344 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Palpitation of Heart in Horses. 



Fluidextracti aconiti J"- 



Fluidextracti digitalis. 



Fluidextracti belladonnse radicis aa §i- 



(Furnish 3ii bottle). 

 M. 

 S. Small bottleful on tongue t. i. d. 



It can be administered to advantage in the first stages of acute 

 pericarditis and endocarditis. 



Veratrum Vieide. Veratrum Viride. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Veratri viridis rhizoma, B. P.; American hellebore, green helle- 

 bore root, -Indian poke root, E.; griiner germer, G. 



The dried rhizome and roots of Veratrum viride Alton (Fani. Liliaceas). 



Description. — Rhizome upright, obconical, ubually cut longitudinally into 2 or 

 4 pieces, from 2 to 7 cm. in length and from 1.5 to 3 cm. in diameter, externally 

 light brown to dark brown or brownish-black, frequently bearing at the summit 

 numerous closely arranged, thin leaf-bases, otherwise rough and wrinkled. In- 

 odorous but sternutatory; taste bitter and acrid. Powder grayish-brown to dark 

 brown. 



Constituents*. — 1. Veratrine or cevadine (Cs-HuNOb), a pure alkaloid. 2. 

 Jervine (Cj.HjiNOj), a pure alkaloid. 3. Protoveratrine (CinHsiNOu), a powerful 

 alkaloid resembling aconitine. 4. Pseudojervine. 5. Rubijervine. 6. A resin, a 

 gastro-intestinal irritant. 



Veratrum Dose.—H. & C, .5ss-i, (2-4); Sh. & Sw., gr.xx-xxx, (1.3-2); D., 

 gr. 1/10-i, (.006-.06). 



PKEPAEATIONS. 



Fluidextractum Veratri Viridis. Fluidextract of Veratrum Viride. (U. S. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol, and evaporation, so that 

 1 mil^l Gm. of the crude drug. 



Dose.—H. & C, .3ss-i, (2-4); Sh. & Sw., TTl,xx-xxx, (1.3-2); D., TTLl/lO-i, 

 (.006-.06). 



Tinctura Veratri Viridis. Tincture of Veratrum Viride. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Made by maceration and percolation of veratrum viride, 100; and alcohol to 

 make 1000. (U. S. P. 



Dose.—H. & C, 5ss-i, (15-30); Sh. & Sw., 5ii-iv, (8-15); D., TIlv-xv, (.3-1). 



» 

 Veratrum Viride. 



Action Internal. — The action of the drug is a resultant of the action 

 of veratrine, jervine and protoveratrine — cliiefly to that of veratrine. 



Circulation. — The most noteworthy therapeutic value of veratrum 

 viride depends upon its effect upon the circulation. It first lowers the 

 force (jervine), and, if continued, the frequency (veratrine, protoveratrine 

 and jervine) of the pulse, and also reduces vascular tension (jervine). 

 Veratrum viride is considerably more depressant to the circulation than 

 aconite, which does not directly lessen arterial pressure. Veratrum is, 

 however, inferior to aconite for general purposes, as it does not possess 

 the anodyne, diaphoretic, or diuretic properties peculiar to the latter 

 drug. 



*Great confusion exists concerning the alkaloids in veratrum because writers 

 apply different names to the same alkaloids. 



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