WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Felter's Materia Medica on Rumex
OPIUM
The milky exudate, air dried, obtained by incising unripe capsules of the growing plant Papaveris somniferum, Linné; and its variety, album, De Candolle (Nat. Ord. Papaveraceae). Asia Minor chiefly; also some other parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Cultivated. Description.Rounded, flattened, grayish-brown masses, showing a dark-brown, lighter-streaked interior, and having a somewhat nauseous bitter taste, and a peculiar narcotic odor. When fresh it is more or less plastic; when kept it becomes hard and brittle. Opium masses are of variable sizes and usually coated with adherent poppy leaves, and often with the fruits of a species of Rumex used in packing for transportation. The U. S. P. requires that normal, moist opium should contain not less than 9.5 per cent of anhydrous morphine. Dose, 1/4 to 2 grains. (Average dose, 1 grain.) Principal Constituents.Opium contains nineteen or twenty alkaloids, some of which are combined with meconic acid, forming meconates, some with sulphuric acid, some free, as narcotine, a weak base. Those of medicinal interest are: (1) Morphine (C17H19NO3.H2O), anodyne and narcotic; (2) Codeine (C18H21NO3.H2O); (3) Narcotine (Anarcotine) (C22H23NO7); (4) Narceine (C23H29NO9); Thebaine (C19H21N3O) Papaverine (C20H21NO4); and Pseudomorphine (C34H36N2O6). Other alkaloids are: rhoeadine, cryptopine, codamine, laudanine, lanthopine, meconidine, protopine, hydrocotarnine, laudanosine, oxynarcotine, gnoscopine, tritopine, and xantholine. Besides these are the non-alkaloidal constituents: meconic acid, meconin, meconoisin, opionin; volatile oil and other common plant constituents and inorganic salts. Preparations.1. Opii Pulvis, Powdered Opium. A fine light-brown powder. Should contain 1/2 per cent more, but not more than 1 per cent more, of anhydrous morphine than opium. The U. S. P. permits the reduction of morphine content higher than indicated by the use of any inert diluent. Dose, 1/4 to 2 grains (average, 1 grain). 2. Opium Deodoratum, Deodorized Opium. Should be of same morphine strength as Opii Pulvis (see above). Dose, 1/4 to 2 grains (average, 1 grain). 3. Opium Granulatum, Granulated Opium. Same morphine content as Opii Pulvis (see above). Used in the preparation of tincture of opium and deodorized tincture of opium. Dose, 1/4 to 2 grains (average, 1 grain). 4. Pulvis Ipecacuanhae et Opii, Powder of Ipecac and Opium (Compound Powder of Ipecac, Dovers Powder). A grayish-white or pale-brown powder containing 10 per cent each of opium and ipecac. (Ten (10) grains represent 1 grain of opium or about 1/8 grain of morphine.) Dose, 1 to 20 grains. 5. Pulvis Ipecacuanhae et Opii Compositus, Compound Powder of Ipecacuanha and Opium (Diaphoretic Powder, Beach's Diaphoretic Powder). (Contains Opium (10), Camphor (40), Ipecac (20), Bitartrate of Potassium (160). (Each ounce of this powder contains 19 grains of Opium. Each ten (10) grains, therefore, represents nearly 1/2 grain of opium (accurately, 11 1/2 grains contain 1/2 grain of opium), 2 grains of camphor, 1 grain of ipecac.) Dose, 2 to 10 grains. 6. Tinctura Opii, Tincture of Opium (Laudanum). Contains 10 per cent of opium, almost the equivalent of 1 per cent of morphine. (Therefore 10 minims equal about 1 grain of opium, or approximately 1/8 grain of morphine.) Dose, 1 to 30 minims. (The large amounts should never be used as initial doses.) 7. Tinctura Opii Deodorati, Deodorized Tincture of Opium. Same strength as Tincture of Opium. Dose, 1 to 30 minims. (The large doses should never be used as an initial dose.) 8. Tinctura Opii Camphorata, Camphorated Tincture of Opium (Paregoric). About 4/100 per cent opium. Paregoric is about 20 times weaker than Laudanum (Tincture of Opium) as it contains about 1/4 grain of opium in each fluidrachm. This is practically equivalent to 1/40 grain of morphine. Dose: For infants, 5, 10, to 20 minims; for adults, 1 to 4 fluidrachms. CHIEF OPIUM ALKALOIDS AND THEIR SALTS. Morphina, Morphine. Permanent colorless or white fine needles or crystalline powder, without odor and very sparingly soluble in most ordinary solvents. Dose, 1/12to 1/4 grain (average, 1/8 grain). Morphine Hydrochloridum, Morphine Hydrochloride (Morphine Chloride). Permanent and odorless silky needles, or cubical masses or crystalline white powder, readily soluble in hot or cold water; soluble also in glycerin. Not soluble in chloroform or ether. Dose, 1/12 to 1/4 grain (average dose, 1/8 grain). Morphine Sulphas, Morphine Sulphate. Permanent and odorless, white, silky and feathery needle crystals, freely soluble in hot or cold water; not soluble in chloroform or ether Dose, 1/12 to 1/4 grain (average dose, 1/8 grain). Codeina. Specific Indications.Opium and Morphine Salts. Pulse soft and open, or when waves are short, and it gives a sensation of fullness and always lacking hardness, skin soft, tongue moist, face pale, eyes dull and expressionless and immobile or dilated; permanent glycosuria with prostration of powers; pain in incurable diseases. Morphine Salts. (In addition to above.) Unbearable pain; pulmonary hemorrhage; gall-stone and renal colics; pain, with spasm; pain and shock from accidents or acute poisoning; angina pectoris; to prevent shock from surgical operations; in obstetrics to relax and quiet nervous apprehension (use with discrimination). Action.The dominant action of opium is due chiefly to its contained morphine and is spent upon the cerebro-spinal tract, quieting the functions of the cerebrum and exciting those of the spinal cord. In man the most profound effect is upon the cerebrum; in animals upon the cord. Upon the brain, if the dose be small, the first effect is a temporary excitation followed by depression resulting in sleep; if the dose be large the stage of excitation may be absent. When absorbed the drug is a depressant to the sensory filaments, benumbing them against pain, and finally the motor nerves come under its depressing power. While the exact cause of its pain-relieving1
The milky exudate, air dried, obtained by incising unripe capsules of the growing plant Papaveris somniferum, Linné; and its variety, album, De Candolle (Nat. Ord. Papaveraceae). Asia Minor chiefly; also some other parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Cultivated. Description.Rounded, flattened, grayish-brown masses, showing a dark-brown, lighter-streaked interior, and having a somewhat nauseous bitter taste, and a peculiar narcotic odor. When fresh it is more or less plastic; when kept it becomes hard and brittle. Opium masses are of variable sizes and usually coated with adherent poppy leaves, and often with the fruits of a species of Rumex used in packing for transportation. The U. S. P. requires that normal, moist opium should contain not less than 9.5 per cent of anhydrous morphine. Dose, 1/4 to 2 grains. (Average dose, 1 grain.) Principal Constituents.Opium contains nineteen or twenty alkaloids, some of which are combined with meconic acid, forming meconates, some with sulphuric acid, some free, as narcotine, a weak base. Those of medicinal interest are: (1) Morphine (C17H19NO3.H2O), anodyne and narcotic; (2) Codeine (C18H21NO3.H2O); (3) Narcotine (Anarcotine) (C22H23NO7); (4) Narceine (C23H29NO9); Thebaine (C19H21N3O) Papaverine (C20H21NO4); and Pseudomorphine (C34H36N2O6). Other alkaloids are: rhoeadine, cryptopine, codamine, laudanine, lanthopine, meconidine, protopine, hydrocotarnine, laudanosine, oxynarcotine, gnoscopine, tritopine, and xantholine. Besides these are the non-alkaloidal constituents: meconic acid, meconin, meconoisin, opionin; volatile oil and other common plant constituents and inorganic salts. Preparations.1. Opii Pulvis, Powdered Opium. A fine light-brown powder. Should contain 1/2 per cent more, but not more than 1 per cent more, of anhydrous morphine than opium. The U. S. P. permits the reduction of morphine content higher than indicated by the use of any inert diluent. Dose, 1/4 to 2 grains (average, 1 grain). 2. Opium Deodoratum, Deodorized Opium. Should be of same morphine strength as Opii Pulvis (see above). Dose, 1/4 to 2 grains (average, 1 grain). 3. Opium Granulatum, Granulated Opium. Same morphine content as Opii Pulvis (see above). Used in the preparation of tincture of opium and deodorized tincture of opium. Dose, 1/4 to 2 grains (average, 1 grain). 4. Pulvis Ipecacuanhae et Opii, Powder of Ipecac and Opium (Compound Powder of Ipecac, Dovers Powder). A grayish-white or pale-brown powder containing 10 per cent each of opium and ipecac. (Ten (10) grains represent 1 grain of opium or about 1/8 grain of morphine.) Dose, 1 to 20 grains. 5. Pulvis Ipecacuanhae et Opii Compositus, Compound Powder of Ipecacuanha and Opium (Diaphoretic Powder, Beach's Diaphoretic Powder). (Contains Opium (10), Camphor (40), Ipecac (20), Bitartrate of Potassium (160). (Each ounce of this powder contains 19 grains of Opium. Each ten (10) grains, therefore, represents nearly 1/2 grain of opium (accurately, 11 1/2 grains contain 1/2 grain of opium), 2 grains of camphor, 1 grain of ipecac.) Dose, 2 to 10 grains. 6. Tinctura Opii, Tincture of Opium (Laudanum). Contains 10 per cent of opium, almost the equivalent of 1 per cent of morphine. (Therefore 10 minims equal about 1 grain of opium, or approximately 1/8 grain of morphine.) Dose, 1 to 30 minims. (The large amounts should never be used as initial doses.) 7. Tinctura Opii Deodorati, Deodorized Tincture of Opium. Same strength as Tincture of Opium. Dose, 1 to 30 minims. (The large doses should never be used as an initial dose.) 8. Tinctura Opii Camphorata, Camphorated Tincture of Opium (Paregoric). About 4/100 per cent opium. Paregoric is about 20 times weaker than Laudanum (Tincture of Opium) as it contains about 1/4 grain of opium in each fluidrachm. This is practically equivalent to 1/40 grain of morphine. Dose: For infants, 5, 10, to 20 minims; for adults, 1 to 4 fluidrachms. CHIEF OPIUM ALKALOIDS AND THEIR SALTS. Morphina, Morphine. Permanent colorless or white fine needles or crystalline powder, without odor and very sparingly soluble in most ordinary solvents. Dose, 1/12to 1/4 grain (average, 1/8 grain). Morphine Hydrochloridum, Morphine Hydrochloride (Morphine Chloride). Permanent and odorless silky needles, or cubical masses or crystalline white powder, readily soluble in hot or cold water; soluble also in glycerin. Not soluble in chloroform or ether. Dose, 1/12 to 1/4 grain (average dose, 1/8 grain). Morphine Sulphas, Morphine Sulphate. Permanent and odorless, white, silky and feathery needle crystals, freely soluble in hot or cold water; not soluble in chloroform or ether Dose, 1/12 to 1/4 grain (average dose, 1/8 grain). Codeina. Specific Indications.Opium and Morphine Salts. Pulse soft and open, or when waves are short, and it gives a sensation of fullness and always lacking hardness, skin soft, tongue moist, face pale, eyes dull and expressionless and immobile or dilated; permanent glycosuria with prostration of powers; pain in incurable diseases. Morphine Salts. (In addition to above.) Unbearable pain; pulmonary hemorrhage; gall-stone and renal colics; pain, with spasm; pain and shock from accidents or acute poisoning; angina pectoris; to prevent shock from surgical operations; in obstetrics to relax and quiet nervous apprehension (use with discrimination). Action.The dominant action of opium is due chiefly to its contained morphine and is spent upon the cerebro-spinal tract, quieting the functions of the cerebrum and exciting those of the spinal cord. In man the most profound effect is upon the cerebrum; in animals upon the cord. Upon the brain, if the dose be small, the first effect is a temporary excitation followed by depression resulting in sleep; if the dose be large the stage of excitation may be absent. When absorbed the drug is a depressant to the sensory filaments, benumbing them against pain, and finally the motor nerves come under its depressing power. While the exact cause of its pain-relieving1
RUMEXRUAC6
The root of Rumex crispus, Linné (Nat. Ord. Polygonaceae). A common weed introduced from Europe, and found abundantly in this country in waste places, among rubbish, and in cultivated grounds. Dose, 5 to 60 grains. Common Name: Yellow Dock. Principal Constituents.Yellow Dock has not been satisfactorily analyzed. Preparation.Specific Medicine Rumex. Dose, 1 to 60 drops. Specific Indications.Vitiated blood with chronic skin disorders; low glandular and cellular deposits with tendency to indolent ulcers; feeble recuperative power; chronic sore throat, with glandular engorgement and hypersecretion; cough, with shortness of breath and praecordial fullness; dry, irritative laryngo-tracheal cough; stubborn, dry summer cough; nervous dyspepsia, with epigastric fullness and pain extending into the chest. Action and Therapy.Rumex is decidedly alterative and might be used more extensively for that purpose. It should especially be brought into requisition in depraved states of the body fluids with tendency to chronic skin disorders, with glandular engorgement, tendency to ulceration, and slow recuperative powers. It is especially valuable in strumous patients with low deposits in the cellular and glandular tissues which break down easily but are very slow to repair. In small doses the specific medicine is also useful in nervous dyspepsia with epigastric fullness, and pectoral pain from gaseous distention of the stomach. It is also serviceable in laryngeal irritation, with cough of the types alluded to under Specific Indications.1
The root of Rumex crispus, Linné (Nat. Ord. Polygonaceae). A common weed introduced from Europe, and found abundantly in this country in waste places, among rubbish, and in cultivated grounds. Dose, 5 to 60 grains. Common Name: Yellow Dock. Principal Constituents.Yellow Dock has not been satisfactorily analyzed. Preparation.Specific Medicine Rumex. Dose, 1 to 60 drops. Specific Indications.Vitiated blood with chronic skin disorders; low glandular and cellular deposits with tendency to indolent ulcers; feeble recuperative power; chronic sore throat, with glandular engorgement and hypersecretion; cough, with shortness of breath and praecordial fullness; dry, irritative laryngo-tracheal cough; stubborn, dry summer cough; nervous dyspepsia, with epigastric fullness and pain extending into the chest. Action and Therapy.Rumex is decidedly alterative and might be used more extensively for that purpose. It should especially be brought into requisition in depraved states of the body fluids with tendency to chronic skin disorders, with glandular engorgement, tendency to ulceration, and slow recuperative powers. It is especially valuable in strumous patients with low deposits in the cellular and glandular tissues which break down easily but are very slow to repair. In small doses the specific medicine is also useful in nervous dyspepsia with epigastric fullness, and pectoral pain from gaseous distention of the stomach. It is also serviceable in laryngeal irritation, with cough of the types alluded to under Specific Indications.1
References
1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.