268 Botanic Drugs 



PYRETHRUM 



PELLITORY, Anacyclus Pyrethrum. Half a dozen 

 pharmacopeias, including our own, retain this "heap 

 powerful medicine," probably because some people 

 like to chew it as a sialagogue and because druggists 

 sell it as "Persian Insect Powder" instead of the 

 Asiatic variety, and put it in "Our Own Denti- 

 frice." Assuredly there is no occasion to retain it 

 as a medicinal agent in this late day. 



QUASSIA 



BITTER WOOD, Picrasma excelsa; also known as 

 Picraena excelsa. Official in the U. S. P. IX and in 

 eleven other standards. 



Quassia is a tannin-free bitter; hence it can be 

 combined with iron. Quassin is toxic to some ani- 

 mals, and in man causes burning and dryness in the 

 throat. The tincture, in 30-minim doses, is a useful 

 bitter. For the therapeutics of the bitters, see 

 "Gentian." 



Infusions of quassia, given as enemeta, are used 

 in the treatment of threadworm infestation, the in- 

 fusion being made weak and frequently used in the 

 case of young children. Do not use a diluted alcoholic 

 preparation for this purpose. Ordinarily ^ pint 

 of infusion (1:100 of cold water) is injected in the 

 case of older children or adults ("seat worms") with 

 the patient in the knee-chest position. 



QUEBRACHO 



Aspidosperma Quebracho-bianco. Official in Aus- 

 tria, Mexico, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, and has 

 been incorporated into the U. S. P. IX. 



