Aconitinum

Authorities. 3, Dr. Ethene, Boston Med. and Surg. Journ., vol. liii, 1855, p. 370, in a case of amaurosis, a solution of ^ gr. to 1 oz. distilled water was used ; 4, E. Hottat, L’Aconitine et de ses Effects Phys., Paris, 1863, effects on himself and two others of a solution applied to the skin ; 5. same, effects of doses up to 3 milligrams taken internally; 6, same, detailed account of experiment ; (7 to 10, John Harley, M.D., St. Thomas’s Hosp. Rep., vol. V, 1874, p. 165), 7, observations of Chas. W., set. fiftyfour years; 7 a, same, took gr., and did not rise from his chair for three hours ; 7 b, same, took y-^ gr.; 7 c, same, took 5’^ gr. at intervals of three days, at 9 a.m. ; 8, experiments on men, took doses of to gr.; 9, Frederic G., set. twelve years, took y^ gr. repeatedly at intervals of three days ; 10, effects of subcutaneous use.

Eyes

Immediately swelling of the lids, great redness, lachrymation etc., of the eye to which it was applied, and also great contraction of the pupil

Ears

Pulse 66 (before experiment) ; 60, unchanged, somnolency coming on (after forty minutes) ; pulse 58 ; respirations 16. He slept for twenty minutes ; a general glow pervaded the body (after one hour and a quarter). Pulse 56 ; respirations 16. The glow and somnolency continued, and he had dozed several times (after three hours)

Pulse 60 (before experiment) ; 54, unchanged in volume and power (after one hour and a quarter); 52, of initial volume and power; the respirations 16; natural; the pupils very slightly dilated? He felt warm and dozed much after the medicine (after three hours)

Generalities

It caused a sensation of heat and burning, accompanied by lancinating pains and prickling, followed after a time by a sensation of heaviness and numbness of the parts affected; these parts seem compressed by a heavy weight; the skin seems raised up and contracted by the muscles beneath ; its color is not affected. There is anaesthesia. These symptoms last several hours, sometimes the whole day, but are never followed by general symptoms,h

Soon experienced over the buccal mucous membrane a sensation of acridity and heat, which spread rapidly to the throat, and after a time to the stomach. There soon followed burning and numbness of the lips, tongue, and pharynx; at the same time there was very abundant salivation. To these local effects are joined general symptoms of malaise, feebleness, heaviness of the head, and nausea, frequent yawning, general oppression, and very marked loss of muscular power. Pulse accelerated, but to a moderate degree. The skin becomes moist. There are noticed pricklings in various parts of the body, particularly on the face and extremities. After a variable time the prostration increases, is associated with headache, lancinating pains in the face, prickling following the course of the nerve; frequent nausea; at times accompanied by vomiting. Loss of muscular power becomes very marked, formication more pronounced when quiet. The limbs seem numb, the face sensitive and swollen, pulse falls; respiration becomes difficult, the sensation of burning in the throat becomes painful, and there follows profuse perspiration. After awhile there is general prostration. One experienced a bruised feeling in the limbs, and difficulty in grasping objects; the least effort exhausts and enervates; respiration is slow and deep; the pulse is remarkably lowered. The intellect is not affected, and there is no sleepiness. The pupils are dilated, but the dilatation is far less marked than that produced by Atropia; they contract slowly under the influence of a bright light. These symptoms last ten or twelve hours; little by little the pulse rises, respiration becomes freer, the vital powers and the appetite return, in a word, everything resumes its natural function. The symptoms which persist to the last are the dryness of the throat, the heaviness of the head, and the extreme weariness

The following is a detailed account of an experiment: At 8.30 A.M., the pulse beating 68, 6 granules of Aconitia mlg., were taken. In ten minutes sensation of heat in the stomach. In twenty minutes general malaise, yawning, eructations, nausea. In thirty minutes marked heat in the stomach, pulse 76, sensation of burning in the tip of the tongue, muscular feebleness, nausea. In forty minutes, burning of the lips, throat, and whole mucous membrane of the mouth. In forty-five minutes prickling in the face and forearms, pulse 85 ; after an hour, oppression, headache, sensation of dryness and burning in the throat very pronounced, salivation. In an hour and a half, general depression, very great muscular feebleness, sweat, nausea, and vomiting, pulse 68. After two hours and a half, prickling in the face, which seems swollen and sensitive, also in the forearms and hands, which seem numb and heavy; pulse 60. In three hours and a half respiration impeded, pain in the temple and along the course of the infraorbital nerve; profuse perspiration, pupils not dilated, sensation of heat in the throat and over the larynx, soon disappearing; the eyelids seem numb, and there is abundant salivation, complete loss of appetite and some nausea. In four hours and a half, same S5'mptoms, complete prostration of all the forces, gait heavy, general enervation, slight tendency to sleep. After six hours and a half, headache, with constriction of the temples, pupils dilated, respiration difficult, pulse 52. After eight hours and a half, same symptoms, sensibility diminished, especially on the hands and cheeks; intellect free, no sleepiness. In ten hours and a half, symptoms begin to improve, head is free, pricklings diminished, pulse 60. In eleven hours and a half there is noticeable improvement; respiration is easier, the dryness and burning heat of the throat less marked, there is feebleness and general lassitude, pupils continued dilated, pulse 68. In twelve hours, sleep easy, without restlessness and without dreams. The next day on waking there is no trace of the effects of the drug

of a grain of Aconitia taken by the mouth at intervals of three days, always caused a slight tingling in the mouth and face, coming on within an hour, and lasting for two or three hours. On another occasion, after

of a grain, a faint glowing feeling in addition was perceptible throughout the body, and there w^as a little somnolency. On another occasion, the of a grain converted the glowing into a numbing glow; a comfortable feeling, as if he were going off to sleep, and if he did not move about, actual somnolency. These effects attained their maximum two hours after the dose ; he felt warmer wdnle they continued, and there was at the time and after^ards some difficulty in voiding urine

The effects were uniform. The medicine “upset him very much all day, he felt languid and sleepy; he could not hold up the head or keep his eyes open He was giddy and could not walk across the room without help ; the vision was hazy; the erect posture induced nausea. He could not eat much on the medicine days, on account of a difficulty of swallowing, and pains in the back of the neck and behind the jaws of the parotid regions, so that in eating he had to press the back of the neck with his hands. A glorying tingling feeling pervaded the body, and there was a burning feeling in the gullet as if a hot coal were there The tingling in the mouth and face came on within half an hour, the somnolency after an hour and a half or two hours. At first he slept for an hour, but afterwards the sleep was dreamy and broken. The giddiness, dimness of vision, and the muscular weakness were most marked between the sixth and tenth hours. There was always some dysuria, and occasionally retention with hypogastric pains. Nausea was generally a prominent symptom, and the pain in the neck often remained until ^the next day

General numbness and tingling, but most marked in the face and throat; nausea, giddiness, somnolency, and muscular weakness

After three-quarters of an hour a tingling-prickling sensation running up the legs to the spine and head, and tingling of the fingers, much giddiness and somnolency, but the sleep was disturbed by frequent wakings. After two hours he was unable to walk or even stand without great exertion, and on rising from the recumbent posture he was unable to see for a minute, and there was nausea. The effect lasted for seven or eight hours, after which he slept comfortably, and felt quite well the next day

Considerable local burning, pricking, and smarting