Ignatia.
CHARACTERISTICS
Long-continued grief, with nervous irritability and depression. Pains are distinctly intermittent, and are shifting in character. Atonic and irritable condition of the muscles. Atonic dyspepsia.
TOXIC EFFECTS.
Strychnine is the active agent in ignatia and the symptoms produced are those of poisoning by this drug.
DOSE.
Tinctura ignatiae, 2-10 m.
The second and third decimal triturations will generally be found more effective than larger doses.
THERAPEUTIC USES.
Migraine with nervous irritability and mental depression. The pains are intermittent and shifting in character.
Depressed and weak state. The jerking and twitching of muscles prevent sleep.
Full of grief with a weak empty feeling in stomach.
Atonic dyspepsia. The stomach and intestines are relaxed.
Tendency to prolapse of the rectum at stool, with spasm of the rectal muscles INTESTINAL EVACUANTS
ENEMATA
Cause the patient to lie upon the left side or assume the knee-chest posture. Hold the bag of the fountain syringe less than two feet above the body and stop the stream a few moments whenever a sign of pain or intolerance is shown. From three to eight points of the fluid should be very slowly introduced.
Simple Enema.
Teaspoonful of salt to the quart of tepid water.
Stimulant Enema.
Tepid soap-suds.
Irritant Enema.
Teaspoonful or more of turpentine in a few ounces of soap- suds followed by several pints of soap-suds. Or turpentine one- half ounce, castor oil two ounces in barley gruel.
Solvent Enema.
One ounce of magnesium sulphate in four to eight pints of tepid water.
Oil Enema
For chronic constipation. Inject two to six ounces of olive oil at night, with instructions that it is retained until morning.
CATHARTICS
Dietetic and hygienic measures have almost wholly superseded the laxative and cathartic in the cure of constipation, and their use at present is practically restricted to the removal of fecal masses and to cleansing the bowel.
Oleum Ricini. Castor-oil.
One to four teaspoonfuls. To undigested food and other irritating substances.
Magnesii Citras Effervescens. Effervescent Magnesium Citrate.
One to three teaspoonfuls in half a glass of water. To cleanse bowels especially at beginning of febrile disorders.
Pelvis Glycyrrhizoe Compositus. Compound Liquorice powder.
One to two teaspoonfuls in water. A pleasant laxative. Aids in the cure of piles and prolapsus.
Senna.
One to two drams either of the confection or compound liquorice powder. Irritating if given uncombined.
Rhamnus Purshiana. Cascara Sagrada.
One to three grains of the solid extract, or ten to sixty drops of the fluid extract. The small and frequently repeated dose, in a cordial, is preferred Torpor of the large intestine.
Aloe. Aloes.
Watery extract, one-half to three grains. Slow acting. Weakly subjects with piles and habitual constipation.
Podophyllum. May-apple.
One-twelfth to one-sixth of a grain of the resin Slow acting. Congestion of the portal circulation.
Rheum. Rhubarb.
Twenty to sixty minims of the fluid extract For jaundice with light colored stools.
Jalapa. Jalap
Forty to sixty grains of the compound powder of jalap. Causes large watery stools and hence is of use in dropsy, emphysema, etc., with overburdened heart.
Hydrargyri Chloridum Mite. Calomel.
Five to ten grains. Give one dose only. Robust bilious subjects. May be of service at beginning of febrile disorders.
Magnesii Sulphas. Epsom Salts.
One to two drams every two or three hours, followed by half a glass or more of water. Of great service in typhlitis and impaction of the caecum.
Oleum Tiglii. Croton Oil.
From one to two drops in emulsion in sugar of mild or simply dropped on the tongue. For obstinate impaction of the bowels without inflammation.
