VEGETABLE SALTS OF POTASSIUM 295 



is correct, the important fact for the practitioner is that they do not 

 irritate the kidneys and may therefore be used in nephritis. The 

 theory that these drugs produce a specific dilatation of the vessels of 

 the kidneys is not well taken because it is known that the vessels of 

 every organ dilate when it begins to function actively, and it is 

 impossible to say whether the renal vessels dilate as a cause or effect 

 of the activity. See Caffeine group, p. 126. 



* SCOPARIUS 



Synonym. Broom 



Parts Used. The tops of Cytisus Scoparius, a shrub native to 

 Western Asia and Southern Europe and cultivated in other places. 

 It contains two active principles, sparteine, a liquid alkaloid, and sco- 

 parin, a neutral principle. Sparteine is the alkaloid most used and 

 is prescribed as the sulphate. 



The action is principally upon the heart and kidneys. The 

 crude drug in moderate doses simply serves as a diuretic. Its 

 action upon the heart has been held by some to be similar to digi- 

 talis, but this is not so because sparteine slows and weakens the heart 

 instead of strengthening it. The neutral principle, scoparin, is 

 responsible for its diuretic action. 



Large doses of scoparius cause vomiting and purging. 



Uses. Scoparius alone or with digitalis is occasionally used in 

 cardiac dropsy. 



SALINE DIURETICS 



The principal members of the saline diuretics are certain salts of 

 potassium, and lithium. 



The diuretic potassium salts may be further divided into the 

 vegetable and mineral preparations. 



VEGETABLE SALTS OF POTASSIUM 



The vegetable salts of potassium are the acetate, citrate and 

 bitartrate. They are incompatible with acids, metallic and alka- 

 loidal salts. 



Action. Except in very large doses these salts show no appre- 

 ciable effect upon the organism except an increase in the secretion 

 of urine. The diuresis is due in large part to the salt action of 

 the drugs and in part to direct action upon the secretory cells of the 

 kidneys. They increase the mineral salts of the urine, the sodium 

 as well as the potassium, and in large doses impart an alkaline re- 

 action to the urine. 



Uses. 1. Acute rheumatism. Acute rheumatism is often bene- 

 fited by the administration of these preparations, although the 

 action in this case is not well understood. Eor this purpose they 



* UnoflScial. 



