Aconitinum

NO10 ) is obtained from the roots and stems of Aconitum napellus, L.

This must not be confounded with "Morson's (English) Aconitine" (same as Nepalin of Flückiger, or Napellin of Wigger, or Pseudo-aconitine of Huebschmann), which is obtained from Aconitum ferox.

Authorities.

1 , Schroff; t , Toxicological, from Bird an others.

MIND

• Intellect most perfect, and even vivid, [t].
• Thought slow; long thinking impossible; all attention disturbed, 1.
• Loss of sense, 1.

HEAD

• Vertigo, 1.
• Confusion of head very great, 1.
• Headache, [t].
• Pain in head and face more intense after the slightest mental exertion, 1.

EYES

• Pupil dilated (both from internal and local use), [t].
• Dimness of vision, [t].

EARS

• Sense of pressure in ears, 1. [10.]
• Roaring in ears, 1.

FACE

• A peculiar drawing, pressive sensation in the cheeks on upper jaw, the forehead (region of nervus trigeminus), increase in intensity, at first intermittent, wandering, becomes a continuous pain of great intensity, 1.

MOUTH

• Burning on tip of tongue and lips, 1.
• Unpleasant taste, nauseous, bitter, 1.

THROAT

• Dryness in throat, 1.
• Every attempt to swallow followed by the spasmodic contractions characteristic of hydrophobia, but they were not renewed by the sight of water, [t].

STOMACH

• Eructations, immediately, [t].
• Severe vomiting, which recurred every two or three minutes, and was performed by a sudden, jerking action of the abdominal muscles, accompanied by a loud shout, [t].

ABDOMEN

• Rumbling in bowels (immediately), [t].

URINARY ORGANS

• Diuresis very marked, 1.

RESPIRATORY APPARATUS. [20.]

• Cough, with easy expectoration, 1.
• Respiration difficult, 1.

HEART AND PULSE

• Weakness of the beating and sounds of the heart, [t].
• Heart's action almost imperceptible, [t].
• Pulse, at first, on entering a warm room, more frequent , then sinks far below normal, is small, weak, and intermittent, 1.
• Pulse falls to 60, and in two hours after taking the medicine was so feeble as to be almost imperceptible and difficult to count, [t].

CHEST

• Oppression, [t].

EXTREMITIES IN GENERAL

• Trembling of limbs, 1.
• Relaxation of joints, 1.
• Formication on the feet and hands, [t].

GENERALITIES. [30.]

• All the convulsive movements were easily excited by simply touching him, [t].
• Great depression of the circulation, [t].
• Pains in jaws, nape of neck, and limbs, [t].
• General fatigue, [t].
• Muscular weakness, even to inability to stand up, [t].
• Great muscular weakness, 1.
• Prostration, [t].
• Patient fearfully collapsed, [t].

SKIN

• General formication, [t].
• Sense as if the epidermis would scale off, 1. [40.]
• Skin seems dotted with red points, 1.

FEVER

• Horripilation, [t].
• Surface cold, sweating, and quite pale, [t].
• Head and face suddenly very warm; this warmth extends over the whole body, is most intense in the region of the stomach and bowels, and accompanied by sweat, 1.

SLEEP AND DREAMS

• Sleep restless, 1.

SUPPLEMENT: ACONITINUM. Authorities.

3 , Dr. Bethune, Boston Med. and Surg. Journ., vol. liii, 1855, p. 370, in a case of amaurosis, a solution of 1/8 gr. to 1 oz. distilled water was used; 4 , E. Hottat, L'Aconitine et de ses Effets Phys., Paris, 1863, effects in himself and two others of a solution applied to the skin; 5 , same, effects of doses up to 3 milligrams taken internally; 6 , same, detailed account of experiment; ( 7 to 10 , John Harley, M; D., St. Thomas's Hosp. Rep., vol. v, 1874, p. 165); 7 , observations of Chas. W., æt. fifty-four years; 7 a , same, took 1/150 gr, and did not rise from his chair for three hours; 7 b , same, took 1/100 gr; 7 c , same, took 1/50 gr. at intervals of three days, at 9 A.M.; 8 , experiments on men, took doses of 1/75 to 1/50 gr.; 9 , Frederic G., æt. twelve years, took 1/100 gr. repeatedly at intervals of three days; 10 , effects of subcutaneous use.

EYE

• Immediately swelling of the lids, great redness, lachrymation etc., of the eye to which it was applied, and also great contraction of the pupil, 3.

PULSE

• Pulse 66 (before experiment); 60, unchanged, somnolency coming on (after forty minutes); pulse 58, respirations 16. He slept for twenty minutes; a general glow pervaded the body (after one hour and a quarter). Pulse 56, respirations 16. The glows and somnolency continued, and he had dozed several times (after three hours), 7a.
• Pulse 60 (before experiment); 54, unchanged in volume and power (after one hour and a quarter); 52, of initial volume and power; the respirations 16; natural; the pupils very slightly dilated? He felt warm and dozed much after the medicine (after three hours), 7b.

GENERALITIES

• It caused a sensation of heat and burning, accompanied by lancinating pains and prickling, followed after a time by a sensation of heaviness and numbness of the parts affected; these parts seem compressed by a heavy weight; the skin seems raised up and contracted by the muscles beneath; its color is not affected. There is anæsthesia. These symptoms last several hours, sometimes the whole day, but are never followed by general symptoms, 4.
• Soon experienced over the buccal mucous membrane a sensation of acridity and heat, which spread rapidly to the throat, and after a time to the stomach. There soon followed burning and numbness of the lips, tongue, and pharynx; at the same time there was very abundant salivation. To These local effects are joined general symptoms of malaise, feebleness, heaviness of the head, and nausea, frequent yawning, general oppression, and very marked loss of muscular power. Pulse accelerated, but to a moderate degree. The skin becomes moist. There are noticed pricklings in various parts of the body, particularly on the face and extremities. After a variable time the prostration increases, is associated with headache, lancinating pains in the face, prickling following the course of the nerve; frequent nausea; at times accompanied by vomiting. Loss of muscular power becomes very marked, formication more pronounced when quiet. The limbs seem numb, the face sensitive and swollen, pulse falls; respiration becomes difficult, the sensation of burning in the throat becomes painful, and there follows profuse perspiration. After awhile there is general prostration. One experienced a bruised feeling in the limbs, and difficulty in grasping objects; the least effort exhausts and enervates; respiration is slow and deep; the pulse is remarkably lowered. The intellect is not affected, and there is no sleepiness. The pupils are dilated, but the dilatation is far less marked than that produced by Atropia; they contract slowly under the influence of a bright light. These symptoms last ten or twelve hours; little by little the pulse rises, respiration becomes freer, the vital powers and the appetite return, in a word, everything resumes its natural function. The symptoms which persist to the last are the dryness of the throat, the heaviness of the head, and the extreme weariness, 5.
• The following is a detailed account of an experiment: At 8.30 A.M., the pulse beating 68, 6 granules of Aconitia, 1/2 mlg., were taken. In ten minutes sensation of heat in the stomach. In twenty minutes general malaise, yawning, eructations, nausea. In thirty minutes marked heat in the stomach, pulse 76, sensation of burning in the tip of the tongue, muscular feebleness, nausea. In forty minutes, burning of the lips, throat, and whole mucous membrane of the mouth. In forty-fine minutes prickling in the face and forearms, pulse 85; after an hour, oppression, headache, sensation of dryness and burning in the throat very pronounced, salivation. In an hour and a half, general depression, very great muscular feebleness, sweat, nausea, and vomiting, pulse 68. After two hours and a half, prickling in the face, which seems swollen and sensitive, also in the forearms and hands, which seem numb and heavy; pulse 60. In three hours and a half respiration impeded, pain in the temple and along the course of the infraorbital nerve; profuse perspiration, pupils not dilated, sensation of heat in the throat and over the larynx, soon disappearing; the eyelids seem numb, and there is abundant salivation, complete loss of appetite and some nausea. In four hours and a half, same symptoms, complete prostration of all the forces, gait heavy, general enervation, slight tendency to sleep. After six hours and a half, headache, with constriction of the temples, pupils dilated, respiration difficult, pulse 52. After eight hours and a half, same symptoms, sensibility diminished, especially on the hands and cheeks, intellect free, no sleepiness. In ten hours and a half, symptoms begin to improve, head is free, pricklings diminished, pulse 60. In eleven hours and a half there is noticeable improvement; respiration is easier, the dryness and burning heat of the throat less marked, there is feebleness and general lassitude, pupils continued dilated, pulse 68. In twelve hours, sleep easy, without restlessness and without dreams. The next day on waking there is no trace of effects of the drug, . [50.]