SEMEN AREC^ — ARECA NUT 279 



B Fluidextracti Spigelise. 



Fluidextracti Sennse. 



Syrupi Aurantii. 



,«■ ^^^^^^ Glycyrrhizse aa. itl xxx 



M. Ft. Solutio. 



Sig. Every other morning for three doses for a medium sized dog. 



* SEMEN ARECiE 



Synonyms. Areca nut, Betel nut, Areca catechu 

 Parts Used. The fruit of Areca catechu, an East Indian tree 

 belonging to the family of palms. 



Constituents. Areca nut contains three alkaloids, arecoline, 

 arecaine, and traces of guvacine together with a considerable amount 

 of tannic and gallic acids, a fixed oil, volatile oil and a gum. Are- 

 coline is the most important constituent and is present in about the 

 proportion of 0.1 per cent, in the crude drug. It occurs as a color- 

 less, volatile, oily liquid and forms soluble salts with acids. The 

 hydrobromide (Arecolinse Hydrobromidum) is the one most used. 

 This salt is permanent in air and in aqueous solution retains its 

 action for several months. 



Arecoline has been discussed on p. 208. 



Doses. Horses, g iij — viij ; 100. — 250. Foals. Sijss — §ij ; 

 10. — 60. Dogs. 3 j — ijss; 5. — 10. Sheep and Swine. 

 3 j — iv; 5. — 15. Cats. 3 ss — j; 2. — 5. 



Action and Uses. Areca nut is an anthelmintic for all animals 

 but especially for dogs suffering from either tape or round worms. 

 The worms are usually expelled in from 3 to 5 hours. This drug 

 has no physiological action except that of a weak astringent on ac- 

 count of , the large amount of tannic acid it contains, and some irri- 

 tation of the stomach which causes nausea and vomiting unless given 

 with care. It is not considered very safe for young puppies, for 

 dogs in a weak condition or for cats. 



Administration. Areca nut should be freshly ground or grated 

 in all cases. It should be administered to dogs and cats in capsule, 

 keratin coated pills or mixed well with butter to prevent iiausea and 

 vomiting. The usual dose for the dog is 1 — 2 grains per pound of 

 body weight and slightly less for cats. It should be preceded and 

 followed by a purgative in these animals. 



Fucbs recommends the drug for tapeworms in the horse. He 

 prescribes or dispenses 1000.0 gm. (2 lbs.) and directs that two 

 tablespoonfuls be given three times daily in feed. Claussen recom- 

 mends it in daily doses of 15.0 — 20.0 gm. (3 iv — ^v) for ascarides in 

 six months old foals, while Frohner has found it safe in daily doses 

 of 250.0 gms. (S viij) for horses and 500.0 gms. (§ xvj) for cattle. 

 Some clinicians have recommended the alkaloid (arecoline hydro- 



* Unofficial. 



