American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

watery secretion of mucus, which is often undesirable.
It should be used only with adults, as stated, as children are too
susceptible to its influence. Kinnett has used it in pain from spasms of
the pyloris, and others mention its influence for spasmodic pain in
severe, acute stomach disorder in sthenic cases.
Dr. Dice believes apomorphine given in small doses frequently repeated
in the initial stage of appendicitis will prevent the development of many
cases of this disease. He dissolves also a dram of sulphate magnesium in
four ounces of water and gives a teaspoonful every two hours with it.
Apomorphine in doses of One-thirtieth of a grain or less, frequently
repeated controls some very severe cases of vomiting.
In the treatment of alcoholism, this agent is given in sufficient quantity
to produce mild nausea; then one-thirtieth of a grain of strychnine or
other indicated stimulant is given for its influence upon the nervous
system at the same time.
CODEINE.
Occurrence—An alkaloid of opium closely related to morphine, often, if
not carefully prepared, containing a certain proportion of morphine.
Character—White octahedral crystals, bitter, odorless, permanent,
soluble in eighty parts of water and in three parts of alcohol. The dose of
codeine is from one-fourth to two grains.
Physiological Action—Its influence is that of an anodyne and
antispasmodic, more active as an antispasmodic than morphine and
much less narcotic. It controls pain without checking secretion to as
great an extent as the other alkaloids of opium.
Therapy—It has a more marked influence upon pain in the abdomen and
in the pelvic organs. Spasms, neuralgia and other painful conditions in
these parts are well controlled by codeine. Cramp colic and spasmodic
dysmenorrhea yield readily to its influence. It is advised in diabetes
mellitus to control the excretion of sugar. It has been given in doses of
fifteen or twenty grains daily for this purpose, in some cases with
permanent results.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 315