This section is from the book "Recent Materia Medica: Notes On Their Origin And Therapeutics", by F. Harwood Lescher. Also available from Amazon: Recent materia medica.
Used in functional palpitation of the heart. Dose, tincture (4 ounces to pint rect. spirit), 1 to 5 drops, three times a day. Dose of fluid extract, 1 to 3 minims. A useful adjunct; its action is the very opposite to digitalis; it strengthens the heart. - Brit. Med. Jour., Jan., 1890. In Bright's disease, 3 doses per day of 5 grains each can be given. Botanically interesting as opening its showy flower at night.
From Caffea Arabiea. N. 0. Cinchonacec.
Identical with Theine, in delicate, white, soft, and flexible needle-shaped crystals. Scarcely soluble in water. Theobromine in cocoa is Caffeine, in which Hydrogen replaces an atom of Methyl: Caffeine is, therefore, Methyltheobromine. Stimulant, anti-periodic. Antidote to opium.
Therapeutics. Dose, 1/2 to 4 grains. It first contracts and then dilates the kidneys. It is a heart tonic, and a nervous stimulant, always increasing the flow of urine. The juice of a lemon in a cup of strong coffee is valuable in neuralgic headache (tea generally aggravating it). Wine of green coffee is excellent for gout.
A whitish powder; doubtful if a true chemical compound. Strongly diuretic in cardiac dropsy, and alcohol and opium poisoning: in large doses, the Salts of Caffeine act on the heart much like Digitalis, but are harmless. Also in bronchial asthma, and neuralgic headache; best in a cup of coffee. Dose, 1 grain, gradually increased to 4 grains. The effervescing granular compound is a good form; dose, a teaspoonful in water.
The Sodio-benzoate (containing 50 % caffeine) sodio-cinnamate and sodio-salicylate (both containing 62 1/2 % Caffeine), are soluble in two parts of boiling water, remain in solution on cooling, are stable and permit the subcutaneous employment of caffeine: against headaches. Dose, 5 to 10 minims of a solution of above strength.
 
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