240 Botanic Drugs 



in that event keep the patient under chloroform. 

 Keep the patient warm. Give oxygen if available. 

 Artificial respiration may be employed. 



THERAPEUTICS. For use in small dosage nux 

 vomica is preferable to strychnine. These indica- 

 tions are as a tonic and to influence the gastro- 

 enteric tract. 



As a tonic nux vomica and strychnine act on the 

 gastric mucous membrane, excite the vasomotor 

 and motor centers in the cord, increasing the activity 

 of the circulation and promoting general systemic 

 tone. As a stomachic bitter, it is well to combine 

 tincture nux vomica with one of the fluid prepara- 

 tions possessed of aromatic properties. Impaired 

 digestion, especially if the system at large is feeble, 

 is markedly improved. Gentian, cinchona, and 

 hydrochloric acid combine nicely with nux vomica 

 in such cases. In anemia the tonic action is enhanced 

 by iron. 



In gastrointestinal disease it is to be noted that 

 even minute doses stimulate peristalsis. By long 

 continuance of such doses, torpor of the abdominal 

 organs is somewhat overcome. Gastrointestinal fer- 

 mentation is often kept up by want of tone, and 

 fairly full doses of nux vomica do much to end the 

 condition. In gastric catarrh not due to serious 

 organic changes, atonic constipation, some cases of 

 vomiting, especially that associated with infantile 

 diarrhea, and in sea-sickness, the drug is of value in 

 fairly full dosage. 



On the circulation nux vomica and strychnine 

 are both tonic and stimulant, especially when 

 troublesome abdominal distention is aggravating a 

 weak circulation. 



