440 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



Doae.— Dogs (80 lbs.), Fluidextract, 3i, (4.0) ; unofficial flextr. splgelijB et 

 senne, D., 3ii, (8); puppies, 3ss, (2). 



Class 3. — Used to Destroy Lice. 



Staphisagria. Staphisagria. (U. S. P.) 



SJ/»o«i/m.— Staphisagriae semina, B. P.; stavesacre, E.; staphisalgrie, Fr.; . 

 stephauskorner, lausekorner, G. 



The ripe seeds of Delphinium Staphisagria Linn6 (Fam. Ranunculaceae) . 



Habitat. — Shores of Mediterranean; cultivated. 



Description.- — Irregularly triangular, flattened, or somewhat tetrahedral, one 

 side being convex, from 4 to 7 mm. in length and from 3 to 6 mm. in breadth; 

 externally dark brown, becoming lighter with age; odor slight, disagreeable; 

 taste intensely bitter and acrid. 



Constituents. — 1, the important principle is delphinine (C22H30NO0), a white, 

 poisonous, crystalline alkaloid resembling aconite; soluble in alcohol, chloroform, 

 and ether; 2, delphisine (Cj^H^aNjOj) ; 3, delphinoidine (C^HesNjO;) ; 4, staphisa- 

 grine (C22H33NO5) ; 5, a. fixed oil. 



Action and Uses. — Powdered staphisagria is employed solely to kill 

 lice (pediculi) in ointment (1-2) with benzoinated lard or vaseline. Creo- 

 lin solutions (3-6 per cent.), tobacco infusions (5-10 per cent.), and oil 

 of anise with sweet oil (1-10 per cent.), are also used for the same pur- 

 pose. The latter mixture is an elegant preparation for pet dogs. 



The tincture of larkspur (Delphinium consolida), another species of 

 the same genus, is also a very efficient parasiticide against pediculi. It 

 contains 1 part of larkspur seeds to 16 of alcohol. 



Class 4. — Used to Destroy Fleas. 



Pykethrum. Pyrethrum. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Persian, Caucasian or Dalmatian insect powder. 



The dried root of Anacychis Pyrethrum (Linng) De CandoUe (Fam. Oom- 

 positw). 



Habitat. — Caucasian Mountains ; cultivated in California, U. S. 



Description. — Somewhat fusiform, nearly simple, 5 to 10 cm. long, 2 to 20 

 mm. in diameter, externally dark brown or grayish brown, longitudinally wrinkled 

 and somewhat furrowed; odor distinct, taste pungent, very acrid, producing a 

 prompt sialagogue effect. The powder is light to dark brown. Pyrethrum powder 

 is the best parasiticide for fleas (pulicidse). It is used more frequently to kill 

 these parasites on cats and dogs. Pyrethrum is simply dusted over the whole 

 body or is applied in the form of a tincture (1-4), diluted with 10 parts of water. 



The application of Dalmatian insect powder to kittens and puppies, or to 

 dogs and cats in enfeebled condition, may be attended with danger unless the 

 powder is brushed off within 10 or 15 minutes after its use. Deaths have occurred 

 in these animals following its free and careless employment. 



SECTION XV.— VEGETABLE DRUGS STIMULATING UNSTRI- 

 ATED MUSCLE, PARTICULARLY THAT OF THE UTERUS. 



Ergota. Ergot. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym.^-Ergot of rye, spurred rye, E.; ergot de seigle, bl6 cornu, Fr.; 

 mutterkorn, kornmutter, zapfenkorn, G. ; secale cornutum, P. G. 



The sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea (Fries) Tulasne (Fam. Hypocreacese), 

 replacing the grain of rye, Secale cereale Linn6 (nat. ord. Gramineae). 



Habitat. — Ergot is obtained mainly from Spain and Russia. 



Description. — Subcylindrical, obscurely three-angled, tapering toward both 



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