ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

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internally, as veratria. It also induces sensations of beat and tinglingon the surface of the skin, and sometimes acts as a diuretic. (Turnbull*On the Medicinal Properties of the Ranunculacew, p. 7).

Uses. —Cebadilla has been employed internally, as an anthelmintic, inboth thread-worms and tape-worms. (Schmucker’s verm. chirurg.Schrift-Bd. ii. S. 271). Dr. Turnbull {op. cit. p. 7) has given the extract withbenefit in painful rheumatic and neuralgic affections. Though it is ap-plicable in all the maladies for the relief of which veratria has beenrecommended, it is rarely administered by the mouth.

Externally the powder of the seeds has been used to destroy pediculi;hence the Germans called the seeds Lausesaamen, or lice-seeds. Butit cannot be applied with safety to children, and especially when theskin is broken. I have already referred to the dangerous consequencesof its employment. The tincture has been used as a rubefacient inchronic rheumatism, and, rubbed over the heart, in some cases of ner-vous palpitation. (Turnbull, op. cit). It may in fact be employed as acheap though efficient substitute for the tincture of veratria.

But the principal use of the seeds, for which indeed they have beenintroduced into the Pharmacopoeia , is for yielding veratria.

Administration.— The following are the preparations' of Cebadillawhich have been employed in medicine.

1. Pulvis Sabadillje. Pulvis contra pediculos; Poudre de Capucin;Powder of Cebadilla. The dose for an adult is from two to six grains,gradually increased. In one case of tape-worm, half a drachm wastaken daily for fourteen days (Seeliger in Sclimucker, op. cit. vol.

p. 271).

2. Tinctura Sabadillje. — Saturated tincture of Cebadilla, Turn-bull. Cebadilla seeds, freed from their capsules and bruised, any quan-tity , Rectified Spirit , as much as will cover them. Digest for ten days-Used as a rubefacient liniment in chronic rheumatism and paralysis*It is rubbed over the heart in nervous palpitation.

3. Extractum alcoholicum Sabadillje. —Evaporate the saturatedtincture, with a very gentle heat, to a proper consistence. Dose 1-<» Uof a gram, gradually increased. It is given, in the form of pill, * urheumatic and neuralgic cases.

4. Veratria, L.; Veratrine, Fr.; Veratrina, Thomson; SabadiU /»>Meissner.

(a.) History. This vegetable alkaloid was discovered about the sai» etime (1819), by Meissner in Germany , and by Pelletier and Cavento' 1in France . Couerbe {Ann. de Chim. et de Phys. t. 52, p. .368) probablywas the first who obtained it pure. 1 1

{b.) Preparation. The following process for making veratria, coi 1 'tamed in the London Pharmacopoeia, is nearly identical with tluydescribed by Soubeiran {Nouv. Traite de Pharm. t. ii. p. 190), and lSa modification of one given by Couerbe.

“ Take of Cebadilla,bruised, lb. ij.; Rectified Spirit , Cong. iij.; Diluted Sulpha ^Acid ; Solution of Ammonia; Purified Animal Charcoal; Magnesia; each as mucmay be sufficient. Boil the Cebadilla with a gallon of the spirit, for an hour, in a re ^ etto w hich a receiver is fitted. Pour off the liquor, and boil what remains with an< j t pegallon of spirit and the spirit recently distilled, and Dour off theliouor: and let. 1 i

spirit recently distilled, and pour off the liquor:done a third time. Press the Cebadilla, and let the spirit distil from the mi xestrained liquors. Evaporate what remains to the proper consistence of an cxBoil this three or more times in water, to which a little diluted sulphuric acid ha=

L-d a«"

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