536 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



is decidedly inferior to quinine in this respect. Hydrastine 

 iind berbeiine resemble eacli other in actions, uses and 

 doses, Berberine sulphate and hydrastine hydrochlorate 

 are to be found in the market, and are used in the same doses 

 as the pure alkaloids. Poisonous doses of hydrastine and 

 berberine are followed by convulsions and paralysis ; the 

 former is more convulsant. Hydrastine is said primarily to 

 markedly increase vascular tension. It is uncertain whether 

 this action is due to vascular contraction or cardiac stimu- 

 lation. In poisoning by either alkaloid there is great cardiac 

 and vasomotor depression. 



Uses. — Hydrastis, berberine, and hydrastine are employed 

 in anorexia and atonic indigestion. The fluid extract of 

 bydrastis and hydrastine (which is, however, expensive) 

 are especially efficient for horses in combination with other 

 bitters and iron, as follows : 



Extr. Capsici Fl 3 ii. 



Extr. Hydrastis Fl. 



Extr. Nucis Vomicae Fl aa | iii. 



M. (Furnish 3 ii. bottle) 

 Sig. Small bottleful tid. on tongue. 

 or: — 



Hydrastinae gr.xxx. 



Pulv. Gentianse 



Pulv. Nucis Vomicae 



Ferri Sulph. Exsicc aa § ii. 



M. et div. in ch't, no. xii. 

 Sig. One powder on food tid. 



Hydrastis is exhibited empirically (probably as a local 

 stimulant and antiseptic) in atonic and inflammatory condi- 

 tions of the digestive organs, with great benefit, as in chronic 

 gastro-intestinal catarrh or catarrhal jaundice. Hydrastis is 

 used most frequently in human medicine to stop uterine 

 haemorrhage of all descriptions, and is often conjoined with 

 the fluid extract of ergot for this purpose. Hydrastinine 

 hydrochlorate has been employed with great success as 



