Botanic Remedies 197 



BRUCINE is less rapidly absorbed than strychnine, 

 and is about fifty times less powerful as a con- 

 vulsant, though more poisonous to the sensory 

 nerves than strychnine. Locally applied it has an 

 anesthetic action. A 5% solution is applied exter- 

 nally. It is a better stomachic bitter than is strych- 

 nine. The dose is 1-12 to }/% grain. 



THERAPEUTICS. Owing to the hyperesthesia of 

 the senses produced by brucine, Homeopathic 

 authorities have esteemed ignatia highly in the 

 treatment of hysteria and dyspepsia. If we had a 

 strychnine-free tincture of ignatia, it should be 

 quite valuable in these directions. Now both nux 

 vomica and ignatia, in small doses, are useful in 

 these conditions. See "Nux Vomica." But that 

 ignatia possesses any advantage over nux vomica 

 in the treatment of these cases has never been made 

 apparent to me. I have largely used both drugs in 

 small doses and have noted no difference in thera- 

 peutic effects, though I am not at all prepared to call 

 in question the views of gentlemen whose experience 

 leads them to a different conclusion. However, 

 the facts that both nux vomica and ignatia belong 

 to the order of Loganiaceae and there are points of 

 similarity between the two plants, lead me to be- 

 lieve that my conclusions are justified. 



Tr. ignatia may be given in doses of 2 to 10 

 minims; fl., ^ to 2 minims, but rarely over 1 minim. 



INULA 



ELECAMPANE, SCABWORT, Inula Helenium. Offi- 

 cial in Mexico and the Netherlands. Listed in the 

 National Formulary. 



Inulin, the active principle, or one of the proxi- 



