158 VETERINARY MATERIA MEDIC A. 



side-like principle — arnicin — which is insoluble in 

 water; also about one per cent, of an essential oil, 

 with inulin, tannin, mucilage, resins, capronic and 

 caprylic acids, and trimethylamine, which is thought 

 to be the active principle, and which is yielded by 

 the essential oil. 



Tinctura Ar niece Florum (twenty per cent.), tinc- 

 ture of arnica flowers, is the chief preparation. 

 Dose: H., fl. 3 ss.-i. ; D., fi^v.-x. This preparation 

 is used mostly externally, more or less diluted. The 

 bruised and moistened flowers are also sometimes 

 used as a poultice. Internally its action is said to 

 be uncertain, but it has been used with good results 

 in pulmonary congestion and lymphangitis by Pro- 

 fessor Williams and others, who claim that it quick- 

 ens the cutaneous circulation. It is an irritant, 

 stimulant, depressant, antip3'retic, diuretic, and vul- 

 nerar3\ Small doses increase the heart's action and 

 stimulate the action of the skin and kidneys. Large 

 doses depress the heart and respiration, and reduce 

 temperature. Toxic doses paralyze the entire nervous 

 system, causing collapse and death. Internally — it 

 is employed in rheumatism, lymphangitis, inflamma- 

 tions of serous membranes, in chronic dj'sentery, ty- 

 phoid fevers, paralysis of bladder, chorea, concussion 

 of brain, etc. Externally — to bruises, contusions, 

 sprains, wounds, cuts, harness and saddle galls. 



The Nitrites. 



Amyl Nitris, amyl nitrite — C,IIjj]Sr02 — is a clear, 

 yellowish, oily liquid, of a powerful and ethereal 



