Botanic Remedies 143 



Colocynth belongs to the anhydride group of 

 cathartics, which are drastic and irritant; and it is 

 seldom used except in combination with other 

 agents. Small doses of colocynth stimulate peristal- 

 sis and induce increased intestinal secretion. The 

 average dose is one-half to one grain ; but the com- 

 pound extract (colocynth, aloes, cardamon, scam- 

 mony, and soap) is to be preferred in 5-grain doses. 

 Colocynth enters into many pill formulae. 



In small doses of the tincture, colocynth obtained 

 a reputation in the treatment of horse colic. Home- 

 opathists tried it in various forms of colic in man, 

 and gastralgia, enter algia, and tenesmus often are 

 relieved by small, fractional doses (tr. 1 or 2 minings). 

 Smaller doses will often relieve infantile colic. Of 

 course, colocynth merely relieves the symptoms 

 and does not control diarrhea, food fermentation, etc. 



CONIUM 



POISON HEMLOCK, Conium maculatum. Deleted 

 from the ninth U. S. P., but included in the Na- 

 tional Formulary. Official in Austria, France, 

 Mexico, and Spain. Preparations rapidly deteri- 

 orate. 



PHARMACOLOGY. Coniine is the principal alka- 

 loid, and its action is intermediate between nicotine 

 and curarine. It causes profuse salivation and a 

 rise in blood pressure. May give rise to ganglionic 

 paralysis. Death is from respiratory paralysis. 



The symptoms of a poisonous dose are drowsi- 

 ness, uncertain gait, muscular relaxation, vomiting, 

 salivation, convulsions. The mind remains clear. 



THERAPEUTICS. Never give coniine; it is too 

 dangerous. Perhaps an exception may be made as 



