34 NUX VOMICA. OLEA. 



NUX VOMICA. 



Nux Vomica consists of the dried ripe seeds of Strychnos Nux-vomica (Fam. 

 Loganiacecc), a small tree indigenous to Indo-Asia. It owes its activity principally to 

 the alkaloid strychnine, of which it contains about 2.5%. 



Properties: 



Nux Vomica : 

 Appearance 

 Color .. 



Odor . 

 Taste 



Sol: H 2 O 



Strych. Sulph. : 

 Appearance .... 



Color 

 Odor. 

 Taste 



Sol.: HoO 



Incompatibilities: To Tincture Nux Vomica add 



An hydroxide 

 A carbonate .. 



An iodide 



Ac. Tannic ... 



A bromide _ 



Test for Strychnine: In i mil HoSO4 place 0.05 Gm. Strychnine; then drop in a 

 small fragment of K L >CrO 7 ; five sequent color changes should be noted : 



Nux Vomica is used as a bitters. Dose, 0.06 Gm. Strychnine is used to heighten 

 the excitability of the spinal reflexes. Dose, of Strychnine or of the Nitrate or Sul- 

 phate, 0.0015 Gm. 



Official preparations are : the Extract, the Fluidextract, and the Tincture. 



OLEA. 



"Oils are liquid or solid substances, unctuous to the touch, and characterized by 

 inflammability and the property of leaving a greasy stain upon paper." They may be 

 arranged in two classes, Fixed and Volatile, depending on their behavior on the appli- 

 cation of heat. 



The more important Fixed Oils are : 



Oleum Olivse, Olive Oil, obtained from the ripe fruit of Olea europca ( Fam. Olea- 

 cece), native of Eurasia. It is used as a nutritive in adults, and as a mild laxative 

 (dose, 5 to 20 mils) in infants. 



Oleum Ricini, Castor Oil, derived from the seeds of Ricinus communis, (Fam. 

 Euphorbiacea} , native of India. It is used as a purgative in fermentative diarrheas, 

 cholera morbus, and acute constipation. Dose, 15 mils. 



Oleum Tiglii, Croton Oil, obtained from the seeds of Croton tiglii (Fam. Euphor- 

 biacece), native of India and the Philippines. It is used with great caution as a 

 prompt, powerful, drastic purge for a depletant in cerebral congestions, and to assist 

 in overcoming acute obstipation. Dose, 0.05 mil in olive oil. 



