This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1832 Excerpt: ... among the acrid poisons, and when taken inwardly, it produces the general effects of this class of vegetable poisons,--viz. violent vomiting and purging, accompanied with great pain in the stomach and bowels, strong and frequent pulse, quick and difficult respiration, appearance of intoxication; pupil of the eye frequently dilated, insensibility and death. Orfila made many experiments on dogs, to ascertain the effects of Euphorbium on the animal economy, and from them has drawn the following conclusions:--First, that Euphorbium exerts a local action extremely violent, capable of producing acute inflammation. Secondly, that its fatal effects depend rather on sympathetic irritation of the nervous system, than on its absorption Thirdly, that it acts on the human species as on dogs. Many other species of Euphorbia are equally violent in their effects as the officinarum--viz. Euphorbia Antiquorum, palustris, hyberna, amygdaloides, platyphyllos, verrucosa, canariensis, mauritanica, neriifolia, exigua, and Esula. We are told by Scopoli that the Euphorbia Esula produced death in a woman, in half an hour after she had swallowed thirty grains of the root; and also that he witnessed gangrene and death to follow the application of the same plant to the abdomen. Medical Properties and Uses. Euphorbium is powerfully cathartic, emetic, and errhine; formerly it was given as a hydragogue in anasarcous and other disorders requiring the aid of powerful remedies; but its effects are so violent, even when exhibited in small doses, that it is now seldom prescribed as an internal medicine. When used as an errhine, it requires to be diluted with starch or some other inert powder; for if taken alone, its action is so violent as to produce inflammation and haemorrhage; but when pro...
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