A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen.

Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    463/554 (page 451)
    APPENDIX.* ACONITUM. Aconite. The tuberous root of Aconitum napellus. (U. S. P.) In the Ph. Br. both the leaves and the root of Aconittim napelhis are official, but in the U. S. P. the root only is official. Aconitina is official in the Ph. Br. The products used under the names of aconitine, aconitina, and aconitia are so varied in activity that there is great danger in prescribing them. The doses of the galenical preparations of aconite are so small, and their activity applied externally so great, that there is rarely an excuse for risking the danger incurred in prescribing the alkaloid. The preparations suitable for external use are Extractum Aconiti (of variable strength), Extractum Aconiti Fluidum (one cubic centimetre equals one gramme of the root), and Tinctura Aconiti Radici (five parts representing two parts of the root). General Surgery.—Aconite, owing to its benumbing influence upon the skin, is often added with adva.ntage to liniments for the relief of neu- ralgic and rheumatic pains. The tincture is frequently employed in the local treatment of Sciatica and Tic Douloureux, by being painted frequently over the course of the painful nerve. Toothache is sometimes speedily cured by rubbing the gums with a few drops of the tincture, or introducing it on cotton into the carious tooth. As stated by Ringer, if aconite succeeds at all its action is usually prompt. Diseases of the Skin.—The local action of aconite is possibly to paralyze the vaso-motor nerves. It produces also tingling, prickling, heat, and numbness. This effect is taken advantage of in the treatment of skin diseases accompanied by pain or pruritus. In Pernio (chilblain) tincture of aconite often allays the burning and tingling pain. In Herpes Zoster also the external application of the tincture has proved of service. In Alopecia a mixture of aconite tincture with other ingredients has proved valuable as a local application. R. Tinct. aqonit. rad., f^iv ; chloroform., f3ij; liq. amnioniae, fgj ; pulv. camphor?e, 3] j ol. olivse, f^vij. M. This mixture has undoubtedly proved efficacious, although how much of the effect has been due to the aconite it is impossible to say. * The insertion of the accounts of Aconitum, Ammonii Carbonas, Ammonii Chloridum, Aqua Ammonise Fortior were inadvertently omitted at their proper places in the text.