CEREBRAL EXCITANTS. 113 



depress the entire central nervous system, depress the 

 heart, lower arterial tension, diminish the reflex func- 

 tions of the cord, produce coldness of the surface, in- 

 sensibility, coma, convulsions, and sometimes death. 

 Camphor is eliminated chiefly by the bronchial mu- 

 cous membrane and skin ; also by the kidneys. 



Therapeutics. — In diarrhoea — with ether, lauda- 

 num, and aromatics. In enteritis — with opium. To 

 counteract cardiac depression and as a febrifuge — 

 with sweet spirit of nitre and solution of acetate of am- 

 monia. To relieve vomiting; in nymphomania, ty- 

 phoid fevers; in bronchitis, spasmodic cough, sore 

 throat, and other affections of the respiratory appara- 

 tus. In gangrene internally and locally. The mono- 

 bromated camphor in chorea of the dog. Exter- 

 nall}', as a stimulant, counter-irritant, and to allay 

 itching in skin diseases, as in eczema and urticaria. 



ASAFCETIDA — ASAFCETIDA. 



A gum-resin obtained by incision from the living 

 roots of Ferula narthex and of Ferula scorodosma (na- 

 tural order Umbelliferse, Orthospermae), an Afghan 

 plant. Its principal constituent is a sulphuretted vol- 

 atile oil, consisting chiefly of allyl sulphide. It also 

 contains a gum and a resin, with feruliac, malic, 

 acetic, formic, and valerianic acids. 



Asafoetida occurs in irregular masses, composed 

 of whitish tears, which are embedded in a yellowish- 

 gray or brownish-gray sticky mass. The tears, when 

 hard, break with a conchoidal fracture, showing a 

 milk-white color, which changes gradually on expo- 

 8 



