Euphorbium Resiniferum

EUPHORBIUM RESINIFERUM, euphorbium, dried milk sap of the African cactus-like Euphorbia resinifera Berg. The commercial preparation of E. consists of small pieces of grayish-yellow color, with a burning irritating taste and weak aromatic odor; it is slightly soluble in water, incompletely soluble in alcohol and ether. Composition: euphorbic acid, C₂₄H₃₀O₆, or its anhydride-euphorbin; 40% crystallizing euphorbone; 21% amorphous resinous substances; salts (especially many malic salts), starch, and rubber. Tschirch denies the presence of gum in E. E. was formerly used in medicine as a drasticum; the laxative effect belongs to euphorbone, which is also the strongest nerve and heart poison: it causes complete loss of sensitivity, disappearance of reflexes, loss of hearing, weakening of vision, first slowing of heartbeats, then their acceleration and finally paralysis of the muscles and motor apparatus of the heart, narrowing of blood vessels, and increase in blood pressure. The poisonous effect of E. was the reason that this preparation was completely discontinued for internal use and is now used only externally as a local irritant to the skin (causing hyperemia and blister formation). It is more often used in veterinary practice to keep artificial ulcers open, for which E. is used as a powder, mixed with magnesia or starch, or in the form of an ointure-1 part to 1.5 parts of fat. E. is a constituent part of the resinous plaster from Spanish flies-Emplastrum cantharidum perpetuum. It is interesting that the European Euphorbia lathyris and E. procera (Euphorbia or in the Saratov province-wild St. John's wort) contain sap with a strong laxative effect.