Narceinum

An alkaloid obtained from opium, C^jHjgNOg.

Preparation, Triturations.

Authorities. 1, Dr. Eulenberg, Pharm. Journ., 1866-67, p. 464, effects in healthy individuals, of g to ^ grain internally, and ^ to grain subcutaneously ; 2, Lin6, Pharm. Jour., 1866-67, p. 356, from Gaz. des Hop., general effects; 3, Harley, Old Veg. Neurotics, p. 140, Dr. Debout used a solution in syrup, increasing doses till the hypnotic effect was produced (after ^ grain); 4, Harley, effects of | grain, subcutaneously, in Samuel M., perfectly well, with the exception of facial neuralgia; 5, Harley, in John L., effects of 1 grain subcutaneously; 5a, same, effects of 0.2 grain ; 56, same, effects of 0.4 grain.

Stomach

Loss of appetite (in some cases)

Nausea (in some cases)

Vomiting is rare

Stool

In small doses it is a gentle aperient; in larger doses it causes diarrhoea

The repeated use of internal doses often produces from one to two stools, sometimes even diarrhoea

Urinary Organs p. 467

Passed, without the least difficulty, ^ivss. of normal urine, sp. gr. 1020; this had been secreted since the injection (after two hours and a quarter)

When the dose exceeds f of a grain, it causes some dysuria

Anuria, to a greater or less extent, particularly after rather large doses

Sexual Organs p. 467

It retards the appearance of the menses

Respiratory Organs p. 467

Respiration 20 (before taking); 19 (after forty-five minutes); 17 (after two hours and a quarter)

Ihs p. 467

Diminution of the pulse, succeeded some time after by an acceleration ; in rare cases, the pulse is accelerated during its employment by 12 to 16 strokes in a minute

Pulse 72 (before taking) ; unchanged (after forty-five minutes); 70 (after two hours and a quarter)

Giflieral SydiptOdlS

A calm, comfortable feeling, with a slight tendency to sleep, continued for four or five hours (after a quarter of an hour)

The same comfortable tranquillizing effect, and at the end of an hour a little sleepiness, which soon passed o^^j

A pleasant quieting effect, hardly amounting to sleepiness

Skin p. 467

A tender swelling at the seat of puncture

Its action on the cutaneous nervous system appears to resemble that of other narcotics, and produces its effects directly when used hypodermically, and indirectly, by acting on the centre, when given internally

The hypodermic tumor soon disappeared ; the injected part remained tender and a little puffy, for two days

When used hypodermically it produced a sensation of burning at the place of puncture, but of little intensity and duration, a sensation in every case less evident than that caused by every other alkaloid (morphia, quinia, etc.); in patients with sensitive skins, when the injection was made on the face, it produced an oedematous swelling without redness at the place of puncture, which disappeared in from one to two days, leaving a somewhat sensitive and limited induration

Sleep p. 467

A slight narcotic effect

Of all the alkaloids contained in Opium, Narcein possesses hypnotic power to the greatest extent; in the great majority of cases, neither Morphia nor Codeia produced so long or so profound a sleep

The sleep is calm and interrupted by the least noise ; but one goes to sleep again immediately ; on awaking there is freedom from the heaviness of the head experienced after the use of Morphia, and there is less liability to vomiting and constipation; the whole of the effect is limited to a somniferous influence, and its calming and Jujpnotic effects are superior to those of Codeia, and almost equal to those of Morphia

Felt comfortable and sleepy (after fifteen minutes) ; very sleepy, but had not slept (after forty-five minutes); the same kind of sleepiness as after Morphia; had slept a quarter of an hour, and was still sleepy (after two hours and a quarter); he walked home, a distance of two miles, and as it was 11 P.M., went to bed and slept soundly

When given internally or externally for pain, it often produces a sleep of four, five, or even nine hours, a sleep which is soft, tranquil, uninterrupted, and followed by a quiet waking

Narcein causes, only in a very feeble degree, the physiological phenomena consequent upon the sleep produced by Morphia and the salts of that base

Fever p. 467

Perspiration is much less abundant than after the use of opiates