_Squill Root._ (Bulb.)
QUALITIES. _Odour_, none; _Taste_, bitter, nauseous, and acrid; when
much handled, it inflames, and ulcerates the skin. By drying, the bulb
loses about four-fifths of its weight, and with very little diminution
of its powers, provided that too great a heat has not been applied.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. According to Vogel, gum 6—tannin 24—sugar 6—bitter
principle (_Scillitin_, which is white, transparent, and breaks with a
resinous fracture) 35—woody fibre 30. SOLUBILITY. Squill gives out its
virtues so perfectly to any of the ordinary menstrua, as to render the
form of its exhibition, in that respect, a matter of indifference.
INCOMPATIBLE SUBSTANCES. _Alkalies_ diminish their acrimony and
bitterness, and are probably _medicinally_ inconsistent with their
diuretic qualities, but farther experiments are required to decide this
question: _vegetable acids_ produce no effect upon their sensible
qualities, but are said to increase their expectorant power. MED. USES.
According to the dose, and circumstances under which it is administered,
it proves expectorant, diuretic, emetic, or purgative; as an
expectorant, it can never be employed where pulmonary inflammation
exists, for in such cases, instead of promoting, it will check any
excretion from the lungs; its combination with a diaphoretic will
frequently increase its powers, and generally be a measure of judicious
caution. See _Form, 133, 134, 135, 139_. For the philosophy of its
action, the reader must refer to the classification of Expectorants,
page 102. As a diuretic, it seems to act by absorption, and we
accordingly find, on the authority of Dr. Cullen, that _when the squill
operates strongly on the stomach and intestines, its diuretic effects
are less likely to happen_; he therefore found that by accompanying it
with an opiate, (_Form. 100)_ the emetic and purgative operation may be
avoided, and the squill be thereby carried more entirely to the kidneys.
Experience, moreover, has taught us the value of combining this medicine
with some mercurial preparation, by which its diuretic powers are very
considerably augmented; and it has been farther stated, that such a
combination is particularly efficacious in Hydrothorax, especially when
it produces inflammation of the gums, and of the glands about the
throat, by which action it is supposed to cause a derivation from the
exhalants of the pleura, and thereby to diminish the dropsical effusion.
(_Form: 102, 103, 106, 107, 109, 112, 115_,) but we must take care that
the remedy does not occasion purging. In the exhibition of squill, it
has been often delivered as a rule, to give it to the extent necessary
to induce nausea, as affording a test of the medicine being in a state
of activity; such a state of the system, moreover, may assist the
absorption of the remedy. Dr. Home, in opposition to the opinion of
Cullen, maintained that the powers of Squill as a diuretic, were
increased by combining it with bodies capable of promoting its full
emetic operation: after what has been observed, however, it is
unnecessary to dwell upon the mischievious tendency of such a practice.
By referring to our tabular arrangement of Diuretics, page 102, the
reader will find that I consider its action upon the urinary organs to
depend upon its bitter principle (_Scillitin_) being developed, and
carried, by the medium of the circulation, to the secreting vessels of
the kidneys, which it thus stimulates by actual contact. As an emetic,
it has been advised in solution, in cases of hooping cough, but its
extreme uncertainty renders it unfit for exhibition, unless as an
adjunct to emetic combinations, as in _Form: 65_. _Plenck_ makes mention
of a child which had convulsions in consequence of taking some Squill.
DOSE. Of the dried root gr.; to iv. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. _Acetum
Scillæ._ L.E.D. _Pil: Scill: comp:_ L.E.D. _Pulv: Scill:_ E.D. _Syrup.
Scill: maritim:_ E. _Tinct: Scill:_ L.D.