EXTERNAL APPLICATION OF VERATRIA. 15 
which it will not be necessary to push the medicine, as its peculiar 
effects in general show themselves before that quantity is used. 
Should the sulphate or acetate be preferred, the doses administered 
ought to be rather less, as these act more readily upon the stomach 
than the tartrate. M. Magendie has suggested the form of solution 
for the employment of the sulphate, but it is a very objectionable 
one, both on account of its taste, and from the disagreeable sensations 
left by it in the mouth and pharynx, which often are of such a na- 
ture as to oceasion nausea and vomiting. | | 
In any case in which it may be desired to make use of the salts of 
Veratria, the plan that appears the best to be followed, is to adminis- 
ter a pill every three hours, until the sensation of heat and tingling 
manifests itself, and when this takes place, some alleviation of the 
pain will in general be observed ; but should this not be the case, 
the treatment ought to be persevered in, until it has had a fair trial, 
the dose being at the same time augmented accordingly as the pa- 
tient can bear it. In some instances, it has not been found necessary 
to continue the pills above a few days, whilst in others, a week or 
two has been required to produce their full effects ; and in almost 
every case, it has been requisite to regulate the bowels, by means of 
gentle aperients, to obviate the constipation which often comes on 
during their use. When the disease occurs in regular paroxysms, 
the pills ought to be resumed an hour or two before the expected 
time of attack. | 7 
External Appitcation of Veratria. 
Veratria may be applied externally, either in solution, in alcohol, 
or made into an ointment with hog’s lard: the latter form is the one 
which has been: most generally employed; but where unctuous 
applications are objected to, an embrocation made by dissolving from 
ten to twenty or more grains of Veratria, in an ounce of boiling 
alcohol, if applied in the same manner as the ointment, will prove 
equally efficacious.* The ointment may be made with similar 
proportions of the alcaloid to an ounce of lard, and of this, a piece, 
the size of a large nut, may be rubbed with the hand from five to 
fifteen minutes, night and morning, as nearly as possible, over the 
seat of the disease, until relief from the urgent symptoms be expe- 
rienced ; care being taken to observe that the skin over which the 
friction is to be made, be free from injury, otherwise considerable 
irritation of the part will ensue; and for reasons already given, the 
person who applies either form, must be careful not to insert even the 
smallest quantity under the eyelids. 
M. Magendie appears to have been the first person who suggest- 
ed the external application of Veratria in rheumatism, gout, and 
anasarca ; but his proposition does not seem to have been complied 
~* In cases where the skin is irritable, the proportions of Veratria employed, 
must be smaller than those now given. 
