American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

applied to ulcers of the os uteri. It gives good results as a wash in the
treatment of gonorrhea, gleet, leucorrhea, and ulcers and old sores. He
believes the berries should be gathered just before they are ripe, to obtain
the best action.
IPECAC. Cephaelis ipecacuanha.
Synonym—Ipecacuanha.
CONSTITUENTS—
Emetine., the emetic principle existing in the stem, leaves and root,
cholin and cephaeline in the root, ipecacuanhic acid, and a nauseating
ethereal oil.
PREPARATIONS—
Extractum Ipecac Fluidum, Fluid Extract of Ipecac; dose, from one
to forty minims.
Syrupus Ipecac, Syrup of Ipecac; dose, from ten to sixty minims.
Pulv. Ipecac et Opii, Powder of Ipecac and Opium, composed of
Ipecac and opium of each ten parts, Sugar of Milk, eighty parts; dose, from
three to ten grains.
Specific Medicine Ipecac; dose, for gastric, intestinal or bronchial
irritation, five drops in four ounces of water; a tablespoonful every hour.
As an emetic, from five to twenty minims in hot water.
Alcresta Ipecac is prepared by the action of Lloyd's reagent on the
solution of the alkaloids of ipecac. It represents the medicinal properties
of the ipecac, but will not produce nausea or emesis. It is superior to
emetine in its general use because it is not hypodermic. One tablet
represents ten grains of the powdered ipecac. It may be given in doses of
one, two or three tablets three times per day, before meals,
Physiological Action of Ipecac, (J. U. Lloyd, Ph.D., LL.D., Ph. M., Western
Druggist).—Ipecacuanha root, from its first appearance in our materia
medica, has been prized as an emetic and anti-dysenteric remedy.
The peculiar effect that the dust of ipecacuanha powder exerts upon the
respiratory organs of some persons has been noted by early observers.
Lewis, in 1761, makes the following statement: “Geoffroy observed that in
pulverizing considerable quantities, the finer powder that flies off, unless
great care be taken to avoid it, is apt to afflict the operator with difficulty
of breathing, spitting of blood and bleeding at the nose, or swelling and
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 106