438 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Action and Uses. — Santonin is preferable to santonica. Santonin is 

 chiefly valuable as a parasiticide against round-worms ; viz. : A. lum- 

 bricoides of cattle and swine, A. mystax and marginata of cats and dogs, 

 and A. megalocephala of horses. It is ineffective against tapeworm or 

 hookworm but it has a fair degree of efficacy against whipworm (Hall 

 and Foster). 



Large doses cause poisoning, with the occurrence, in dogs, of liausea 

 and vomiting, weakness, giddiness, muscular trembling, salivation, twitch- 

 ing of the head muscles, rolling of the eyes and grinding of the teeth. 

 Then flexion and extension, and rotation of the head from side to side, 

 are followed by epileptiform convulsions. Between the convulsions 

 momentary contractions of the muscles all over the body may be seen 

 (Cushny). The convulsions are due to stimulation of the cerebral cortex 

 and the parts lying between the cerebral peduncles and medulla. There 

 are — slow pulse, dilated pupils, and rapid respiration, and death ensues 

 from asphyxia. While 5 to 6 grains induce symptoms of poisoning in 

 dogs, 14 to 1 dram has often failed to produce a fatal result. Santonin 

 is eliminated by the kidneys, increasing their secretion, coloring an acid 

 urine yellow, and an alkaline urine purplish-red, or a bloody hue. Xan- 

 thopsy or yellow sight occurs in. man, probably from a specific action on 

 the retina. There is congestion pf the heart, lungs and nervous centres 

 observed after death, but no gastro-enteritis. Santonin is very slowly 

 absorbed from the intestines and is oxidized in the tissues and eliminated 

 as oxysantonins. The best treatment of poisoning consists in emptying 

 the stomach and bowels by emetics and purgatives, and in the use of 

 artificial respiration, cold to the head, inhalations of anesthetics, and ene- 

 mata of chloral, to relieve the convulsions. The administration of san- 

 tonin should be preceded or accompanied by that of a cathartic, as 

 santonin is repugnant, rather than fatal, to worms. 



The drug may be given to fasting puppies as follows : 



Hydrarg. chlorid. mitis. 



Santonini aa gr.iii. 



M. et Aiv. in capsulas no. iii. 

 Sig. One capsule in morning every third day (for 

 round worms), 

 or for dogs: — 



Santonini gr.vi. 



01. ricini giss. 



M. 



Sig. Give one-third every third day (for round 

 worms). 



Hogs of 40 lbs. may be given 2 grains each of santonin and calomel 

 on feed every third day as an effective mixture against round worms, but 

 it is more costly and troublesome than oil of chenopodium. Santonin is 

 not so commonly or successfully used in the treatment of round-worms 

 in horses, as turpentine and aloes, creolin, etc. A ball containing 3ii of 

 santonin and Si of calomel, or a combination of 3iv santonin and 1 pint 

 of castor oil, are suitable prescriptions for the horse. Santonin is too 



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