American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

pungent. Dose, from five to ten drops.
Preparations—
Infusum Petroselini. Infusion of Parsley. Dose, from two to four
ounces.
Therapy—An infusion of parsley is beneficial when, with nephritis or
cystitis, the specific gravity of the urine is high, and the urination painful
and irritating to the mucous membranes. It is useful in gonorrhea and
strangury, with great irritation of the parts, with heat, or a scalding
sensation on passage of urine, and can be given during the inflammatory
stage. It has also been given in dropsy with good results.
Apiol is a specific in amenorrhea. Five or six minims in a capsule, three
times daily, for six or eight days before the menstrual epoch will restore
the flow in many stubborn cases. It has no marked abortive influence. In
persistent dysmenorrhea it has cured many cases intractable to other
agents.
Active anti-periodic properties have been ascribed to apiol. It is a nerve
stimulant. It controls excessive night sweats, either from phthisis, or
following protracted malarial disease.
CASCARA AMARGA.
Cascara Amarga, sometimes known as Honduras Bark, is advised in
syphilis as an active alterative. The line of its action is where there is
chronic skin affection or where the pustular variety of the syphiloderm
prevails, the conditions being induced by debility, thus needing a
specific tonic influence. It soothes the stomach, overcomes sensitiveness
or ready irritability of this organ, increases the appetite, and improves
general tonicity.
SENNA. Cassia acutifolia.
Synonym—Alexandria Senna.
CONSTITUENTS—
Cathartic acid, Sennacrol, sennapicrin, chrysophan, phaeoretin,
cathartomannit, mucilage.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 100