HYDRASTIS 401 



Actions. — Hydrastis and its alkaloids, berberine and hydrastine, act 

 as simpla bitters and stomachics, in small doses, by improving the appe- 

 tite and stimulating the secretion, motion and vascularity of the stomach. 

 Hydrastis causes contraction of the non-pregnant uterus, and may induce 

 abortion in pregnant animals. It also increases the flow of urine. The 

 drug is a mild anti-periodic, but is decidedly inferior to quinine in this 

 respect. Hydrastine and berberine resemble each other in actions, uses 

 and doses. Hydrastine acts on the nervous system as a mild form of 

 strychnine, stimulating slightly the vagus, respiratory and vasoconstric- 

 tor centres, and increasing reflex excitability. It has no appreciable 

 effect on the heart and but slightly raises blood pressure. It excites all 

 kinds of muscle and thus is a good tonic. Poisonous doses of hydrastine 

 and berberine are followed by convulsions and paralysis ; the former is 

 more convulsant. In poisoning by either alkaloid there is great cardiac 

 and vasomotor depression. Hydrastinine hydrochloride stimulates vaso- 

 constrictor centres and also constricts vessels locally, but is chiefly used 

 for its action in stimulating uterine muscle and stopping metrorrhagia at 

 times other than parturition. A 10% solution is applied locally to stop 

 bleeding from the nose, uterus and rectum. 



Uses. — Hydrastis, berberine, and hydrastine are employed in ano- 

 rexia and atonic indigestion. The fluidextract of hydrastis and hydras- 

 tine (both, however, are very expensive) are especially efficient for horses 

 in combination with other bitters and iron, as follows : 



Fluidextr. capsici Sii. 



Fluidextr. hydrastis. 



Fluidextr. nucis vomicae aa Siii. 



M. (Furnish 311 bottle.) 

 Sig. Small bottleful t. i. d. on tongue, 

 or: — 



Hydrastinas gr.xxx. 



Pulv. gentianse. 



Pulv. nucis vomlcas. 



Ferri sulph. exsicc aa ,5ii- 



M. at div. in ch't., no. xii. 



Sig. One powder on food t. 1. d. 



Hydrastis is exhibited empirically (probably as a local Stimulant 

 and antiseptic) in atonic and inflammatory conditions of the digestive 

 organs, with great benefit, as in chronic gastro-intestinal catarrh or 

 catarrhal jaundice. Hydrastis is used most frequently in human medi- 

 cine to stop uterine hemorrhage of all descriptions, and is often conjoined 

 with the fluidextract of ergot for this purpose. Hydrastinine hydrochlo- 

 ride has been employed with great success as a hemostatic in metrorrhagia. 

 Hydrastine is given to horses and dogs as a bitter tonic. Externally, the 

 fluidextracts of hydrastis (1-8 to 1-2), or hydrastine (gr.v-gi), in aqueous 

 solution, are most serviceable as local stimulants in the treatment of the 

 subacute stages in inflammatory diseases of mucous membranes, and in 

 relaxed or atonic conditions of these tissues. The solutions are applied 

 as injections, or lotions, in leukorrhea, endometritis, balanitis, otorrhea, 

 stomatitis, etc., and upon indolent ulcers. 



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