Papaya.

Properties: Antifermentive, antiseptic, solvent.

Use: Papaya is soluble in water and glycerine. It is a vegetable digestive of great value, accomplishing results not obtained by the more objectionable animal digestives. It acts on fats, starchy substances, albuminoids, emulsifying the former much more promptly than pancreatin; will readily peptonize the albuminoids, convert starch into maltose, etc., stimulates the secretion of natural digestive ferments and served as a tonic to the digestive and intestinal tract. If there is excess of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and this is carried into the duodenum, preventing the action of the trypsin, papoid will prevent duodenal indigestion, taking the place of the pancreatic ferment. We think of it where patient complains an hour or so after meals of pain in the bowels; general distress during digestion in the stomach and bowels. Useful in failing digestion in fevers, digestive disorders in pregnancy, catarrh of the stomach. In neuralgic pains, pains occurring before meals or continued pains it is of no value. The powder as a solvent of the false membrane of diphtheria is of great value. Relieves the distress and pain in cancer of the stomach. In false membranes in obstruction of the esophagus by impaction of meat, a paste made of papaya will dissolve it. Useful to destroy or rather to dissolve membranes in the intestinal tract that are the seat of tape worm and other worms; thus being of value as an anthelmintic. In infantile indigestion it will peptonize cow's milk. A 5% solution makes a good solvent for general purpose. Dry beans, peas, etc., that cannot be extracted after accidentally lodging in the ears or nose can be dissolved by a 5% solution of papaya. The writer uses a preparation of papaya called "Papain" which has given him the best of satisfaction.

The Materia Medica and Clinical Therapeutics, 1905, was written by Fred J. Petersen, M.D.