Eserinum

(Physostigmin.) An alkaloid of the Calabar bean. C30H20N3O4.

Authorities.

Dr. A. Von Reuss, Am. Hom. Obs., vol. xv, 1878, p. 195, effects on the eye.

Leopold Grossegger, æt. sixteen years. In left eye a traumatic cataract. with right eye reads No. 40 Sn. at 15 feet, with convex 16 the same, with concave cyl. axis vert., reads No. 30, the measurement before application of drug gave r = 7.5150. Three drops from a 1 per cent. sol. were applied, and the following results obtained: Hm 1/24 S 15/40 (after five minutes); m 1/16 S 15/40 (after ten minutes); r = 7.5205; m 1/20 (after fifteen minutes); r = 7.4435 (after twenty minutes); m 1/16 (after twenty-five minutes); r = 5.44625 (after thirty minutes); m 1/10 (after thirty-five minutes); r = 7.4270 (after forty minutes); m 1/9 (after forty-five minutes); r = 7.4265 (after fifty minutes); m 1/12, immediately thereafter m 1/14 (after fifty-five minutes); r = 7.4435 (after sixty minutes); m 1/20 S 13/80, directly afterwards m 1/80 S 15/30 (after sixty-five minutes); r = 7.4105 (after seventy minutes); emmetropia (after seventy-five minutes); r = 7.42425 (after eighty minutes); Hm 1/30 (after eighty-five minutes); r = 7.47375 (after ninety minutes); Hm 1/30 S 15/40, same with + 18 cyl. axis vert. (after ninety-five minutes); r = 7.515 (after one hundred minutes); Hm 1/24 S 15/40, aslo with + 18 c. ax. vert. (after one hundred and five minutes); r = 7.5277 (after one hundred and ten minutes); Hm 1/24 S 15/4 0, also with + 18 c. ax. vert. (one hundred and fifteen minutes); r = 7.5205 (after one hundred and twenty minutes). Pupil at close of measurement still very small. Extreme tension in bulb, and for some time sensations of pain. No headache. The increase of radius during first five minutes is due to a failure in measurement. From this point it diminished rapidly and reached its maximum in seventy minutes. Entire difference 0.1 mm. The increase was slower, and required one hundred and ten minutes to return to the normal. The greatest increase of the refraction up to m 1/9 amount to 1/5.8 refracting value, and occurred at the 40th minute. At the close of the experiment, after two hours, the refraction was still normal.

Joseph Stichanel, æt. forty years. Left eye. Emmetropic S 20/20. Two measurements before use of sol., gave r = 7.625. When one application of 1 per cent. sol. was made, and measurements taken, at first every five minutes, later every ten, in intervals vision tests were applied. After first five minutes the pupil was already smaller, and after twenty was very small. R = 7.61675 m 1/20 (after five minutes); r = 7.61675 m 1/14 (after ten minutes); r = 7.62675 m 1/10 (after fifteen minutes); r = 7.62500 m 1/9 (after twenty minutes); r = 7.61675 m 1/12 (after twenty-five minutes); r = 7.62675 m 1/14 (after thirty minutes); r = 7.60575 m 1/14 (after thirty-five minutes); r = 7.62675 m 1/14 (after forty minutes); r = 7.53425 m 1/14 (after forty-five minutes); r = 7.57825 m 1/18 (after fifty-five minutes); r = 7.60025 m 1/20 (after sixty-five minutes); r = 7.62675 m 1/20 (after seventy-five minutes); r = 7.62500 m 1/40 (after eighty-five minutes); m 1/60 (after ninety minutes).

The action here is not so satisfactory as in the previous case, a marked sinking of radius being first noticed after the 40th minute, but suddenly. Up to this time the changes are minimum. The maximum of diminution is 0.09 mm., and remains at this only a few minutes. The increase took place more slowly, and after seventy-five minutes the primary value is again reached. The increase of the refraction began immediately after the application, increased gradually until at the 20th minute the highest point was reached with m 1/9 (refracting power 1/9), then declined very slowly, so that after ninety minutes there exists a myopia of 1/60.

Experiments three and four not being very satisfactory in results, I will not introduce them. Will, however, say that in number three the twitching and pain of a tearing character were quite marked during early part of experiment.