82 CIRCULATORY STIMULANTS 



Preparations and Doses. 



Powdered Seeds. Not used. 



Tinctura Strophanthi. H. 3j — iv; 4, 15. D. TTl, ij — x; 



0.13—0.6. 

 Btrophanihin. H. gr. 1/5—1/2; 0.013—0.03. D. gr. 



1/100—1/60 ; 0.0006—0.001. 



Digestive Tract. The action is quite similar to that of digitalis, 

 although some believe it to be a direct stimulant to intestinal muscle. 

 Its active principle may serve as a bitter, but the drug is not used 

 for this purpose. 



Circulatory System. Strophanthus acts similarly to digitalis, 

 except that in case of poisoning the heart may be arrested either in 

 diastole or systole. The greatest difference between it and digitalis 

 is seen in its action upon the blood vessels. Strophanthus, unlike 

 digitalis, does not constrict the blood vessels. Consequently the slow 

 rise in blood pressure is due entirely to its action upon the heart. 

 This difference, however, is not seen in therapeutics. 



Kidneys. It is absorbed and eliminated more rapidly than 

 digitalis and is a more powerful diuretic. Cumulative action is said 

 to be less apt to occur than in case of that drug. 



Therapeutics. It may be used in the same conditions as 

 digitalis but is less reliable than that drug and the margin of safety 

 is not so great as in case of digitalis. It is also prone to cause 

 diarrhea. Strophanthin or ouabain are better for intravenous or 

 intramuscular use. 



SCILLA — SQUILL 



Synonym. Sea Onion 



Parts Used. The fleshy inner scales of the bulbs of the white 

 variety of Urginea maritima (Linne) cut into pieces and carefully 

 dried. 



Active Constituents. Squill contains scillitoxin, the most 

 active principle, scillipicrin, acting upon the heart, scillin causing 

 numbness, and a mucilage. 



Preparations and Doses. 



Fluidextradum Scillw. H. 3j — ij ; 4. — 8. Dog. Tt\, j — ^v ; 



0.06—0.3. 

 Tinctura Scillce. H. 3iv — viij ; 15. — 30. Dog. TTt v — xxx : 



0.3—2. 

 Syrupus Scillw. Horse. §ss ; 15. Dog. 3ss — ^j ; 2 — 4. 



Syrupus Scillw Compositus. Compound syrup of squill, con- 

 tains squill, senega, and tartar emetic. Dose — same as the syrup. 

 _ Mistura Pectoralis, Stokes. Stokes' Pectoral Mixture IST. F. con- 

 tains 17.5 grams of ammonium carbonate, 35 mils of the fluid- 



