100 Botanic Drugs 



often. Non-irritating dressings and paring the 

 sides of the wound will usually promote healing. 

 Van Arsdale used one part of Peruvian balsam in 

 sixteen of castor oil, which does not stimulate 

 granulation. 



BALSAM OF TOLU 



An official balsam obtained from Toluifera bal- 

 samum. The tr. in 30-minim doses is a mild ex- 

 pectorant; the syrup is a pleasant flavor, and the 

 balsam may be given in 10- to 15-grain doses in 

 emulsion with acacia. While pleasant as a vehicle 

 for more active agents, tolu possesses little thera- 

 peutic importance. 



BAPTISIA 



WILD INDIGO, Podalyria tinctoria. Not official in 

 any standard except Homeopathic and Eclectic, 

 but listed in the N. F. IV. The Homeopathic 

 "provings" are those of asthenic type, with of- 

 fensive secretions. Baptitoxine, its most active prox- 

 imate, is said to be similar to cytisine from Cytisus 

 laburnum. It is an active poison, causing increased 

 reflex activity and death from central paralytic 

 asphyxia. It always induces vomiting. There has 

 been no pharmacologic study of baptisia or bapti- 

 toxine, but cytisine has been elaborately investi- 

 gated. Nicotine, lobeline, and cytisine constitute a 

 group of similar pharmacology, which will be given 

 under "Lobelia" (q. v.). Now if Flugge was cor- 

 rect in claiming that baptitoxine and cytisine are 

 identical, baptisia must be included in the lobelia- 

 tobacco group pharmacologically. It is not in the 

 same group botanically; but the toxic action of 

 baptisia resembles that of lobelia. 



