Botanic Remedies 139 



COCCULUS INDICUS 



FISH BERRIES. Similar to strychnine in action, 

 though less tetanic. PICROTOXIN is derived from it. 

 There is some justification for 1-60 grain doses in 

 paralysis of the sphincters, in paralysis agitans, and 

 in vaso-motor derangements during the menopause. 

 It was formerly much used for controlling night 

 sweats. These internal uses are losing out in pro- 

 fessional esteem; but an ointment (ten grains to 

 the ounce) is highly effective in killing pediculi. 

 Never apply it to abraded surfaces. The tr. is used 

 in full strength to kill body lice. Nevertheless it 

 is a dangerous agent, and a 25% solution trichlor- 

 ethylene in petrolatum is much safer for applica- 

 tion to the human body. This is the maximum 

 strength, as low as 2% trichlorethylene in soapy 

 water killing lice and nits in 30 minutes. 



In my opinion, picrotoxin should rarely, if ever, 

 be used. Ignatia serves its every purpose except 

 the killing of parasites and its debatable value for 

 controlling night sweats, and ignatia is safe in em- 

 ployment. Cocculus is too irregularly toxic to be 

 safe in physiologic dosage, and its reputation was 

 built up largely by the Homeopathic employment 

 in small doses. 



COLCHICUM 



COLCHICI CORMUS, COLCHICUM ROOT; COL- 

 CHICI SEMEN, COLCHICUM SEED; COLCHI- 

 CINA, COLCHICINE; Colchicum autumnale. The root 

 official in Great Britain, Mexico, and the United 

 States, the seed in nearly all national standards. 



PHARMACOLOGY. If colchicine is injected into 

 the circulation, blood-pressure falls and the plain 



