GRANATUM (U. S. P.)—POMEGRANATE. Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage

The flowers and rind of the fruit are astringent and have been used for arresting chronic mucous discharges, passive hemorrhages, aphthous disorders of the mouth, night sweats, colliquative diarrhœa, etc., but are now seldom employed. The rind has also been found serviceable in intermittent fever and tapeworm. The bark of the root possesses anthelmintic properties, and is chiefly serviceable in tapeworm. The bark of the wild pomegranate is considered by the French to be more active than the cultivated plant, and the fresh bark is more active than an old bark. It may be given in powder, but the decoction is more frequently used. Pomegranate is one of the oldest of drugs, having been used from time immemorial. The bark and its alkaloid pelletierine, are now by common consent, acknowledged as specifics for the removal of tapeworm. Dizziness, imperfect vision, sleepiness, or faintness, benumbing of the extremities, and occasionally convulsions have been produced by it. Foy, as well as Brenton, recommend to prepare the decoction by placing 2 ounces of the root in 1½ or 2 pints of water, and boiling down to 1 pint; this is to be strained, and from 2 to 4 fluid ounces given for a dose every half hour or hour, until the pint of the decoction has been taken. It commonly occasions several stools, an increased flow of urine, or nausea and vomiting, owing, it is supposed, to the agitation into which the worm is thrown from its presence. Sometimes joints of the worm begin to come away in less than an hour after the last dose. But often the doses must be repeat this dose in the same manner. When its action begins give an enema to hasten its operation (see Locke's Syllabus of Mat. Med.). Should this treatment fail the first time, it may be repeated another day. As to treatment with the alkaloid the sulphate of pelletierine was first employed, but was superseded by the tannate which, on account of being tasteless and having less of a tendency to provoke nausea or vomiting, seems the preferable form to employ. The patient should have a light diet, preferably milk, the night previous to taking the medicine. Single doses of about 7 grains are now administered upon an empty stomach, the patient being kept quiet in a reclining posture. The dose is usually preceded by a drink of water, and followed at regular intervals by more water. A purgative, like fluid extract or compound tincture of jalap, is administered about 2 hours after taking the pelletierine tannate. Some prefer castor oil as an evacuant. To insure the passage of the worm entire it should be received into a vessel of warm water, which will prevent its separation into segments.