Mezerei Cortex-Mezereon Bark.-The dried bark of Daphne Mezereum, Mezereon; or of Daphne Laureola, Spurge Laurel. British: the latter cultivated.

Characters.-In strips or quilled pieces of various lengths, tough and pliable, olive-brown on the surface, white within, fibrous, odour faintly nauseous, taste hot and acrid.

Composition.-Mezereon contains an acrid resin, which is the anhydrid of a resinous acid mezereinic acid; an inert fixed oil; and a glucoside daphnin, also probably inactive.

Preparations.

Extractum Mezerei Aethereum.-8 gr. to 1 fl.oz.

From Extractum Mezerei Aethereum is prepared:

Linimentum Sinapis Compositum.

Mezereum is also an ingredient of Decoctum Sarsae Compositum. 60 gr. in 1 pint.

Action And Uses

Mezereon is a powerful local irritant, like cantharis or mustard, causing vesication. Internally it is a stimulant and diaphoretic; it is in large doses an irritant poison. It is not employed alone, the ethereal extract being an ingredient of Linimentum Sinapis Compositum, and the internal use of the drug confined to Decoctum Sarsae Compositum as an alterative, in syphilis, chronic rheumatism, and skin diseases.