(Callicocca[542] Ipecacuanha.) _Ipecacuanha._
QUALITIES. _Form_, tortuous pieces of the thickness of a goose-quill,
surrounded by numerous prominent rings, separated by deep grooves. This
root, when powdered, has a faint disagreeable _odour_, and a bitter
sub-acrid _taste_. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. The late researches of M. M.
Majendie and Pelletier have detected the existence of a new vegetable
proximate principle in this root, to which ipecacuan is indebted for its
emetic properties; they have, accordingly, denominated it
_Emetine_.[543] It assumes the form of transparent brownish red scales,
which are nearly inodorous, but have a slightly bitter, acrid, but not
nauseous taste. _Emetine_ is decomposed by a heat higher than that of
boiling water; it is insoluble in water, in every proportion, without
undergoing the least change; and in a moist atmosphere it deliquesces;
it is also soluble in alcohol, but not in æther; _nitric acid_ dissolves
it, but at the same time decomposes it; _dilute sulphuric acid_ has no
action on it; _muriatic acid_ and _phosphoric acid_ dissolve it, without
altering its nature; _acetic acid_ dissolves it with great facility;
_corrosive sublimate_ precipitates it from its solutions, but
_tartarized antimony_ has no effect upon them; _gallic acid_, the
_infusion of galls_, and _acetate of lead_, precipitate it. A grain
excites violent vomiting, followed by sleep, and the patient awakes in
perfect health! It exerts also a specific action on the lungs and mucous
membrane of the intestinal canal; when taken in an overdose, its action
can be instantly paralysed by a decoction of galls. There seems to be no
great advantage in substituting this body for the ordinary powder of
Ipecacuanha, except perhaps that its taste being much less offensive, it
may very easily be given to children.[544] _Emetine_ appears to exist in
Ipecacuanha, combined in the following manner, _emetine_ 16, oils 2, wax
6, gum 10, starch 40, woody fibre 20.
Since the discovery of _Emetine_, whose properties are described above,
Pelletier has extended his researches into its composition and nature;
and he has lately been enabled to state that this body, which in
conjunction with Majendie, he had formerly announced as “a new vegetable
proximate principle,” turns out to be a compound of a peculiar alkaline
basis, which may be called _Emeta_, and some acid, together with an
admixture of colouring matter; when compared with _Emetine_, it is what
white crystallized sugar is to moist sugar. Its ultimate elements are
oxygen, hydrogen and carbon; it is a white and friable substance, and
unlike Emetin, is not altered by exposure to air; it is slightly bitter,
and very sparingly soluble in water; with the mineral acids it forms
salts, from whose solutions the infusion of galls throws down white and
flocculent precipitates; the alcoholic solution of _Emeta_ acts upon
vegetable colour as an alkali.
MEDICINAL USES OF IPECACUAN. It is unquestionably the most valuable of
the vegetable emetics, and in cases where the stomach is irritable it is
to be preferred to Tartarized Antimony, and it is also less liable to
act upon the bowels. In the form of decoction (made by boiling three
drachms of the bruised root in a quart of water down to a pint) it has
been found serviceable as an enema in Dysentery, and internal piles.
INCOMPATIBLE SUBSTANCES. All vegetable astringents, as _infusion of
galls_, &c. _vegetable acids_, especially the _acetic_, weaken its
power; Dr. Irvine found that grs. xxx, administered in f℥ij of vinegar,
produced only some loose stools. FORMS OF EXHIBITION. The form of powder
is most energetic, although the vinous solution is both active and
convenient. DOSE. The medicinal operation of this substance varies with
its dose, thus grs. x to ʒss act as an emetic; (_Form: 65_,) grs. j to
ij, as an expectorant, (_Form: 134, 138_,)and in still smaller doses it
proves stomachic and diaphoretic; by combination with opium, this latter
quality becomes more powerful, (_Form: 28, 130_.) The primary effect of
this medicine is that of stimulating the stomach, and it is equally
obvious that its secondary ones depend on the numerous sympathies of
other parts with the organs of digestion. The action of this remedy upon
the pulmonary organs is extremely interesting; it would seem that in
certain conditions of these organs, attended with a dry, hard cough, it
promotes expectoration, while in affections attended with an inordinate
secretion of mucus, it as certainly represses it, and acts the part of
an astringent. In dysentery, and chronic diarrhœa, its astringent power
is also very decided. _Form: 58_. When combined with cathartics it aids
and accelerates their operation; _Form: 84_. In Hemorrhage from the
lungs and uterus, it is decidedly useful, when administered in such
doses as to excite a slight degree of nausea, by which the force of the
circulation is controlled; I have usually combined it, for such a
purpose, with the Acetate of lead in Hæmopthysis; and Bergius relates a
case of violent uterine hæmorrhage which was successfully treated by
giving half a grain every half hour. In certain forms of Dyspepsia it
proves highly beneficial, when administered as proposed by Daubenton, in
doses just sufficient to excite a slight sensation of vermicular motion
of the stomach, without carrying it to the point of nausea, which may be
generally effected by half a grain three times a day. Its peculiar
nauseous taste is completely covered by the addition of powdered Gum
Arabic. SOLUBILITY. Alcohol takes up four parts in twenty of Ipecacuan;
proof spirit six and a half; and boiling water rather more than eight
parts; one pint of good sherry wine will dissolve about 100 grains; the
alcoholic is more emetic than the aqueous solution; decoction destroys
the emetic property of the root. OFFICINAL PREP. _Pulvis Ipecacuanhæ
comp:_ L.E.D. _Vinum Ipecac_. L.E.D.[545] The powder is liable to become
inert by exposure to air and light. The root is refractory, and is
reduced to powder with difficulty, unless a few drops of oil, or an
almond or two, be previously added. It is a curious fact that the
effluvia of this root occasion in some persons the most distressing
sensations of suffocation. I am acquainted with a lady, who is
constantly seized with a violent dyspnœa, whenever the powder of
Ipecacuan is brought into her presence. ADULTERATIONS. There are several
varieties of Ipecacuan to be found in the market, which it is important
to distinguish; _viz._ 1, _The brown variety_, which is the best,
containing sixteen per cent. of emetin; 2, the _grey variety_, with
fourteen per cent. of emetin; 3, the _white variety_, with only five of
emetin. The two former varieties are those usually met with, being
imported into this country in bales from Rio Janeiro; the brown is
distinguished from the grey, in being more wrinkled; the white variety
has no wrinkles whatever. We are informed by Decandolle that the genuine
root is frequently mixed with those of _violets_, _Apocynæ_,
_Euphorbia_, &c. It is also sometimes mixed with the roots of several
species of _Ionidum_.