Felters Materia_Medica-D

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DIGITALIS .

The leaves ofDigita lis pu rpurea , Linn (Nat. Ord. Scrophulariaceae), carefully dried

and preserved away from light, in close containers. Europe; cult ivated in Europe

an d to some extent in Am erica . Dose, 1 to 2 gra ins .

Co m m o n Na m e s : Foxglove, Pu rp le Foxglove.

P r i n c i p a l C o n s t i t u e n t s .The glucosides digitoxin (very toxic and cumulative),

digitalin, digitalein , digitonin , and digitin (inert); digitalic and antirrhinic acids,

volat i le oil, etc. Ther e a re n o pos it ively deter m ined alka loids in digita l is .

P r e p a r a t i o n s .1. S pe cific Med icine Digitalis . Dose, 1 / 5 t o 1 d r op .

2 . Infusum Digitalis. Infu sion of Digita lis. (A cin n am on-flavored, 1 1/ 2 p er

cent , in fu s ion). Dose, 1 to 2 flu idrach ms .

3 . Tinctu ra Digitalis , Tinct u re of Digitalis (10 p er cen t of dr u g). Dose, 1 to 10

drops .

Doses of Digi ta l is Glucosides :Digitoxin , 1/ 30 0 to 1/ 64 gra in ; digita lin

(crys ta l lizable), 1 / 300 to 1 / 100 gra in , (am orphous an d German ), 1 / 100 to 1 / 30

grain, (digitalin is so variable that it should not be used; it may be very actively

poisonou s, or m ay be n early inert); digitalein (water soluble), 1/ 200 to 1/ 100

grain.

Spec i f i c Ind ica t ions .Weak, rapid, and irregular heart action, with

low arterial tension; broken compensation; weak, rapid, f laccid pulse;

weak hear t sounds; dusky countenance , wi th dyspnoea , cough,

jugular ful lness, and weak cardiac act ion; edema, anasarca, or asci teswith scanty supply of dark-colored urine, with weak heart action; renal

congestion; irr i table heart with weak action; heart made to beat rapidly

but feebly by slight excitement; continuous labored breathing with

weak pulsat ion; renal and cardiac dropsy; desquamative nephri t is ,

with weak heart; capillary hemorrhage; poisoning by aconite,

mu scar ine , or th e n it r ites .

Action .Th e dom in an t a ct ion of digita lis is u pon th e circu lat ion, b u t i t

has no perceptible effect upon the blood. Full or even moderate dosesmay excite nausea and vomiting, and a greenish or yellowish

diarrh oea. Th ese effects a re preceded by con siderab le prost ra tion . If th e

stomach is already irr i tated, or there is gastro-intestinal irr i tation,these disturbances are more cer tain to occur . Only in toxic amounts

does digitalis affect the respiration, f irst slowing and deepening, and

finally accelerating the breathing. Neither do other than poisonous

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doses impress the nervous system, and then i t lessens ref lex act ivi ty

through stimulation of Setschenow's center of inhibition in the

medulla, and is followed by depression of the spinal cord and motornerve t runks and by eventual paralysis of the muscles. These extreme

effects on th e n ervous an d res piratory system s h ave on ly been n oted in

animals; apparent ly they do not take place in man. Therapeutic doses,however, st imulate the cardiac inhibitory and vasomotor centers of the

medulla. Digitalis, in moderate doses, has l i t t le or no effect upon

temperature, but poisonous doses lower i t . When fever is present ,

however, i t actively reduces the body heat, yet i t is not a good nor safe

antipyretic. I t has been conclusively proved that high temperature

prevent s d igita lis from s lowin g the p u lse.

In moderate doses digitalis slows the heart-action, increases the forceof the pulse, and from these effects chiefly, raises blood-pressure. The

diast ole is prolonged a n d t h e systole is in creas ed in vigor. Th e resu lt ofthe st ronger systole is to reduce the number of pulsat ions. Not only

does the retarded diastole give more rest to the heart , but i t is followed

by a bet ter contract ion of the hear t-muscle and some constr ict ion of

the ar ter ioles, so that the blood-current is reduced in size and the

quanti ty of blood sent out through the systemic ar ter ies is lessened.

The narrowed ar ter ial resistance and the st ronger systol ic contract ion

are the chief causes of increased blood-pressure, though to a l imited

extent, especially when larger doses are given, the vaso-motor

apparatus exer ts some control , as does also a direct impression of thedrug upon the walls of the vessels. All of the above effects are those of

stimulation , never of depression, and digitalis, in such doses, is

therefore a hear t s t imulant and hear t tonic. When carr ied to extremes

the tonic effects may be overreached, and then the condition verges

into exhaust ion from over-st imulat ion of the hear tmuscle and from a

failure of the normal impulse conduction from auricle to ventricle.

This is particularly evident when a person taking full and repeated

doses of digitalis suddenly collapses when raised from a recumbent to

a si t t ing posture. So powerful is the effect upon the hear t-muscle that

tetanic contract ion may occur and prevent a passage of blood throughthe hear t , the tonic spasm resul t ing in syncope; and the exhaust ionan d syn cope ar e so great a s s ometimes to prove fat al .

The effects of digitalis may be conveniently studied under three heads,

or s tages, represent ing, however , but cont inuous act ion under normal

and increased dosage rather than three actual ly separate condit ions:



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(1) The therapeutic; (2) the toxic; and (3) the extreme toxic or lethal

stages.

(1) In the therapeutic stage the rhythm is slowed and the ventricles

empty themselves more perfectly and by their increased force pump

more blood into the vessels. The diastole being greatly prolonged andthe force of the systole increased, there is produced a larger though

less frequent pulse wave. The auricles are less affected than the

ventr icles, but on the whole the hear t does more work, and were i t not

for the increased resistance in the vessels and lessened number of

contractions more blood would be propelled into the body. As it is, the

current is carried more completely to the extremities of the capillaries,

an d a ltogeth er th e circu lat ion is im proved.

(2) Th e secon d s tage is s ometim es a bs ent . It ta kes p lace when th e dru g

is given in overdose or for a continuous period without rest . The pulsebecomes very slow and irregular. The ventricle dilates more

completely, thus prolonging the diastole; the systole becomes erratic in

force, the auricular contractions approach failure, or become greatly at

variance in rhythm with those of the ventricles. The action is rapidly

going through the t ransi t ional passage from the therapeut ic to the

extreme toxic stage. Now follows interference with the normal

transmission of impulse and contract i le wave from the sino-aur icular

node by way of the bundle of His. Some or all of the waves fail to pass

from th e au r icles to th e au r icu lo-ven tr icu lar ju n ct ion (h ear t -block) an dthence to the ventricles, the result being that incoordinate action

develops. The ventricles, failing to receive the normal impulse, may fail

to contract; or if they contract, do so by originating their own impulse.

Th is, th en, being at var ian ce, both as to origin a n d time, with th at of th e

auricle , causes one or more skipped beats (dropped beats) , the

ventr icles usual ly contract ing about half as many t imes as the

auricles. This action progressing and increasing, the third or deeply

toxic st age sets in .

(3) The third stage is marked by rapid ventricular action andconsequent racing of the pulse, which becomes extremely irregularand often shuttle-like in action. This is due to increased excitabili ty of

the hear tmuscle to such a degree that centr ic nervous inhibi t ion no

longer has any control over the hear t . The arrythmia between aur icle

and ventricle is exaggerated and double, and tr iple extra-systoles

spontaneously are developed. The final result is such a disorganized



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coordination or confusion of action that the circulation cannot be

maintaineda state well named delirium cordis and the heart f inally

stops in extreme di lat ion .

The effects of the first stage are due largely to vagal inhibitory activity

and to direct act ion of the drug upon the hear t-muscle i tself . Thesecond stage is due to excessive inhibition, while the heart-muscle

seems to play a minor par t ; the third stage is at t r ibuted solely to

spontaneously increased excitabili ty of the heart-muscle, which

rap idly in creases th e arrythm ia, occasions th e extra-systolic beats , an d

lastly fibrillation. Throughout digitalis intoxication the ventricles

contract in unison, as do also the aur icles, but the dispar i ty in act ion

between the auricles and ventricles displays a great variation from

each o ther in rhythm .

Having the foregoing effects of digitalis in view, it is clear that it actsdirectly upon the heart-muscle, affecting the rate and rhythm of i ts

action. I t regulates contractil i ty, irr i tabili ty, and directs the

condu ct ivity of th e cont ra ct ile impu lse by way of th e a u r ico-vent r icu lar

bundle of His, whenever these functions are faulty. I t also influences

the nutrit ion of the heart permanently by allowing a more perfect

supply of blood to the walls of the organ itself through the coronary

circulation. The slowing of the disastole is due to stimulation of the

vagus, both at i ts or igin in the medulla and at i ts terminat ion in the

hear t . The increased blood pressure is due chief ly to causes namedabove and to the vaso-motor control and the effects of the drug upon

the vascular walls . Therefore we may sum up the medicinal act ion of

digitalis upon the circulation as one of stimulation, giving both power

and rest to the hear t by prolonging the intercontract i le per iod, and

making its action more deliberate, and in i ts inhibition of the

pn eu m ogas t r ic , s lowin g an d s t ren gth ening th e pu lse .

Digita lis often in crea ses th e flow of u rine, b u t m an y affirm th at digita lis

has no direct diuretic power. In health i t is known to generally lessen

th e secret ion of both th e solid a n d flu id cons t itu ent s of th e u r in e. Som econtend that i t sl ightly increases the flow of urine. I t is more thanprobable that , when diuresis is the resul t , i t is in cases in which a

diminished secretion of urine is due to debili ty or some other form of

cardiac emb arra ss m ent . Oth ers, h owever , ma in tain different views, a n d

Brunton asser ts that diuresis produced by i t in dropsy is due to a

special act ion of the drug upon the Malpighian bodies, and not to



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augmented blood pressure alone. In overdose digi tal is may cause

spasm of the renal vesse ls , wi th consequent anur ia and symptoms of

cumulation. In woman, digitalis, l ike ergot, causes contraction of theuterine fibers of an enlarged or gravid uterus, thereby arresting

hemorrhage; in man it primarily lessens the supply of blood to the

erectile t issues of the penis, preventing or enfeebling erections andcons equ ent ly d iminish in g th e ven ereal des ires .

Th e ma n n er of elim in at ion of digita lis is u n kn own , it being th e gen era l

bel ief that i t is taken up by some t issue in the body or becomes

oxidized. At any rate none can be detected in the urine. Nor is there

unanimity as to the quest ion of t issue waste, some declar ing i t to

in crease, oth ers to decreas e the outp u t of u rea.

Digitalin, digitalein, and digitoxin are powerful heart-muscle

st imu lan ts; digital in also st im u lates th e vagus ; all three cau se a r ise inblood pressure through vaso-motor act ion. Digi tonin seems to oppose

these glucosides, act ing as a check, for i t depresses both the hear t-

mu sc le and the vagu s .

Toxicology.In connection with the toxic symptoms above noted,

attention may be directed to the special signs of digitalis poisoning.

These are, f irst , a slow, full pulse reduced to about half the number of

n orma l bea ts , followed s h ortly by a tu m blin g or h obblin g dicrotic pu lse,

or a shut t le- l ike act ion, with tumultuous hear t-beat . In short of lethaldoses the pulse may remain ful l and slow as long as the pat ient

remains recumbent , but immediately upon r is ing i t becomes rapid and

ir regu lar . There is n au sea , occas iona lly an xie ty an d s a l iva t ion , a sen se

of weight, or constriction, obtuse pain in the head, giddiness,

disordered vision, mental disturbance, and rarely spectral i l lusions;

not unfrequently a huskiness of the voice is present , the resul t of

irr i tation of the fauces, trachea, etc. The nausea produced by digitalis,

and more quickly by digitalin and digitoxin, is preceded by malaise,

faintness, and depression, and is exceedingly distressing. Vomiting

temporarily relieves it, the vomited material being first darkgreen,afterward yellow. Prostration becomes so great that the individual cannot stand without help, and an intense disgust for food is exper ienced.

Familiar objects are unrecognizable a disturbed vision with yellowness

or blueness supervening. Persons are recognized only by their voices.

These effects, if not fatal , may last several days, the sleep being

disturbed by nightmare and general unrest . Final ly sound sleep and a



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voracious appetite quickly restore the individual to normal health.

Exophthalmos occurs in many instances and the sclerot ic is said to

take on a pecul iar bluish, pear l- l ike appearance. Death, when i toccu rs , is u su al ly preceded. by coma . Poison in g from cu m u lat ive doses

ear ly recognized usual ly clears up upon discontinuing the use of the

drug.

Poison in g by digita lis m ay be produ ced b y 1/ 16 grain of digita lin

(equal to 8 grains of good powdered digitalis leaves), and Taylor

( Medical Jurisprudence, page 229) s ta tes th a t doses of from 1/ 4 to 1 / 2

grain would probably produce death. If a true and uniform digitalin

could always be obtained there would be much less uncer tainty

concerning its strength and value. Cold, belladonna, ergot, etc. ,

increase the activity of digitalis, while aconite opposes its action. Thelatter is now considered the best and most available physiologic

antagonist . According to Bartholow, the most complete antagonist todigitalis, physiologically speaking, is saponin. Strychnine is also a

ph ysiological a n ta gon ist .

The poisonous effects of digitalis are best counteracted by first

evacuat ing the stomach by the f ree use of warm l iquids and

mechanical emetics, i f any of i t is supposed to remain in the stomach,

and then administer ing brandy, wine, opium, black coffee, ammonia,

am monium carbonate , or o ther s t imu lan ts , with s ina pism s to the wr is t s

an d a nk les . Both externa l an d in terna l h eat sh ould be us ed . A so lu t ionof tannic acid is of service, by forming an insoluble tannate of

digi tal in . Preparat ions containing tannin, such as tea, etc . , may be

given. After death from digitalis the gastric membranes were found

part ial ly inf lamed and the meninges of the brain much injected

(Taylor).

T h e r a p y .External. A poultice prepared from bruised digitalis leaves

and warm water , or the t incture incorporated into a warm f lax-seed

poultice, has given relief in renal congestion and urinary suppression.

It is a dangerous procedure, however, as there is no way of determiningthe quant i ty absorbed, and death has been known to resu l t f romexcess ive ur ina t ion and exhaust ion .

Internal. William Withering, in 1785, after ten years of experimentation

and clinical uses of digitalis in dropsiesbegged leave to submit,

among others, the following inference: That it has a power over the



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motion of the heart to a degree yet unobserved in any other medicine,

and that this power may be converted to salutary ends. Thus was

digitalis prophetically introduced into legitimate practice as a heartmed ic ine .

Digita lis is pr eem in en tly th e forem ost h ear t m edicin e of to-da y. It s lowsand strengthens the contract ions, prolongs the intercontract i le per iod,

and thus gives both rest and power to that organ. I t a lso contracts the

capillaries to some degree, and chiefly through a more forceful output

raises ar ter ial tension, or as more commonly stated, raises blood

pressure. There is also good reason to bel ieve that through the

influence of the vagi, which are probably trophic as well as inhibitory

nerves, i t improves the coronary blood supply and nutrit ion of the

hear t-muscle, though in this respect i t has l i t t le or no advantage overcactus. Digi tal is also has some value as a diuret ic in disease, but i t

probably does not so act, to any degree at least , in health. Digitalis isthe remedy for rapid and feeble heart action, with lack of propulsive

power, lowered arterial tension, and deficiency of the urinary

secretion. Therefore it is extremely valuable where there is a loss of, or

broken, compensat ion, in moderate and acute di latat ion, with mitral

insufficiency, or in dilatation of the right heart, resulting from valvular,

( tr icuspid) insufficiency, in weakness of the heart due to shock, injury,

hemorrhage, aconite or mushroom or other poisoning, and in the hear t

weakness following low and septic fevers and pneumonia, in mitral

sten osis , an d regurgitat ion, an d in d ebility of th e hea r t-m u scle.

The true remedial power of digitalis is displayed in the treatment of

asthenic hear t diseases. I t is one of the few drugs that act upon and

correct organic changes in the hear t s t ructure; for among the other

effects i t will make the human pump fit i ts valves. I ts power to cause

strong and steady contract ions of the cardiac muscle with consequent

adaptation of the rings, or auriculo-ventricular orif ices, i ts abili ty to

raise blood-pressure, and in many instances i ts capabi l i ty of

increasing the renal function, make it by far the most generally useful

of heart remedies. Locke was right when he declared digitalis the trueopiu m for th e h eart . It s eda tes (th rou gh s tim u lat ion) an d gives com fort,steadies the heart-action, relieves dyspnea, gives rest and sleep when

distu rbed b y fau lty circu lat ion, an d in d rops ical cond it ion s d u e chiefly

to cardiac inefficiency assists in reducing edema. The indications are

dist inct and must be fol lowed: the weak, rapid, and i r regular hear t ,

feeble propulsion and low arterial tension. Harm nearly always comes



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from its u se, even wh en u sed in ordin ary doses, wh en th ere is a s t ron g,

vigorous heart action, with high blood pressure. Digitalis is therefore a

remedy for cardiac asthenia and organic debili ty. A caution worthmentioning is that physicians of ten judge hear t act ion merely by

taking the pulse, and are thereby deceived as to the true condition of

th e hear t . Th ere are t im es when th e pu lse m ay be alm ost im percept ible,and yet, when the ear is placed to the chest wall i t will detect a hard-

working heart , which has all or more contractile force than it can

maintain. Vaso-motor control is at fault and then digitalis will do harm

rather th an good.

Digitalis is of great value in chronic valvular cardiac disease, with

fai l ing or broken compensat ion, but i t must be used with judgment ,

observing the need in the weak, fast , and irregular pulse, deficientur inat ion, and dropsy. When hypertrophy of the hear t overbalances

di lat at ion, a n d eviden ces of ar ter ial h ypera emia a re pr esen t , digita lis islikely to aggra va te th e con dition , or oth erwis e do ha rm .

Digitalis medication is most effective probably in mitral insufficiency,

with regurgitation, provided there are no pericardial adhesions

restraining its effects, or advanced myocardial degeneration. I t

overcomes the ventr icular s t rain dependent upon pulmonic vascular

resistance, and helps, by contract ing the ventr icle r ings, to at tain a

m ore perfect clos u re of th e m itra l va lves .

In mitral stenosis, so often associated, as i t is, with degeneracy of the

hear t s t ructure, digi tal is is a less useful remedy and may even cause

harmful effects. When a failure of the right ventricle can be

ascer ta ined , and there i s dropsy wi th anur ia , i t may be used , and

probably to good effect. Theoretically the drug should do good in mitral

stenosis, for i t gives, under normal structural integrity, more power to

the ventricular contractions, and by prolonging its relaxation allows a

greater t ime for the b lood to p as s from th e u pper to th e lower cha m ber ,

bu t th e disea sed m yocar dium m ay prevent i t doin g good work.

In tr icuspid stenosis and insufficiency, with regurgitation, i t isregarded as less useful than in mitral affect ions, but when the valves

are not diseased and there is simply ventricular dilatation, i t may be of

use. In these condit ions, when the cardiac act ion is weak and rapid,

pressure low, and there i s cough, shor tness of brea th , dusky

countenance, pulsat ing jugulars , scant , high-colored ur ine, and



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general edema, i t may be used to advantage. Sometimes i t has induced

pu lmon ary hem orrh age.

Digitalis is generally regarded as less useful, rarely indicated, and

even generally harmful in aortic stenosis. If , however, there is dropsy

an d eviden ce of ba ck press u re in t h e lu n gs, it m ay sometimes d o good.

In aortic regurgitation it is generally held to be harmful, but there are

conditions which require nice discrimination as to i ts use. If there is

great ventricular dilatation giving rise to mitral insufficiency, and

when sudden d i la ta t ion wi th symptoms of venous s tas is appears , and

there is praecordial pain, dyspnea, and great anxiety, the drug is held

by some to do good, though it must be tentatively given and its effects

carefully watched. In all varieties of aortic valvular disease, thegreatest of care and vigilance should be exercised in the giving of

digitalis. The indications of heart weakness and irregular pulse shouldbe strictly observed.

In the treatment of all valvular disorders less therapeutic value is

attached to the consideration of valves affected than to the condition of

the hear t-muscle i tself . When so weak as to cause di latat ion, and this

effect has been brought about by valvular insufficiency, the drug is

gen era lly in dica ted .

Digi tal is has long been the best remedy for rapid and unequalcirculation, with a confusion of weak and vigorous but rapid

pulsations. The cause, however, of this state has only recently been

determined. This is now familiar as auricular fibrillation, a condition

exhibiting an exceedingly irregular and fast pulse, varying greatly in

rhythm and power. Some of the ventricular contractions prove too

feeble to force the blood-current into the aorta, while others are so

vigorous as to cause large and full pulses. All of this occurs in the

greatest confusion and without any regulated sequence. A rollicking,

tumbling and jumbled irregularity of the radial pulse is the clinical

evidence of this state. Fibril lation is caused by a disturbance ofconductivity and is the result of the occurrence of a multi tude ofimpulses generated in the aur icle , throwing that chamber into a

continual condition of incoordination, preventing the normal

discharge of blood into the ventricle. These erratic impulses proceed

downward into the ventricle with discordant irregularity, and thus

cause an in tercharge of weak and s t rong pulsa t ions and a badly



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confused action of the whole heart . Not immediately fatal , the general

h ealth after som e t im e m ay becom e u n derm in ed u n less relief be given,

an d su dden an d a larm in g rapid ity of th e pu lse , an d grave dan ger to th ecircu la t ion an d t o life en su es .

Digitalis is the best-known remedy for this state, being practicallyspecific, and this control of conditions under the drug is one of the

most certain of therapeutic effects. Fibril lation is not due to vagal

inhibition, but evidently originates in the cardiac muscle. Most l ikely

it is occasioned by extreme malnutrit ion of the heart . Full doses of

digi tal is are required, and under them the pulsat ions are rapidly

reduced to less than hal f in number , and they become augmented in

power and volume and are more uniformly timed. This action of

digitalis is one of control and not always curative, for the determiningcauses of f ibr i l lat ion may persist through l i fe and the drug must

consequently be frequently and long invoked to maintain a fairlyregulated circulation. I t must be known, however, that over doses of

digitalis sometimes bring on a state similar to if not identical with

aur icular f ibr i l la t ion , when the hear t has shown no such d is turbance

before the dru g was taken . In su ch cas es th e dose mu st be lessen ed or

the drug ent i rely withdrawn and strophanthus or conval lar ia

su bs titu ted for it .

Digitalis is of value in irritable heart with palpitation from overwork,

hear t s t rain, and the arrythmia of s imple di latat ion, in moderatedegrees of ventricular dilatation, and cardiac asthenia. I t is especially

commended for the irr i table heart of soldiers brought on by long

marches and fighting whereby the inhibitory-control is lost or lessened

and exhaust ion of the hear t-muscle is imminent . When palpi tat ion is

purely nervous, i t is of l i t t le value; cactus is then a better remedy. I t

also fails often in paroxysmal tachycardia, which is also mostly a

n ervous ph enom enon. In Gra ves diseas e, it is n ot cura t ive, bu t

sometimes rectif ies the cardiac irregularity. In functional palpitation

arising from imperfect digestion it sometimes controls the heart

symptoms, but gives little or no relief if the trouble is purely nervous,n or does i t a id th e stoma chic disorder .

Cardiologists agree quite generally that digitalis is contraindicated in

beginning or partial heart-block, which it tends to increase; that i t is

useless, and may be harmful in sinus arrythmia; that i t is of doubtful

value in pulsus alternans, especially doing harm if there is

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myocarditis, with sclerosis of the coronary arteries; and in paroxysmal

tachycardia, in which, however, i t may benefit by retarding conduction

if th e beats are of s inu s n ode or a u r icu lar or igin , bu t is ba d m edicat ionif they are of ventricular inception. Digitalis is also of questionable

value in auricular f lutter . In fact, in our own opinion, in all forms of

arrythmia great care must be had in the use of this powerful drug, andin most of them i t had bet ter be withheld, except in aur icular

fibr illat ion, in which its effects ar e a ll tha t m a y be des ired.

The dictum, so much heard at present, to digitalize your patient,

must be followed with judgment, for digitalis cases, i t must be

remembered, are those which are helped great ly or moderately, those

in which no good effect may be expected, and those in which it is

dangerous, or at least harmful . One should not use digi tal isindiscriminately, but with rare judgment and according to the specific

indications, especially taking into account primarily the condition ofthe hear t-muscle and i ts abi l i ty to meet the condit ions imposed upon

it .

To sum up its cardiac therapy, digitalis is useful in the following

condit ions: In st ructural hear t lesions, as di lated hear t with mitral

incompetence, in mitral s tenosis and regurgi tat ion, and in di lated

right heart with tr icuspid incompetence, and in relative or positive

debili ty of the cardiac muscle. The mechanical trouble in most

instances is a state of ischaemia, or lack of sufficient arterial blood inthe lef t hear t , while in the r ight hear t and the ent i re systemic and

pulmonic circulation there is venous stasisDigitalis increases the

power of the auricles and ventricles to empty them-selves; prolongs the

inter-contractile intervals, thus allowing the auricles sufficient t ime to

more perfectly send the blood current into the ventricles. I t restores

and regula tes a mechanica l compensat ion or ba lance in the

circulatory organs. It controls fibrillation by inhibiting conductivity.

The general symptoms leading to i ts selection are a weak, rapid, and

irregular pulse, low arterial tension, cough, dyspnoea, pulsation of the

jugular veins, a cyanotic countenance, deficient urination, thesecre t ion bein g h igh -colored , an d edema .

We have herein named many of the faulty anatomic conditions of the

heart in which digitalis is useful, but as exact physical diagnosis is not

always easy it is better for the practit ioner to depend upon the

symptoms of weak act ion than to at tempt hair-spl i t t ing anatomic



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diagnoses. Lack of propu ls ive p ow er du e to hea rt d eb ility is the best

indication for digitalis. This, together with threatened or actual failure

of compe ns ation, covers in brief the great need of digitalis therapy. Onesh ou ld n ever lose sigh t of th e fact th at t h e inte grity an d relative p ow er of

the heart-muscle are of paramount considerat ion over that of the

cond ition of th e h ear t valves.

Digitalis is generally considered contraindicated in simple

compensatory hypertrophy, aortic stenosis, extensive fatty, f ibrous, or

o ther degenera t ions of the hear t -muscle , aneur ism, and a theromatous

or other st ructural changes in the ar ter ies. As a rule i t should not be

employed in the heart affections of old age, or when dilatation is

excessive, and particularly when there is a f labby state of the heart-

m u scle with s u sp ected degenera t ive ch an ges .

Cu sh n y (Pharmacology ) takes issue with some of the usual caut ionsgiven above, declaring that, while digitalis often fails in excessive

degenerative conditions, i t has no deleterious effect upon them.

Neith er does h e fear ru ptu re of th e ar terial walls or th e pres ence of h igh

blood pressure in renal and arterial diseases. He believes a greatly

increased blood pressure is not l ikely under digitalis, nor is i ts

occu rrence to be regard ed as a b ar t o the u se of th e dru g, provided th e

special indications of venous stasis, edema, or deficient urine are

present . He presumes tha t , in some cases , the h igh b lood pressure

arises from excessive activity of the vaso-constrictor center inducingmesenter ic contract ion in an at tempt to maintain the blood supply to

the brain; this involves an abnormal resistance to the circulat ion and

imperfect nutrit ion of various organs. Digitalis by increasing the

efficiency of the heart improves the blood supply of the brain, and the

activity of the vaso-constrictor center is abated, leading to a more

normal state of the circulation and often to a lower arterial tension.

Notwithstanding this optimistic reasoning, physicians will do well to be

extremely careful in the administration of digitalis in myocardial and

vas cu lar degen era t ion s .

Bastedo (Materia Med ica , etc.) declares that the drug's efficiency is notto be estimated by its effects on arterial pressure, and that i t is not

contraindicated in aortic aneurysm, aorti t is, or arteriosclerosis, but

tha t it s u se wou ld depend u pon th e needs of the h ear t .

Under some circumstances digi tal is proves a most cer tain but s low



13/21

diuretic. It is most generally held that the diuretic effect of digitalis is

the result of i ts secondary action. If , however, the view entertained by

some th at i t ha s a lso a s pecial act ion u pon th e rena l glomeru li be t ru e,the reason for i ts well-earned reputation as a remedy in dropsy will be

more apparent. Digitalis has long been known as an efficient eliminant

where the dropsical condit ion was dependent upon cardiacirregular i t ies and upon renal congest ion. When the t rouble is cardiac

in origin, i t relieves by strengthening the heart action and producing

capillary contraction. When of renal origin, obstructing the

circulation, i t relieves at least the tension of the renal capillaries, thus

lessening engorgement and br inging about absorpt ion and diuresis . In

general dropsy it is indicated by the distressing dyspnea, especially

when in the recumbent posture, ful lness and pulsat ion of the jugulars ,

pale or dusky countenance, scanty and high-colored ur ine, and quick,feeble, f luttering, and irregular pulse. When known to be associated

with the cardiac lesions in which digitalis is indicated, it seldom failsto remove the dropsical effusion. It relieves chronic nephritis by

lessening vascular tension in the renal capi l lar ies, and in granular

degeneration of the kidneys i t is said to benefit by lessening the

proportion of solids excreted, while the quantity of fluid is increased.

While of doubtful utility in scarlatina, it is very serviceable in the

anasarcous condition sometimes following that disease. Many,

however, regard it of doubtful safety in nephrit is, and this is probably

true of chronic nephri t is without great cardiac impairment , but when

the hear t is great ly at faul t and contr ibut ing to the intensi ty of themalady then digitalis should be of some service. Digitalis has no

in flu en ce for good u pon dr ops y of h epa tic origin , or in pleu ra l effu sion.

Rheumatism, with threatened hear t fai lure, is sometimes rel ieved by

digitalis. Owing to its power of preventing erections, by limiting the

supply of blood to the erectile t issues, i t has rendered good service in

nocturnal seminal pol lut ions, par t icular ly when the extremit ies are

cold, th e erect ions feeble, an d t h e emiss ions oft-occu rr ing.

Digitalis is not valued by us as a febrifuge. I ts effect upon thegas troin test in al t ract is s o un pleas an t as to ma ke it of dou btfu l value tolower temperature. As a sedative, therefore, in fevers and

inf lammations, i ts use is not to be commended. I t has been claimed

th at it is of great service in sca rlat in a, both for th e pu rpos e of produ cin g

sedat ion and keeping the kidneys act ive, thus tending to aver t post-

scar lat inal dropsy and uremia. That i t wil l do this without some hear t



14/21

debili ty being present also, is by no means well established, while, on

the contrary, i ts unpleasant , nausea-provoking proper t ies make i t an

undesirable remedy. I t is bet ter af ter dropsy has set in . The same ist rue of i t in typhoid and other fevers, though i t may be used to

str ength en a weak h ear t followin g thes e in fect ions .

Digitalis is of value in the second stage of lobar pneumonia to preserve

the integrity of the heart and circulation, when through swelling and

exudat ion in the respiratory t ract venous stasis is set up in the

capillaries and the right heart dilates and the ventricle is incapable of

forcing the blood current through the pulmonic vessels. Signally

useful when this s tage at tains, i t is a mistake to give i t before such an

accident occurs on the presumption that i t will forestall the

catastrophe. No drug, and cer tainly no potent drug, should beadm in istered for an y pu rpose u n t il the in dicat ions sh ow th e n eed of it .

Under similar conditions i t is sometimes of value in acute bronchitisan d b ronchopn eum onia in ch ild ren .

As an antihemorrhagic digitalis has no special advantages, while i t is

open to th e objection of forcibly pu m ping th e blood; th ou gh in cap illar y

bleeding from large surfaces i t is sometimes said to be useful.

Digitalis is useful as an antidote to aconite poisoning, but is very slow

in action, having to be first preceded by rapidly acting stimulants. I t

may also be used to ant idote the ni t r i tes , and with atropine inm u sca r ine (a gar icin ) poison in g.

Administrat ion .When given in large or in overlapping doses, digitalis

may suddenly precipi tate alarming condit ions. This is due to

inequality in the rate of absorption and elimination or destruction of

the drug in the body. This state is the much feared cum ulative a ction ,

the possibili ty of which should never be forgotten when administering

digitalis. The moment the appetite fails and the urinary secretion

becomes diminished and the pulse becomes very slow and ir regular ,

and headache, faintness and extreme prostrat ion supervene, withsomet imes nausea and vomit ing , the drug a t once should bediscontinued. To avoid cumulative effects of digitalis it is customary to

skip a day or two out of every week in its administration. Digitalis is

slowly absorbed, and often much of i t is destroyed in the gastro-

intestinal tube. When through failure to be largely destroyed, or when

through ir r i tat ion of the t ract more is absorbed than is apparent , the



15/21

balance between absorpt ion and the usual s low el iminat ion is

overweighted and cumulation occurs. When full doses of digitalis are

being adminis tered the pat ien t should be kept recumbent in bed andnot allowed to arise even to respond to the calls of nature. Failure to

observe th is precau t ion h as resu lted in su dden death from s yncope.

When the desire is both to impress the hear t and el iminate dropsical

effusion the infusion of digitalis is the preferred preparation, as i t is

also in auricular fibrillation. Sometimes, however, a good digitalin,

which should be employed only subcutaneously, is preferred when a

quicker action is desired, but the variabili ty of this product should

always b e tak en in to con sidera t ion .

Digitalis contains no alkaloid. At least five glucosides are present,some of which are intensely poisonous; some relatively negative; while

one, so far as the matter is understood, antagonizes the other four .Besides two acids , the other cons t itu ents are th ose of plan ts in general .

Under the name digi tal in , the glucoside said to most near ly resemble

in act ion the whole plant , several preparat ions have appeared in the

drug mart from time to t ime which have li t t le agreement either in

action or qualit ies. Discordant views of the value of such preparations,

or of such preparat ions of the whole plant as are standardized to

contain a certain percentage of certain of i ts active glucosides,

i l lustrate forcibly that the experiences of careful clinicians shouldweigh m ore in th e select ion of a prepa rat ion of digital is th an sh ou ld th e

dictum of the laboratory man with test- tube and guinea pig records,

valuable as they may be in some direct ions. That preparat ion of

digitalis which gives the desired therapeutic results with the least toxic

impression is the safest and most sensible agent to employ, regardless

of it s glu cosidal con st i tuen ts an d p ercen tage .

Only such digi tal ins as are prepared by the processes of Schmiedeberg

are favored by the best clinicians; the so-called German and French

digitalins are unreliable, as they are all more or less mixtures ofdigitalin and other glucosides while the first is probably devoid ofdigitalin altogether, and is said to be in reality digitonin (saponin).

Hom olles a n d Nat ivelles d igitalins a re n o lon ger fa vored by th e

majority of physicians. It is asserted that the digitalone devised by

Houghton is a fat-free, standardized composite of all the properties of

digi tal is ; each ampule for hypodermatic use, equal ing 16 minims, and



16/21

each tablet from 3 to 16 minims, of tincture of digitalis. Digifolin, also

representing the whole drug, acts very effectively in some cases when

the tincture or infusion cannot be employed. However, for mostpurposes the crude drug in infus ion , and the t inc ture , a re the

preferred preparations; in Eclectic medicine the specific medicine is

most largely used and is fully representative of the best therapeuticvirtues of good digitalis leaves, though less toxic than some other

alcoholic preparations of the drug. The tincture made from the green

dru g, thou gh less t oxic tha n th at m ad e from th e dr ied dru g, is p referred

by some.

DIOSCOREA.

The rhizome ofDios corea villos a , Linn (Nat. Ord. Dioscoreaceae). A vine found

th rou ghou t the United S ta tes . Dose, 5 to 60 grains .

Co m m o n Na m e s : Wild Yam, Colic Root.

P r i n c i p a l C o n s t i t u e n t s .An acrid, alcohol-soluble resin, and a substance

closely all ied to saponin.

P r e p a r a t i o n s .1. Decoctum Dioscoreae, Decoction of Dioscorea (Dioscorea, 1

ounce; Water, 16 fluidounces). Dose, 2 to 6 flu idou nces .

2 . Specific Medicine Dioscorea . Dose, 5 to 60 drops.

Spec i f i c Ind ica t ions .Bilious colic; other spasmodic colicky

contractions; skin and conjunctivae yellow, with nausea and colicky

pain; tongue coated, s tomach deranged, and paroxysmal pain in the

abdomen; twisting or boring pain, radiating from the umbilical region,

with spasmodic contraction of the belly-muscles; colic with tenderness

on pressure, which gives relief to the spasmodic action.

A c t i o n a n d Th e r a p y .The decoction of dioscorea has beenwonderfully effective in some cases of bilious colic and has signally

failed in others. If it does not give relief in a half hour it is not likely to

succeed. The specif ic medicine administered in hot water has thesame effect . Dioscorea is probably less anodyne than ant ispasmodic,

and it is due to the latter action that colic is relieved. Not alone does i t

succeed in cases of bil ious colic, but i t acts similarly in paroxysmal

pain, with contract ion of the muscular t issues, in cholera morbus,

indigest ion, and dysenter ic tenesmus. Ovarian neuralgia and

sp as m odic dysm enorrh ea s ometimes yield qu ickly to it . In al l disorders



17/21

i t seems best adapted to i r r i table and exci table condit ions and is less

efficient when due to atony. Though dioscorea has been used largely

for nearly a century, i ts true place in therapeutics is st i l lundetermined, probably because so many impossible claims have been

made for i t . Hepatic colic depends upon so many different conditions

that i t may help some cases quickly while others are unaffected by it .When large gall-stones are attempting to pass i t is probably without

power to relieve. Morphine is a better relaxant and is anodyne.

Dioscorea s eems best a da pted to par oxysm al pain du e to contra ct ion of

the nonst r ia ted muscula ture of tubular organs , when brought on by

any irritant or form of irritation. It does not dissolve calculi. Usually,

while there is much tenderness in cases requir ing dioscorea, the

distress is gradu al ly relieved by pres su re.

DRACONTIUM (Sym p loc a rp u s).

The rhizome, roots and seeds of Sy m plocarpus foetidu s , Linn (Nat. Ord. Araceae).

A peculiar plant found in moist grounds in the United States. Dose, 10 to 40

grains.

C o m m o n N a m e s : Skunk Cabbage, Skunk Weed, Pole Cat Weed, Meadow

Cabbage.

P r i n c i p a l C o n s t i t u e n t s .A peculiar evanescent volatile substance, resin and

volatile oil.

P r e p a r a t i o n .Tinctura Dracontii, Tincture of Dracontium (fresh root, 8 ounces;

Alcoh ol, 16 fluidou n ces). Dose, 1 / 2 to 2 flu idrachm s.

Act ion and Therap y .In large doses dr acont ium will cau se n au sea

an d vom it in g, dizzin ess , hea da ch e, an d impa ired vision . In sm all doses

it is a s t imu lan t , expectoran t , an d a n t isp as m odic. It very m ark edly

relieves n ervou s i r r ita t ion with t en den cy to spa sm odic act ion, m ak in g

it a remedy of som e valu e in n ervous ir r itab ility , as th m a, a n d wh ooping

cou gh , a nd in ch ron ic coughs a nd ca ta r rhs . The d ru g needs r es tu dy

from a th erapeu t ic stan dpoin t , for it u n dou btedly posses ses a m ark edact ion u pon th e nervou s s ystem . Only preparat ion s from th e fresh root

are of an y valu e. Sku n k cab ba ge was an in gredien t of m an y ear ly

Eclect ic med icin es, an d is s t i ll a con st itu en t of Acetous Em etic Tincture ,

Com pound Eme tic Pow de r, an d Libradol, the m agma represent ing the

la t ter compoun d.



18/21

DROSERA.

The herb Drose ra rotun d ifolia , Linn (Nat. Ord. Droseraceae). A small plant of the

fly-tra p family foun d in b oggy si tu ations of Ea stern North Am erica a n d Eu rope.

Co m m o n Na m e s : Sun dew, Roun d-leaved Su nd ew.

P r i n c i p a l C o n s t i t u e n t s .Probably citric acid and a ferment capable of

conver t ing a lbu men s in to pep tones .

P r e p a r a t i o n .S pecific Med icine Drosera . Dose, 1 / 10 to 10 d rops .

Spec i f i c Ind ica t ions .Expulsive or explosive spasmodic cough, withdryness of the air passages; cough of measles; whooping cough;

uncontrol lable, i r r i tat ing cough.

T h e r a p y .Drosera, preferably in small doses, is of great value in the

spasmodic dry cough character ist ic of measles, and to a lesser extent

for that of whooping cough and the irritability of the larynx following

the latter . There may be simple irr i tation, particularly centered in the

larynx, or inflammation may be present. I t also relieves the t ickling

sensation in that organ giving rise to spasmodic cough. To a lesser

extent i t is useful in the coughs of bronchitis, incipient phthisis,

spasmodic as thma, and in nervous or sympathet ic cough occur r ingreflexly from oth er diseas es. It pr obab ly acts u pon th e vagu s.

DUBOISINA.

Duboisine .

Th e alka loid obt ain ed from th e leaves ofDuboisia myoporoides , Robert

Brown (Nat. Ord. Myoporaceae), the Corkwood elm or Ngmoo of

Au str al ia an d New Caledon ia. Dose , 1/ 1 0 0 t o 1 / 5 0 gr a in .

Prepara t ions .-1. Duboisinae Sulphas , Du boisine Su lph ate. Dose, 1 / 1 00

to 1 / 50 gra in .2 . Dubois ina Hy d rochlorid um , Du boisine Hydroch lor ide. Dose ,

1 / 1 0 0 to 1 / 5 0 gr a in .

A c t i o n a n d Th e r a p y .External. The sulphate of this alkaloid is

sometimes used as a subst i tute for atropine as a mydriat ic . Like

atropine, i t is contraindicated by glaucoma and diseases of the fundus



19/21

of the eye on account of i ts power to increase intraocular tension. I t is

a more rapid mydriat ic and paralyzes accommodation more quickly

tha n a t ropin e an d i s less ir r itan t to the conjun ct ivae .

Internal. Duboisine is very similar to, if not identical with,

hyoscyamine, and the physiological effects of it are practically thesame as those of the alkaloids of bel ladonna, hyoscyamus and

stramonium. Sulphate of duboisine is an effective antagonist of

muscar ine and has been successful ly employed in poisoning by

mushrooms. I t also checks colliquative sweating. I t is reported

prompter in act ion than atropine, and is said to be a bet ter calmative

and hypnotic in states of mental exci tement . The morphine habi t ,

paralysis agitans, and especially the excitabili ty and insomnia of the

insane have been t reated with i t . Administered in the smaller dosestwice a day it is said to produce quiet, refreshing sleep. I t frequently

causes gastric disturbances, especially vomiting without previousnausea, and undoubtedly decreases the secret ion of ur ine, hence i t

sh ou ld be u sed with ca re and ju dgment .

DULCAMARA. (Solan u m d u lca m ar a)

The young branches of SolanumDulcamara , Linn (Nat. Ord. Solanaceae). A vine

comm on in Eu rope an d th e Uni ted S ta tes . Dose, 1 to 30 gra ins .

Co m m o n Na m e s : Bittersweet, Woody Night-Shade, Scarlet-Berry, Violet-Bloom.

P r in c i p a l Co n s t i t u e n t s .The alkaloid solanine and the g lucoside dulcamarin.

P r e p a r a t i o n .Specific Medicine Dulcam ara . Dose, 1 to 30 drops.

Spec i f i c Ind ica t ions .Scaly skin affections; acute disorders due to

cold and dampness; deficient capillary circulation; depressed

secret ions of the skin with ur inous odor; coldness and blueness of the

extremit ies; fu lln ess of t iss u es with ten den cy to edema .

A c t i o n a n d Th e r a p y .Dulcamara is an act ive agent capable of producing poisonous effects. These are those of the belladonna type,

differ ing only in minor par t iculars . Cutaneous redness and congest ion

of the kidneys are especially apt to result from immoderate doses.

Children are sometimes poisoned by eating the berries of the plant.

Scudder suggested dulcamara in small doses in cases of chronic

disease in which the circulat ion is feeble, the hands and feet cold andFel t e r s Mat e r ia Medica - (D) - Page 19


20/21

purplish, with fullness of t issues and tendency to edema. Locke

advised i t in acute disorders brought on by cold, dampness, and

exposure. Using it in fractional doses he suggested its value in acutecatarrhal disorders proceeding from cold or suspended cutaneous

funct ion; in suppress ion of the menses wi th nausea , headache, and

chilly sensation, the flow having been arrested by a cold; in vesicalcatarrh, aggravated by dampness; catarrhal headache from acute colds;

nasal catarrh; retrocession of eruptions, or primarily to develop the

erupt ions; and in dyspnoea , cough and pain in the ches t due to

exposu re. Th ose who dwell or work in da m p or cold qu ar ters , especially

chi ldren, are f requently the vict ims of catarrhal diarrhoea, and acute

and chronic rheumat ism. Such pat ien ts are benef i ted by dulcamara

given in fractional doses. Larger doses (medium) are effective in some

cases of acute mania , nymphomania and sa tyr ias is , ac t ing as do themore powerful of the group of solanaceous drugs. It will be observed

that the therapeut ic uses of dulcamara are closely al l ied to those of bellad onn a, m in u s th e profoun d im pres sion d er ived from a tropin e.

Dulcamara should be remembered as a possible remedy in chronic

skin diseases of a pustular, vesicular or scaly type, particularly the

lat ter . It m ay also be t r ied in p u den da l itch in g.



21/21

m o n o gr a p h s e x t r a c t e d fr o m

Th e Ec le c t i c Ma t e r ia Me d ic a , P h a r m a c o lo gy a n d Th e r a p e u t i c s

by Harvey Wicke s Fe l ter , M.D. (19 2 2)

NOTE: Throughout these monographs are references to Specific Medicines.

In some respects Specific Medicines are the single reason that Eclecticismsurvived so long in the face of Organized Medicine and were still being

manufactured for the surviving Eclectic M.D.s as late as the early 1960s.

Using u p t o eight organ ic solvent s a n d th e Lloyd Extra ctor, Specific Medicin es

represented the strongest possible concentration of the bioactive aspects of

botan icals th a t wou ld s tay in a collo ida l so lu t ion .

Perfected over fou r d ecades by J ohn Uri Lloyd, each Specific Medicin e was

prepared according to the nature of THAT specific plant. You cannot translate

a Specific Medicine into tincture or fluidextract. The latter are GENERIC

or standard strengths applied across the board to ALL botanicals. A Specific

Medicine represented the greatest s trength, without degradation, for aPARTICULAR plant, using anywhere from several to all of the solvents to

achieve this . The Eclectic physician was trained to use botanicals in an

oftentimes rural sett ing, and these medicines had to resist breakdown in the

deepest winter and the hottest summer. Since they needed to contain even

the most ephemeral consti tuents of a plant remedy, Lloyd approached each

plant separa te ly .

The amazing quali ty of these preparations assuredly maintained the Eclectic

Movemen t long after oth ers h ad fad ed. Lloyds recipes were Paten t

Medicines, were not official, and when relatives finally closed down the

Lloyd Broth ers Pha rm acy in Cincinn at i, thes e form u lae disa ppea red. On e of

the hottest topics for many years amongst professional herbalists in North

America and Europe has been So who has the Lloyd Formulas, already?

Since we cannot access them, the best approach is the use of well made

tinctures, capsules or tea. I might suggest the preparations and doses

recommended in my Herbal Materia Medica 5.0 as a start ing place.. . in many

respects I am perhaps a Neo-Eclectic at heart, and have tended to follow

th e la ter Eclect ics in m y app roach to p lants an d dosa ges .

Michael Moore

Bisbee, Arizon a

October, 200 1

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