434 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



creolin, Peruvian balsam and oleoresin of male fern to the pint of alcohol 

 are useful as a lotion in the treatment of canine follicular mange. 



Akeca. (Non-official.) 



Synonym. — Areca-nut, betal-nut, E.; noix d'areque, Fr.; arecanuss, G. 



The seed of Areca Catechu (nat. ord. Palmaceae). 



Habitat. — India, Coromandel and Malabar coasts ; also in warm parts of Asia. 



Description. — The seeds resemble nutmeg in size, shape and color. They yield 

 a brown powder, partially soluble in water and alcohol. The taste is astringent. 



Constituents. — 1, the active principle is the liquid alkaloid, arecoline 

 (C8H1SNO2). Arecoline hydrobromide (CsHisNO^HBr) is the commercial salt, 

 occurring in colorless, anhydrous needle-shaped prisms, soluble in alcohol and 

 water. H. & C, gr;%-l%, (0.04-0.09); average dose, gr.i, (0.06), subcutaneously. 

 Repeat if necessary at half hour intervals for 2 or 3 doses. There "are three 

 other alkaloids, arecaine, aracaidine and guvachine, which are of no medicinal 

 value. Red tannic acid. An oil. 



Dose. — Areca Nut. — H., gss-i, (15-30); Lamb, 3i, (4); D., gr.ii for each lb. 

 of live weight, or gr.xv-3ii, (1-8); Fowl (against A. gibbosa), gr.x-xl in pill. 



Action and Uses. — ^Areca nut is an anthelmintic more commonly 

 classed as a taniacide, but capable of killing round-worms satisfactorily. 

 It acts more successfully as a vermicide in dogs than in the case of the 

 larger animals. Areca nut is an astringent in small doses, but large 

 amounts induce catharsis. When the drug is used as an anthelmintic the 

 animal should be deprived of food for 24 hours previous to its admin- 

 istration. The powder is given to dogs in milk, frequently with oleoresin 

 of male fern in small quantity, or mixed with butter, or in pills or cap- 

 sules, as it is rather irritating to the stomach and may cause vomiting. 

 Areca nut should be freshly ground. It is not a wholly safe anthelmintic 

 for weak animals, puppies or eats. If purgation does not follow the use 

 of areca nut within a short time, a dose of castor oil is indicated. The 

 fluidextract is a more convenient preparation. 



:^ 



Fluidextracti seminis arecae..; gss. 



Oleoresinae aspidii 3i. 



Mucilaginis acaciae gii. 



Olei menthae piperitae TlXv. 



M. 



Sig. Give one-half to dog with tape or round worms. 



Seminis arecee , giv. 



Sig. Teaspoonful (3i) in milk for lambs with worms. ■ 



Seminis arecae Ibi. 



Sig. 2 tablespoonfuls (§i) on feed 3 times daily for 

 horses with tapeworm. 1 tablespoonful once 

 daily on feed for colts with round worms. 



Arecoline has not been studied in scientific detail as to its physio- 

 logical actions, but in general it resembles pilocarpine in stimulating the 

 ends of the secretory nerves, the ends of the motor nerves of smooth 

 muscle, and the ends of the third nerve in the eye. Thus arecoline is 

 directly opposed by atropine which depresses these structures. It causes 



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