guaiacum wood, rasped, liquorice root, bruised, each, a troy ounce; mezereon, sliced, one hundred and eighty grains. Macerate with four pints of water for twelve hours, then boil for a quarter of an hour and strain, adding sufficient through the strainer to make the decoction measure four pints. U. S.]

[Extractum Sarsaparilla Fluidum. Fluid Extract of Sarsaparilla. Sarsaparilla, in moderately fine powder, sixteen troy ounces; sugar, in coarse powder, ten troy ounces; diluted alcohol in sufficient quantity. Four pints of tincture are obtained by percolation with diluted alcohol; this is evaporated to a pint. U. S.]

[Extractum Sarsaparilla Fluidum Compositum. Compound Fluid Extract of Sarsaparilla. U. S. Sarsaparilla, in powder, sixteen troy ounces; sugar, in coarse powder, ten troy ounces. Four pints of tincture are obtained by percolating the powder with diluted alcohol. This is evaporated to a pint; the sugar is then added, and the evaporation continued until the fluid again measures a pint.]

Therapeutics. Very little that is definite can be stated with regard to the action of sarsaparilla upon the animal economy; it is supposed to be diaphoretic, diuretic, tonic, and alterative. It is extensively employed in the treatment of secondary syphilis, but as it has been generally administered in combination with powerful remedies, it is difficult to ascertain how much influence this drug has had in the cure of the affection. By some practitioners sarsaparilla is regarded as a remedy of great value; by others as possessing but little power: as a rule it is more relied on by surgeons than physicians. Sarsaparilla has also been given in cachectic conditions of the habit depending upon other causes, as in scrofula, etc.; and in the form of the compound decoction, in which other stimulant sudorific agents are present, it is employed in the chronic forms of rheumatism, gout, and skin diseases.

Dose. Of either decoction, 1 1/2 fl. oz. to 4 fl. oz.; of the liquid extract, 1/2 fl. drm. to 2 fl. drm.

Adulteration. Inferior kinds of sarsaparilla are substituted for the officinal Jamaica variety; these yield much less extractive matter; sometimes other substances are mixed with it, as dulcamara, etc, detected by the difference of structure.