174. Coto.—Coto bark.
174. COTO.—COTO BARK. Origin undetermined. Habitat: Bolivia. Very large, flat pieces, about 5 to 15 mm. (1/5 to 3/5 in.) thick, usually deprived of cork; the outer surface cinnamon-brown, rough, having the appearance of having been shaved or split off; inner surface darker brown, rough from numerous close ridges of longitudinally projecting bark fiber; a fresh cross-section shows numerous small, yellowish spots (groups of stone cells). Odor aromatic, cinnamon-like, stronger when bruised; taste hot, bitter.
PARACOTO BARK, N.F.—Which occasionally enters our market from Bolivia, very much resembles the above, but is marked with whitish fissures, and has a fainter, somewhat nutmeg-like odor.
CONSTITUENTS.—Cotoin, in true coto bark, paracotoin in the other; both barks contain volatile oil, resin, and piperonylic acid. They have established quite a reputation in diarrhoea. Dose: 5 to 10 gr. (0.3 to 0.6 Gm.).
