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.
Discovered by Chevreul in 1835: an extractive existing in animal tissues, as muscles. An opaque white, odourless, bitter, solid. It may be considered as one of the beneficent ptomaines, and has power, even more than blood, to induce cardiac pulsations. Kreatinin, closely allied, is principally found in the urine.
These two extractives give the stimulating virtues to beef extracts. Dose of Kreatin, 1 1/2 grains four times a day in powder.
A mixture of pepsine and pancreatine, with sugar of milk, but believed to be deficient in the strength that is naturally possessed by these two powerful digestive ferments. Dose, 10 to 20 grains.
Lachnauthes tinctoria. Red Root, Spirit weed. Carolina, U. S. A. N. 0. Haemadoraceos.
It has been used in Homoeopathy for phthisis, to relieve the cough of consumption. Tincture (1 of herb in 10 proof spirit), dose, 3 to 10 minims.
Lantana Brasiliensis. Jerba sagrata. S. America. N. 0. Verbenacece. Its alkaloid is Lantanine, a white bitter powder. Like quinine, it is given in intermittent fevers as an antipyretic. Dose, 15 to 30 grains a day, in pills.
From Leptandra Virginica {Culvers). N.America. N. 0. Scrophu-lariacece.
The active principle: a greenish-brown resinoid. Powerfully acts on liver, but feebly on intestines. It stimulates the hepatic secretions; useful in typhoid fever, combined with Hydrastin and Quinine. Dose, 2 to 4 grains. Dose of fluid ext. of Leptandra Virgin, 20 to 60 drops.
Deer tongue. N. America. N. 0. Composites.
The radical leaves of a handsome annual, collected in Southern States: when dried they develop a pleasant odour. Used principally to scent tobacco. Contains Coumarin {which see).
Mexico. N. 0. Verbenacecc.
The leaves (preferably fresh) have been used in America, when the bronchial tubes are dry and constricted, or expectoration is too profuse. Owes its activity to an easily volatized camphor and an essential oil. Teaspoonful doses of the fluid extract, from time to time, in demulcent drinks.
 
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