DIGITALIS 331 



Soluble in water. It is a heart depressant, muscular paralyzant and powerful 

 irritant, besides being antagonistic to digitalis. 



In addition to these principles, there are: 6. Digitin, an inert body. 6. Digi- 

 talic and antirrhinic acids. 7. Tannin, coloring matters, starch, sugar, gum, a 

 volatile oil, salts, etc., common to most vegetables. 



Five substances are found in commerce: 



1. Nativelle's digitalin (CjsH„0„), occurring in white crystalline tufts com- 

 posed of needles. It is bitter, and soluble in alcohol and chloroform; insoluble in 

 water or ether. It contains digitoxin, digitalin, digitalein and digitonin, but chiefly 

 digitoxin, and is cumulative. 



Dose.—H. & C, gr. 14-%, (.015-.03) ; D., gr. 1/60-1/30, (.001-.002). 



2. Homolle's or QuSvenne's digitalin, an amorphous, whitish powder, or 

 small scales; very bitter, inodorous, and soluble in alcohol and in 2,000 parts of 

 water. It is composed largely of digitalin, with a- little digitoxin. 



Dose.—n. & C, gr. % (.015) = gr. 22% of digitalis leaves; D., gr. 1/60-1/30 

 (.001-.002) =gr. l%-3 of digitalis leaves. 



8. German digitalinum purum, consisting chiefly of digitalein with some 

 digitalin and digitonin. 



Dose.—H., gr.ss-i, (.03-.06); D., gr. 1/60-1/30, (.001-.002). 



Neither Nativelle's nor Homolle's digitalin form a complete substitute for 

 digitalis, and their use is not recommended. Schmiedeberg's digitalin, however, 

 is said by eminent authority to be the best substitute. This preparation is the 

 digitalin "German" of Merck, and may be given in the same doses as Homolle's 

 digitalin. No one glucoside of digitalis represents the action of the whole drug, 

 as obtained by use of the tincture or fluidextract. 



4; Digitoxin (too irritating for hypodermatic use), see above for doses. 5. 

 Digitalin, see above for doses. While there are at leacst 4 different "digitalins" 

 on the market, none is the real glucoside but they consist of mixtures of the gluco- 

 sides and do not represent the full therapeutic value of digitalis. 



Incompatibility. — Digitalis is incompatible with tannic acid, lead acetate, cin- 

 chona and ferric salts. 



Digitalis Folia Dose. — H., gr.x-3i, (.6-.4) ; C, 3ss-iss, (2-6); Sh. & Sw., 

 gr.v-xv, (.3-1); D., gr.ss-iii, (.03-.2). 



PREPABATIOirS. 



Flwidextractum Digitalis. Fluidextract of Digitalis. (U. S. P.) 



Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol and water, and evaporation 

 so that 1 mil z= 1 Gm. of the crude drug. The minimum lethal dose should not 

 be more than 0.0006 mil for each gram of body weight of frog. 



Dose.—H., tll,x-3i, (.6-4); C, 3ss-iss, (2-6); Sh. & Sw., Hlv-xv, (.8-1); D., 

 TUss-iii, (.03-.2). 



Tinctura Digitalis. Tincture of Digitalis. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Made by maceration and percolation of powdered digitalis (100), with suffi- 

 cient alcohol and water to make 1,000. (U. S. P.) 



Dose. — H. & C, 3ii-vi, (8-24) ; Sh. & Sw., Hlxxx-3iss, (2-6) ; D., Tllv-xxx, 

 (.3-2.). Lethal dose 0.006 mil for each gram of body weight of frog. 

 Infusum Digitalis. Infusion of Digitalis. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Digitalis, IS; cinnamon water, 150; boiling water, 600; cold water to make 

 1,000. By maceration. (U. S. P.) The infusion is not so good a preparation 

 as the tincture or fluidextract because the most powerful glucoside, digitoxin, is 

 not soluble to any extent in water. 



Dose.—H. & C, Sii-vi, (60-180) ; Sh. & Sw., gss-i, (15-30) ; D., 3i-iv, (4-15).* 



Digitalone is a watery, fluidextract corresponding in strength to the tincture 

 (10 per cent, of crude drug) preserved by admixture with chloretone (0.6 per 

 cent.) and representing all the active principles of digitalis. It is moreover 

 standardized by physiological tests and is sterile. 



It is excellent, therefore, to use under the skin in emergencies as in heart 



*The infusion contains chiefly digitonin and digitalein, on account of their 

 solubility in water, and therefore is lacking in the most stimulating principles. 



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