American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

materially improve its local influence.
In the administration of quinine to children in all but the severest of
malarial conditions, it may be given by inunction, and all of the results of
internal use will be thus obtained. The soft skin of the chest, axillae,
abdomen or groins is bathed with hot water and quickly dried, and the
ointment immediately applied. From three to five grains of the sulphate is
thoroughly rubbed into two drams of lard, and the whole applied during
the early part of a remission or intermission. The course must be repeated
on consecutive days for four or five days. If the fever is then broken or the
chill does not occur, the application can be made regularly once in eight
or twelve hours, using less quinine, and continued as a tonic as long as
a tonic is needed. No one will administer quinine per os to infants who
has used this method successfully.
CAMPHOR. Cinnamomum camphora.
Imported from Japan, China, Formosa.
Occurrence—A concrete volatile oil (stearopten), obtained from the
Camphor Laurel, purified by sublimation, found in tough crystalline
masses, white and translucent; easily powdered in alcohol or chloroform.
Physiological Action—In its influence there is something of a diversity of
opinion concerning the method of action of this agent. It is certainly a
sedative with power to increase the tone and improve the functional
activity of the nervous system.
Therapy—It has long been used in hysteria to control the attacks and to
relieve the nervous excitement, restlessness, nervous depression,
melancholia and hypochondria. In sudden depression from exhaustion
and the conditions of depression consequent upon neurasthenia, it
serves a good purpose.
In all forms of nervousness in women and in children and in the feeble it
has long been in common use. In the excitable mania of exhausting
fevers, it serves a useful purpose. It allays nervous excitement and
produces a general tranquillity of feeling.
It is a sovereign remedy for acute coryza—“cold in the head,” and may be
inhaled or taken internally. In acute and chronic catarrh it has a tonic
yet soothing effect upon the mucous membranes. It controls
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 132