Observations upon the action of ipecacuanha and its alkaloid emetia / by Dyce Duckworth, M.D.

  • Dyce Duckworth
Date:
[cbetween 1800 and 1899?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations upon the action of ipecacuanha and its alkaloid emetia / by Dyce Duckworth, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    X/^ Af ^.^ ^^ ^^^^ [Reprinted from St. Bartholomew's Hospital Reports, Vol, V.] 1^ Observations upon the action of Ipecacuanha and its alka- loid Emetia. By Dyce Ducilwokth, M.D. Edinb. IWAS induced to make some enquiries as to the properties of Emetia, in consequence of the difficulty sometimes experienced in procuring the action of emetics in young chil- dren. For example, all who have had to minister to cases, of infantile bronchitis must know how tedious, and oftentimes impossible, it is to cause vomiting, and induce beneficial effects therefrom. It occurred to me that by the subcutaneous method of injecting drugs it might be possible to bring about this result. The explanation of this difficulty I take to be as follows. In most of these cases the emetic substances employed do not reach the mucous membrane of the stomach. Either from a catarrhal condition of the membrane itself (a concomitant of the more urgent bronchial afiection), or, owing to mucus coughed up and again swallowed, the proper absorptive function of the stomach is well nigh abrogated. In such cases to give, as is so often done, ipecacuanha, sulphate of zinc, or mustard, and to secure such subsequent ingestion of warm fluids, at inter- vals, as may even visibly distend the stomach, avails notliing. Neither in some instances does the plan of tickling the fauces prove more effectual in conjuction with other measures, and in such circumstances it would seem that natural reflex sensibility was blunted. It is nearly two years since I determined to employ the active principle or, more strictly, the alkaloid of ipecacuanha, called emetia, to induce vomiting in these and like cases. I proposed to inject it under the skin, in the form of solution, believing that it might in this manner reach the circulation with certainty and rapidity. I may state that I did not com- mence my enquiries into the subject until my colleague, Dx'. Gee, was engaged in studying the action of the new morphia products discovered by Dr. Matthiessen, and in particular the base called apomorphia. The remarkable properties of this agent, when subcutaneously employed as an emetic, led me to / if A