Passiflora Incarnata

(White Passion Flovser.)

BoTAifiCAi. Description.— This is a vine climbing by tendrils, wit.i a

amootli stem, leaves three cleft, the lobes serrate, petiole bearing two glaniig,

dbyGoogle

484 PAULLINIA

flowers large, nearly -white, with a triple, purple, and flesh-colored cmwn, involucre three leaved.

Grows in dry soil, in Virginia, Kentucky and southward, flowering from May to July. The fruit ot this variety of Passiflora is about tlie sizs of a hen's egg, and when crushed makes a report, from whence came its name of May-pop.

There seems to be a very marked difference as to the active properties of Miis plant as found growing in different localities. That growing on tlie levees around New Orleans, is very large and rank, but utterly inactive, while that growing on the uplands is much better, and that grown on tlie Bayou Gross T6te seems to be tie strongest-

OprrciSAJ. pRBPARATioua. — Tincture with dilute alcohol, from the care, fully dried or fresh leaves, gathered in May, or as soon as tiie plant bios- soms, before forming fruit; dilutions; triturations from the inspissated

AsAIMOVEB.— Aconite (f),Ghloi-alffydmte, Nitrate of Amyl.ffehemimm, the Bromides, Caiabar Bean, Oaaaabia Indica. (No Prcvings.) ° Tetanic convulsions affecting mainly tlie muscles of the trunk,

with predominant opisthotonos, {Dr. L. Phages.) "Violent tetanos, with opisthotonos, trismus, and convul-

Bione, in a cliild. (-75.) " Tetanus and trismus in horses, many cases. " Neuralgia.; sleeplessuess, with great restlesaneae and suicidal

mania. " Erysipelas and .syphilis. ( 'i ) " Tetanns infantum, (neonatorum.) A quiet slumber, from which the patient may be wakened up,

and he will talk to you b& rationally as he ever did, and

immediately relapse into his slumbers.

PADILINIA SORBILES.

{O^iarana^ Description Guarana consists of the seeds (powdered) of a tree or climbing shrub growing in Brazil; these, according to Johnson, in hia '■Cliemiscry of Common Life," are used as we do cocoa. They contain an alkaloid said to he identical with that found in tea and coflee (theine). In the Materia Medlca of Trusseau and Pideaux (a an account of its use in migraine or sick-headache.

At one time it attained much popularity in Paris, in the treatment of sick-headache. It has lately been called up by Dr. Wilks, of Guy's Hospital, London. It has been used successfully by Dr.

Wood, of Montreal, and Dr. Helraeken, of British Colombia. No

dbyGooglc

provings have yet been made, and the following obaeiTatlons are given instead. Officihal Prepaeatioss. — Triturations of the seeds; tincture; di1u.

AmxjAxinss.—Agarieuiit Oiffea, Of/pripediuvi, Coca, Iris vertieclar, Pvl-

iatUla, Sciitettaria, Thea, Vaieriana, etc.

° Sick-headache — If the attacks are frequent (several in a montli), a few grains of the powder should be taken every morning, half an hour before the firet meal, ae a preven- tive; at the commencement of an attack the same dose may be repeated every quarter or half an hour until relief appears, {Trovseeau.)

° The most violent attacks of siek-headaehe will sometimes yield at the end of five or ten minutes, not to return, {lb.)

"Used by the natives of Brazil to relieve nervousness and weariness, as we use tea or coffee. {Johnson.)

° Used for tlie cure and prevention of bowel complaints. (/S.)

" Diarrhtea of phthisis, {Gavaelle.)

° Cholera infantum. (Hale.)

"Chlorosis; paralysis; neuralgia. (/5.)

" Convalescence from prostrating diseases. (/5.)

* Ebeumatic neuralgia, {See Therapeutics.)

PEPsm.

DEecBiPTiOK. — A peculiar albuminous body secreted by the gastrit fflaniU, which has IJie power not only of coagulating albumen, but also, with the aid of acidulated water, of rediasolving it

Prof. Lionel Beale gives the following simple method of manufacture; "Dissect off carefully the mueous membrane of a perfeetl^ fresh pig's Btomach, and place it on a flat board; cleanse It tightly witha apouge and waWr.so as to remove the particlesof food andmnch of the mucus. Scrape it hard with an ivory knife, so as to squeeze out ail the contents from the glauds.

The viscid mucus thus obtained contains all the pepsin with much, epithelium. Spread it upon a piece of glass so as to form a very thin layer, which is to be dried at a temperature of 100° {no higher) F. over hot waWr. When dry, scrape from the glass, powder in a mortar, and transfer to a well-9t*ppered bottle."

Prof Beale recommends the following formula for pepsin prepared by his method: "Take of the powder, five grains; strong muriatic acid, eigh- teen drops; water, six ounces. Macerate at a temperature of 100" for an hour; filter so as lo form a peifectly clear fluid."

dbyGoogle

486 PHOspeiDB OF zinc.

PepsiD, prepared by Beale'S process, is odorless, nearly free from any disagreeable taste, and twenty-flve times as strong as the ordinary com- mercial pepsin.

There are several brands of pepsin in the market, namely: Boudait's, Hawley's, and SLeffer's, The two former are foreign, the latter Ameilcan. Sheffer's is the most popular. The " Saccharated Pepsin" sold by Btericke & Tafel, and at our PliarmacSes, is a similar preparation. Wh alt ver pepsin is used, if good effects are to be obtained from it, it should be given with acid, unless, indeed, there is reason to believe that this constituent of gas- tric juice is not wanting.

Sheffer advises lliat his pepsin-solution be pre- pared aa follows: "Take of Pepsin sixly-four grains, water five ounces, and of Hydrochloric acid (dilute) one drachm; Eifter dissclving, add three ounces of glycerine. Mix thoroughly and filter,"

Alcohol destroys the digesting power of pepsin, and therefore " wines of pepsin " are inferior preparations of it. The homceopathist, and all other physicians, should avoid all the compound "elixirs," and other proprie. tary preparations, and use only the powder, or freshly prepared c' solution. The powder, however, may be combined with a medicine in tritUTation, aa I sliall hereafter recommend.

In making the digestive solution, water and mttfiatic acid ; or glycerine, water and muriatic acid, should alone he employed with the pepsin.

Officinal PRBPABATioB6.^(See above.)

Analogtoss. — Panoreaiine (?), Muriatic acid (f),Iia6ti6atid (.').

F^aith, not being in any sense a drug, but the gastric Juice of some ani- mal, is not an agent to be proven, or liave any pathogenetic effects.

liennet, or the dried stomach of calves, has been used from time imme- morial for the purpose of coagulating milk. It has been used successfully in domestic practice, and in the hands of pliysicians, for the cure of dj/s- pepaia, dysentery, and cArcnie dia/rr/Ksa ^ undigested food, also for vomiting of food in children and adults.

IBee Th&rap&afits.)

PHOSPHIDE OF ZINC.

Descbiption. — Phosphide of Zinc is a black granular powder, resem- bling very closely Iron by hydrogen, having a strong smell of phosphorus, and tastes pliosplioric. Entirely insoluble in water.

Ofpicikal PBBPAKATiOBe.— Triturations. (Even in the 3 x and 3 x trit. Its offensive taste and odor will prove an obstacle to its administration, but it can be disguised by prescribing It in the form of a pJU, They can be very rapidly prepared if the trituration is made with equal parts of sac. lie. and pulv. gum acacia.)

AnAUOQrims.^-Bromidea of PofasJi, Ammonia., and Lithium, Oonium, 6el- lemtnuTO, Zinc. ox. and met.

' Useful for tie eecondarj effects of cerebral congestion aud

dbyGooglc

PHOSPHIDE OF ZINC. iSl

dbyGooglc

488 PHYTOLACCA DECANDEA.