Materia Medica of the New Mexican Pharmacopoeia. Part 6.

Related entries: M. Ph. Materia Medica: part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 - part 5 - part 6 - part 7 - part 8 -
Related entries: M. Ph. Pharmaceutical preparations part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4.
Other tomes: King's (mat.med.) - King's (preparations)

BY THE EDITOR.

Culantrillo de México, Adiantum tenerum, Swartz; Filices; in Central Mexico. The pinnae are dark green, rhomboid, wedge-shaped at the base, the inferior margin entire, and the superior one lobulate in the fertile fronds, and dentate in the sterile fronds; the stalks smooth, shining and blackish. It is employed as a substitute for the European maiden hair, and in Guadalajara the decoction (two to four drachms to a pint of water) is much used as an aperient and for promoting the flow of the lochia.

Cundeamor, Momordica Charantia, Lin.; Cucurbitaceae; in Tabasco and Yucatan. According to Leon the leaves are anthelmintic, and the roots aphrodisiac.

Curaro, Ourari, Wourari. The dose cannot be fixed. It may be given in injections of 0.001 Gm. frequently repeated until the physiological effects are produced.

Chautle, Blettia campanulata, La Llave; Orchidaceae; in temperate regions of Mexico. A decoction of the tubers of this plant is used in dysentery. In like manner are employed the tubers of allied plants, such as Blettia coccinea, La El., Epidendrum pastoris, La Ll., Arpophyllum spicatum, La V. and others.

Chayote, Sechium edule, Swartz; Cucurbitaceae; cultivated. The fruit and little tubers are alimentary. A. Herrera found in the fresh tubers potassium tartrate and other salts, albumen, sugar, bitter resinoid matter, and 20 per cent. of starch which is employed as a substitute for arrow root.

Chia, Salvia Chian, La Llave; Labiatae; in the central table-land of Mexico, and cultivated in various parts of the Republic. Oliva found in the seeds starch, drying oil and mucilage. Mixed with water their bulk is considerably increased; this mixture flavored with sugar and lemon juice, furnishes a refreshing drink. The seeds are also used in the form of cataplasm as an emollient, and introduced into the eye for extracting therefrom extraneous bodies. (See also "Am. Jour. Phar.," 1882, pp. 227, 229, 261, 585.)

Chicalote, Argemone mexicana, Lin., A. ochroleuca, Salm, and A. grandiflora, Salm; Papaveraceae; in the valley of Mexico, etc. The milk juice is used in skin diseases and mixed with water, for removing from the cornea incipient opacities and spots. The flowers are pectoral and narcotic. The leaves, externally applied, are a remedy against headache, and are stated to contain a small quantity of morphine. Dr. Hamilton found the seeds to be narcotic, and the fixed oil obtained from them is drastic in doses of fifteen to thirty drops.

The American Journal of Pharmacy, Vol. 57, 1885, was edited by John M. Maisch.