Part 40

USES.--In colic, both spasmodic and flatulent; for worms, give full doses, septic fevers; gangrene of the lungs; catarrhal conditions, pneumonia and bronchitis; as a diuretic, but others not as irritant are better.

For local gangrene remove the dead tissue and then apply the turpentine direct to the affected parts by means of absorbent cotton or cloth saturated with it; the offensive odor is removed and sloughing arrested. For tape worm it is given with oleo-resin of aspidium, in oil. As an inhalation in pulmonary diseases one-half ounce is added to three quarts of boiling water. In two drachm doses every three hours, if frequently, aborts suppuration in parotiditis of horses. In purpura haemorrhagica, turpentine is a valuable medicine as a vaso-motor stimulant and diuretic, given in two drachm doses every four hours with tincture chloride of iron and linseed oil.

OLEUM TIGLII--CROTON OIL

A fixed oil expressed from the seed of Croton Tiglium Linne.

HABITAT.--Asia, India, Indian Archipelago and Philippine Islands.

PROPERTIES.--A pale yellow or brownish-yellow, somewhat viscid, and slightly fluorescent liquid, having a slight fatty odor, and a mild, oily afterwards acrid and burning taste (great caution is necessary in tasting). Specific gravity 0.935 to 0.950 at 25° C. (77° F.).

CONSTITUENTS.--Crotonoleic acid is the purgative principal. A small amount is free in the oil but it is mostly formed within the bowels. It resembles acid of castor oil in its chemistry; crotonol is a non-purgative body causing irritation of the skin; tiglinic acid and other volatile acids existing as glycerides and accounting for the odor of croton oil; it also contains free and combined fatty acids.

DOSE.--Horses, 15 to 30 m.; cattle, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.; sheep and pigs, 5 to 10 m.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 2 m.

ACTIONS.--It is a powerful irritant and pustulant, is a drastic hydragogue cathartic; full doses cause gastro-enteritis and much prostration; undiluted it seriously and deeply inflames the skin, causing severe blemishes and by absorption it may cause fever and superpurgation. The purgative action is probably due in part to direct irritation of the intestinal mucous membrane; in part to absorption and elimination of the purgative principle by the bowels.

USES.--Cattle are the only animals for which it can be used with any degree of safety; it can be used for dogs and pigs if used with great caution. For horses and sheep it is too irritating and depressing; it is used in cattle as an active hydragogue purgative when they suffer from lodgment of fecal matter in the third stomach and other forms of constipation, and from torpidity of the bowels. Should not be used in debilitated, delicate or young animals. If an over-dose has been given combat with demulcents, opium and stimulants. It should not be used as a counter-irritant or applied to the skin in any form or for any purpose. Croton oil (in a pint of linseed oil) is valuable in assisting the action of salts in obstinate constipation of cattle. It may be given to horses when a powerful derivative and purgative action is indicated, as in acute inflammation of the brain and spinal cord with calomel and aloes in a capsule.

OPIUM

DERIVATION.--The concrete, milky exudate obtained by incising the unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum Linne, and yielding in its normal, moist condition, not less than nine per cent of crystallized morphine when assayed by the official process. Opium is imported from Turkey, Asia Minor, Persia, India and Egypt. The Smyrna, or Turkey opium, is the more common variety used in the United States. It occurs in irregular, globular masses, covered with poppy leaves and capsules of a species of dock, weighing from one-half to one pound.

PROPERTIES.--In irregular, flattened, more or less rounded masses of variable size, externally grayish-brown, covered with particles of poppy leaves and with occasional fruits of a species of Rumex; more or less plastic when fresh, but becoming hard on keeping; internally dark brown, somewhat lustrous; odor strong, narcotic; taste bitter and characteristic. It yields its medical properties to water, alcohol and dilute acids, forming dark brown solutions. Ether extracts its principles in part.

CONSTITUENTS.--There are about nineteen or twenty alkaloids derived from opium, but only a few are of any importance so far as their medical value is concerned.

DOSE.--Of the crude opium--Horses, 1 to 2 dr.; cattle, 2 to 4 dr.; sheep, 10 to 30 gr.; pigs, 5 to 10 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 2 gr.

PREPARATIONS

OPII PULVIS--POWDERED OPIUM

This is opium dried at a temperature not exceeding 85° C. (185° F.) and powdered and should not contain less than 12 per cent nor more than 12¹⁄₂ per cent morphine.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1¹⁄₂ dr.; cattle, 1 to 3 dr.; sheep, 5 to 30 gr.; pigs, 5 to 15 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₄ to 3 gr.

EXTRACTUM OPII--EXTRACT OF OPIUM

Composed of powdered opium, 100 parts; distilled water, 1000 parts; sugar of milk, a sufficient quantity. Made by trituration, filtration and evaporation. Assayed to contain 20 per cent of morphine.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.; cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep, 5 to 15 gr.; pigs, 3 to 10 gr.; dogs, ¹⁄₄ to 2 gr.

PULVIS IPECACUANHAE ET OPII--POWDER OF IPECAC AND OPIUM--DOVER’S POWDER

Composed of ipecac, 10 parts; powdered opium, 10 parts; sugar of milk, 80. The most diaphoretic and expectorant compound of opium.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; dogs, 2 to 12 gr.

TINCTURA IPECACUANHAE ET OPII--TINCTURE OF IPECAC AND OPIUM--LIQUID DOVER’S POWDER

Composed of tincture of deodorized opium 100, evaporated to 80, fluid extract of ipecac 10, diluted alcohol sufficient quantity to make 100.

DOSE.--Horses, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; dogs, 3 to 12 m.