272 SPECIFICS FOR THE ALIMENTARY TRACT 



T^NICIDES 

 ASPIDIUM 



Synonyms. Male Fern, Male Shield Fern, Filix Mas 



Parts Used. The dried rhizomes of Dryopteris filix mas and 

 Dryopteris marginalis, ferns indigenous to North America, a portion 

 of South America, Northern Asia and portions of Africa. It con- 

 tains a fixed oil, a volatile oil, a resin and filicic acid, besides a 

 number of neutral and acid bodies chief of which are Aspidinin, 

 Flavospadic Acid, Albaspidin and Aspidinal (Boehm) to which 

 Kraft has added Fihnaron and Flavaspidinin. All the principles 

 appear to be necessary but it is generally believed that filicic acid 

 is the most toxic to taenia, and therefore the most active part of the 

 drug. This changes in time to its inert anhydrid filicin. 



Preparations and Doses. 



Oleoresina Aspidii. H. 3 iij — ^vj ; 12. — 24. D. gr. xv — xc; 

 1.— 6. Cat. iij— viij; 0.2—0.5. 



Action. When administered as a vermicide there is usually no 

 symptom except the expulsion of the worm. However, if toxic doses 

 are given or if the drug is administered in castor oil or other 

 substances which aid its absorption it may produce poisonous symp- 

 toms manifested especially by nervous phenomena and gastro-in- 

 testinal disturbances. There may be nausea, vomiting, colicky pains 

 and diarrhea. These are associated with nervous disorders, as de- 

 pression, coma, increased reflexes, weak pulse, superficial respira- 

 tions, convulsions and collapse together with temporary blindness 

 due to paralysis of the retina. 



Therapeutics. As a tEenieide especially for the unarmed vari- 

 ety, although it is used with good results against both varieties of 

 the parasite. 



2. As a parasiticide in the treatment of follicular mange. 



Administration. Aspidium should be administered in a cap- 

 sule or pill upon an empty stomach and followed by a purgative. 

 It may be necessary to anesthetize the stomach with cocaine (/4 

 grain in 20 minims of water) to prevent vomiting. It is often 

 advantageously combined with some other tsenicide, such as areca 

 nut, kamala, or turpentine. 



The following prescriptions are representative of its use : 



No. 1. Tapeworms in Dog. 



5 Oleoresinae Aspidii grs. xxx 



Arecse Seminis 3 jss 



Chlorof ormi TH, xv 



Mucilaginis Acacise S j 



M. Ft. Solutio. 



