Ergot Its Physiological And Therapeutical Action PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 edition. Excerpt: ... Part III. THE THERAPEUTICAL ACTION OF ERGOT. Preparations And Administration Of Ergot.--The pharmacopoeias of different countries do not give the same preparations of ergot, and the same preparations are not prepared alike. Ergot is used in powder, as fluid extract, extract, tincture, wine, infusion, sclerotic acid, etc. The powder is hardly ever used in this country, but more frequently on the continent of Europe. Its taste, local irritating properties, uncertainty of strength, and comparatively slower action are the main objections to its use. The dose is 10 to 30 grains. The fluid extract is officinal only in the United States and British pharmacopoeias, and is the commonest preparation in both countries. One minim represents, as usual, one grain of powder; but, as it is free from many irritating ingredients of the crude drug, it can be given in much larger quantities, and more frequently. The dose is from one half a drachm upward, according to the effect produced and the tolerance of the patient. Properly diluted, it can be used for hypodermic injections or external applications. It is of a dark-brown color; its taste and smell resemble those of the crude drug, but in a lesser degree. Beef-tea disguises its taste al most entirely. According to the United States Pharmacopoeia, it is obtained by exhausting the powder with water, alcohol, and acetic acid. Formerly glycerine was also used. In England the fluid extract is obtained by treating the powder with ether, water, and alcohol. The extract is a very common preparation in this country and England, but it is officinal only on the European continent. It is prepared according to Bonjean's method, at times with some modifications. It is called frequently Bonjean ergotine, or ergotines....