Botanic Remedies 69 



CAMPHORIC ACID (U. S. P., VIII). Roth, 

 in an elaborate paper, 1 showed the action of this 

 acid to be due to salt action, its only well marked 

 physiological action being its stimulation of the 

 central nervous system resembling that of cam- 

 phor. It possesses no paralyzing action upon the 

 nerve ends in the sweat glands, as does atropine. 

 But, as Robert stated, sweats incident to phthisis 

 are asphyxial in origin and due to a depression of 

 the respiratory center. So, then, both camphoric 

 acid and picrotoxin are useful in the night-sweats 

 of pulmonary tuberculosis. 



Give it dry on the tongue in doses of 15 grains 

 an hour or two before the sweating is due to occur. 



CITRIC ACID (U. S. P.). Citric and TARTARIC 

 acids are refrigerants. In the alimentary canal 

 they are converted into alkaline citrates and tar- 

 trates, are absorbed, and excreted in the urine as 

 carbonates, making the urine alkaline. Citric acid 

 is given in doses of 5 to 15 grains; but lemons, 

 limes, oranges, and grape-fruit are commonly used 

 in its place. Tartaric acid is rarely used. Citrus 

 fruits antagonize urinary acidity, scurvy, and certain 

 fevers. 



GALLIC ACID (U. S. P.) is much weaker than 

 tannic acid, and does not coagulate albumin, as 

 does tannic acid. It possesses no advantages for 

 internal administration and it is very doubtful if 

 it possesses any astringent action upon parts it 

 reaches through the circulation. PYROGALLIC ACID 



1 "An experimental study of Camphoric Acid," Jour, of Pharmacology 

 and Exper. Ther., May, 1911. 



