Treatment of Poisoning by Pyrogallol. —On the first appearance of gastro-intes tinal disturbance, strangury, or smoky urine, the remedy should be at once dis continued. Neisser suggests, further, the subcutaneous injections of ether, alco holics frequently repeated, energetic stimulation of the surfaces, and the in halation of oxygen. The mineral acids act as antidotes.
Therapeutics.—Pyrogallol was intro duced in 1S7S by Jarisch as a remedy in psoriasis and lupus. It has since been shown to be of value in parasitic dis eases, as eczema marginatum, in epitheli oma, in simple chancre, and in phage dxna. Unfortunately, it stains the skin, hair, and nails, as well as linen apparel with which it comes in contact.
In psoriasis a 10- to 15-per-cent. oint ment is thoroughly rubbed into the af fected areas. In lupus pyrogallol acts upon the diseased tissues as a mild escharotic. The rapidity of its action is increased when the epidermis is intact by first applying a moderately-strong solution of caustic potash. A 10- to 20-per-cent. ointment is applied on lint, and covered with a piece of gutta-percha tissue, which may he made to adhere to the skin by moistening 'its edges with chloroform. The applications are re newed daily, for two to seven days, until the lupus patch has been converted into a gray, pultaceous mass. Iodoform ointment or a mercurial plaster is then applied. This treatment is applied at intervals so long as any lupus tubercles nre In lupus Besnier has used a saturated :solution of pyrogallol in ether, which he brushes over the lupus patch and covers traumaticin. Brocq prefers a solu tion of pyrogallol with salicylic acid (10 per cent. of each) in collodion.
QUASSIA.—Quassia (U. S. P.) is the wood of Pixrcena excelsa, Lindley (nat. ord., Siniarubecc): a large tree indigenous to Jamaica and other parts of the West Indies. It occurs usually in the form of small chips or raspings, nearly white in color, odorless, but very bitter. The wood is sometimes turned into cups, which are used by pouring hot water into them, and allowing it to remain for several hours; the water becomes quite bitter, having absorbed the bitter prin ciple from the wooden cup. Quassia
contains a bitter, neutral principle, quas sin (quassiin), which occurs in white, opaque, intensely-bitter crystals; is solu ble in alcohol, hot water, and chloroform and slightly soluble in cold water. It also contains a minute quantity of a volatile oil, but no tannin. The fluid ex tract is an alcoholic preparation. The tincture of the present pharmacopoeia (1390) is 50-per-cent. stronger than of the former one (1330).
Preparations and Doses.—Quassia (U. S. P.).
Extractum quassim, U. S. P. (solid aqueous extract), 1 to 3 grains.
Extractum quassia; fluidum, U. S. P. (fluid extract), 5 to 30 minims.
Tinctura quassbe (U. S. P.), to 2 drachms.
Infusum quassia;, B. P. (infusion, 1 drachm to 10 ounces), V. to 2 ounces.
Quassin (neutral principle, not offi cial), to grain.
Poisoning by Quassia.—Taken in overdose, quassia acts as an irritant of the mucous membrane of the stomach and as a nauseant. Potter reports seri ous symptoms of narcotism from quassia in a child of four years. In dose of about grain Campardon found quas sin to produce severe headache, severe burning pain in the throat and oesopha gus, nausea, vertigo, restlessness, diar rhcea, and frequent passage, but dimin ished secretion of urine.
F. Venn, of Chicago, reported a fatal case of poisoning from a decoction of 2 ounces of quassia injected into the rec tum of a child for the treatment of seat worms (Univ. Med. Mag., Jan., '95).
Therapeutics. — Quassia is a simple bitter without astringency, and has been found useful in convalescence from acute fevers to increase the appetite and im prove the digestion. In atony of the stomach, or simple dyspepsia with eruc tations after meals, the administration of quassia is followed by good results. It is used in diarrhoea from indigestion and as a stomachic in malarial affec tions. An infusion of quassia (1 to 2 ounces to the pint of boiling water) as a reliable remedy, given as an enema, to destroy thread-worms (ascarides) in chil dren. Before giving the enema ounce to 1 pint) the bowel should be well washed out by injections of soap and water. The enema should be retained for some minutes.