IPECAC 471 



Uses External. — Veratrine is of trivial value, since its 

 therapeutic application is narrowly limited. It is occasion- 

 ally useful in the official ointment, or in greater strength 

 (gr.xl. to 5 i.) for its local anaesthetic action applied over 

 rheumatic joints. It may be employed also as a simple 

 rubefacient. An aqueous solution of veratrine sulphate, or 

 an alcoholic dilution of the pure alkaloid, is recommended by 

 EUenberger and other noted Germans in shoulder lameness, 

 myalgia, and chronic rheumatic affections of the horse, to be 

 injected every alternate day, or oftener, into the muscular 

 tissue over the seat of the trouble. The animal should be led 

 about for fifteen or thirty minutes while the pain of the 

 treatment lasts. The initial dose is gr.f (0.4 Gm.), to be 

 increased to gr.lj (0.1 Gm.). 



Uses Internal. — Veratrine has been employed as a cardiac 

 sedative and antipyretic in pneumonia, acute rheumatism, 

 and in other sthenic disorders, but it is inferior for these 

 purposes to aconite or veratrum, and its other effects 

 are undesirable. The remedy is lauded by foreign authori- 

 ties as an emetic and cathartic for cattle in impaction of the 

 third stomach, and in conditions where it is desirable to 

 quickly unload their digestive apparatus. 



P. Oagny advises veratrine, grs.2|-3 (.15-.20), subcutane- 

 ously, to be followed if necessary by daily doses of grs.5-7J, 

 (0.3-0.5 Gm.) in mucilaginous drinks by the mouth. The 

 same writer finds the drug useful in "broken wind." Vera- 

 trine stimulates intestinal secretion and peristalsis in the 

 horse, but is inferior to eserine and pilocarpine in that 

 animal as a quickly acting cathartic. 



SECTION VII.— DEUGS ACTING ON THE 

 EESPIEATOET OEGANS. 



Ipecacuanha. Ipecac. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Synonym. — Ipecacuanha, racine bresilienne, Fr. ; 

 brechwurzel, ruhrwurzel, G. 



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