Elaterium. A substance deposited by the juice of the fruit of Momordica elaterium, Ecbalium agreste. (Not official.) Con-combre purgatif, Fr.; Springgurke, Ger. Dose, gr. 1/16—gr. 1/4.

Composition

The important constituent of elaterium is elaterin. Owing to the uncertainty in the strength of elaterium, it has been omitted from the official list, and its active constituent substituted.

Elaterinum

Elaterin. A neutral principle extracted from elaterium, a substance deposited by the juice of the fruit of Ecbalium elaterium A. Richard (Nat. Ord. Cucurbitaceae).

Small, colorless, shining hexagonal scales or prisms, permanent in the air, odorless, having a bitter, somewhat acrid taste, and a neutral reaction. Insoluble in water; soluble in 125 parts of alcohol at 60° Fahr. Dose, gr. 1/20—gr. 1/8.

Trituratio Elaterini

Trituration of elaterin. (Elaterin, 10 grm.; sugar of milk, 90 grm.) Dose, gr. ss—gr. ij.

Actions and Uses

Elaterium excites an abundant flow of saliva, and a persistent bitter taste is experienced in the fauces some time after it is swallowed. Nausea and vomiting, profuse, watery stools, and great weakness and prostration, are produced by a considerable dose of elaterium. The vomited matters and stools have an appearance and composition similar to the "rice-water" discharges of cholera. On animals elaterium acts somewhat differently. Without causing purging, it affects the nervous system, producing irregular respiration, hebetude, convulsions, and death (Köhler). The gastro - intestinal action is doubtless local, and the result of the immediate impression made by the agent in its passage down the intestinal canal. According to Köhler, the presence of bile is necessary to the action of elaterium.

The chief use of elaterium is to procure free watery evacuations in ascites, general dropsy, uraemia, and to act as a revulsive in cerebral disorders. It must be used with caution in debilitated subjects. Gastrointestinal irritation, or inflammation, contraindicates its use. The depression which its operation induces must be counteracted by stimulants and proper aliment.

Authorities referred to:

Anstie, Dr. F. E. Report on the Physiological Action of Podophyllin. The Medical Times and Gazette, vol. i, 1863.

Barker, Dr. Fordyce. The Puerperal Diseases, p. 34.

Brunton, Dr. T. Lauder. On the Action of Purgative Medicines. The Practitioner, May, 1874.

Fluckiger and Hanbury. Pharmacographia. Various articles.

Husemann, Drs. Aug. und Theo. Die Pflanzenstoffe.

Husemann, Dr. Theo. Handbuch der gesammten Arzneimittellehre, zweiter Band.

Kohler, Dr. H. Der Fruchtsaft von Momordica Elaterium in historischer, chemi-scher und physiologischer Hinsicht. Virchow's Archiv, Band xlix, p. 434, 1, p. 273.

Moreau, Armand, Dr. Archives Génératles de Méd., vol. xvi, p. 234, sixth series.

Percy, Dr. S. R. The American Medical Times, vol. iv.

Radziejewski, Dr. S. Schmidt's Jahrbücher, vol. cxlvii, p. 20. Zur physiolog. Wirk-ung der Abführmittel.

Rutherford and Vignal. Experiments on the Biliary Secretion of the Dog. The British Medical Journal, November, 1875.

Thiry, Dr. L. Schmidt's Jahrbücher, vol. cxxviii, p. 17.

Vulpian, Prof. A. Bulletin Général de Thérap., vol. lxxxiv, p. 522.