(Broom.)

Origin. - The dried tops of Cytisus scoparius L., a shrub 3 to 6 feet (0.9-1.8 M.) high, found in Western Siberia and the greater part of Europe. It is sometimes cultivated, and is occasionally met with wild in some of the Middle and Southern States.

Description and Properties. - Occurring in thin, flexible, branched twigs, pentangular, winged, dark green, nearly smooth, tough, usually free from leaves; odor peculiar when bruised; taste disagreeably bitter.

The constituents of scoparius are sparteine, a pyridine alkaloid, similar in composition to coniine, and a neutral, crystalline principle, scoparin, to which the diuretic action of the drug is thought to be due.

Dose. - 1/2-1 dram (2.0-4.0 Cc.) in infusion [15 grains (1 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Official Preparation

Sparteines Sulphas - Sparteinae Sulphatis - Sparteine Sulphate. - The sulphate of an alkaloid obtained from scoparius.

Description and Properties. - Colorless, white, prismatic crystals, or a granular powder, odorless, and having a slightly saline and somewhat bitter taste; liable to attract moisture when exposed to damp air; very soluble in water and alcohol. - Dose, 1/20-2 grains (0.003-0.1 Gm.) [1/5 grain (0.01 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Antagonists and Incompatibles. - The antagonists are the same as for digitalis, and tannic acid and potassium iodide are incompatibles.

Synergists. - Digitalis, strophanthus, etc.

Physiological Action. - Externally and Locally. - No action observed.

Internally. - Digestive System. - Sparteine sulphate acts like bitters in improving the appetite and digestion, large doses, as with digitalis, producing vomiting and purging.

Circulatory System. - Cushny and Matthews claim that the action of sparteine upon the heart and blood-vessels is similar to that of digitalis, and numerous experiments upon animals show that while the drug has a slowing action on the heart, it is not of the type induced by the action of digitalis - i. e., muscle irritation and vagus stimulation.

Nervous System. - Sparteine resembles coniine in its action upon the nervous system, depressing the brain and spinal cord, and lowering reflex action through paralysis of the motor nerve-endings. Under toxic doses there is also extreme muscular weakness, often complete paralysis.

Respiratory System. - Medicinal doses produce no effect. Toxic doses slow and weaken the respiration, death being possible from paralysis of muscles of respiration and asphyxia.

Absorption and Elimination. - It is rapidly absorbed and as readily eliminated, and, unlike digitalis, has no cumulative action. In disease it is an active diuretic, particularly the infusion or fluid-extract or the alkaloid scoparin. Sparteine, on the other hand, is not an active diuretic.

Scoparius therefore increases the flow of urine and the excretion of urea. The drug has a direct action upon the renal structure.

Poisoning. - The following symptoms occur: Small, rapid, and irregular pulse, dyspnea, great muscular weakness, incoordination of movement, and muscular tremors, followed possibly by clonic and tonic convulsions, which are replaced by marked depression of the nervous and muscular system, and collapse.

Treatment of Poisoning. - Respiration should be maintained by artificial respiration and by hypodermic injections of strychnine and atropine. Potassium iodide or solutions of tannic acid should be given, and the free use of diuretics or diluents to favor elimination.

Therapeutics. - Externally and Locally. - No influence is exerted.

Internally. - Scoparius was formerly used for the same purposes as digitalis. It is serviceable in some cases of nephritis with weak, irregular heart-action, and in chronic Bright's disease with cardiac hypertrophy and high arterial tension. It is also useful in the nervous, irregular heart of opium habitues. It is also valuable as a diuretic. Like strophanthus, scoparius is of more value in mitral than in other valvular diseases. The drug, while having many enthusiastic advocates, is generally less esteemed than digitalis.

Contraindications. - Practically the same as for digitalis, though less definite.

Administration. - The fluidextract of scoparius may be given or the decoction, made by adding 1/2 an ounce (16.0 Gm.) of the broom-tops to 1 pint (1/2 liter) of water and boiling them down to 1/2 pint (250 Cc.). Of this, 1 ounce (32.0 Cc.) should be taken every three hours. This decoction is one of the most efficient diuretics in cardiac dropsy.

The sparteine sulphate is usually employed when an action on the heart is desired; it may be administered either hypodermically or in pill, capsule, or aqueous solution.