24 MATERIA MEDICA. 



highly acrid nature, sparingly soluble in water, forming salts with 

 the acids. 



Effects on System. — Said by Christison, who has experimented 

 upon it, to act as a direct sedative to the cerebro-spinal system, oc- 

 casioning paralysis of the voluntary muscles, and subsequently of 

 the muscles of respiration, together with vertigo and general debility. 

 Its influence appears to be exerted more over the nerves of motion 

 than over those of sensibility, producing a paralysing effect upon the 

 muscles supplied by the former. 



Uses. — Employed by the ancients as a discutient or resolvent, in 

 enlargements and indurations of the glands and viscera ; also in 

 scrofula, bronchocele, leprosy, syphilis, and ulcers of a cancerous 

 character. Its chief reputation has been in cancer, for which it was 

 introduced into practice by Stork of Vienna ; but it is highly proba- 

 ble that its alleged virtues in this disease are solely due to its narcotic 

 powers. 



Hemlock is used in powder — dose, 3 or 4 grains two or three 

 times a day ; tincture — dose, f3ss. to f3j ; extract — an inspissated 

 juice of the leaves, — 3 grs. two or three times a day. 



ORDER II.— CONVULSIVES. 



This division of the cerebro-spinants includes such as produce 

 convulsions among their more prominent effects. There is a differ- 

 ence, however, in the circumstances attending these convulsions : 

 some being connected with an increased irritability of the muscular 

 fibre, and resembling the spasms of tetanus, while others are attended 

 with great depression, both of sensation and muscular power, as in 

 the cases produced by hydrocyanic acid ; while a third set may be 

 followed by delirium and stupor, as when caused by camphor. 



Nux Vomica.— U. S. 



Seeds of the Strychnos mix vomica, a middling sized tree, growing 

 in the East Indies. The fruit is a berry about the size of an orange, 

 containing many seeds imbedded in a juicy pulp. These are rather 

 less than an inch in diameter, circular and flattened, slightly concavo- 

 convex. Externally they are covered with a whitish silky down. 

 The interior is hard, of a horny consistence ; difficult to powder. 

 They have no odour, but an intensely bitter taste ; they yield their 

 active principle to dilute alcohol more readily than to water. 



Nux vomica owes its virtues to two alkaline principles which it 

 contains, called strycluiia and brucia, which exist in combination 

 with iga^uric acid. 



Strychnia may be procured either from nux vomica, or from St. 

 Ignatius'* bean, which contains it in large quantities. As found in 

 the shops it is usually granular, but it may be made to crystallize. 

 Colour white ; no odour ; taste, intensely bitter ; almost insoluble in 



