STEOPHANTHUS 337 



stimulating tlie heart and overcoming venous stasis in the kidneys and 

 elsewhere. Digitalis is frequently prescribed to dogs with squill and calo- 

 mel (D., gr.i of each) in pills for this purpose. It is often desirable to 

 combine iron preparations with digitalis. Turbidity results from the 

 action of iron on the tannic acid contained in digitalis when in solution, 

 but this can be removed by the addition of a little diluted phosphoric 

 acid. 



Strophanthus. Strophanthus. (U. S. & B. P.) 



The dried, ripe seeds of Strophanthus Kombe Oliver, or of Strophanthus his- 

 pidus De Candolle (nat. ord. Apocynacese), deprived of the long awns. 



Synonym. — Strophanthi semina, B. P.; strophanthussamen, G.; semence de 

 strophanthus, Fr. 



Habitat. — Tropical Africa. There are eighteen species, and the seeds from 

 two are found in commerce. This has led to some confusion, as the chemical and 

 physiological properties of their different products vary to some extent. 



Description. — Lance-ovoid, flattened and obtusely edged; from 7 to 20 mm. 

 in length, about 4 mm. in breadth, and about 2 mm. in thicljness; externally of 

 a light fawn color, with a distinct greenish tinge, silky lustrous from a dense 

 coating of closely appressed hairs (S. kembe), or light to dark brown, nearly 

 smooth and sparingly hairy (S. hispidus), bearing on one side a ridge running 

 from the centre to the summit; fracture short and soft; fractured surface whitish 

 and oily; odor heavy when the seeds are crushed and moistened; taste very bitter. 



The minimum lethal dose should not be greaterl than 0.00006 mil of tincture 

 for each gram of body weight of frog. 



Constituents. — The chief one is (1) Strophanthin, C31H4SO12 (8-10 per cent.), 

 a glucoside occurring in white or yellowish powder, and having a very bitter 

 taste. Soluble in water and alcohol, and insoluble in chloroform or ether. De- 

 composed by sulphuric acid into glucose and strophanthidin. Strophanthin is 

 said to be contained only in S. Kombe. It varies in composition and strength and 

 decomposes in solution. (2) Kombic acid. (3) An alkaloid, ineine. (4) Tanghin- 

 in, occurring in rhombic prisms. 



PREPARATIOlf. 



Tinctura Strophanthi. Tincture of Strophanthus. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation of strophanthus (100) with alcohol and 



water to make 1000. (Standardized as above.) (U. S. P.) The tincture becomes 



inert in a few days when combined with water. 



Dose.— H. & C, 3i-iv, (4-lS) ; D., TTLii-x, (.12-.6). The minimum doses 



should be used at first, since preparations vary in strength. 



Strophanthin UM. Strophanthin. (U. S. P.) 

 White or yellowish-white powder, very soluble in water and dilute alcohol. 

 Dose.—H., gr. V^-Vz (.012-.03) ; D., gr. 1/200-1/60 (.0003-0.001). The gluco- 

 side is not always pure and the dose is uncertain and must be given with caution 

 in the smaller . doses first. 



Action External. — Strophanthus is a local anesthetic. 



Action Internal. — Strophanthus is a gastro-intestinal irritant in large 

 doses, like digitalis, and produces violent purging and sometimes vomiting. 

 It occasionally causes diarrhea in medicinal doses. On account of its 

 bitter qualities it may act in small medicinal doses as a stomachic, im- 

 proving appetite and stimulating gastric secretion and motion. 



Circulation. — The action of strophanthus on the circulation is very 

 similar to that of digitalis, but it is a more powerful and uncertain heart 

 stimulant and produces less vascular constriction. By its influence the 

 heart beats are made more forcible, infrequent and regular. Diastole is 



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