Apocynum Cannabinum

(Indian Hemp)

This should not be oonfouDded wiii A Androsemifolium. Tiie medical properties of tlie two are widely different.

BoTAHiCAL Dbbcjuptiok. — It is a perennial plant, stems herbpeeoua, erect, branching, of a brown color, and two or three feot in liejg]il; Uio leaves are opposite, ovate, oblong, acute at botb enda, and somewhat downy beneath; tl.e cymes are pedunculate, many-flowered and pubescent; the corolla la small and greenish, with a tube not longer than the calyx, and with an erect border. The pod, or follicle is from three to five inches long, and resembles the pods of the Asclepias syriaca, or common silk weed, but are much smaller.

The stalk and root abounds in a milky juice which concretes into a sub stance closely resembling caoutchouc. It Is the juice which contains the active principles

The root which is the officinal part is horizontal five or sis ftet jn lengtli, about onethird of an incli thick dividing new tbt end into branches which terminate abruptly of a yellowish l)rown color when young but dark chestnut when old of a strong odoi and a niuseous somewhat aciid and a permanently bitter taste

It grows in damp places, by marshes and running stroams, and is indl genous to nearly every part of the United States,

Officinaj. Prbparationb. — Tincture of tlie root, made by maceration with dilute alcohol. Triturations of the root.

(Tlie tincture should be dark red, or light brown, and of an intensely bitter taste. I have used a tincture made with Spirit. Nitri dulc, with most excellent effects. The tincture and its dilutions seem to affect the urinary organs, but are not as efficacious in Drop»y, etc.

An infusion of one ounce of the fres]i root in one quart of water, has been successftilly administered and seems to act more promptly in dropsy in tcaspoonful doses than any otlier preparation. The trituration seems to be most cfflca^ cious in affections of pulmonary organs.)

From the fact that in many cases, particularly in dropsical efluaions, the most powerful, as well as the most speedy and certain effects, have been obtained from the decoction, and that Hunt's decoction seemed to answei the purpose better than any other preparation ever proposed. It may be

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46 APOCYJJOM CAKNAUINUM.

procured through Boericke & Tafel. This formula, which is almost the same aa Hunt's, and which will act equally well; Take of the fresh root one part, by weight, add nine parts, by fluid measure, of boiling water, allow to stand sis or eight hours, then add one part alcohol, allow to stand sis or eight hours more, ■wben it may be filtered aad kept as a per- manent decoction. Dilutions may be made from this, tlie first and second, using part water, the third, and higher, all alcohol.

SpnBKB oif Action. — Mucous surfaces, serous membranes, skin and kid- neys; causing increased secretion and elimination (primary,) followed by the opposite condition, (secondary.)

ABAix>eT)ES. — Ascl^ias iuberoea and gyriaca, Bupatoriuin purpureiaa, Hetleborus niger, Kali-hydruj/id, Bemoale of amnuraia.

Heavy, stupid headache, with drowsiness. " Hydro cephahiB acutus, in children, (third stage.)

Heat, with redness and irritation, as if several sharp grains of sand were in the eyes.

Kose. Nostrils and throat filled with thick yellow mucus. *Coryza; first dryness, then tliin, irritating watery discharge,

followed by discharge of thick mucus. " Infantile coryza, " snuffles."

Month and Tongne, Dryness, with nausea and thirst.

Throat filled with thick, well concreted yellow mucus in the

morning. Unpleasant degree of heat in the throat.

Distension of the stomach and bowels after very light meals. ° Sinking at the stomach, with profuse urine and nausea. Violent vomiting, with prostration and drowsiness. * Increases the appetite and digestion.

" Irritable stomach, so bad that the patient could not retain even a draught of water, in dropsy.

Decided distension of the abdomen, especially after a moderate

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AFOGYNUM CANNABINOM. *1

" Ascites — many cases, from a variety of causes.

Stools. Loose biit not very copious bilious stools,

* Evacuations very scanty. Watery diarrhcea.

Kidneys and Urine. Primary.

* Dull, aching pain in the region of the kidneys, with increased

secretion of etraw-colored urine. Very profuse light-colored urine; several quarts were passed

every day. No sediment in the urine.

* Very peculiar torpid action of the kidneys. Urine of a light golden, sherry yellow color.

° Dropsy, complicated with chronic diarrhcea.

* Difficult and painfvl urination, from catarrh of the bladder,

disease of tlie prostate, or morbid irritability, {Freligh^

° Retention of urine, with paralysis of the lower extremities,

" Diabetes insipidus.

" Dropsy, general or local, and from various causes, but chiefly from lack of eliminating power of the kidneys. {Tlale.)

In cases of acute idiopathic dropsies, use the dilutions, begin- ning with the highest, and descending more or less rap- idly according to the progress of the disease. (/5.)

In chronic or atonic dropsies (secondary,) nse the tincture, or if neccessary, the decoction, in one or two drachm doses. (/5.)

"Uterine hemorrhage with great irritability of the stomach and vomiting; syncope and failure of the pulse when moved; blood expelled in large clotB. sometimes florid. {Dr. Marsden.)

" Amenorriicea in young girls with bloating of the abdomen and extremities. (/&.)

Larynx, Bronchi and Chest.

Unpleasant sensation of heat about the fauces and larynz.

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48 AFOMORPHIA,

IiTesistible disposition to sigh.

Short, dry cough, and scanty expectoration of white mueiiE in

Back and IBxtremities. Umisual heaviness of the head, with dnll, aching pains in thr

small of the back and limbs. No tenderness of the region of the kidneys on pressure, but a

slight soreness of the parts when bringing the muscles

into action, thns indicating the muscles as the seat of the

pains. Hard aching was felt several times in both knees, suificiently

severe to make me fear that an attack of inflammatory

rheumatism was coming on. ° (Edema of the feet and ankles, remaining after typhus, or in

dropsy. (Hale.)

APOMORPHIA.

An alkaloicl of C,)ium, differing from Morphia only in having one leaa atom of water. Ita chemical composition is expressed C17H17NO3HO1 It may be made by treating Morphia under pressure with strong hydro- chloric acid.

Apomorphia differs, in its reactions, from Morpliia in giving a blood-red color, in place of an orange -yellow, with Nitric acid, and in giving a dense yellow precipitate with bichromate of potassium, no precipitate being produced by Morphia.

Sphere op Action.— Probably the great sympatiietic, and reflex nervous

Brain and Cord. Slight deafness, giddiness, singing in the ears.

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i9

Great excitement.

[Epileptiform convulsions, brought on by tonching.]

[Tetanic condition, running round and round the room, scaling

■walls, and turning summersaultB,] [Partial paralysis of the hinder extremities, clawing, natatory

movements.] [Diminution of reflex irritability, continuous workings of the

stomach, depression.] [Uncomfortable sensation in the head.] The syn]]>toms in brackets were observed in animals.

Pupils dilated ; no action when applied locally in powder.

Dullness of hearing.

Gaatrie.

Salivation, Diarrhcea (in cats).

* A feeling of nausea coming on at intervals, especially after

taking ft>od; no pain, clean tongue, and no headache,

* Sudden vomiting, almost witliont nausea; vomiting of food,.

raueus, rarely of bile.