196 Botanic Drugs 



Some of the gentlemen who are so enthusiastic 

 over the use of the alkaloids should note the dif- 

 ferences, especially in dosage, between the U. S. P. 

 and some of the nonofficial products. It may be 

 they think they are using the potent U. S. P. products, 

 whereas they are not. 



There are alkaloids and alkaloids, just as in a lot of 

 other uncertain things in this world. Better adhere 

 strictly to the U. S. P. product in the occasional case 

 in which it is wise to give one of the mydriatic 

 group of alkaloids. 



EUSCOPAL is an optically inactive scopolamine hy- 

 drobromide. Hypnotic, but is not active in checking 

 secretion and dilating the pupil. Dose, 1-200 grain. 



SCOPOLAMINE STABLE, or SCOPOMANNIT, comes in 

 ampules ready for use. Follow dosage given in the 

 circular. 



IGNATIA 



ST. IGNATIUS BEAN, Strychnos Ignatia. Official in 

 France, Mexico, and Spain. Included in the Na- 

 tional Formulary. 



PHARMACOLOGY. This will be considered under 

 "Nux Vomica," q. v. Nux vomica is said to con- 

 tain 1^ per cent of strychnine and 1^ to 2^ per 

 cent of brucine. Ignatia is said to contain about 

 1 per cent of each alkaloid. The differences in 

 action between nux vomica and ignatia are purely 

 quantitative. As a matter of fact, the analysis of 

 ignatia often results in separating more strychnine 

 from it than is ordinarily extracted from nux vomica. 

 And it is asserted on good authority that strychnine 

 is more readily extracted from ignatia than from nux 

 vomica, hence ignatia is a common commercial 

 source of strychnine. 



