144 Botanic Drugs 



regards tetanus, when 1-20 to 1-10 grain coniine 

 hydrobromide may be given hypodermically, re- 

 peating the dose with care; but don't neglect anti- 

 tetanic serum and proper surgery. 



Fresh fluid preparations have given results in 

 chorea, paralysis agitans, delirium tremens, and other 

 spasmodic affections, as well as in visceral pain and 

 the pain of cancer. The dose is experimental in 

 each case, usually about 3 minims fl. 



The drug is uncertain and unreliable and is going 

 out of use. Use gelsemium in its place. 



CONVALLARIA 



LILY OF THE VALLEY, Convallaria majalis. Official 

 in Austria, France, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, 

 Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, and the eighth U. S. P. 

 The National Formulary lists it. 



The pharmacology is so similar to that of digi- 

 talis that it will be considered under that drug. 

 But convallaria adds to its digitalis action a cathartic 

 influence, and it is probably due to that fact that 

 the drug is less cumulative than is digitalis. The 

 active principle is convallamarin, a very active agent, 

 to be used with great care. 



Unfortunately, most preparations of this drug are 

 inferior. A truly representative preparation is a 

 most dependable and reliable substitute for digitalis 

 in practically all of its indications. See "Digitalis." 

 In cardiac dropsy it has served admirably in my 

 hands, and when digitalis disagrees or fails in 

 effect which it sometimes does without apparent 

 reason convallaria may be a real life-saver. The 

 difficulty consists in procuring uniform and reliable 

 preparations. 



