Physostigma (fi-so-stig'mah). i

A genus of the Phaseoleae. 2. Of the U. S. Ph., Calabar bean (seed of P. venenoswn). List of poisons and their antidotes, see in appendix, page 940. extractum physostigniatis. A preparation made by extracting Calabar bean with alcohol. It should contain 2 per cent. of ether-soluble alkaloids [U. S. Ph.]. P. venenosum. Calabar bean; indigenous near the mouths of the Niger and Old Calabar rivers of western Africa, and naturalized in India and Brazil. The fruit is a deadly poison. It is used in Africa as an ordeal poison. It contains several poisonous alkaloids (see eserin and cal a bar in) and an indifferent substance, phytosterin, closely allied to cholesterin. P. is used chiefly as a miotic in glaucoma. It is antagonistic to atrophin and hyoscyamin. tinctura physostigmatis. A 10 per cent, tincture of Calabar bean [U. S. Ph.]. [Gr., phys a, a bladder, + stigma, a mark.]