78 Botanic Drugs 



The colloids in these plant structures restrain the 

 irritant properties of the tannic acid. Chronic 

 catarrhal gastritis is much benefited by a vegetable 

 astringent; and some cases of gastric ulcer are re- 

 lieved by a vegetable astringent with bismuth in 

 combination. The British Pharmacopeia compound 

 powder of catechu (catechu, kino, krameria, cinna- 

 mon, nutmeg) is an admirable preparation. 



As an antidote in poisoning from alkaloids and the 

 heavy mineral salts, large doses of tannin should 

 be given in dilute solution, followed by an emetic 

 or the washing out of the stomach. 



In intestinal disturbances uncombined tannin is 

 decomposed into gallic acid too rapidly to be very 

 effective. The fluidextract of geranium serves well 

 in the case of children and in mild affections in 

 adults. Newer drug preparations available will 

 be named presently. Subacute and chronic diarrhea 

 characterized by an excess of mucus responds well 

 to tannin preparations. Chalk, bismuth, and opium 

 are often combined with the vegetable astringents; 

 but do not forget that an initial dose of castor oil 

 and intestinal antiseptics are often needed before 

 the astringents can serve any useful purpose; and 

 that the vegetable forms of tannin will not restrain 

 hemorrhage in the lower bowel, since they are decom- 

 posed before they reach it. 



The important vegetable astringents will be sepa- 

 rately discussed, each in its proper place. Above 

 everything else, physicians must remember, in the 

 intestinal disturbances of infancy and childhood, 

 that dietetic measures are vastly more important 

 than are drugs. 



The newer products of tannic acid are designed 



