ELATERIUIYI AND ELATERIN. — Elaterium is a sediment deposited from the juice of the squirting cucumber (Eeballitinz elateriwn, A. Rich). This sediment, when dried, appears in fri able cakes about 1/,0 of an inch in thick ness, flat or sli_rhtly curled, and of a pale-green, grayish-green, or grayish yellow color, the yellow tinge appearing when the drug is old. Its odor is feeble and its taste bitter and slightly acrid. It is partly soluble in hot water. It is offi cial in the B. P., but not in the IT. S. P. Elaterin (elaterinum—f. S. P., B. P.) is the active principle of elaterium, be ing found therein in amounts varying from 5 to 40 per cent. It is a neutral principle and appears as small, white, or yellowish-white crystals, without odor, but of a very bitter and acrid taste. It is freely soluble in chloroform, slightly soluble in ether and alcohol, and in soluble in water. Elaterin is preferred for administration because of the great variability in strength of different speci mens of elaterium.
Dose and Physiological Action.—The dose of elaterium is 1/8 to 1/2 grain. Elaterin is given in doses of V,„ to 1/„ grain, preferably in granules; a tritura tion of elaterin (10 per cent.) is official, the dose being, V, to 1 grain.
Elaterium is a decided irritant to the mucous membranes and also to the skin. When given internally- its chief action, in man, is to produce profuse watery stools. When given in proper doses, these large water evacuations occur with out undue pain or any apparent gastro intestinal irritation, and for these reasons elaterium claims first rank as an hydragogue purge.
Poisoning by Elaterium.—In large doses or in debilitated persons its use may produce so much prostration and ex haustion as to demand the exhibition of stimulants and other supporting meas ures. In addition to nausea, vomiting,
excessive purging, and exhaustion, the use of too large doses of this drug may even be followed by- death from gastro enteritis. Debility from old age or other cause and gastro-intestinal irritation or inflammation contra-indicate its use. The subcutaneous use of elaterium, al though capable of producing catharsis, is not advised, on account of the severe local irritation and inflammation thereby induced.
Treatment of Elaterium The treatment of poisoning by this drug is practically that of gastro-enteritis. Morphine should be given hypodermic ally, and hot applications (stupes or flax seed poultices) should be made over the abdomen to allay the pain and control the irritation and diarrhcea. Especial care should be had in the selection of a proper diet. Bland, easily digested, and unirritating articles of food should be selected. Predigested foods are espe cially useful in these cases.
Therapeutics.—In general, elaterium is indicated in conditions demanding fluid depletion; the use should not be continued if the stomach becomes dis ordered or the appetite impaired. It ought never be used in eases of debility or marked exhaustion, and may be fol lowed with advantage by alcoholic stimu lants soon after its action is manifest. Its use is suggested in cerebral conges tion on account of its depletant and re constant effects. In poisoning by nar cotics and in acute alcoholism elaterium is indicated when the emunctories are not acting freely.