Physiological Action and Therapeutics. The purgative action of jalap is developed in the duodenum, where it comes in contact with the bile. The secretion from the intestinal glands is greatly augmented, as well as the vascularity and peristalsis of the intestines. The biliary flow is but little affected.

Purgation is produced by jalap in three or four hours, the evacuations being profuse and watery and attended with griping pain.

Jalap-or, preferably, the compound jalap powder-is a reliable hydragogue cathartic for the removal of dropsical effusions, being especially appropriate for nephritic patients.

Small doses of jalap are serviceable in constipation due to deficient intestinal secretion.

The drug is frequently associated with anthelmintic medicines as a vermifuge.

Scammonium-Scammōnii-Scammony. U.S. P. Origin. A resinous exudation from the living root of Convolvulus Scammonia L., a herbaceous, twining perennial, growing in Syria, Asia Minor, and Greece.

Description and Properties.-Occurring in irregular angular pieces or circular cakes, greenish-gray or blackish, internally porous, and breaking with an angular fracture, of a resinous luster; odor peculiar, somewhat cheese-like; taste slightly acrid; powder gray or greenish-gray.

It contains a resin, jalapin, which is the active principle, besides gum, starch, etc.

Dose.-1-15 grains (0.06-1.0 Gm.).

Official Preparation.

Resina Scammōnii-Resinæ Scammōnii-Resin of Scammony.—Description and Properties.—Yellowish-brown or brownish-yellow masses or fragments, breaking with a glossy, resinous fracture, translucent at the edges, or a yellowish-white or grayish-white powder, having a faint, peculiar odor, and a slight, peculiar taste. Soluble in alcohol in all proportions.

Dose.-1-8 grains (0.06–0.5 Gm.).

Physiological Action and Therapeutics.-The action of scammony is identical with that of jalap, save that it stimulates the muscular coat of the intestines more, producing more irritation and griping than jalap, though not increasing secretion so much as the latter drug.

The therapeutics are the same as for jalap.

The drug may be given in powder, emulsion, or in milk, but is inactive in pilular form.

Podophyllum-Podophylli-Podophyllum. U.S. P. (MAY APPLE.)

Origin. The rhizome and roots of Podophyllum peltatum L., an herbaceous perennial growing in rich woodlands in Canada and the United States.

Description and Properties.-Of horizontal growth, consisting of joints about 2 inches (5 Cm.) long, flattish cylindrical, about inch (6 Mm.) thick, but somewhat enlarged at the end, which has a circular scar on the upper side, a tuft of about ten nearly simple, fragile roots on the lower side, and is sometimes branched laterally; smooth or somewhat wrinkled, orange-brown, internally white and mealy, with a circle of small wood-bundles; pith large; nearly inodorous; taste sweetish, somewhat bitter and acrid.

Podophyllum contains a resin, podophyllin, composed principally of podophyllotoxin, which is probably a mixture of picropodophyllin, the purgative principle, and podophyllinic acid, an inactive resin acid. Among other constituents of the drug are several minor resins and a coloring principle.

Dose.-5-20 grains (0.32-1.29 Gm.).

Official Preparations.

Extractum Podophylli-Extracti Podophylli-Extract of Podophyllum.Dose, 1-3 grains (0.06–0.2 Gm.)

Extractum Podophylli Fluidum-Extrăcti Podophylli Fluidi-Fluid Extract of Podophyllum.-Dose, 5-20 minims (0.32-1.29 Cc.).

Resina Podophylli-Resina Podophylli-Resin of Podophyllum.-Description and Properties.-An amorphous powder, varying in color from grayish-white to pale greenish-yellow or yellowish-green, turning darker when exposed to heat; having a slight peculiar odor and a peculiar, faintly bitter taste; permanent in the air; soluble in alcohol in all proportions.

Dose.--I grain (0.008-0.06 Gm.).

Podophyllotoxin (UNOFFICIAL).—Dose, Toro grain (0.0006–0.006 Gm.).

Physiological Action and Therapeutics.-The powdered root is an irritant to the skin, and when inhaled occasions a decided

irritation of the eyes and respiratory passages. It is absorbed when applied to ulcers and raw surfaces, producing its characteristic purgative effects. The drug is a gastro-intestinal irritant, being

apt to excite nausea, in full doses producing salivation and greatly augmenting the intestinal secretions, and especially the bile. Under full doses of podophyllum there is marked peristalsis, attended with severe griping pains, and in the course of ten or twelve hours there is produced a complete evacuation of the bowels, the feces being liquid and deeply stained with bile.

The drug being one of the most active hepatic stimulants and cholagogues in the Pharmacopoeia, it is a peculiarly appropriate remedy in that condition known as torpor of the liver. The constipation attending hepatic cirrhosis and cancer, as well as that from any hepatic disorder, is well treated by podophyllum.

The slowness and completeness of its action, together with its property of stimulating the functional activity of the liver, renders the drug extremely serviceable in the treatment of habitual constipation from any cause.

It should, however, be associated with antispasmodics, such as hyoscyamus or belladonna, to overcome its griping. When associated with other purgatives care should be exercised to select those only which, like itself, are tardy in their action.

Owing to the susceptibility of certain persons to the drug, the dosage should be small at first and gradually increased as

necessary.

GROUP XV.—ANTHELMINTICS.

ANTHELMINTICS are remedies which kill or expel intestinal worms. Those drugs which kill the parasites are called vermicides, and those which simply promote their expulsion are called vermifuges.

Anthelmintics are here divided according to the kind of intestinal parasite against which they are employed.

The Oxyuris vermicularis is the small worm, often called seat1 Drugs marked with an asterisk (*) are considered elsewhere.

worm or thread-worm, that infests the large intestine and rectum. The Ascaris lumbricoides is the common round-worm, found chiefly in the small intestine.

The Tania are the tape-worms.

Remedies employed against the Oxyuris vermicularis:

A weak solution of Carbolic Acid,* Lime Water,*

Origin. The fruit of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., and the variety anthelminticum Gray, plants indigenous in the West Indies, and Central and South America, and naturalized in the United States.

Description and Properties.—Nearly inch (2 Mm.) in diameter, depressed globular, dull greenish or brownish, the integuments friable, and containing a lenticular, obtusely-edged, glossy, black seed. It has a peculiar, somewhat terebinthinate odor, and a bitterish, pungent taste. It contains a volatile oil, to which its medical properties are due.

Dose.-15-30 grains (1.0-2.0 Gm.).

Ōleum Chenopōdii-Ōlei Chenopōdii-Oleum Che-
U. S. P.

nopodii.

(OIL OF AMERICAN WORMSEED.)

Origin. A volatile oil distilled from Chenopodium.

Description and Properties.-A thin, colorless or yellowish liquid, having a peculiar penetrating, somewhat camphoraceous odor, and a pungent and bitterish taste.

Dose.-2-10 minims (0.12-0.6 Cc.).

Physiological Action and Therapeutics.-Both the POWDERED SEED and the OIL are efficient anthelmintics, particularly useful to expel round-worms (Ascarides lumbricoides) from children. The drug should invariably be followed by a brisk cathartic. The powder may be given suspended in molasses, or the oil may be given dropped upon loaf-sugar, or in the form of an emulsion, or enclosed in capsules.

Santonica-Santonica-Santonica. U. S. P.
(LEVANT WORmseed.)

Origin. The unexpanded flower-heads of Artemisia pauciflora Weber, a plant growing in Asia and exclusively collected in Northern Turkestan.

Description and Properties.—From to inch (2 to 3 Mm.) long, oblong-ovoid, obtuse, smooth, somewhat glossy, grayishgreen, after exposure to light brownish-green, consisting of an involucre of about twelve to eighteen closely imbricated, glandular scales with a broad midrib, enclosing four or five rudimentary florets; odor strong, peculiar, somewhat camphoraceous; taste aromatic and bitter. The drug contains about 2 per cent. of a neutral principle, santonin, to which its anthelmintic properties are due. It also contains about 1 per cent. of an unimportant volatile oil.

Dose.-10-60 grains (0.6-4.0 Gm.).

Santoninum-Santonini-Santonin. U. S. P.

Origin. A neutral principle obtained from Santonica. Description and Properties.-Colorless, shining, flattened, prismatic crystals, odorless, and nearly tasteless when first put into the mouth, but afterward developing a bitter taste; not altered by exposure to air, but turning yellow on exposure to light. Nearly insoluble in cold water; soluble in 40 parts of alcohol. Santonin should be kept in dark, amber-colored vials, and should not be exposed to light.

Dose.-grain (0.016-0.06 Gm.) for a child; 1-5 grains (0.06-0.32 Gm.) for an adult.

Official Preparation.

Trochisci Santonini-Trochiscos (acc.) Santonini-Troches of Santonin.Each troche contains grain (0.03 Gm.).—Dose, 2 (child) to 10 troches (adult).