Quebracho

Aspidosperma quebracho. White Quebracho. N. O. Apocynaceæ. Tincture and trituration of the bark. Trituration and solutions of the alkaloid Aspidospermine and its salts.

Clinical

Asthma, Cardiac asthma / Fever

Characteristics

Quebracho is a Brazilian fever remedy from which the alkaloid Astidospermine has been isolated. This is in small, very brilliant, white crystals, sparingly soluble in water, readily soluble in alcohol and ether. Hale says Queb. produces in animals respiratory paralysis, slowed heart, and paralysis of extremities. It relieves dyspnœa in phthisis and pleurisy, but without influencing the fever. The 1x relieved asthma with livid face; and dyspnœa with cyanosis is frequently relieved by it. Hale gives these cases as relieved by it: (1) Mitral incompetence and stenosis with severe nocturnal dyspnœa. (2) Fatty heart (Queb. had no influence on the œdema, which was removed by Dig.). Jos. P. Cobb (quoted A. H., xxvii. 74) records a case of heart affection of some duration in a man, 24. There was some enlargement, especially of right side, much dyspnœa, and a slight mitral murmur. Following this were signs of emphysema and severe attacks of asthma. Râles were heard, and "pearls" of rounded gelatinous masses were expectorated. Aspidospermine 3x gave more relief than any other remedy.