1086

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA

is pale greenish-gray ; and when treated as the College directs, syield 26 per cent, of crystals {i. e. elaterin). brand 1

Physiological Effects, (a.) On Vegetables. —Macaire found a ^ ^of the Momordica Elaterium was speedily destroyed by immersmo ^a solution of the extract of this plant {Mem. de la Soc. de V VGeneve, vol. iy.) _ $1

(b.) On Animals —Viborg (Wibmer, Wirlc. d. Arzneim. w- y l J t j,eiii. S. 296) gave a pound of the fruit of Momordica Elaterium . nthorse without any effect. Two and a half pounds of the whole 1(roots, leaves, and stem) also appeared inert. j a 111

The only experiments made with the extract of elaterium tha ^acquainted with, are those of Orfila (Tax. Gen.) on dogs.three in number, and prove that this substance is a powerful local irrl 0 fproducing death even when it has been applied to the cellularthe thigh, in consequence, as he supposes, of the nervous systemsympathetically affected. Moreover, he concludes, from his obsen athat elaterium exerts a special action on the rectum. . ^11

(c.) On Man. —The acridity of elaterium in its local operation is ^ e _shown by various facts. Pliny truly observes that the juice ot tne __rium apple is dangerous when applied to the eye ; and Dr- ^ jjj

buck mentions that some of it “ getting accidentally into the all

one instance, it occasioned severe pain and inflammation, wl . gerysipelatous swelling of the eyelids, that continued till the i°\ °a aD i-day.” We have a further proof of its irritant properties in the 111 ,

mation and ulceration of the fingers of those employed in lts *paration. . ,

When swallowed, therefore, it irritates the gastro-intestmai . abrane, and occasions vomiting and violent purging ; hence it is c j 0 ,drastic purgative. Fine elaterium, in the dose of l-8th of a p j on gseldom fails to purge violently, and sometimes to vomit. This " aS ^ 0lllsince noticed by Dr. Clutterbuck, and I can verify his statemen ^repeated observations. Even l-10th of a grain will generally e *considerable purging. . afl( j 1

The elaterium of the shops, however, is rarely so active as this,have known two grains given with no more effect than the p ure er .

rium would excite in the dose of l-8th of a grain. Elateriumfully excites tlie secreting and exhaling vessels of the alimentary g

and thereby occasions very watery stools ; hence the term hydr sapplied to it. In some dropsical cases I have known a single (l0 ^ j,,.charge several pints of fluid by the bowels. The gripings andcreased number of evacuations prove that the irritation is not coto the mucous coat, but is extended to the muscular coat. bn j r v,influence of a full dose, the pulse is excited, the tongue bee 0111 ®® pjeand sometimes furred, and great thirst is produced. Occasiona .skin becomes damp under the operation of elaterium. r flic

Elaterium has been supposed to exert a specific influence o' . ^uterus. Thus Dioscorides and even later writers state that it P r jtsthe menses, and is apt to produce the death of the foetus in utero-^uterine influence, however, is probably not greater, in proportm 11 er ,cathartic property, than that of other violent drastics, which act pfully on the large intestines. ., to

Does elaterium become absorbed? We have no stronger cv

idcncc