Sambucus Canadensis. (Elder.)

Preparation.—Prepare a tincture from the fresh inner bark of the Elder, ℥viij. to Alcohol 50° Oj. Dose gtts. ij. to gtts. x.

The Elder is a stimulant to all the excretory organs increasing secretion. It may be employed for the general purposes of an alterative—increasing waste, in syphilis, scrofula, and other diseases attended by deposits or depravation of tissues. It is especially useful in these cases where there is an oedematous condition, or fullness of tissue from an increased amount of water. We meet a case of chronic disease occasionally, in which the tissues are full and flabby, evidently from too much water; in these Sambucus is a good remedy. It may be employed in dropsy, though its action is not so decided as the Apocynum.

As a local application the Sambucus is specific to those eruptions that arise on full tissues (as above), and are attended with abundant serous discharge. Thus in some forms of eczema, especially eczema infantilis or milk scall, and in the above form of the disease, it will alone effect a cure. We also employ it in indolent ulcers, with soft oedematous borders, and serous secretion, and in mucous patches with free secretion. An ointment is prepared by simmering the inner bark in fresh butter (old style), or a glycerole may be made, with the addition of the usual quantity of starch.

Specific Medication and Specific Medicines, 1870, was written by John M. Scudder, M.D.