Ammoniaretum Cupri. E. Ammoniated Copper.
Qualities. Form, a violet coloured mass, which on exposure to air becomes green, and is probably converted into a carbonate. Taste, styptic and metalline. Odour, ammoniacal. Chemical Composition. It is a triple salt, a sub-sulphate of oxide of copper, and ammonia. The Edinburgh College is certainly incorrect in calling it an ammoniuret. Solubility, f℥j; of water dissolves ℈j of this salt. Incompatible Substances; Acids; the fixed Alkalies; Lime water. Medicinal Uses. It is tonic and antispasmodic. Dr. Cullen first proposed its exhibition in epilepsy, and it has frequently been employed with evident advantage in that disease. It has been also given in chorea, after a course of purgatives. Brera considers it quite equal to Arsenic, in the cure of obstinate Intermittents; other physicians have commended it in cases of Hysteria. Forms of Exhibition. It may be formed into pills with bread; to which an addition of sugar has been recommended, to prevent them from becoming hard; but we must remember that recent experiments have shewn that sugar has the power of counteracting the operation of copper. Dose, gr. 1/4 cautiously encreased to grs. v. twice a day. Officinal Preparations. Liquor Cupri Ammoniati. L.
CUSPARIÆ CORTEX. L. (Cusparia febrifuga.)
Bonplandiæ Trifoliatæ Cortex. E.
Angustura, Cortex. D.
Cusparia, or Angustura Bark.
Qualities. Form, pieces covered with a whitish wrinkled thin epidermis; the inner surface is smooth, of a brownish yellow colour. Odour, not strong, but peculiar. Taste, bitter, slightly aromatic, and permanent. Chemical Composition. Cinchonia, resin, extractive, carbonate of ammonia, and essential oil. Solubility. Its active matter is taken up by cold and hot water, and is not injured by long decoction, but the addition of alcohol precipitates part of the extractive. Alcohol dissolves its bitter and aromatic parts, but proof spirit appears to be its most complete menstruum. Incompatible Substances. Sulphate of Iron; Sulphate of Copper; Oxy-muriate of Mercury; Nitrate of Silver; Tartarized Antimony; Sub-acetate, and Acetate of Lead; Potass; and perhaps the Mineral Acids, for they produce precipitates, as do also the infusions of Galls, and Yellow Cinchona. Medicinal Uses. Stimulant and tonic; it does not, like cinchona, oppress the stomach, but imparts a degree of warmth, expels flatus, and increases the appetite for food: with respect to its powers in the cure of intermittents, many doubts are entertained. Forms of Exhibition. In substance, infusion, decoction, tincture, or extract; its nauseous taste is best disguised by cinnamon. Dose of the powder, grs. v. to ℈j; of the infusion or decoction, f℥j; in large doses all the forms are liable to produce nausea. Form. 58. Officinal Prep. Infusum Cuspariæ. L. Tinct. Bonplandiæ Trifoliatæ. E. Tinct. Angusturæ. D. Adulterations. There is found in the market a particular bark, which has been called Fine Angustura, but which is of a different species, and is a very energetic poison. This bark is characterized by having its epidermis covered with a matter which has the appearance of rust of iron, and which, moreover, possesses certain chemical properties of this metal; for if water acidulated with muriatic acid be agitated in contact with its powder, it assumes a beautiful green colour, and affords with an alkaline prussiate, (Hydro-cyanate of Potass) a Prussian blue precipitate. Late researches have detected the presence of an alkaline element in this bark, on which the name of Brucia has been bestowed. When this alkali is dissolved in boiling alcohol, and crystallized by spontaneous evaporation, it yields colourless and transparent crystals in the form of oblique quadrangular prisms.
DATURÆ STRAMONII HERBA. E.D.
The Herbaceous part of the Thorn Apple.
Qualities. Odour, fœtid and narcotic, occasioning head-ache and stupor; Taste, bitter and somewhat nauseous. Chemical Composition. Gum, resin, and carbonate of ammonia; the recent experiments of M. Brandes have also developed an alkaline element of activity, to which the name of Daturia has been assigned; it appears to exist in native combination with malic acid; when in an uncombined state it is nearly insoluble in water, and in cold alcohol, but boiling alcohol dissolves it. It has been obtained with difficulty in the form of quadrangular prisms. Solubility. The medicinal powers of the herb are alike extracted by aqueous and spirituous menstrua. Incompatible Substances. The infusion is precipitated by the salts of lead, silver, mercury, and iron; the mineral acids would also appear to produce some essential changes which may diminish its efficacy. Acetic acid increases its powers, although it relieves the effects of an overdose, if administered after the stomach has been emptied. This apparent anomaly is easily explained when we consider, that in the first case its operation is purely chemical, increasing the solubility of the active principle of the plant, while in the latter case it operates as a vital agent, restoring to the nervous system that energy which has been suspended by the narcotic influence of the vegetable. Medicinal Uses. It is narcotic, and has been regarded by many authors as eminently antispasmodic; Dr. Barton, an American physician, made very extensive trials of its efficacy in Mania, the result of which is highly favourable to its use. Dr. Marcet first noticed its salutary effects in chronic diseases attended with violent pain; he found it to lessen powerfully, and quickly, sensibility and pain, and to produce a sort of nervous shock, attended with a momentary affection of the head and eyes, with a degree of nausea, and with phenomena resembling those which are produced by intoxication. It seems to be more particularly beneficial in chronic rheumatism, sciatica, &c. Its root, smoked in the manner of tobacco, has been much extolled as a remedy in the paroxysms of spasmodic asthma; this practice however, is not unattended with danger;[[488]] the same transient feelings of relief may be procured by smoking a mixture of opium and any aromatic herb. Forms of Exhibition. Some discrepancy of opinion has existed upon this point; the native practitioners in the Carnatic gave the powdered root; Hufeland recommends a tincture of the whole plant; in this country an extract of the leaves, or, more lately, of the seeds, has been preferred, and I have been recently informed by Sir Henry Halford, that he has found a tincture made with the seeds,[[489]] a very efficient and unobjectionable preparation. Dr. Davy, at my request, has made a series of experiments upon the extracts prepared by Mr. Barry in vacuo, and his report upon the effects of that of Stramonium, will be found under the article Extract. Stramonii, which see. Dose. In the commencement, of the leaves powdered gr. i. of the seeds gr. ss. It is said that the Turks sometimes use the Stramonium instead of Opium, and the Chinese infuse the seeds in beer. Cataplasms of the fresh bruised leaves have been very successfully used in sores of a highly irritable and painful nature. Officinal Preparation. Extract. Stramonii.