American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

scarlatinal or post diphtheritic nephritis. In these cases it may be
alternated with positive doses of belladonna. In conjunction with a
persistent application of heat, it will be found useful in post puerperal
nephritis, of an acute character, and probably in other cases, where
sudden suppression has resulted from profound sepsis.
Where we find colic with loose, slimy stools, it points to intestinal
disorders, while convulsive movements are reflex symptoms, consequent
upon the intestinal disease. These are benefited by this agent.
Santonine influences these conditions by stimulating the great
sympathetic and giving tone to the functions of digestion and nutrition.
It has been employed with advantage in nervous failure of sight, nervous
vomiting and nervous diarrhea; but it is doubtful whether it has ever
improved the sight in amaurosis or cataract, as has been claimed.
Santonine causes yellow vision and yellow urine, Where worms are
demonstrated to exist in the bowels, it is a common practice to give
santonine with a cathartic of podophyllin, or follow it with castor oil. The
agent is toxic, as stated, and should not be given in material doses for the
special purpose of destroying worms, when the child is constipated or
suffering from fever.
ASARUM Asarum canadense.
Synonym—Wild Ginger.
Dose, from one-half to one dram of the specific medicine,
Dr. Houts, claims that asarum is a reliable emmenagogue, and perfectly
safe. He gives it alone when he needs to restore the menses, and says he
needs nothing with it. It has a direct influence on the uterine system. For
young girls with their early menstruation and in cases of painful
menstruation, he uses an infusion of the fresh root and expects to get
satisfactory results. He takes one ounce of the root and lets it steep slowly
for one hour in a pint of water and sweetens it. He gives from one to two
drams every half hour or hour. He takes from five to ten drops of the fluid
extract to a cupful of hot sweetened water and gives this every half hour
or every one or two hours as the patient needs. The results have
established his confidence.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 55