Epitome of the Pharmacopeia of the United States and the National Formulary / With Comments

by Albion Walter Hewlett; William August Puckner; Torald Hermann Sollmann; Martin I. Wilbert

Dosage: 8 Cc. or 2 fluidrachms (N.F.).

Serpentaria (Serpent.), Serpentaria, U.S.P. (Texas Snakeroot, Virginia Snakeroot).—Rhizome and root.

Action and Uses: Bitter with no advantage over gentian; now less frequently used than formerly.

Dosage: 1 Gm. or 15 grains (U.S.P.).

Fluidextractum Serpentariae (Fldext. Serpentar.), Fluidextract of Serpentaria, N.F.—Serpentaria (100%). Absolute alcohol content about 70 per cent.

Dosage: 1 Cc. or 15 minims.

Tinctura Serpentariae (Tr. Serpent.), Tincture of Serpentaria, N.F.—Serpentaria (20%) in alcohol and water. Absolute alcohol content about 60 per cent.

Dosage: 4 Cc. or 1 fluidrachm (N.F.).

*Serum Antidiphthericum (Ser. Antidiph.), Antidiphtheric Serum, U.S.P. (Diphtheria Antitoxin).—Serum from a horse properly immunized against diphtheria toxin; has a potency of not less than 250 antitoxic units per Cc.

Action and Uses: Curative and prophylactic agent in diphtheria. The possibility of serum disease must be remembered. Caution should be exercised when antidiphtheric serum is administered to persons who have had asthma, and, above all, “horse asthma.” In such cases a few drops only of the serum may be injected, followed in fifteen or thirty minutes by the full dose.