ACTIONS AND USES 543 



in chloroform or ether. Similar seeds are got from the 

 S. hispidus. A paste prepared from strophanthus seeds is 

 used in Africa as an arrow poison. 



ACTIONS AND USES. The seeds and their active principle 

 are muscle poisons. They augment the contractile power, 

 especially of striated muscles. They resemble digitalis 

 and the bodies of that group. They are prescribed as 

 cardiac tonics and diuretics. 



Fraser has carefully investigated the actions of stroph- 

 anthus and digitalis. The former, he reports, is more 

 soluble, and hence more rapid in its actions ; but it is also 

 more quickly eliminated, and its effects are hence less 

 durable, and the cumulative results credited to digitalis are 

 not observed. Its efficacy does not, however, seem to be 

 impaired by repetition. Full doses produce less gastro- 

 intestinal disorder and less marked vascular contraction. 

 Strophanthus acts more notably on striated muscle, digitalis 

 on unstriated ; strophanthus has less diuretic action, and 

 may with safety be given more frequently and in larger 

 doses than digitalis. Both increase the length and power 

 of the heart systole, and hence strengthen and co-ordinate 

 enfeebled or irregular action. Frohner has experimented 

 on various animals, and concludes that the lethal dose of 

 strophanthus tincture is about half a gramme (7J minims) 

 per kilogramme of body- weight. Horses tolerate 100 

 grammes, dogs 10 to 20 minims of the tincture. Full 

 doses, he states, are irritant, narcotic, producing hsemorr- 

 hagic gastro-enteritis, colic, diarrhoea, cramp, with some 

 stupor. The cardiac action manifests two stages 



(1) diminution of pulse-rate, with rise of temperature ; 



(2) increase of pulse-rate, with diminution of temperature. 

 MEDICINAL USES. Strophanthus is prescribed to slow, 



strengthen, and steady feeble or faulty heart action. Com- 

 bining cardiac tonic and diuretic effects, it is commended by 

 Frohner in valvular disease, hydrothorax, hydropericarditis, 

 ascites, and chronic nephritis. 



DOSES. Of the tincture, made with one part of seed to 

 forty of alcohol (70 per cent.), horses and cattle take f^iv. 

 to f 3vi., and dogs fl|ii. to H\xxv. 



