118 Botanic Drugs 



also a promising source of camphor. The synthetic 

 camphor is inferior for medicinal use. 



PHARMACOLOGY. Toxic to many of the lower 

 forms of life, but not markedly antiseptic. Rube- 

 facient externally and carminative internally. 



Camphor is a direct stimulant to the respiratory 

 center, and to a less degree to the central nervous 

 system as a whole. 



The normal circulatory system is not markedly 

 affected by camphor; but its known therapeutic 

 uses in abnormal functioning of the circulatory 

 system caused the pharmacologists to re-investigate 

 it, and with the following results: 



A rabbit deeply under the influence of chloral 

 was readily awakened and restored to activity by 

 subcutaneous injection of camphorated oil. Even 

 when anesthesia was profound, the respiratory rate 

 was increased and the reflexes reappeared from this 

 administration of camphor. 



A cat's heart was perfused, thus showing fibril- 

 lation. Camphor restored it, slowed the heart and 

 increased its force. 



Here was an instance where pharmacology was 

 vitally defective until corrected by the teaching of 

 clinical experience. If colchicum, for instance, was 

 first introduced to-day, and the pharmacologists re- 

 ported upon it, they would note it as a drastic 

 cathartic and announce it as not of any probable 

 value. Its immense value in gout would escape 

 them entirely: that was learned by clinical experi- 

 ence. And the same is true of camphor. 



THERAPEUTICS. Indicated in respiratory and car- 

 diac depression, especially in cardiac fibrillation. 



Cardiac weakness may be met with Curschmann's 



