Ledgend of Medicine

AGARICUS (Amanita muscaria)
   The fungus Amanita muscaria, Persoon; (Agaricus muscarius, Linné.) (Nat. Ord. Fungi.) An extremely poisonous fungus found in the pine forests of... / ...omiting, depressed circulation, difficult breathing, muscular weakness, minutely contracted pupils, tetanic contraction of the viscera with subsequent relaxation of the bowels, when violent peristalsi... / ...by Eclectic practitioners. Muscarine is used in atropine and belladonna poisoning, sometimes being employed in place of eserine (physostigmine). ¹

CAULOPHYLLUM
   The rhizome and roots of Caulophyllum thalictroides (Linné, Michaux (Nat. Ord. Berberidaceae). In rich woods in the eastern half of the United... / ...tions most like those of the natural labor process. In this respect they were often used to replace tetanic-acting ergot when that agent was so popular and so damaging as an oxytocic. It may be used t... / ...of strength and rapid involution of the womb following labor. The dose of the syrup is from 2 fluidrachms to 1/2 fluidounce, 2 or 3 times a day.¹

CHELIDONIUM
   The whole plant of Chelidonium majus, Linné (Nat. Ord. Papaveraceae). Europe naturalized... / ... waste places in the United States. Dose, 1 to 60 grains. Common Names: Celandine, Great Celandine, Tetterwort. Principal Constituents- Chelerythrine (identical with the alkaloid sanguinarine), chelid... / ...they are proportionately relieved by the action of chelidonium upon the latter. The greatest drawback to chelidonium is its horribly nasty taste.¹

CONIUM
   The full grown fruit, gathered green, of Conium maculatum, Linné (Nat. Ord. Umbelliferae). Europe and Asia; naturalized in the United... / ...rders that is sometimes relieved by conium, but not all cases respond to it. It has been advised in tetanus, but is insufficient except in doses which would be equally as dangerous as the disorder its... / ...be applied and be given to relieve pain even when a cure is not possible. It relieves the pain of swollen mammae during the menstrual periods a¹

DIGITALIS
   The leaves of Digitalis purpurea, Linné (Nat. Ord. Scrophulariaceae), carefully dried and preserved away from light, in close containers. Europe;... / ... raised from a recumbent to a sitting posture. So powerful is the effect upon the heart-muscle that tetanic contraction may occur and prevent a passage of blood through the heart, the tonic spasm resu... / ...pulse becomes very slow and irregular. The ventricle dilates more completely, thus prolonging the diastole; the systole becomes erratic in force,¹

GELSEMIUM
   The dried rhizome and roots of Gelsemium sempervirens (Linné,) Aiton (Nat. Ord. Loganiaceae). Dose, 1/10 to 1 grain. Common Names: Yellow... / ...aloids—crystallizable gelsemine, the paralyzing agent, and amorphous gelseminine, a very toxic and tetanizing principle, and a volatile oil. There is also present gelseminic acid (beta-methyl-aescule... / ...great restlessness and excitation” are the classic indications for it as first formulated by Scudder, and these stand among the truest of speci¹

HYPERICUM^HYIN7
   ...believe it useful to relieve the painful effects of spinal concussion, shocks, etc., and to prevent tetanic complications. It will take pretty strong proof to convince most practitioners of the presen......retty strong proof to convince most practitioners of the present day of any such virtue as true antitetanic properties in this simple drug. The internal uses as given above are based chiefly upon home...¹

NUX VOMICA
   ...itation or excitement as to render them extremely responsive to the slightest stimuli, resulting in tetanic convulsions. Most likely it also feebly stimulates the sensory tracts and slightly increases......pon the head and heels, with the hands clenched and the feet inverted. The convulsion is distinctly tetanic and is followed by a brief period of rest, during which the patient suffers acutely from pai...¹

OPIUM
   The milky exudate, air dried, obtained by incising unripe capsules of the growing plant Papaveris somniferum, Linné; and its variety, album, De... / ...rom 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 ac... / ...filaments, benumbing them against pain, and finally the motor nerves come under its depressing power. While the exact cause of its pain-relieving¹

PASSIFLORA^PABE10
   The root and stem-base of Passiflora incarnata, Linné (Nat. Ord. Passifloraceae). Southern United States. Dose, 5 to 120 grains. Common Names:... / ...tability which precedes and often provokes the convulsive explosions. It has been greatly lauded in tetanus, but little reliance should be placed upon so feeble an agent in so grave a condition. Whoop...¹

PHYSOSTIGMA^PHYSO4
   ...ial tension is first raised by it; then lowered. When dyspnea occurs it is thought to be due to the tetanic action of calabarine, which is present in variable proportions in commercial extracts of phy...... chorea, epilepsy, trismus neonatorum, and puerperal convulsions and reflex paralysis. In traumatic tetanus it has failed more often than it has benefited, but charity is held out in the view that pro...¹

PHYTOLACCA
   The recently dried root and fruit of Phytolacca americana, Linné (Nat. Ord. Phytolaccaceae). North America, along roadsides and fences, and in... / ...It is a paralyzer of the spinal cord, acting principally on the medulla. In poisoning by this agent tetanic convulsions may ensue. Death results from carbonic acid poisoning, the result of respiratory...¹

SANGUINARIA^ALFI8
   The rhizome and roots of Sanguinaria canadensis, Linné (Nat. Ord. Papaveraceae), gathered in autumn after the leaves and scape have died to the... / ...); 15 to 20 grains (emetic; not used). Common Names: Bloodroot, Red Puccoon, Puccoon, Indian Paint, Tetterwort, etc. Principal Constituents.—Chelerythrine (forming yellow salts with acids), sanguinar... / ...in debilitated subjects. When due to vicarious menstruation, hemorrhage from the lungs is said to have been controlled by it. It may be used als¹

STROPHANTHUS^STROP4
   The dried ripe seeds of Strophanthus Kombé, Oliver, or of Strophanthus hispidus, DeCandolle, deprived of their long awns (Nat. Ord. Apocynaceae).... / ... upon the voluntary muscles, increasing their contractility, and if the dose be poisonous it causes tetanic paralysis, the muscles being unable to regain their former normal flexibility. Under its tox... / ...“It has been reported useful in cases of mitral regurgitation with dilatation; mitral stenosis with regurgitation; regurgitation wi¹

USTILAGO
   A parasitic fungus, Ustilago segetum Bull (Ustilago Maydis), developed on the fruit of Zea Mays, Linné, or Indian Corn (Nat. Ord.... / ...ossesses power, acting as a spinal excitant and producing convulsions and destroying life either by tetanus or exhaustion. It dilates the pupils. Upon animals it acts as an abortifacient and produces ... / ...and flabby enlarged uterus, and full toneless perineal and vaginal tissues. It is little used, but undoubtedly could be restudied with advantage.¹

AMYL NITRITE
   Antispasmodic, reducing arterial tension and so causing momen tary acceleration of the heart beat. Used chiefly by inhalation to relax spasm, notably in asthma, in whooping cough. in spasmodic croup, in epileptic seizures, in tetanus and strychnine poisoning and in spasmodic dysmenorrhea. It is a valuable agent also in angina pec toris and in sudden heart failure, but must be used always intelli gently and with due caution remembering that it is a depressant, not a stimulant. Dose. usually 0.13 ²

BROMIDES
   Since the medicinal action of the several alkaline bromides is es sentially the same, and they are frequently prescribed in combina tion, they are grouped here under a single head. They are sedative to the cerebro-spinal centers and hence employed in epilepsy, in in fantile convulsions, in tetanus, in strychnine poisoning, in whooping cough and generally for quieting nervous excitement and in particu lar sexual erethism. In epilepsy a combination of two or more brom ides often gives better resul²

CALABAR BEAN (Physostigma).^PHVE11
   The seeds of PHYSOSTIGMA VENENOSUM, Bali. Deprossant of motor tract of spinal cord; used in tetanus and in strychnine poison ing to control spasms, in constipation, and to counteract the effect of atropine on the eye.²

CANNABIS INDICA (Indian Cannabis)
   The flowering tops of the pistillate plant of CANNABIs sa'r1vA, Lin., grown in the East Indies. Antispasmodic, analgesic, deliriant. aphrodisiac. Locally applied it is anti-pruritic. Prescribed in teta nus, in neuralgia, in insomnia and other conditions depending on anemia of the brain, in combating the morphine habit, etc. Dose, 0.2 to 0.6 Grm. (3 to 10 grs.) or more.²

CHLORAL (Chloral Hydrate)
   A powerful hypnotic, less eflicient as an anodyne than opium; antispasmodic. Especially valuable in spasms of strychnine poison ing, tetanus, hysteria and chorea. Dose, 0.6 to 2.0 Grm. (10 to 30 grs.).²

CONIUM (Poison Hemlock)
   The immature fruit, also the leaves (unoflicial), oi CONIUM MACULATUM, Lin. Sedative, discutient, antispasmodic, anaphro disiac. Prescribed in cutaneous diseases, cancer and scrofulous indurations for its resolvent action, and in tetanus, chorea and acute mania as an antispasmodic and sedative.²

METHYLENE BLUE
   Chemical name Tetramethylthionine Hydrochloride. Antiseptic, antiperiodic; useful in the treatment of gonorrhea and chronic affec tions of the genito-urinary tract, and in rheumatism.²

NUX VOMICA
   The seeds of SrnYCrmos NUX-VOMICA. Lin. A tetanizing pois on; a powerful stimulant to spinal nerve centers. Prescribed often with laxatives in chronic constipation to stimulate peristaltic action; more used than any other tonic in nervous debility, associated often with iron and quinine. The active principle, Strychnine, q. v., is largely used in preference to preparations of the crude drug.²

TETANUS
   Tetanus antitoxin should be administered at once, and convul sions combated by inhalations of chloroform or by chloral combined with potassium bromide (see Bromanodyne, Part I). Other remedies are cocaine or a combination of this with morphine and atropine, hypodermatically; Fowler’s solution; calabar bean; pilocarpine (the last to eliminate the toxin).²