Cinnamomi Cortex-Cinnamon Bark.-The inner bark of shoots from the truncated stocks of Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Imported from Ceylon, and distinguished in commerce as Ceylon Cinnamon.

Characters.-About one-fifth of a line thick, in closely-rolled quills, which are about four lines in diameter, containing several small quills within them, light yellowish-brown, with a fragrant odour and warm sweet aromatic taste: breaks with a splintery fracture.

Impurity: Cassia bark, rougher, thicker, less aromatic.

Composition.-Cinnamon bark contains the officinal oil, as well as tannic acid, starch, sugar, and gum. The oil is readily-converted by exposure to air into cinnamic aldehyd, C9H80, and cinnamic acid, C9H802. See Styrax, page 334, and Balsa-mum Peruvianum, page 226.

Dose.-10 to 20 gr.

Preparations.

1. Aqua Cinnamomi

Aqua Cinnamomi. 1 in 8. Lose, 1 to 2 fl.oz.

2. Oleum Cinnamomi

Oleum Cinnamomi. The oil distilled from cinnamon.

Yellowish when recent, becoming red. Dose, 1 to 4 min.

3. Purvis Cinnamomi Compositus

Purvis Cinnamomi Compositus. Cinnamon, 1; Cardamoms,

1; Ginger, 1. Dose, 3 to 10 gr.

4. Tinctura Cinnamomi

Tinctura Cinnamomi. 1 in 8. Dose, 1/2 to 2 fl.dr.

Cinnamon is also contained in a large number of preparations of other more important drugs, including the compound powders of Catechu, Chalk, and Kino.

Action And Uses

Cinnamon, besides possessing the same action, and being used for the same purposes, as other aromatic substances (see Caryophyllum, page 242), has moderately astringent properties by virtue of its tannic acid. It is therefore the favourite flavouring and carminative agent in astringent powders, tinctures, etc. These are chiefly used in diarrhoea.