Part 38

PROPERTIES.--Colorless or white, prismatic crystals, odorless and having an intensely bitter taste. Efflorescent in dry air. Soluble in water and alcohol. Almost soluble in ether.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1¹⁄₂ gr.; cattle, 1 to 3 gr.; sheep, ¹⁄₄ to ¹⁄₂ gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₁₂₀ to ¹⁄₄₀ gr. The small doses are to be used when strychnine is given subcutaneously.

ACTIONS.--Nerve tonic, stomach tonic, stimulates respiration, secretion, appetite and digestion; it increases peristalsis, stimulates both the motor and inhibitory apparatus of the heart, and raises arterial tension by stimulating the vaso-motor centers, thus contracting the arterioles, though full doses relax the arterioles and thus lower blood pressure.

Strychnine exalts all functions of the spinal cord, reflex, motor, vaso-motor and sensory, the latter being the least affected; it does not affect the brain directly.

TOXICOLOGY.--Large doses cause trembling and twitching of the voluntary and involuntary muscles with violent clonic spasms, lasting one or two minutes, gradually getting more frequent and severe in form involving the glottis, diaphragm and other muscles of respiration; causes death usually from asphyxia. Very large doses may paralyze the cord as from a blow, and cause almost instant death.

USES.--Nux vomica or strychnine is indicated in any condition in which there is a paralysis or depressed state of the nerves or nervous system; atonic dyspepsia, broken wind, relaxed condition of the bowels due to lack of tone, in small doses.

In weak condition of the heart give with small doses of digitalis; it stimulates sexual organs. Give it in convalescence from debilitating diseases, also as an aid to recovery during their progress; in collapse and for narcotic poisoning strychnine hypodermically in paralysis, whether of limbs, intestines or bladder.

In diarrhoea, due to lack of tone of muscular coat of the bowels combined with astringents; for anaemia, strychnine combined with iron and quinine; nervous coughs use strychnine with sedatives; also in incontinuence of urine and chorea, in dogs after distemper.

ANTIDOTE FOR STRYCHNINE POISONING.--Tannic acid or vegetables containing it should be freely administered, for the tannate of strychnine which is formed is very insoluble; an emetic or the stomach pump must be used promptly. The tetanic spasms are best controlled by chloral hydrate or very large doses of potassium bromide (2 dr. to ¹⁄₂ oz. for man) or 4 to 8 ounces for the horse as antidote for strychnine poisoning. Inhalations of ether are also recommended. Chloral hydrate may be used per rectum or intravenously. Inhalations of amyl nitrate are also of value. The administration of melted lard seems to exert peculiar antidotal properties to strychnine poisoning. As an emetic for dogs apomorphinae hydrochloras ¹⁄₂₀ to ¹⁄₅ grain, given hypodermically, is the best and may have to be pushed as emetics act tardily in poisoning by this drug.

OLEUM MORRHUAE--COD LIVER OIL

A fixed oil obtained from the fresh livers of cod fish.

HABITAT.--North Atlantic Ocean.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow, thin, oily liquid, having a peculiar slightly fishy but not rancid odor, and a bland, slightly fishy taste. Cod liver oil is often adulterated with the oil of other fish. Brown oils are not desirable therapeutically.

DOSE.--Horses, 2 oz.; cattle, 2 to 4 oz.; sheep, 1 oz.; pigs, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; dogs, 1 to 4 dr.; cats, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.

ACTION AND USES.--Nutrient, tonic and alterative; on account of its biliary constituents is easily emulsified and digested. It is indicated in all cases of malnutritions and where the digestive organs are weak; also in animals recovering from debilitating diseases, such as distemper and influenza. It is good in catarrh and bronchitis, as it appears to furnish suitable material for repair of the inflamed mucous membranes. Like other oils it relieves broken wind and is given to man in consumption. It is particularly used for the smaller animals. It is given to dogs and cats during distemper, also in eczema, epilepsy, chorea, rickets and chronic rheumatism.

OLEUM OLIVAE--OLIVE OIL--SWEET OIL

A fixed oil expressed from the ripe fruit of Olea europaea Linne. It should be kept in well stoppered bottles in a cool place.

HABITAT.--Southern Europe and Asia.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow, or light greenish-yellow, oily liquid, having a slightly peculiar odor and a nutty oleaginous taste, with a faintly acrid after-taste. Very sparingly soluble in alcohol, but readily soluble in ether and chloroform.

DOSE.--As a laxative--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 pt.; dogs, 2 to 4 oz.

OLEUM GOSSYPII SEMINIS--COTTON SEED OIL

A fixed oil expressed from the seeds of Gossypium herbaceum Linne and of other species of Gossypium and subsequently purified.

HABITAT.--Southern United States and other semitropical countries; cultivated.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow, oily liquid, without odor and having a bland nut-like taste. Very sparingly soluble in alcohol, but readily soluble in ether, chloroform or carbon disulphide.

DOSE.--Same as olive oil.

ACTION AND USES.--Both olive and cotton seed oil are laxative tonics, demulcents and emollients. Sweet oil, not used internally to any extent, but is used externally for soothing and healing irritated wounds. It may be used in its pure state or be mixed with carbolic acid, 20 m. of the carbolic acid to 4 oz. of sweet oil.

OLEUM RICINI--CASTOR OIL

DERIVATION.--Castor oil is expressed from the seeds of a plant (Ricinus communis) which grows in the East Indies and Africa in the character of a tree and rises sometimes thirty or forty feet. It also grows in the temperate latitudes of North America and Europe.