Medical Age Volume 8 (Paperback)

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. 1890 edition. Excerpt: ...of the drug, the possibility of idiosyncrasy must be borne in mind as calling for caution in giving Indian hemp. By gradually increasing the dose and habituating the organism to its use, the use of cannabis Indica may be pushed to three or four grains at a dose with positive advantage. But in Dr. Reynolds' experience a grain would bring about toxic effects in the majority of healthy adults; and a quarter of a grain has done the same, but never a fifth, which is the proper amount with which to begin the use of the drug among grown persons, a tenth of a grain being the proper initial dose for children. The best preparation for administration is the tincture--one grain to twenty or ten minims--dropped on sugar or bread. The minimum dose should be given, as before stated, repeated every four or six hours, and gradually increased every third or fourth day, until either relief is obtained or the drug is proved useless. With such precautions, Dr. Reynolds states he has never met with toxic effects, and rarely failed to ascertain in a short space of time the value or uselessness of the drug. Its most important results are to be found in the mental sphere; as, for instance, in senile insomnia, with wandering. An elderly person (perhaps with brain-softening) is fidgety at night, goes to bed, gets up, thinks he has some appointment to keep, that he must dress and out. Day, with its stimuli and real occu pans, finds him quite rational again. Nothing can compare in utility to a moderate dose of Indian hemp at bedtime--a quarter to a third of a grain of the extract. In alcoholic subjects it is uncertain and rarely useful. In melancholia it is sometimes serviceable in converting depression into exaltation; but, unless the case has merged into senile...