464 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



tissues. The dose by the subcutaneous method is one-third 

 less than by the mouth. 



The sulphates of quinidine, cinchonine and cinchonidiue 

 are similar in action to quinine, and their relative antipyretic 

 effect is said to be : quinine, 100 ; quinidine, 90 ; cinchonidiue, 

 70 ; cinchonine, 40. The cinchona compounds are indicated 

 for tonic and stomachic purposes. 



Uses External. — Quinine is too expensive for general 

 antiseptic employment externally. 



Uses Internal. — It is impossible to draw definite deduc- 

 tions as to the therapeutic indications for quinine founded 

 on physioloj];ical experiments, since these are only sugges- 

 tive and not conclusive. For the sake of convenience, we 

 may classify the uses of quinine under the following heads : 



1. Tonic Action. — Quinine is of unquestionable value as 

 a tonic, more particularly in relation to digestion, but prob- 

 ably also by increasing the number of red corpuscles and 

 stimulating the nervous system generally. It is in those 

 cases of anorexia and atonic dyspepsia secondary to exhaus- 

 tion, overwork, anaemia, or following acute diseases, that the 

 drug is indicated. Here, combination with iron is often of 

 service, and the tincture of the chloride is a good preparation 

 because it contains sufficient free muriatic acid to dissolve 

 any of the salts of quinine. The compound tincture of 

 cinchona is a prime, bitter tonic for dogs ; or quinine may be 

 given in a pill with reduced iron and arsenic as a tonic. 

 Chorea in the human patient nas been treated successfully 

 with quinine, but this remedy has failed in dogs. Neverthe- 

 less, the alkaloid is an excellent tonic in canine distemper 

 with its accompanying anaemia, but should be combined with 

 iron and arsenic. Quinine is a good tonic for purpura in 

 horses. 



2. Antiseptic and Antiphlogistic Effect. — Quinine possesses 

 much less antipyretic power than phenacetin, anti pyrin 

 and acetanilid. It acts more favorably with a falling than 

 a rising temperature, and should be given two or three hours 

 before the probable time of maximum temperature. Quinine 



