266 Botanic Drugs 



membranes, relaxed heart walls, and its cavities 

 and the great vessels filled with dark and clotted 

 blood, while the blood elsewhere was fluid. 



A characteristic action of pulsatilla is its first 

 producing mydriasis and later myosis. This appears 

 to be definitely determined. 



The Anemone pratensis (entirely similar in action 

 to A. pulsatilla and, indeed, the plant most used) 

 was found by Pilcher to depress the activity of 

 strips of uterine muscle, even to a greater degree 

 than valerian. 



Now it must not be forgotten that pulsatilla is 

 one of the Ranunculaceae, herbs having volatile 

 acrid principles, aconite and cimicifuga being in- 

 stances. Like aconite, pulsatilla has a definite in- 

 fluence upon the mucous membranes. The fresh juice 

 applied to the tongue .gives rise to the same numb- 

 ness and tingling characteristic of aconite; in small 

 doses, pulsatilla is diuretic and reduces fever much as 

 does aconite, though to a less degree, and therapeutic 

 doses of pulsatilla are not so depressing as is aconite. 



THERAPEUTICS. Like aconite, pulsatilla, in small 

 doses, is applicable to diseases of the mucous mem- 

 branes; but pulsatilla-action is more directed to the 

 eye, and it is indicated in catarrhal conjunctivitis, 

 ophthalmia of simple type, "styes," recent blephar- 

 ophthalmia, photophobia, etc. An advantage over 

 aconite consists in the fact that it may be given for 

 some time. 



Catarrhal troubles of the ears, such as occur in the 

 exanthems in children, earache from "colds," and 

 other minor and transient aural troubles are quite 

 amenable to the influence of pulsatilla. 



Nasal catarrh of an acute nature, more especially 



