Sarsaparilla
From London's Ghost Acres
Contents
British Pharmacopoeia 1867
Jamaica Sarsaparilla Sarsae Radix
“The dried root of Smilax officinalis… Native if Central America, imported from Jamaica.” 277
Characteristics
“Roots not thicker than a goose-quill, generally many feet in length, reddish-brown, covered with rootlets, and folded in bundles about eighteen inches long, scentless; taste mucilaginous, feebly bitter, faintly acrid.” 277 Used in the preparations of:
- Decoctum Sarsae
- Decoctum Sarsae compositum
- Extractum Sarsae liquidum
Preparations of Sarsaparilla
Decoction of Sarsaparilla / Decoctum Sarsae 100
- Jamaica Sarsaparilla, cut transversely (2 ½ oz), boiling distilled water (1 ½ pint)
- dose: 2-10 fl oz
Compound Decoction of Sarsaparilla / Decoctum Sarsae compositum 100
- Jamaica sarsaparilla, cut transversely (2 ½ oz), sassafras root in chips (1/4 oz), guaiacum wood turnings (1/4 oz), fresh liquorice root, bruised (1/4 oz), mezereon bark (60 grains), boiling distilled water (1 ½ pint)
- dose: 2-10 fl oz
Liquid Extract of Sarsaparilla / Extractum Sarsae liquidum 127
- Jamaica sarsaparilla, cut transversely ( 1 lb), distilled water, at 160° (14 pints), rectified spirit (1 fl oz)
- dose: 2-4 fl drachm