USES OF CAMPHOR 393 



Circulation. — The frog's heart is stimulated by camphor, and the 

 pulse is slowed and increased in force by moderate doses. The drug acts 

 in part directly on the heart muscle and in part reilexly from irritation 

 of the stomach. While animal experiments do not show that camphor has 

 any material eifect on the heart in ordinary doses yet clinical experience 

 has proved that it does stimulate the circulation in conditions of general 

 depression of the circulation from acute illness, in poisoning and after 

 surgical operations. Moreover, when ingested, camphor stimulates the 

 heart reflexly by irritation of the stomach, as in the case of alcohol. 



Animal experiments do show that it sometimes first stimulates and 

 then depresses the vasomotor centres in large doses, producing a cor- 

 responding effect on blood pressure. Poisonous quantities of camphor 

 depress the heart and the pulse becomes feeble and rapid. Leukocytosis 

 is favored by camphor. 



Respiration. — Camphor does not influence the respiration materially 

 in therapeutic doses. Occasionally the respiration is made slower and 

 deeper. Camphor, like volatile oils, stimulates the bronchial mucous 

 membranes in its elimination by the lungs, and increases the blood supply 

 and secretion of these parts. The characteristic odor is imparted to the 

 breath after the ingestion of camphor. The drug is believed to relieve 

 spasm and cough in bronchitis. 



Nervous System. — Camphor is often classed as an antispasmodic. 

 It stimulates the nerve centres in the brain, medulla, and spinal cord, and 

 thus overcomes spasm due to nervous weakness and incoordination. 

 Poisonous doses depress and paralyze the higher nervous centres. 



Kidneys and Sexual Organs. — Camphor is oxidized in the body into 

 camphorol (Ci^HuOj) and eliminated in the breath and sweat, but 

 mainly in the urine, as camphoglycuronic acid. The drug influences the 

 sexual organs, in some cases, but in most instances does not ailect them. 

 Full medicinal doses sometimes stimulate the sexual functions (aphrodisiac 

 action). Very large doses are said to depress sexual desire (anaphro- 

 disiac action), but these quantities may irritate the genito-urinary tract 

 and produce erotic excitement. 



Temperature. — Camphor is a slight antipyretic. 



Toaicology. — Two to four ounces of camphor given to horses or 

 cattle induce delirium and convulsions (cerebral stimulation) with rapid 

 pulse and breathing, but usually recovery ensues. Two to four drams 

 cause, in dogs, vomiting, unsteady movements, asphyxia, coma (cerebral 

 depression) and death from respiratory failure. 



Administration. — Camphor is exhibited internally in the form of the 

 spirit in pill or ball; and in solution in oil or milk. 



Uses External. — Camphor is applied in powder as a stimulant and 

 antiseptic on indolent sores ; mixed with chalk or zinc oxide, as a dusting 

 powder, in chafing or erythema, for its anesthetic properties. It is em- 

 ployed in liniments (Lin. Saponis, Lin. Camphorse), in strains, bruises, 

 rheumatism and myalgia, as a rubefacient and local anodyne. 



Uses Internal. — Camphor is a valuable agent in stimulating the vital 

 nerve centres in depression, collapse and shock and also, in less degree, 

 the circulation. 



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