152 Botanic Drugs 



In large doses the lower centers of the brain and 

 the vagus are stimulated; and vomiting may be in- 

 duced. 



Hatcher and others have shown that, even with 

 standardized products, the absorption is irregular, 

 varying immensely in different individuals and with 

 various members of the digitalis group. For in- 

 stance: Tincture of strophanthus, when injected or 

 tested upon an isolated heart, is found to be forty 

 times as strong as is tincture of digitalis; but, when 

 administered by mouth, digitalis is more efficient 

 than strophanthus. This is wholly due to the fact 

 that the digitalis glucosides are the more readily 

 absorbed. A good method to induce relatively 

 prompt absorption from the stomach is to admin- 

 ister a strongly alcoholic preparation upon a small 

 piece of bread. 



Hatcher, Fraenkel, and others have investigated 

 the cumulative action and have reached no definite 

 conclusion as to its cause. 



THERAPEUTICS OF DIGITALIS. As Mackenzie has 

 shown, the most valuable results are obtained in 

 cases of auricular fibrillation, digitalis inducing effi- 

 cient ventricular action. 



A heart stimulant is demanded when undue re- 

 laxation occurs, as when valvular insufficiency or 

 stenosis permits venous accumulation of blood. An 

 increase in the work of the heart relieves these con- 

 ditions, and digitalis induces this increased work. 

 The first vessels to be influenced are those of the 

 heart itself, thus improving its nutrition; so the 

 beneficial effect is vital as well as mechanical. 



In cardiac ascites digitalis leaves, 1 grain; squills, 

 1 grain; blue mass, 2 grains is the old and effective 



