more so in chloroform, but only partially soluble in water. Auric chloride gives with atropine solution a yellow precipitate, and cyanogen gas passed through its alcoholic solution strikes a deep-red colour. The best test is bromine, in hydrobromic acid, which produces a yellow amorphous precipitate, soon becoming crystalline; the physiological test should also be applied by dilating the pupil of a rabbit or a cat by local application to the eye. It is a most energetic poison, producing analogous effects to those of belladonna, but much more powerful.

Physiological Effects of Belladonna.-As the effects of belladonna depend on and are identical with those of atropine, the following account applies equally to both. Belladonna applied locally diminishes sensation and can be absorbed through the unbroken skin. Nervous system: in small doses it is a cerebral exhilarant, tending to produce hallucinations and delirium and sometimes sopor, but it is not a true hypnotic. Belladonna dilates the pupil in whatever way exhibited. When dropped into the eye it brings about dilatation by paralysis of the endorgans of the third nerve and stimulation of the sympathetic. Internally it is also thought to cause pupillary dilatation by a local action. In large doses the excitability of the motor and the sensibility of the sensory nerves is impaired by this drug, while the contractility of the striated muscles remains unaltered. On the motor nervous centres it acts as a paralyzing and tetanic agent. Circulation: it increases the heart's movements by stimu lating the cardiac ganglia of the sympathetic and paralyzing the peripheral ends of the pneumogastrics. An increase in blood pressure also takes place. Respiration: belladonna increases respiration by stimulation of that centre. Temperature: in small doses it increases temperature and in large reduces it. Secretion belladonna checks the salivary secretion by paralyzing the peripheral endings of the chorda tympani nerve in the submaxillary gland, hence the dryness of the mouth and throat observed in the employment of this drug. Its effect on the urinary secretion is doubtful, except that it increases the solids, while it effectually checks the secretions of the skin by a local paralyzing action on the peripheral nerve end-organs; upon the

intestinal secretory apparatus its action is questionable, though it increases intestinal peristalsis. Atropine is eliminated by the kidneys. Belladonna, however used, has the power to check the secretion of the mammary glands. In larger doses it causes dilatation of the pupils, loss of vision, giddiness, constriction of the throat, difficulty of deglutition and articulation, increased heart-action, quickened respiration, elevation of temperature, marked diuresis, nausea, with occasional vomiting and purging, and sometimes a red eruption. When excessive doses are taken the temperature of the body falls, the muscular system is relaxed, sensation is impaired, the pulse fails, and maniacal delirium sets in, followed by coma, syncope, and death, often preceded by convulsions. Dissections show that the action of the poison is not confined to the cerebro-spinal system, but that it is attended by inflammation of the digestive organs. Cases of poisoning from belladonna are to be treated by evacuation of the stomach, cathartics, and, if coma occurs, by the electro-magnetic battery. Pilocarpine and physostigma are the physiological antidotes, or hypodermic injections of solutions of the salts of morphine may be administered. As atropine and its salts are decomposed and rendered inert by prolonged contact with caustic alkalies, the solutions of potassa and soda are recommended as antidotes for belladonna, and are to be considered also as medicinally incompatible with it; lime-solution is said to have the same. action. Applied to the eyebrow, belladonna causes dilatation of the pupil; and accompanying its mydriatic action are paralysis of accommodation and a diminished intraocular pressure. Medicinal Uses.-Belladonna is one of our most highly esteemed anodyne and antispasmodic remedies. It is destitute of hypnotic effect, and, on the contrary, has a tendency to occasion wakefulness. In the treatment of neuralgia it ranks at the head of the narcotics, and is extensively employed both alone and in combination with quinine sulphate. It should be given until dryness of the throat, dilatation of the pupil, and some disorder of vision are produced. Its powers of allaying spasm have been found very efficacious in the treatment of whoopingcough and asthma. In lead colic, spasmodic constriction of the bowels generally, dysmenorrhoea, laryngismus stridulus,

chorea, and tetanus, belladonna ranks among the best antispasmodic remedies. In spasmodic stricture of the urethra, the local application of belladonna ointment to the urethra by a bougie is very efficacious. In mania and many diseases of the cerebro-spinal system, especially epilepsy, it has been occasionally employed with advantage. As a stimulant to the circulatory system, it is now thought useful wherever collapse is threatened from failure of the circulation, and especially in syncope from cardiac disease. Its action on the kidneys renders it useful in chronic Bright's disease; and, by its influence in relieving irritability of the bladder, it is probably the best remedy for the nocturnal incontinence of urine of children. In constipation, iritis, and as a prophylactic against scarlatina, it is also resorted to. As a preventive of scarlatina, it was originally proposed from its power of affecting the throat and skin, and respectable authority is not wanting in confirmation. of its efficacy in this particular. It is used, too, in cases of poisoning by opium, principally for its stimulating effect upon the respiratory centres. Hypodermic injections of to of a grain of atropine have been found useful in checking colliquative night-sweats, especially in phthisis, and it has also been used with good effect in cases of ptyalism. In myalgia and lumbago the hypodermic injection of atropine gives speedy relief, and may be advantageously combined with morphine.

As a topical remedy, belladonna is employed as an anodyne, and also to relieve rigidity of the os uteri in labour. The local use of atropine in diseases of the eye is of the greatest importance; solutions of the alkaloid or its sulphate (gr. i-ij to f3ss. of water), may be dropped into the conjunctival sac, to relieve pain and photophobia, to determine the refraction of the eye from its influence on accommodation, in the diagnosis of suspected cataract, in operations for cataract, in iritis, prolapsus iridis, and ulcers of the cornea generally. Gelatine wafers, containing to of a grain of atropine, are sometimes used to dilate the pupil for ophthalmoscopic purposes. A plaster or ointment may be applied to the breasts of nursing women when it is desired to arrest the secretion of milk. It should be recollected that the local application of belladonna, or its alka

loid, may produce the constitutional effects of the drug. A warm solution of atropine (gr. i-iv to f3j of water) dropped into the ear, is recommended to allay the pain in nocturnal earache of children.

Homotropine: obtained from tropine amygdalate, atropine having been split into tropine and tropic acid. It is similar in its effects to atropine, except that it retards the heart's action. Applied to the pupil, it quickly brings about wide dilatation, and, moreover, is unirritating, hence it is an acquisition in ocular therapeutics.

Administration.-The dose of the powder of the root or leaves is gr. j, to be repeated and increased till dryness of the throat, dilatation of the pupil, and dimness of vision are produced. The abstract is twice as strong as the powdered root, from which it is prepared. The tincture (15 parts of the leaves to diluted alcohol q. s. to make 100 parts of tincture-dose, 15 to 30 drops) and the alcoholic extract are also officinal. Of the fluid extract of belladonna root the dose is my i-v. For external use, a plaster (emplastrum belladonnæ), an ointment (unguentum belladonna), and a liniment (linimentum belladonna, containing 95 per cent. of the fluid extract and 5 per cent. of camphor) are employed.

ATROPINA (Atropine) or its officinal salt ATROPINÆ SULPHAS (Atropine Sulphate) is extensively employed medicinally as a substitute for belladonna, on account of the greater certainty of its action, the smallness of the dose required, and because it is adapted to hypodermic use. The sulphate, which is obtained by mixing the alkaloid with water, and gradually adding diluted sulphuric acid until the alkaloid is dissolved and the solution is neutral, when the salt is obtained by evaporation, consists of a white, slightly crystalline powder, very soluble in water and alcohol, but insoluble in ether. As a medicinal agent, the salt is preferable because more soluble. Dose, gr. 120-60.

STRAMONIUM.

Stramonii Folia, Stramonium Leaves; Stramonii Semen; Stramonium Seed. Datura Stramonium, or Thorn-Apple, sometimes called Jamestown weed (Nat. Ord. Solanaceæ), is an annual indige

nous plant, which grows very abundantly in waste grounds in all parts of the world. It has a forked, branching stem, from three to six feet high, ovate, toothed leaves, large funnel-shaped white or purplish flowers, which appear in midsummer, and ovate capsules, filled with numerous kidney-shaped, brownishblack seeds. The odour of the plant is strong and disagreeable, and its taste bitter and nauseous. It loses these properties very much when dried, but the process does not appear to

weaken its narcotic qualities. The LEAVES and SEEDS are officinal, but the seeds are most powerful from containing most daturine.

The active principle of Stramonium is an alkaloid termed daturine (believed to be a combination of atropine and hyoscyamine), found combined with malic acid, which possesses properties analogous to those of atropine. Another principle, stramonin, has been isolated (Trommsdorff), but its action has not been ascertained.

The physiological effects of stramonium are closely allied to those of belladonna, with a more marked action on the secretions. From its common occurrence in every part of the country, cases of poisoning from this weed are very frequent, particularly with children, who are fond of swallowing the