108 



MATERIA MEDICA. 



Ammonia. 

 A stimulant antacid, given in aqueous or alcoholic solution. 



The 



Aqua ammonicB or the Spiritus ammonice, are seldom used inter- 

 nally, in the undiluted form. The Spiritus ammonice aromaticus 

 is an excellent stimulant in languors, faintings, flatulent colic, &c. 

 Carbonate of ammonia is also antacid. 



CLASS XXII.— ANTHELMINTICS. 



Fig. 29. 



" Medicines which destroy 

 or expel worms from the ali- 

 mentary canal." Some act 

 by a direct poisonous influ- 

 ence upon the worms, caus- 

 ing their death ; others, by a 

 purely mechanical method; 

 others, again — as the drastic 

 cathartics — through the in- 

 creased amount of mucous 

 exhalation produced. 



Pink Root. — (Spigelia, 

 U.S.) 

 An indigenous, herbaceous 

 perennial, growing in the 

 Southern States. The root is 

 the officinal part. It consists 

 of numerous branching, wrin- 

 kled fibres, attached to a cau- 

 dex ; colour, brownish-yellow 

 externally; odour, faint; taste, 

 sweetish and bitter. It con- 

 tains a fixed oil, and a pecu- 

 liar bitter extractive, which is 

 the active principle, and some 

 others. Large doses are ca- 

 thartic and sometimes nar- 

 cotic. It ranks high as an 

 anthelmintic, destroying the 

 worms. Given in powder 

 and decoction ; dose of pow- 

 der for a child two to four 

 years old, 10 to 20 grains; 

 often combined with calomel. 

 The infusion, made with 3ss. 

 to Oj. Often combined with 

 senna, to insure its purgative 

 eflfect. 



