This section is from the book "Text-Book Of Materia Medica For Nurses", by Lavinia L. Dock. Also available from Amazon: Text-book of materia medica for nurses.
The bark of the pomegranate root contains four alkaloids, which are combined in the standard preparation, called pelletierine. The drug is an efficient taeniacide, or remedy for tapeworm. It is capable of causing symptoms of some severity, such as muscular depression almost amounting to paralysis, and it is not considered a safe drug for children. The taste is very unpleasant. In administration the patient fasts for twelve or eighteen hours previously to taking the dose. The decoction of the fresh root is used in a strength of two ounces to a pint of water. This quantity is divided into several doses, and taken at intervals of an hour.
Pelletierine tannate is given in the same way. A cathartic is given afterwards, no food being allowed until the treatment is over.
 
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