Part 9

ACTIONS AND USES.--A true intestinal antiseptic and antiferment, is also expectorant, antiseptic and parasiticide. Used in intestinal flatulence, dissolved in tincture capsicum; in diarrhoea and dysentery, is of great value in these ailments, quickly allays foul odor of the evacuations of the bowels; large doses irritate the kidneys and cause bloody urine which ceases upon withholding the drug. When powdered on a wound as wire cuts, etc., will keep away flies and other insects, besides it is a powerful antiseptic and promotes the healing of wounds. Used as an ointment it is very effective in parasitic skin diseases.

NUX VOMICA--QUAKER BUTTON

The dried ripe seeds of Strychnos nux vomica, yielding when assayed by the process given below, not less than 1.25 per cent of strychnine.

HABITAT.--The tree is a native of the East Indies, growing in Bengal, Malabar, on the Coromandel Coast, in Ceylon, in many islands of the Indian Archipelago, in Cochin-China and in other neighboring countries.

DESCRIPTION.--Orbicular, nearly flat, sometimes irregularly bent, about three-quarters of an inch in diameter and two in thickness; externally grayish or greenish-gray, the surface covered with short closely oppressed, satiny hairs; rounded or somewhat acute at the margin, with a slight ridge extending from the center of one side to the edge; internally whitish-gray, horny, very tough, the endosperm in two more or less regular concavo-convex halves, between which, at one end, lie the heart-shaped, palmately nerved cotyledons; inodorous; taste intensely and persistently bitter.

CONSTITUENTS.--Two alkaloids. 1. Strychnine, 0.2-0.6 per cent. 2. Brucine, 0.5-1.0 per cent. Similar in action to strychnine, but weaker and slower. Both alkaloids exist in combination with igasuric acid. Brucine occurs in rectangular octohedral crystals; it is soluble in alcohol, in 7 parts of chloroform, and possesses a bitter taste. With sulphuric and nitric acids a beautiful blood-red color is developed. There are also: 4. Igasuric acid with which strychnine and brucine are combined. 5. Loganin, an inert glucoside occurring in colorless prisms.

DOSE.--Of the ground seeds, horses and cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep, 20 to 40 gr.; pigs, 10 to 20 gr.; dogs, 1 to 2 gr.

PREPARATIONS

EXTRACTUM NUCIS VOMICAE--EXTRACT OF NUX VOMICA

Made by maceration with alcohol, water and acetic acid; percolation with alcohol and water and evaporation. Standardized to contain 5 per cent of strychnine.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 5 to 15 gr.; sheep, 2 to 5 gr.; pigs, 1 to 2 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄ gr.

FLUIDEXTRACTUM NUCIS VOMICAE--FLUIDEXTRACT OF NUX VOMICA

Made by digestion and percolation with alcohol and water and acetic acid. The alcohol is distilled off and the solution evaporated. Alcohol and water are added so that the fluid extract shall contain one per cent of strychnine.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep, 20 to 30 m.; pigs, 10 to 20 m.; dogs, 1 to 2 m.

TINCTURA NUCIS VOMICAE--TINCTURE OF NUX VOMICA

Made by solution of the extract of nux vomica, 20 in alcohol, and water to make 1000. Standardized to contain 0.1 per cent strychnine.

STRYCHNINA--STRYCHNINE

An alkaloid obtained from nux vomica, and also obtainable from other plants of the natural order Loganiaceae.

DERIVATION.--Nux vomica seeds are powdered and strychnine is extracted with water acidulated with hydrochloric acid. The solution is concentrated and strychnine precipitated with lime. It is then redissolved in boiling alcohol and the crystals are deposited upon concentration of the solution.

PROPERTIES.--Colorless, transparent, prismatic crystals, or a white crystalline powder; odorless, having an intensely bitter taste, perceptible even in solutions of 1 in 700,000. Strychnine should be tasted with extreme caution. Permanent in the air, soluble in water, alcohol, ether, chloroform, benzine and amyl alcohol.

DOSE.--Same as strychnine sulphate.

STRYCHNINAE SULPHAS--STRYCHNINE SULPHATE

Made by the action of sulphuric acid on strychnine.

PROPERTIES.--Colorless or white, prismatic crystals, odorless and having an intensely bitter taste. Efflorescent in dry air. Soluble in water and alcohol. Almost soluble in ether.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1¹⁄₂ gr.; cattle, 1 to 3 gr.; sheep, ¹⁄₄ to ¹⁄₂ gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₁₂₀ to ¹⁄₄₀ gr. The small doses are to be used when strychnine is given subcutaneously.

ACTIONS.--Nerve tonic, stomach tonic, stimulates respiration, secretion, appetite and digestion; it increases peristalsis, stimulates both the motor and inhibitory apparatus of the heart, and raises arterial tension by stimulating the vaso-motor centers, thus contracting the arterioles, though full doses relax the arterioles and thus lower blood pressure.

Strychnine exalts all functions of the spinal cord, reflex, motor, vaso-motor and sensory, the latter being the least affected; it does not affect the brain directly.

TOXICOLOGY.--Large doses cause trembling and twitching of the voluntary and involuntary muscles with violent clonic spasms, lasting one or two minutes, gradually getting more frequent and severe in form involving the glottis, diaphragm and other muscles of respiration; causes death usually from asphyxia. Very large doses may paralyze the cord as from a blow, and cause almost instant death.

USES.--Nux vomica or strychnine is indicated in any condition in which there is a paralysis or depressed state of the nerves or nervous system; atonic dyspepsia, broken wind, relaxed condition of the bowels due to lack of tone, in small doses.

In weak condition of the heart give with small doses of digitalis; it stimulates sexual organs. Give it in convalescence from debilitating diseases, also as an aid to recovery during their progress; in collapse and for narcotic poisoning strychnine hypodermically in paralysis, whether of limbs, intestines or bladder.

In diarrhoea, due to lack of tone of muscular coat of the bowels combined with astringents; for anaemia, strychnine combined with iron and quinine; nervous coughs use strychnine with sedatives; also in incontinuence of urine and chorea, in dogs after distemper.

ANTIDOTE FOR STRYCHNINE POISONING.--Tannic acid or vegetables containing it should be freely administered, for the tannate of strychnine which is formed is very insoluble; an emetic or the stomach pump must be used promptly. The tetanic spasms are best controlled by chloral hydrate or very large doses of potassium bromide (2 dr. to ¹⁄₂ oz. for man) or 4 to 8 ounces for the horse as antidote for strychnine poisoning. Inhalations of ether are also recommended. Chloral hydrate may be used per rectum or intravenously. Inhalations of amyl nitrate are also of value. The administration of melted lard seems to exert peculiar antidotal properties to strychnine poisoning. As an emetic for dogs apomorphinae hydrochloras ¹⁄₂₀ to ¹⁄₅ grain, given hypodermically, is the best and may have to be pushed as emetics act tardily in poisoning by this drug.

OLEUM MORRHUAE--COD LIVER OIL

A fixed oil obtained from the fresh livers of cod fish.

HABITAT.--North Atlantic Ocean.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow, thin, oily liquid, having a peculiar slightly fishy but not rancid odor, and a bland, slightly fishy taste. Cod liver oil is often adulterated with the oil of other fish. Brown oils are not desirable therapeutically.

DOSE.--Horses, 2 oz.; cattle, 2 to 4 oz.; sheep, 1 oz.; pigs, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; dogs, 1 to 4 dr.; cats, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.

ACTION AND USES.--Nutrient, tonic and alterative; on account of its biliary constituents is easily emulsified and digested. It is indicated in all cases of malnutritions and where the digestive organs are weak; also in animals recovering from debilitating diseases, such as distemper and influenza. It is good in catarrh and bronchitis, as it appears to furnish suitable material for repair of the inflamed mucous membranes. Like other oils it relieves broken wind and is given to man in consumption. It is particularly used for the smaller animals. It is given to dogs and cats during distemper, also in eczema, epilepsy, chorea, rickets and chronic rheumatism.

OLEUM OLIVAE--OLIVE OIL--SWEET OIL

A fixed oil expressed from the ripe fruit of Olea europaea Linne. It should be kept in well stoppered bottles in a cool place.

HABITAT.--Southern Europe and Asia.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow, or light greenish-yellow, oily liquid, having a slightly peculiar odor and a nutty oleaginous taste, with a faintly acrid after-taste. Very sparingly soluble in alcohol, but readily soluble in ether and chloroform.

DOSE.--As a laxative--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 pt.; dogs, 2 to 4 oz.

OLEUM GOSSYPII SEMINIS--COTTON SEED OIL

A fixed oil expressed from the seeds of Gossypium herbaceum Linne and of other species of Gossypium and subsequently purified.

HABITAT.--Southern United States and other semitropical countries; cultivated.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow, oily liquid, without odor and having a bland nut-like taste. Very sparingly soluble in alcohol, but readily soluble in ether, chloroform or carbon disulphide.

DOSE.--Same as olive oil.

ACTION AND USES.--Both olive and cotton seed oil are laxative tonics, demulcents and emollients. Sweet oil, not used internally to any extent, but is used externally for soothing and healing irritated wounds. It may be used in its pure state or be mixed with carbolic acid, 20 m. of the carbolic acid to 4 oz. of sweet oil.

OLEUM RICINI--CASTOR OIL

DERIVATION.--Castor oil is expressed from the seeds of a plant (Ricinus communis) which grows in the East Indies and Africa in the character of a tree and rises sometimes thirty or forty feet. It also grows in the temperate latitudes of North America and Europe.

PROPERTIES.--Pure castor oil is a thick, viscid, colorless liquid, with little or no odor and a mild though somewhat nauseous taste.

ACTION AND USES.--Good castor oil is a mild and speedy cathartic, usually operating within four to five hours with little griping or uneasiness, and evacuating the contents of the bowels without much increasing the alvine secretions. Hence it is particularly applicable to constipation from collections of abnormally hard faeces, and to cases in which irritating substances have been swallowed or irritating substances have accumulated in the bowels. From its mildness it is also especially adapted to diseases of the bowels, as colic, indigestion, diarrhoea, dysentery and enteritis. It is also indicated in overloaded bowels in pregnancy combined with anodynes and antispasmodics to prevent griping. Castor oil in two or three ounce doses conjoined with gruel and five or six drops of oil of peppermint is suitable for foals and calves affected with gastro-intestinal disorders. Castor oil is specially applicable in canine practice, to evacuate the bowels, and in irritated conditions of the digestive tract, in ounce doses mixed with equal parts of glycerine and adding two or three drops of oil of wintergreen.

Castor oil may be given to horses in sixteen ounce doses conjoined with oil of peppermint, twenty drops, or tincture opium, one ounce and fluidextract of belladonna, one to two drachms, flour gruel, etc.

Castor oil in one to two drachm doses is especially valuable for poultry.

Castor oil is used with equal success in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders of cattle, sheep and pigs.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 12 to 16 oz.; sheep and pigs, 2 to 6 oz.; dogs and cats, ¹⁄₂ to 2 oz.; poultry, ¹⁄₂ to 2 dr.

OLEUM TEREBINTHINAE--OIL OF TURPENTINE Erroneously Called Spirits of Turpentine

DERIVATION.--A concrete oleo-resin from Pinus palustris Miller, and from other species of Pinus. The oil is distilled, usually by the use of steam, from the oleo-resin.

HABITAT.--Southern United States, from Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico.

PROPERTIES.--A thin, colorless liquid, having a characteristic odor and taste. Soluble in three times its volume of alcohol; also soluble in an equal volume of glacial acetic acid.

DOSE.--Carminative--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 4 dr.; dogs, 5 to 30 m. Best given in 8 to 10 times its bulk of cotton seed oil, linseed oil or milk. Anthelmintic--Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 oz.; sheep and pigs, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 4 dr. Diuretic--Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 dr.

PREPARATIONS

LINIMENTUM TERBINTHINAE--TURPENTINE LINIMENT

Composed of resin cerate, 650 parts; oil of turpentine, 350 parts; melt the resin cerate and add the oil of turpentine.

OLEUM TEREBINTHINAE RECTIFICATUM--RECTIFIED OIL OF TURPENTINE

Made by slaking oil of turpentine with an equal volume of Solution of Sodium Hydroxide, and distillation.

PROPERTIES.--A thin, colorless liquid, having the same properties as oil of turpentine and should be the one used for internal use.

DERIVATIVES OF TURPENTINE

TEREBENUM--TEREBENE

Made by the action of sulphuric acid on oil of turpentine and by distillation.

PROPERTIES.--A colorless, or slightly yellowish, thin liquid, having a rather agreeable thyme-like odor, and an aromatic, somewhat terebinthinated taste. Only slightly soluble in water, but soluble in three times its volume of alcohol.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; dogs, 5 to 15 m. Dilute same as oil of turpentine.

TERPINI HYDRAS--TERPIN HYDRATE

The hydrate of the diatomic alcohol Terpin.

DERIVATION.--Rectified oil of turpentine, alcohol and nitric acid are mixed together in a shallow porcelain dish, and after three or four days terpin hydrate crystallizes out. The crystals are collected, drained, dried on absorbent paper and purified by recrystallization in alcohol.

PROPERTIES.--Colorless, crystals, odorless, having a somewhat bitter taste. Soluble in 200 parts of water, 10 parts of alcohol.

ACTIONS.--Externally--Oil of turpentine is rubefacient, irritant and counter-irritant; vesicant if rubbed in or confined, also a powerful antiseptic and disinfectant; is absorbed by the unbroken skin.

Internally--Is diuretic, stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic, hemostatic and anthelmintic; it is irritant, and large undiluted doses may cause gastro-enteritis and paralysis of nerve centers.

USES.--In colic, both spasmodic and flatulent; for worms, give full doses, septic fevers; gangrene of the lungs; catarrhal conditions, pneumonia and bronchitis; as a diuretic, but others not as irritant are better.

For local gangrene remove the dead tissue and then apply the turpentine direct to the affected parts by means of absorbent cotton or cloth saturated with it; the offensive odor is removed and sloughing arrested. For tape worm it is given with oleo-resin of aspidium, in oil. As an inhalation in pulmonary diseases one-half ounce is added to three quarts of boiling water. In two drachm doses every three hours, if frequently, aborts suppuration in parotiditis of horses. In purpura haemorrhagica, turpentine is a valuable medicine as a vaso-motor stimulant and diuretic, given in two drachm doses every four hours with tincture chloride of iron and linseed oil.

OLEUM TIGLII--CROTON OIL

A fixed oil expressed from the seed of Croton Tiglium Linne.

HABITAT.--Asia, India, Indian Archipelago and Philippine Islands.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow or brownish-yellow, somewhat viscid, and slightly fluorescent liquid, having a slight fatty odor, and a mild, oily afterwards acrid and burning taste (great caution is necessary in tasting). Specific gravity 0.935 to 0.950 at 25° C. (77° F.).

CONSTITUENTS.--Crotonoleic acid is the purgative principal. A small amount is free in the oil but it is mostly formed within the bowels. It resembles acid of castor oil in its chemistry; crotonol is a non-purgative body causing irritation of the skin; tiglinic acid and other volatile acids existing as glycerides and accounting for the odor of croton oil; it also contains free and combined fatty acids.

DOSE.--Horses, 15 to 30 m.; cattle, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.; sheep and pigs, 5 to 10 m.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 2 m.

ACTIONS.--It is a powerful irritant and pustulant, is a drastic hydragogue cathartic; full doses cause gastro-enteritis and much prostration; undiluted it seriously and deeply inflames the skin, causing severe blemishes and by absorption it may cause fever and superpurgation. The purgative action is probably due in part to direct irritation of the intestinal mucous membrane; in part to absorption and elimination of the purgative principle by the bowels.

USES.--Cattle are the only animals for which it can be used with any degree of safety; it can be used for dogs and pigs if used with great caution. For horses and sheep it is too irritating and depressing; it is used in cattle as an active hydragogue purgative when they suffer from lodgment of fecal matter in the third stomach and other forms of constipation, and from torpidity of the bowels. Should not be used in debilitated, delicate or young animals. If an over-dose has been given combat with demulcents, opium and stimulants. It should not be used as a counter-irritant or applied to the skin in any form or for any purpose. Croton oil (in a pint of linseed oil) is valuable in assisting the action of salts in obstinate constipation of cattle. It may be given to horses when a powerful derivative and purgative action is indicated, as in acute inflammation of the brain and spinal cord with calomel and aloes in a capsule.

OPIUM

DERIVATION.--The concrete, milky exudate obtained by incising the unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum Linne, and yielding in its normal, moist condition, not less than nine per cent of crystallized morphine when assayed by the official process. Opium is imported from Turkey, Asia Minor, Persia, India and Egypt. The Smyrna, or Turkey opium, is the more common variety used in the United States. It occurs in irregular, globular masses, covered with poppy leaves and capsules of a species of dock, weighing from one-half to one pound.

PROPERTIES.--In irregular, flattened, more or less rounded masses of variable size, externally grayish-brown, covered with particles of poppy leaves and with occasional fruits of a species of Rumex; more or less plastic when fresh, but becoming hard on keeping; internally dark brown, somewhat lustrous; odor strong, narcotic; taste bitter and characteristic. It yields its medical properties to water, alcohol and dilute acids, forming dark brown solutions. Ether extracts its principles in part.

CONSTITUENTS.--There are about nineteen or twenty alkaloids derived from opium, but only a few are of any importance so far as their medical value is concerned.

DOSE.--Of the crude opium--Horses, 1 to 2 dr.; cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; sheep, 10 to 30 gr.; pigs, 5 to 10 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 2 gr.

PREPARATIONS

OPII PULVIS--POWDERED OPIUM

This is opium dried at a temperature not exceeding 85° C. (185° F.) and powdered and should not contain less than 12 per cent nor more than 12¹⁄₂ per cent morphine.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1¹⁄₂ dr.; cattle, 1 to 3 dr.; sheep, 5 to 30 gr.; pigs, 5 to 15 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₄ to 3 gr.

EXTRACTUM OPII--EXTRACT OF OPIUM

Composed of powdered opium, 100 parts; distilled water, 1000 parts; sugar of milk, a sufficient quantity. Made by trituration, filtration and evaporation. Assayed to contain 20 per cent of morphine.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.; cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep, 5 to 15 gr.; pigs, 3 to 10 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₄ to 2 gr.

PULVIS IPECACUANHAE ET OPII--POWDER OF IPECAC AND OPIUM--DOVER’S POWDER

Composed of ipecac, 10 parts; powdered opium, 10 parts; sugar of milk, 80. The most diaphoretic and expectorant compound of opium.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; dogs, 2 to 12 gr.

TINCTURA IPECACUANHAE ET OPII--TINCTURE OF IPECAC AND OPIUM--LIQUID DOVER’S POWDER

Composed of tincture of deodorized opium 100, evaporated to 80, fluid extract of ipecac 10, diluted alcohol sufficient quantity to make 100.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; dogs, 3 to 12 m.

TINCTURA OPII--TINCTURE OF OPIUM Popularly Known as Laudanum

Composed of granulated opium, 100 parts; alcohol, 400 parts; water, 400 parts; diluted alcohol to make 1000. Made by trituration, maceration with precipitated calcium phosphate and percolation. Assayed and standardized to contain between 1.2 and 1.25 gm. of morphine in 100 c. c.

DOSE.--Horses, 1 to 2 oz.; cattle, 2 to 3 oz.; sheep and pigs, 2 to 4 dr.; dogs, 3 to 20 m.

TINCTURA OPII CAMPHORATA--CAMPHORATED TINCTURE OF OPIUM

Well Known as Paregoric

Composed of powdered opium, 4 parts; benzoic acid, 4 parts; camphor, 4 parts; oil of anise, 4 parts; glycerine, 40 parts; diluted alcohol to make 1000 parts. Made by maceration and filtration.

DOSE.--Dogs, 1 to 4 dr.; puppies and cats, 2 to 10 m.

OPIUM DEODORATUM--DEODORIZED OPIUM

Composed of powdered opium, 500 parts; purified petroleum, q. s. Made by repeated maceration, agitation and percolation with purified petroleum benzine. The petroleum benzine removes narcotic and odorous principles, which cause nausea and disagreeable after-effects in opium. Contains 12 to 12.5 per cent of morphine.

DOSE.--Same as powdered opium.

VINUM OPII--WINE OF OPIUM

Composed of opium, cloves, cinnamon and sherry wine. Recommended for dogs suffering from diarrhoea.

DOSE.--Same as the tincture of opium.

MORPHINA--MORPHINE

An alkaloid obtained from opium.

PROPERTIES.--Colorless or white, shining prismatic crystals, or fine needles, or crystalline powder; odorless and having a bitter taste; permanent in the air; soluble in 3330 parts of water. The latter are preferable owing to their greater solubility.

MORPHINAE HYDROCHLORIDUM--MORPHINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Morphine is stirred with hot distilled water, to which hydrochloric acid is gradually added. Morphine hydrochlorate crystallizes out on cooling.

PROPERTIES.--White silky, glistening needles or microcrystalline cubes, or a white, crystalline powder, odorless and having a bitter taste; permanent in the air. Soluble in water and alcohol; insoluble in ether and chloroform.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 3 to 10 gr.; sheep, ¹⁄₂ to 2 gr.; pigs, ¹⁄₁₀ to ¹⁄₂ gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₂ gr. About one-half of these doses for hypodermic use.

MORPHINAE ACETAS--MORPHINE ACETATE

Morphine is dissolved in acetic acid and water and the solution evaporated and crystallized.

PROPERTIES.--A white or faintly yellowish-white, crystalline, amorphous powder, having a faint, acetous odor and bitter taste. Soluble in water and alcohol.

DOSE.--Same as morphine hydrochloride.

MORPHINAE SULPHAS--MORPHINE SULPHATE

Morphine is stirred into boiling distilled water; diluted sulphuric acid is added until neutralization is attained, and the sulphate crystallizes out on cooling.

PROPERTIES.--White, feathery, acicular, silky crystals, or in cubical masses, odorless, permanent in the air, and having a bitter taste. Soluble in water and alcohol, insoluble in chloroform and ether.

CODEINA--CODEINE

An alkaloid obtained from opium by evaporation of the ammoniacal liquid, after the precipitation of morphine. The residue is added to water, precipitated by potassium hydrate, and redissolved in ether, from which codeine crystallizes out on evaporation.

PROPERTIES.--White or nearly translucent, orthorhombic prisms, octahedral crystals, or a crystalline powder; odorless and having a faintly bitter taste; slightly efflorescent in warm air. Soluble in water, alcohol, ether and chloroform.

DOSE.--Dogs, ¹⁄₄ to 1¹⁄₂ gr.

HEROIN--DIACETYLMORPHINE

This drug is a derivative of morphine, and is now used extensively in human medicine as a substitute for morphine and codeine.