MOTOR EXCITANTS. 103 



vasomotor constriction of the arterioles. It reduces 

 the pulse, helps to lower body temperature, does not 

 create any gastro-intestinal disturbance, and is not 

 cumulative in action. It rapidly relieves cardiac 

 dyspnoea, and its influence upon the circulation will 

 last for a long time. According to Professor Frazer 

 its effects have been known to continue for as long 

 as eight days. It may be beneficially given in pal- 

 pitation or exaggerated cardiac action, as from 

 overwork or weak heart, to relieve dyspnoea of asth- 

 ma, pulmonary oedema, acute endocarditis, chronic 

 Bright's disease, and valvular lesions of the heart. 



CONVALLARIA — LiLY OF THE VaLLEY. 



The well-known perennial plant, " lily of the val- 

 ley," Convallaria majalis, belonging to the natural or- 

 der Liliacese. All parts of the plant are used, but 

 preparations of the root seem most active. It con- 

 tains two active glucosides — viz. : Convallamarin, 

 the cardiac-acting principle, soluble both in alcohol 

 and in water; and convallarin, an emeto-cathartic 

 principle, soluble in alcohol but insoluble in water; 

 also an acrid resin resembling convallarin in action. 

 The more important preparations of convallaria are; 



Extractum Convallarice Fhiidum, fluid extract 

 of convallaria. Dose: H., fl. 3ss.-ij.; D., TTi ij.-x. 



Convallamarinum, convallamarinum. An amor- 

 phous, white, bitter powder, soluble in water and in 

 alcohol, but insoluble in ether. Dose: H., gr. x.- 

 XXX. ; D., gr. ss.-ij. 



