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.
Stone root. Horsebalm. North America. N.O. Labiatce. Its rhizome is a tonic sedative alterative, in gravel and catarrh of bladder and vagina, and in relief of haemorrhoids. "Valuable in acute cystitis." - Dr. Shoemaker. American "eclectics" praise it for clergyman's sore throat. Aromatic stimulant and diuretic. Dose of fluid extract, 10 to 60 minims. Collinsonin, active principle; a resinoid. Dose, 2 to 4 grains. Tincture, 10 to 100 minims.
From Citrullus Colocynthis. N. O.
The bitter principle of Colocynth. A yellowish-white pure bitter powder, soluble in alcohol and fairly so in water; a glucoside, resolvable by dilute acid into grape sugar and a resinoid. An effective hydrogogue cathartic, internally and subcutaneously. Dose, 1/20 to 1/5 grain.
A resinoid of colocynth, acting similarly to colocynthin.
(See Holarrhena).
Erythraea Chiliensis. South America. N. 0. Composite.
This herb is a good bitter tonic, increases appetite and improves digestion.
In infusion, 1 ounce to 1 pint; dose, 2 ounces, or in fluid extract, dose, 1/2 fluid drachm.
From Conium Maculatum. N. 0. Umbellifera.
Liquid alkaloid, oily, colourless with strong odour. Anti-spasmodic Dose, 1/4 grain, to be increased gradually. It has been produced artificially, by A. Ladenburg by a most perfect synthesis. C8 H17 N, in French Codex, 1884.
Crystalline, without colour, soluble 1 in 8 of water. Used in spasmodic affections, as whooping cough and asthma. Dose, 1/4 grain in 2 doses in 24 hours, gradually increased.
Active glucoside of above.
White crystalline, sweet-bitter powder, easily soluble in water and alcohol, not in ether.
Therapeutics. A powerful cardiac stimulant: it improves the tone of the muscular fibre of the heart. Dose, 1/10 grain, to be increased with great caution, as it is very powerful.
 
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