American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

London Lancet, reported a cure of traumatic tetanus after antispasmodics
had entirely failed. In this case it had a marked diuretic effect.
Strophanthin is a mild local anesthetic. It is only of service in operations
upon the eye and not of great service here. Its effects are slow in
appearing and remain long. In animals a cloudiness of the cornea is apt
to appear after its use.
IGNATIA AMARA. Strychnos ignatia.
Synonym—Bean of St. Ignatius.
CONSTITUENTS—
Strychnine, brucine.
PREPARATIONS—
Specific Medicine Ignatia. Dose, from one-sixth to one half minim.
Prescribed from five to fifteen drops in four ounces of water, a teaspoonful
every two hours.
Fluid Extract of Ignatia. Dose, from one to ten minims.
Tincture of Ignatia. Dose, from five to twelve minims.
Physiological Action—The remedy presents the peculiarities of nux
vomica to a great extent. In its therapeutic action it is prescribed under
much the same conditions, but is a milder remedy. It seems to have less
nerve irritating properties and an efficient nerve tonic influence.
Specific Symptomatology—Ignatia is applicable if there is a tendency to
mental disorder, with suffocative hysterical symptoms. Also where there
is present the globus hystericus and nervous headache in feeble women
with sleeplessness. It is applicable at the age of puberty during the
establishment of the menses, also at the menopause, when the
characteristic symptoms of nerve irritation are present. All the nervous
symptoms are accompanied with weakness and general inappetence,
where the patient considers her condition very serious, and her chances
of recovery very slight.
Further symptomatology is dragging pains in the lower bowels, colicky
pains with the menstruation, sexual frigidity, sterility, and impotence.
Muscular twitchings of the face and eyelids, dullness of hearing
depending upon the general weakness, and burning in the bottoms of the
feet.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 419