Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/469

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N. 0. ANACARDIACEÆ.
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one and a half drachm to two drachms and a half. In some very severe cases, when the patients were very strong and robust, the dose was increased to three drachms ; but the average dose is two drachms, which is the one I have most frequently employed in my practice. As soon as the patients are much relieved and able to walk about to some extent without assistance, I generally omit the drug and complete the cure with milder or less active medicines, such as salicylate of soda, colchicum, alkalines, and with stimulant embrocations.

" In chronic and muscular forms of rheumatism, however, the marking-nut is not half as useful as it is in its acute variety, and I am therefore unable to speak much in its favour in the treatment of the former diseases.

" Marking-nut is also a good therapeutic agent in asthma, but the relief it affords in so small doses as those mentioned in some books, is very slight. To secure its best effects in this disease it should be used repeatedly and in doses similar to those I generally employ in acute rheumatism. Gout is so rare among the Natives of this country that I never had an opportunity of using this drug in any well-marked case of that disease during the last two years ; but from its great influence over acute rheumatism ; I am almost sure that it will also produce good results in the acute form of the former.

" There is a notion among the Natives of Southern India that the internal use of the marking-nut is apt to produce sore mouth or ptyalism, but I have never met with a single instance of of these bad effects, though I have administered the drug in many cases and in so large and repeated doses as those explained above.

" During the employment of the marking-nut, either externally or internally, the least appearance of a rash or redness of the the skin, or an itchy or uneasy sensation in any part of the body, should be considered as a sign of the bad effects of the drug, and it should, therefore, be stopped immediately. Spiritus ammonite aromaticus is to be freely administered, with some demulcent drinks, such as infusum lini ; and some oil, olive or cocoanut, should be constantly smeared over the affected part