The futility of experiments with drugs on animals / by Edward Berdoe.

  • Berdoe, Edward, 1836-1916.
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The futility of experiments with drugs on animals / by Edward Berdoe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

    22/56 (page 18)
    animals, with results which should teach medical men how fallacious it is to expect the lower animals to illustrate the uses of medicines proposed to be exhibited on human beings. Citric acid proves to be a powerful poison to these animals ; it causes in them the most violent tetanic spasms^ In man, however, no sx^asmodic or any other alarming symptoms ever arise from its use. — {St/Ue and Slai.^ch,. p. 44.) Coca Leaves (P. B.)—Physiological experimenters are greatly at variance as to the influence of this plant upon men and animals. Coculus Indieus is a well-knoAvn poison used for catching fish] by intoxicating them ; under its influence they whirl round, and lie motionless on the water. In dogs and other animals it causes muscular tremors, convulsions, and tetanic spasms. It is remarkable that there is no case on re- cord where such effects have been produced on man by this drug. We have cases of stomach irritation, congestion of the brain and death, but no spasmodic phenomena.—{Stiller Therapeutics, 2nd Ed., jp. 436.) Colocynth [P. B.) has very little action upon horses,, sheep, and swine ; but it is a powerful purgative to dogs and rabbits, on which it acts violently, causing inflammation of the bowels. Small doses act powerfully on human beings. Couia.—See Hemlock. Copper, Sulphate of {P. B.)—Atrociously cruel experi- ments upon dogs have been tried with this poison ; given by the mouth it excites violent vomiting, but some j)hysiologists,, to prevent this, have tied the gxdlet, and thereby have caused convulsions and paralysis. Yet Levi and Barduzzi gave a horse daily 15 grains of sulphate of copper for 30 days without in- jury. An ass was subjected to the same treatment with similar results.