34 MATERIA MEDICA. 



diseases, given in the form of strong decoction. It may also be used 

 in the same cases advantageously as a wash. Its virtues depend on 

 an alkaline principle named solajiia^ which is also found in the Stola- 

 num tuberosum^ or common potato. 



Dulcamara has been supposed by some to be antispasmodic, and 

 for this purpose has been employed in the cases of the insane. 



ORDER IV.-SEDATIVE STUPEFACIENTS. 



These are medicines which occasion great depression of the sys- 

 tem, attended often with nausea, sometimes with vomiting and purg- 

 ing, weakness and irregularity of pulse, syncope, giddiness, con- 

 fused vision, and occasionally convulsions, delirium, and stupor. 

 They are named by some writers sedative narcotics or nervous seda- 

 tives. The most important of this group are foxglove and tobacco. 



FoXGLOVE.^DlGITALIS, U. S.) 



The Digitalis purpurea is a biennial plant with long radical leaves, 

 from the midst of which an erect stem arises the second year, ter- 

 minated by a raceme of beautiful purple flowers. The parts used in 

 medicine are the leaves, which require to be selected and dried 

 with great care, and preserved so as to exclude the light. When 

 dried they should have a fine green colour, a slight odour, with the 

 strong bitterness of the recent plant. They contain a peculiar prin- 

 ciple termed digitalin^ on which their activity depends. 



Effects 071 System. — Those of a sedative narcotic ; causes tightness 

 and dull pain in the forehead, vertigo, dimness of vision, confusion 

 of intellect, great reduction of the heart's action — in some cases as 

 much as 30 pulsations a minute. It is also powerfully diuretic. 

 Poisonous doses produce nausea and vomiting, great prostration, cold 

 sweats, hiccup, convulsions, and death. It is cumulative in its action, 

 and therefore its effects require to be carefully watched. 



Digitalis is chiefly used to diminish the action of the heart in hy- 

 pertrophy and dilatation of that organ, also in certain forms of ner- 

 vous palpitations, in aneurism of the aorta ; in inflammation as an 

 adjuvant to the lancet ; in scarlatina, pertussis, epilepsy, and some 

 forms of hemorrhage ; also as a diuretic. Dose in substance gr. j, 

 two or three times a day ; of the infusion, made by adding 3ij to 

 Oj of water, fjss. ; of the tincture, fT|x to f^xxxx. 



Tobacco. — (Tabacum, U. S.) 



Leaves of the Nicotiana tabacum, an annual plant, native of 

 tropical America. It has an erect, hairy stem, long sessile leaves, 

 viscid and hairy. As found in the shops it is of a yellowish- brown 

 colour, strong, narcotic, penetrating odour, bitter, acrid and nauseous 

 taste. Alcohol and water extract its virtues. Its active principle, 

 named nicotina, is a volatile, alkaline oily liquid, without colour, with 



