330 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



tern (in nephritis and effusions), but is of little value in veterinary prac- 

 tice, compared with its efficiency in human medicine, on account of its 

 feeLle suduriiic action. It has been recommended (gr. 1/12-1/6, subcut.) 

 in dropsy of cardiac origin, not uncommon in dogs, but is dangerous, 

 since it tends to produce pulmonary edema and heart weakness. For the 

 same reason it is inadvisable in pleuritic effusions and renal dropsy, and 

 in all three conditions it is inferior to purgatives and diuretics stimulating 

 to the heart, as caffeine and theobromine, and paracentesis. Pilocarpine 

 is highly recommended by the Germans in cerebral and spinal meningitis, 

 to assist absorption of effusion. It is recommended in chronic rheumatism 

 as an eliminative, and in acute inflanflnation of the brain, and it may be 

 employed to stimulate the gland in chronic idiopathic parotitis. Small 

 doses of pilocarpine have been employed successfully to stimulate a fail- 

 ing milk secretion, and to prevent excessive sweating in general debility. 

 Jaborandi relieves dry throat and excessive thirst. Obesity, in robust 

 dogs, may be treated with pilocarpine under the skin, in one-half grain 

 doses daily. Success sometimes attends this method. The drug is contra- 

 indicated when there is impairment of the respiratory functions, a weak 

 or fatty heart, and in unconsciousness, when excessive secretion may 

 obstruct the air passages. Also it is inadvisable in pregnancy, on account 

 of the danger of abortion ; and in conditions where swallowing is difficult 

 (pharyngitis, tetanus) because of the profuse salivation. 



SECTION VI.— DRUGS ACTING ON THE HEART. 



Class 1 . — Increasing the Force and Decreasing the 

 Frequency of the Heart. 



Digitalis. Digitalis. 



Synonym. — Digitalis folia, B. P.; foxglove, digitalis leaves, E.; digitale, 

 feuilles de digitale pourprfe (de grande digitale), Fr. ; fingerhutkraut, G. 



The carefully dried leaves of Digitalis purpurea Linn6 (Fam. Scrophuliari- 

 aceic) . In the form of the official tincture the minimum lethal dose should not be 

 greater than 0.006 mil of tincture for each Gm. of body weight of frog. 



DescriptUn. — Leaves, when entire, attaining a length of 30 cm. and a breadth 

 of 15 cm., ovate to oval, abruptly contracted into winged petioles; thin, dull, 

 pale green or gray and densely pubescent on the under surfaces; odor slight, 

 characteristic; taste strongly bitter. 



Consiituenls. — The active principles of digitalis are four glucosides; the three 

 first represent its stimulant action. They are: 



1. Digitoxin, the most poisonous and active. Said to be cumulative. It 

 occurs in crystals, soluble in alcohol, and chloroform, slightly in ether, and in- 

 soluble in water. 



Dose.—Gi:, Vs-Vi (.008-015); D., gr. 1/250-1/50 (.00025-.00125). 



2. Digitalein, an amorphous, bitter substance, soluble in water and alcohol 

 and non-cumulative. 



Dose.—H., gr. Vs-Vi (.00S-.015); D,, gr. 1/100 (.0006). 



8. Digitalin, a bitter, crystalline body, soluble in alcohol, and sparingly solu- 

 ble in water and ether. 



Dose.—H., gr. Vs-Vi (.008-.016); D., gr. 1/200-1/100 (.0003-.0006). 



*. Digitonin* (Cj;H„0.3), resembling, or identical with, saponin of senega. 



*There exists another glucoside in digitalis— digitophyllin— which has been 

 insufficiently studied. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



