TERRA JAPONICA, more commonly called catechu, a drug formerly supposed to be an extract from the seeds of the areca catechu, but lately discovered by Mr. Kerr, assistant surgeon to the civil hospital at Bengal, to be obtained from the mi-mosa catechu. Mr. Kerr gives the following account of the manner in which the extract is made: "After felling the trees, the manufacturer carefully cuts off all the exterior white part of the wood. The interior coloured wood is cut into chips, with which he fills a narrow-mouthed unglazed earthen pot, pouring water upon them until he sees it among the upper chips; when this is half evaporated by boiling, the decoction, without straining, is poured into a flat earthen pot, and boiled to one third part; this is set in a cool place for one day, and afterwards evaporated by the heat of the sun, stirring it several times in the day. When it is reduced to a considerable thickness, it is spread upon a mat or cloth, which has previously been covered with the ashes of cow-dung; this mat is divided into square or quadrangular pieces by a string, and completely dried by turning them frequently in the sun until they are fit for sale (A)."
This extract is called catt by the natives, by the English
(A) "In making the extract, the pale brown wood is preferred, as it produces the fine whitish extract; the darker the wood is, the blacker the extract, and of less value. They are very careful in drying their pots upon the fire before they are used; but very negligent in cutting their chips upon the ground, and not straining the decoction; by which, and the dirty ashes they use, there must be a considerable quantity of earth in the extract, besides what avarice may prompt them to put into it.
"The antiseptic quality of catechu appears from the experiments made by Sir John Pringle. Huxham employed it successfully in cases where a putrid dissolved state of the blood prevailed. This extract is the principal ingredient in an ointment of great repute in India, composed of catechu four ounces, alum nine drams, white resin four ounces; these are reduced
Terra lish cutch, and by different authors terra japonica, catechu, khaath, rats, catbow, &c. "In its purest state it is a dry pulverable substance, outwardly of a reddish colour, internally of a shining dark brown, tinged with a reddish hue; in the mouth it discovers considerable astringency, succeeded by a sweetish-mucilaginous taste." According to Lewis, "it dissolves almost totally in water, excepting the impurities; which are usually of the sandy kind, and amounting in the specimens I examined to about one eighth of the mass. Of the pure matter, rectified spirit dissolves about seven-eighths into a deep red liquor: the part which it leaves undissolved is an almost insipid mucilaginous substance."
Uses. Catechu may be usefully employed for most purposes where an astringent is indicated, provided the most powerful be not required. But it is particularly useful in alvine fluxes; and where these require the use of astringents, we are acquainted with no one equally beneficial. Besides this, it is employed also in uterine profluvia, in laxity and debility of the viscera in general, in catarrhal affections, and various other diseases where astringents are necessary. It is often suffered to dissolve leisurely in the mouth, as a topical astringent for laxities and exulcerations of the gums, for apthous ulcers in the mouth, and similar affections. This extract is the basis of several fixed formulae in our pharmacopoeias, particularly of a tincture and an electuary: but one of the best forms under which it can be exhibited, is that of a simple infusion in warm water, with a proportion of cinnamon or cassia; for by this means it is at once freed from its impurities, and improved by the addition of the aromatic.