ELATERIUM, a drug consisting of a sediment deposited by the juice of the fruit of Ecballium Elaterium (family Cucurbi taceae), the squirting cucumber, a native of the Mediterranean region. The plant grows like the vegetable marrow. The fruit resembles a small cucumber, and when ripe is turgid and separates easily from the stalk. On removal of the stalk the contents of the fruit are squirted through the aperture by the sudden contraction of the wall of the fruit. To prepare the drug the fruit is sliced lengthwise and slightly pressed; the greenish and slightly turbid juice thus obtained is strained and the deposit of elaterium formed after a few hours is collected on linen, rapidly drained, and dried on porous tiles at a gentle heat. Elaterium is met with in com merce in light, thin, friable, flat or slightly incurved opaque cakes, of a greyish-green colour, bitter taste, and tea-like smell.
The drug is soluble in alcohol, but insoluble in water and ether. The official dose is 1/10 2 grain, and the British pharmacopoeia directs that the drug is to contain from 20 to 25% of the active principle elaterinum or elaterin. Elaterin is extracted from elater ium by chloroform and then precipitated by ether as colourless scales. It has the formula C2011:,05. The dose is 1/40-1/10 grain. Elaterium is the most active hydragogue purgative known, causing also much depression and violent griping. When injected subcu taneously it is inert, as its action is dependent upon its admixture with the bile. It must not be used except in urgent cases.