Royle's manual of materia medica and therapeutics : including the preparations of the British pharmacopoeia and other approved medicines.

  • John Forbes Royle
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Royle's manual of materia medica and therapeutics : including the preparations of the British pharmacopoeia and other approved medicines. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

    787/860 (page 773)
    of Edinburgh, so exactly similar in action and potency that it appears to me very desirable the Pharmacopoeia should prescribe directions for the preparation of the crystalline variety of aconitia, for it is well known that amorphous aconitia, and notably that obtained from Germany, is very impure; indeed, Husemann regards it as less active than the extract! The use of a preparation of this kind may lead to the most dangerous results, by engender- ing false impressions as to the dose of the pure alkaloid. Both Morson's and Smithes aconitia is very pure, that of the former maker occurs in colourless right rhombic prisms. Messrs Smith have supplied me with the nitrate in good crystals, and they als'e prepare a crystalline sulphate and hydrochlorate. So long as the pure alkaloid can be obtained the other prepara- tions of aconite are not only superfluous but mischievous, for it is impossible to prepare them from year to year of uniform strength. Action.—If a crystal be quickly ]3assed over the tip of the tongue, or a drop of a solution containing the y^V^y part of the alkaloid be placed in the mouth, a numbing, tingling sensation is speedily deve- loped, spreads over the tongue and lauces, increases in intensity at the end of about three hours, and then gradually fades away during the next three hours. The -^^-fj of a grain, taken in the form of a diluted solution by the mouth, causes a little somnolency after an hour, with slight tingling in the mouth and face, these symptoms continuing for two or three hours more. The -yit of a grain pro- duces a faint glowing sensation throughout the body in addition to the foregoing effects. The -fi^ to the yw of a grain converts the glowing feeling into a numbing glow,—a comfortable feeling as if sleep were coming on, and followed by actual somnolency. The effects obtain their maximum in two hours, and do not wholly pass off until the expiration of five or six hours after the dose. The -V of a grain produces very decided aconitism. In addition to the general numbing and tingling, which is always most marked in the upper parts of the body, the patient is oppressed with som- nolency and languor, but sleep is broken by uneasy sensations of oppression in the prsecordial or diaphragmatic regions. He is un- able to walk across the room without assistance, the vision is dim and hazy, the erect posture induces giddiness and nausea, there is a burning sensation in the throat, and dysphagia. The giddiness, dimness of vision, and muscular weakness, are most marked between the sixth and the tenth hours. Aconitia, when given by subcutaneous injection, produces the same symptoms, but they are more speedily developed, and the puncture is the seat of burning irritation. The ii-^ of a grain is the maximum dose, being equivalent to the -5V of a grain by the mouth. This is sufficient to kill a moderate-sized dog, and the -2V of a grain given subcutaneously is nearly sufficient to kill a horse. In producing the effects above detailed, and those which follow poisonous doses, aconitia acts as follows:— 1. It affects the roots of both the motor and sensory nerves which