CU′BEBIN

A peculiar substance obtained from cubebs. Prep. From cubebs (from which the oil has been expelled by distillation), by digestion in alcohol, evaporating the resulting tincture to one fourth, filtering, and then evaporating the remaining fluid almost to dryne . The residuum is left in a cold place until it a umes a semi-crystalline appearance, when it is thrown on a filter, and the fluid portion (the ‘cubebine’ of M. Ca ola) allowed to drain off. In 24 hours the substance left on the filter is di olved in 4 times its weight of boiling alcohol (sp. gr. ·90), the solution allowed to deposit its undi olved resin (still maintaining it near the boiling temperature), after which the clear portion is decanted. The crystals deposited as the liquid cools are cubeb in. It is purified by redi olving it in boiling concentrated alcohol, and the addition of a little boiling water and animal charcoal, when long, white needles will be deposited if the solution is allowed to cool very slowly. Prop., . It is insoluble in water, and nearly so in cold alcohol, but very soluble in boiling alcohol. It strikes a fine crimson colour with sulphuric acid, which remains unaltered for some hours; a property which distinguishes it from piper in. Its physiological action has been but little studied. According to Dr Görres, this for the most part resembles that of cubebs.