REPORTS OF CASES 
465 
fruit of the Momordica Elaterium, or squirting cucumber. It has 
a high reputation as a hydragogue cathartic in human practice. 
This action does not appear to be prominent in at least some of 
the lower animals. Yiborg asserts that a horse was unaffected 
by a pound of the elaterium fruit. H. C. Wood gave one and 
even two grains of a presumably active elaterium to a dog without 
producing very obvious results, whereas it is not deemed safe in 
human practice to begin with a larger dose than one-sixth of a 
grain. 
Elaterium has been considered especially valuable in uraemia 
because it produces an elimination of the urea in the stools. Now, 
since it has been proved on good authority that uraemic convul¬ 
sions are not due to urea, the bottom is knocked out of that 
theory. In like manner E. is recommended for general dropsy, 
because it is a hydragogue cathartic. But this latter theory is 
not in harmony with my observations of its action on the horse, 
for I have failed to produce catharsis, but I have never failed in 
causing reabsorption of dropsical effusions by its use; in fact I 
have never had occasion to resort to the operation of paracenthe- 
sis thoracis since its employment. I have only thus far used E. 
to remove pleuritic effusions. In typical cases of pleurisy I con¬ 
trol the heart’s action by the third extract of digitalis. On the 
fourth or fifth day percussion will reveal the presence of effusions. 
The acute symptoms will have lessened, but the effusions will in¬ 
terfere with the cardiac and pulmonary functions. Now is the 
time to exhibit elaterium. The following is a favorite prescrip¬ 
tion of mine : 
Elaterii, gr. xx. 
Extr. Bellad, 3 1. 
Glycerini, q s. 
M ft. Boli No. II. 
S One every day. 
As a rule the effusion will entirely disappear within forty- 
eight hours, and convalescence progress quickly. 
