On the antagonism between medicines and between remedies and diseases : being the Cartwright Lectures for the year 1880 / by Roberts Bartholow.
- Roberts Bartholow
- Date:
- 1881
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: On the antagonism between medicines and between remedies and diseases : being the Cartwright Lectures for the year 1880 / by Roberts Bartholow. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![an hour or two of this excitement, a soporose state came on, and was very profound for a number of hours. As, however, the respira- tion was full, strong, and rhythmical, the pulse regular and of good volume, we decided to await the result of the antagonism. Dr. Mussey had published one of the first cases of opium poisoning illustrating the antagonistic action of belladonna, and I had seen several cases, so that we were perfectly agreed as to the proper course, and the result justified our decision. Another case, in which the simultaneous administration of opium and belladonna was due to accident, was reported by Dr. Cotter.* A. young lady swallowed a liniment composed of opium and belladonna, the amount taken being equivalent to twenty-five grains of the extract of belladonna and twelve grains of opium. At first, the symptoms of belladonna poisoning were largely in excess; after some hours, she appeared like one helplessly drunk, and was so drowsy as to be kept awake with great difficulty; then another period of excitement came on, and this was followed by a period of profound sleep, from which she awoke relieved. Such are the facts as taught us by these accidental experiments on man. What is the clinical experience available for further study of the problem ? As a result of large observation and experience of the effects of these agents on man, Drs. Mitchell, Morehouse, and Keen conclude that “ the headache and phantasms of atropia are certainly thus controlled [i. e., by morphia], as well as the partial deafness and visual defects which in high doses it occasions. On the other hand, when morphia has been fully used, the drowsiness and stupor which are the best tests of its power disappear before the influence of atropia. . . . Perhaps the most peculiar cerebral symptom of atro- pia is its tendency to cause phantasms and illusions. We found under doses of fa of a grain these were common, and in some men could always be brought on. Usually they were absent so long as the eyes remained open, but arose at once on closing them. This condition was singularly subdued by morphia. Drowsiness caused by morphia was as surely lessened or destroyed by the counter agency of atropia; and, in fact, atropia given alone and in full doses is very apt to cause a restless night to follow, so that it is assuredly in no sense a hypnotic.” Harley strongly insists on the modifying influence of morphia over the cerebral effects of atropia. “ The influence of opium iu](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28059220_0044.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
