188 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
years ago, led to the disparagement of this active substance. 
It was furnished to a number of physicians, about making 
their first essay upon the power of Veratria, and it proving 
comparatively innocent disappointed their expectations. The 
imported article, bearing the label and seal of well known 
French houses, may be relied upon as good. It is made here 
of good quality by Mr. Denis, operative chemist, formerly 
attached to the laboratory of Robiquet, and now in the em- 
ploy of Mr. RosENGARTEN of this city. 
Veratria exerts a special action upon the nervous system. 
It is most commonly employed as a local application in Tic 
Douloureaux and Neuralgia. It is in nervous headache when 
thus applied that it has been most successful, affording almost 
instantaneous relief. 
For external use, the most common form in which it is pre- 
scribed is this: 
p. Veratrise, gr. j. 
Cerati. Simp., 3j. 
rvx. 
A small portion of this is rubbed with the end of the finger 
upon the part affected. 
It is occasionally directed to be made as strong as four 
grains to the drachm. Sometimes simple lard is preferred to 
the Cerate; but for frictions the best medium by which to con- 
vey Veratria by absorption through the skin is the oil of lau- 
rel, — the fine green concrete oil of the Laurus Nobilis, — in 
which it is soluble, forming with it a liniment of fine colour 
and agreeable odour. So powerful a sternutatory is it, that 
some delicacy is enjoined upon the person manipulating with 
it to guard against its effects. 
It is administered internally in substance and in the form of 
tincture. The tincture is given in the dose of 5, 10 or more 
drops, and is thus made: 
p. Veratrise, gr. j. 
Alcoholis rect, ^j. 
M. 
In substance it is given in the dose of -j\ih and gth of a 
