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KITCHEN PHARMACOLOGY.
256
efficacy. But we must remember that the ringworm which most commonly affects cows and calves is due to the Megalosporon ectothrix, and that this is the form of spore which is most readily killed. We welcome the contribution, for it may be that the method our correspondent describes may prove efficacious in other and more obstinate forms of the disease, but the evidence at present available is insufficient. ____
KITCHEN
PHARMACOLOGY.
THAT certain articles of food commonly used in the daily dietary possess a medicinal value becomes evident when we review the number of plants or vegetables which are included in the list. It is erroneous to suppose that all the articles which go to make up a meal serve merely as nutrients, for when the peculiar composition of some of them is considered there will be found principles present of the nature of medicines. It is not improbable that these constituents are some which are entitled to rank as active principles in the same way as are the principles found in the drugs of the pharmacopoeia. It must be admitted, however, that the pharmacology of vegetables has not received the scientific attention which has been given to drugs, and many medicinal virtues which are claimed for certain vegetables rest upon tradition rather than on laboratory inquiry. The fact, however, remains that definite principles do occur in many articles used for food, and that it is probable that they possess accordingly a pharmacology of their own, apart altogether from the question of their role as nutrients. To give some illustrations, claims have been made in favour of a medicinal action exercised by Onions eaten at the onion, leek, or garlic. night, said Frank Buckland, are soporific and promote sleep. They also are known to have a diuretic action and to produce perspiration. Amongst other things they are many a housewife’s remedy for coughs and colds and a help to gastric digestion. The pharmacology of the onion probably rests chiefly on the presence of a powerful sulphur oil-allyl sulphide-which has marked stimulating properties. Onions also are credited with being useful in allaying the pains of rheumatism, and it is interesting to remember the use by medical men of sulphur in some form or other in that disease. The turnip, parsnip, and swede contain a peculiar oily principle which may account for their traditional value as an aperient and diuretic, while their juices are an old country remedy for coughs and hoarseness. The presence of starch and sugar would hardly account for these properties. The potato, of course, possesses a decided nutritive value, but it also contains principles, amongst which is solanin, that are credited with diuretic and aphrodisiac properties. The common cabbage is redolent withasulphur compound which may possibly account for the value attached to it in scurvy and scrofula. Spinach is a well-known laxative-a property, however, which may be ascribed to the fine indigestible fibre which characterises it. There is present also a peculiar principle as well as a quantity of iron in organic form. The tomato exercises medicinal effects which are not completely explained by the presence of alkaline salts. There is a principle present which when taken in a concentrated state produces salivation and a free stimulation of the liver. On this account the tomato has been called vegetable mercury, and an official tincture is prepared in America. Carrots have a similar action, and form a considerable part
’,
amongst
of the meals at certain health resorts in the belief that they materially assist in the treatment of derangements of the liver and of the biliary processes generally. As a dressing carrots have been used to mitigate pain and to sweeten surfaces. The vegetable contains a definite principle, carrotin, and a volatile oil which may possess properties that have supplied the traditional curative qualities. The list could be extended, but the fore. going examples serve to show that we may reasonably expect a definite medicinal action re. sulting from the ingestion of certain vegetable foods. It is also apparent that this action may be related to the definite principles which are known to exist in many of them, and so the kitchen may reasonably be rated as, to some extent, a dispen. sary of medicines. ____
BURNS
OF THE EYE DUE TO THE CONTENTS OF GOLF BALLS.
IN the Journal of the American Medical Asso. ciation of Dec. 27th, 1913, Dr. H. Lowell has called attention to the serious injuries to the eye, resulting in loss of vision, which may be produced by the contents of a golf ball. During the last few years such cases have been reported from all over the United States. A child finds an old golf ball with its covering partly removed. He removes the rest of the cover and rubber, and then comes on the core, which he bounces till it bursts or cuts it open witha knife. The contained fluid spurts over him and into his eyes. This fluid is highly caustic. Analysis shows that in some cases it consists of barium sulphate, soap, and free alkali ; in others it is a solution containing zinc chloride. The following A girl, aged are some examples of the results. 9 years, was admitted into the Massachusetts Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary on Sept. lst,1911. Three days before while cutting open the core of a golf ball the contents spurted into her left eye. On examination there were much chemosis and swelling of the conjunctiva. The lower fornix was practically obliterated and the cornea was diffusely whitish and hazy. On Sept. 3rd there was hypopyon filling a third of the anterior chamber and the Saemisch operation was done. On Sept. 8th the cornea was clearer above and the hypopyon was less. On Oct. 12th the cornea was only a little clearer, the hypopyon had disappeared, and there was only slight circumcorneal injection. On the 14th she was discharged with vision in the left eye nil. A girl, aged 11, was admitted on Oct. 23rd, 1912. On the 19th while playing with the core of a golf ball it ruptured and the contents spurted into her right eye. The upper lid was bound down to the cornea by cicatricial tissue and there were much pain and photophobia. The lid was peeled from the cornea and Cargile membrane was applied to the conjunctival surface. In June, 1913, the cornea was fairly clear towards the periphery, but there was a marked central haze. Vision was 20/200. A 13 was admitted on April llth, boy, aged years, 1913. Three days before he opened the core of a golf ball with his pocket knife and the fluid squirted into his right eye. The whole eye looked as if covered with a diphtheritic membrane, and neither the cornea nor the iris could be made out. There were considerable photophobia and swelling of the conjunctiva and lids. After 12 days the membrane had disappeared, leaving the outer third of the cornea clear. Hypopyon appeared about the sixteenth day, and the Saemisch operation was done. On May 29th, when he left the hospital, he
efficacy. But we must remember that the ringworm which most commonly affects cows and calves is due to the Megalosporon ectothrix, and that this is the form of spore which is most readily killed. We welcome the contribution, for it may be that the method our correspondent describes may prove efficacious in other and more obstinate forms of the disease, but the evidence at present available is insufficient. ____
KITCHEN
PHARMACOLOGY.
THAT certain articles of food commonly used in the daily dietary possess a medicinal value becomes evident when we review the number of plants or vegetables which are included in the list. It is erroneous to suppose that all the articles which go to make up a meal serve merely as nutrients, for when the peculiar composition of some of them is considered there will be found principles present of the nature of medicines. It is not improbable that these constituents are some which are entitled to rank as active principles in the same way as are the principles found in the drugs of the pharmacopoeia. It must be admitted, however, that the pharmacology of vegetables has not received the scientific attention which has been given to drugs, and many medicinal virtues which are claimed for certain vegetables rest upon tradition rather than on laboratory inquiry. The fact, however, remains that definite principles do occur in many articles used for food, and that it is probable that they possess accordingly a pharmacology of their own, apart altogether from the question of their role as nutrients. To give some illustrations, claims have been made in favour of a medicinal action exercised by Onions eaten at the onion, leek, or garlic. night, said Frank Buckland, are soporific and promote sleep. They also are known to have a diuretic action and to produce perspiration. Amongst other things they are many a housewife’s remedy for coughs and colds and a help to gastric digestion. The pharmacology of the onion probably rests chiefly on the presence of a powerful sulphur oil-allyl sulphide-which has marked stimulating properties. Onions also are credited with being useful in allaying the pains of rheumatism, and it is interesting to remember the use by medical men of sulphur in some form or other in that disease. The turnip, parsnip, and swede contain a peculiar oily principle which may account for their traditional value as an aperient and diuretic, while their juices are an old country remedy for coughs and hoarseness. The presence of starch and sugar would hardly account for these properties. The potato, of course, possesses a decided nutritive value, but it also contains principles, amongst which is solanin, that are credited with diuretic and aphrodisiac properties. The common cabbage is redolent withasulphur compound which may possibly account for the value attached to it in scurvy and scrofula. Spinach is a well-known laxative-a property, however, which may be ascribed to the fine indigestible fibre which characterises it. There is present also a peculiar principle as well as a quantity of iron in organic form. The tomato exercises medicinal effects which are not completely explained by the presence of alkaline salts. There is a principle present which when taken in a concentrated state produces salivation and a free stimulation of the liver. On this account the tomato has been called vegetable mercury, and an official tincture is prepared in America. Carrots have a similar action, and form a considerable part
’,
amongst
of the meals at certain health resorts in the belief that they materially assist in the treatment of derangements of the liver and of the biliary processes generally. As a dressing carrots have been used to mitigate pain and to sweeten surfaces. The vegetable contains a definite principle, carrotin, and a volatile oil which may possess properties that have supplied the traditional curative qualities. The list could be extended, but the fore. going examples serve to show that we may reasonably expect a definite medicinal action re. sulting from the ingestion of certain vegetable foods. It is also apparent that this action may be related to the definite principles which are known to exist in many of them, and so the kitchen may reasonably be rated as, to some extent, a dispen. sary of medicines. ____
BURNS
OF THE EYE DUE TO THE CONTENTS OF GOLF BALLS.
IN the Journal of the American Medical Asso. ciation of Dec. 27th, 1913, Dr. H. Lowell has called attention to the serious injuries to the eye, resulting in loss of vision, which may be produced by the contents of a golf ball. During the last few years such cases have been reported from all over the United States. A child finds an old golf ball with its covering partly removed. He removes the rest of the cover and rubber, and then comes on the core, which he bounces till it bursts or cuts it open witha knife. The contained fluid spurts over him and into his eyes. This fluid is highly caustic. Analysis shows that in some cases it consists of barium sulphate, soap, and free alkali ; in others it is a solution containing zinc chloride. The following A girl, aged are some examples of the results. 9 years, was admitted into the Massachusetts Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary on Sept. lst,1911. Three days before while cutting open the core of a golf ball the contents spurted into her left eye. On examination there were much chemosis and swelling of the conjunctiva. The lower fornix was practically obliterated and the cornea was diffusely whitish and hazy. On Sept. 3rd there was hypopyon filling a third of the anterior chamber and the Saemisch operation was done. On Sept. 8th the cornea was clearer above and the hypopyon was less. On Oct. 12th the cornea was only a little clearer, the hypopyon had disappeared, and there was only slight circumcorneal injection. On the 14th she was discharged with vision in the left eye nil. A girl, aged 11, was admitted on Oct. 23rd, 1912. On the 19th while playing with the core of a golf ball it ruptured and the contents spurted into her right eye. The upper lid was bound down to the cornea by cicatricial tissue and there were much pain and photophobia. The lid was peeled from the cornea and Cargile membrane was applied to the conjunctival surface. In June, 1913, the cornea was fairly clear towards the periphery, but there was a marked central haze. Vision was 20/200. A 13 was admitted on April llth, boy, aged years, 1913. Three days before he opened the core of a golf ball with his pocket knife and the fluid squirted into his right eye. The whole eye looked as if covered with a diphtheritic membrane, and neither the cornea nor the iris could be made out. There were considerable photophobia and swelling of the conjunctiva and lids. After 12 days the membrane had disappeared, leaving the outer third of the cornea clear. Hypopyon appeared about the sixteenth day, and the Saemisch operation was done. On May 29th, when he left the hospital, he