454 VEGETABLE DEUGS 



Stkophanthinum. Strophanthin. 

 (U. S. P.) 



Dose—S., gr.|4 (.012-.03) ; D., gr-^ir-^ (.0006-.001).- 

 The glucoside is not always pure and the dose is uncertain 

 and must be given with caution. 



Action External. — Strophanthus is a local anaesthetic. 



Action Internal. — Strophanthus is a gastro-intestinal 

 irritant in large doses, like digitalis, and produces violent 

 purging and sometimes vomiting. On account of its bitter 

 qualities it may act in small medicinal doses as a stomachic, 

 improving appetite and stimulating gastric secretion and 

 motion. 



Circulation. — The action of strophanthus on the circula- 

 tion is very similar to that of digitalis, but it is a more 

 powerful and uncertain heart stimulant and produces less 

 vascular constriction. By its iufluence the heart beats are 

 made more forcible, infrequent and regular. Diastole is 

 prolonged and systole is strengthened but unaltered in time. 

 Arterial tension is raised and the pulse wave is increased in 

 volume and force. The physiological details are not so well 

 ascertained as are those of digitalis, but it is known that 

 strophanthus directly stimulates the heart muscle in moder- ' 

 ate. doses. The vessels are slightly contracted, but not 

 nearly as much so as by digitalis. Increased blood pressure 

 results mainly from the augmented heart's action. In 

 poisoning, the peripheral vagi are paralyzed and vascular 

 tension falls, owing probably to tetanic contraction of the 

 ventricles. The heart is arrested in systole or diastole. 



Nervous System. — Muscles and Respiration. — Strophan- 

 thus is a powerful muscle poison. Therapeutic doses 

 increase muscular activity and tone, while toxic quantities 

 paralyze voluntary muscles. Medicinal doses not only 

 stimulate the voluntary muscles, but also the unstriped 

 miiscle of the heart, and to some extent that of the vessel 

 walls. The nerve centres and trunks are unaffected except 

 by the local application of strophanthus, which paralyzes 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



