This preparation may be considered briefly in view of the recent discussion in this series of articles of the pharmacology of the digitalis group and the principles of treatment in cardiovascular disease. The manufacturers maintain that cactina is wholly unlike digitalis, and that is the truth, as we shall show; but since they claim that it is useful in certain conditions of the heart in which digitalis is commonly employed by well informed clinicians, it is necessary to consider its cardiac actions—or its lack of them! It is difficult to determine just what action cactina is supposed to exert on the heart. For example, one advertisement contains the following:
“Cactina Pillets. A gentle cardiac tonic that supports and sustains the heart through its capacity to improve cardiac nutrition.”
Just how the cardiac nutrition is to be improved without an improved coronary circulation is not explained. It would be interesting to know in what other way this is to be accomplished, and how an improved coronary circulation can be induced without acting on the heart or vessels. But that is what digitalis does, and you should remember that cactina is so very different from digitalis! Then again:
“Cactina Pillets. A remedy that steadies and strengthens the heart by imparting tone to the heart muscle.”
That is a pretty direct statement, but digitalis imparts tone; and we must not forget that “cactina” is wholly unlike digitalis, and we are told that “cactina” is:
“Invaluable in all functional cardiac disorders such as tachycardia, palpitation, arrhythmia, and whenever the heart’s action needs regulating or support.”
If these are merely functional disorders of the heart, it is highly desirable to know what are the symptoms of really serious cardiac disease! Since the manufacturers give us no information concerning the mode of action of “cactina” we will turn to the literature of disinterested observers. If one attempts to discover the origin of “cactina,” he will probably meet with disappointment, for various bibliographies fail to mention the name of Sultan, who is said to have isolated “cactina” from Cactus grandiflorus. It seems that Sultan worked with Cactus, or some other plant, when a student of pharmacy, and it is to be remembered that Cactina Pillets are manufactured by the Sultan Drug Company.
It is doubtful whether Sultan actually worked with genuine Cactus grandiflorus; and, in fact, there is good reason for thinking that he did not, for all subsequent workers who have taken pains to secure genuine Cactus grandiflorus have failed to detect the presence of any active principle, except possible traces that are of no therapeutic importance whatever.