ABECA 617 



commercial salt, occurring in white crystals, soluble in 

 alcohol and water ; dose— H. & C, gr.J-1 (.02-.06), subcut. ; 

 2, an inert alkaloid ; 3, red tannic acid ; 4, an oil. 



Dose. — Areca nut — H., ^ ss.-i. (15.-30.) ; Lamb, 3 i. (4.) ; 

 D., gr.ii. for each lb. of live weight, or gr.xv.-3ii. (1.-8.); 

 Fowl (against A. gibbosa), gr.x.-xl. in pill. 



Action and Uses. — Areca nut is an anthelmintic more 

 commonly classed as a tseniacide, but capable of killing 

 round-worms satisfactorily. It acts more successfully as a 

 vermicide in dogs than in the case of the larger animals. 

 Areca nut is an astringent in small doses, but large amounts 

 induce catharsis. "When the drug is used as an anthelmintic 

 the animal should be deprived of food for 24 hours previous 

 to its administration. The powder is given to dogs in milk, 

 frequently with oleoreain of male fern in small quantity. If 

 purgation does not follow the use of areca nut within a short 

 time, a dose of castor oil is indicated. The fluid extract is a 

 more convenient preparation. 



Arecoline hydrobromate (OsHisNOj H Br) has been 

 recently employed subcutaneously — H., gr.^-i. (.02-.06) ; D., 

 gr.^-^ (.001-. 005) — as a rapidly-acting cathartic, exciting 

 peristalsis, in colic and indigestion of horses, and in gastritis 

 ("Fardel bound") of ruminants. Experiments have been made 

 by Muir* with arecoline to prove its efficacy as a rapidly 

 acting cathartic. He finds that while the drug produces 

 salivation, it does not markedly increase intestinal secretion, 

 but acts chiefly by stimulating peristalsis; that it fre- 

 quently causes severe colic and nausea ; that there is also 

 incontinence of urine ; that the pulse becomes slower and 

 softer, and that sweating and reduction of temperature 

 occur during its action ; that arecoline hydrobromate may 

 be safely given in the dose of ^ grain (0.02) intravenously 

 or subcutaneously, and repeated in an hour if necessary. 

 Finally, arecoline is less desirable than eserine on account 

 of the distressing symptoms accompanying its purgative 



* Journal of Comp. Med. and Vet. Archives, Jan. and Feb.. 



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1899. 



