616 VEGETABLE DEUGS 



Action and Uses. — Aspidium is chiefly of value in veter- 

 inary medicine as a taeniacide or agent destroying tape-worms, 

 particularly those inhabiting dogs. Large quantities of the 

 drug cause hssmorrhagic gastro-enteritis, tremors, weakness, 

 stupor, coma, acute nephritis and cystitis. Six drachms of 

 the oleoresin have proved fatal in man and sheep ; five 

 drachms in a medium-sized dog ; and three ounces in the 

 case of a cow. Aspidium must never be given with oil, 

 which'aids its absorption. Dogs should be fasted 24 hours 

 or fed on a little milk ; then the oleoresin should be admin- 

 istered, and 'the dose repeated in 3 hours. After the expira- 

 tion of 12 hours from the administration of the first dose, a 

 purgative quantity of castor oil is to be exhibited. An 

 injection of salt and water assists the expulsion of segments 

 of taenia from the rectum. If the head of the taenia is not 

 expelled the treatment may be repeated in three days or a 

 week. The oleoresin may be flavored with a few drops of 

 oil of peppermint, and is often combined with a small dose 

 of areca nut (gr.i. to the lb. live weight) in emulsion with 

 mucilage of tragacanth, or with fluid extract of kousso, 3 i. 

 to 3 ii. The oleoresin may also be exhibited in pills or 

 capsules. It is on the whole the best agent against the tape- 

 worms of dogs, including Taenia serrata, T. marginata, T. 

 coenurus and T. echinococcus. 



Abeoa. (Non-official.) 



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

 areca-nuss, 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 alka- 

 loid, arecoline (CsHi^NOJ; arecoline hydrobromate is the 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



