The non-bacillar nature of abrus-poison : with observations on its chemical and physiological properties / by C.J.H. Warden and L.A. Waddell.

Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The non-bacillar nature of abrus-poison : with observations on its chemical and physiological properties / by C.J.H. Warden and L.A. Waddell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    but without bitterness or acidity. The aqueous and alcoholic solu- tions were acid in reaction. In cold absolute alcohol, ether, or amylio alcohol, the crystals were practically insoluble; in chloroform, slightly soluble ; in boiling dilute spirits they dissolved and crystallized out before the solution was cold. In ammonia and solutions of caustic soda or potash, they readily dissolved and formed well-marked crystalline salts. In dilute acids the crystals were also easily soluble. APPENDIX V. The Therapeutic Value of Abrus-seed Infusion in Ophthalmic Medicine. The seeds are reported by Dr, Moura (1) to have been used for many years in Brazil for the treatment of chronic granular conjunctivitis. It is in the chronic granidar cases which have resisted other treatment that abrus is said to be of advantage ; but unless carefully applied, he has found it not unfrequeutly happen that an eye otherwise capable of being saved has been entirely ruined by the careless application of a concentrated solution. He used a cold infusion of the seeds, deprived of their testae, made in the proportion of 0'5 grammes (about 8 grains) to 10 grammes (100 minims) of water. Dr. L. deWecker confirms Dr. Houra's statements (2). The preparation which has answered best in his hands, and which he is in the habit of using, is weaker than that used by Dr. Moura, being prepared by macerating 10 grammes (about 155 grains) of the decorticated and powdered seeds for 24 hours in 500 grammes (17 fluid ounces) of cold water, and filtering. He sums up his observations as follows :— 1. A weak cold infusion of the powdered abrus-seeds applied as a lotion rapidly produces a purulent ophthalmia of an intensity corresponding to the strength and number of applications. 2. The factitious ophthalmia thus produced disappeared in the course of 10 days or a fortnight without any therapeutic interference or danger to the cornea. (1) Pharmac. Jour., p. 4, 1883. (2) Compt. Rend., xcv., 299.