BALSAMUM TOLUTANUM, Balsam of Tolu,—is a balsam obtained from Myroxylon toluifera, a tree of the nat. ord. Leguminosæ, native in Venezuela and New Granada. Its composition and properties are similar to those of Balsamum Peruvianum, except that it is of lighter color, more agreeable odor, and contains a volatile oil, Tolene, in the proportion of about i per cent. Preparations. TINCTURA TOLUTANA, Tincture of Tolu,-contains 10 per cent. of the balsam dissolved in 90 of alcohol. Dose, mx-xxx. SYRUPUS TOLUTANUS, Syrup of Tolu,-has of the balsam 4 parts in 100 of sugar and water. Dose, 3j-ij. Much used in cough-mixtures. Covers the taste of Chloral well. Physiological Action and Therapeutics. Balsam of Tolu has similar actions to those of Balsam of Peru, but being more agreeable in flavor it is used internally more than the latter. It is chiefly employed as a pleasant excipient in coughmixtures, and is a constituent of the Compound Tincture of Benzoin. BAPTISIA, Wild Indigo (Unofficial),—is the root-bark of Baptisia tinctoria, a plant of the nat. ord. Leguminosa, native in North America, and contains an alkaloid and a resin, neither of which has been examined critically. The so-called Baptisin is an impure resinoid, obtained by precipitation from the alcoholic extract with water. Preparations. EXTRACTUM BAPTISIÆ, Extract of Baptisia (Unofficial). Dose, gr. j-x. TINCTURA BAPTISIE (Unofficial). Dose, mv-xxx. Physiological Action. Baptisia has a bitter and acrid taste; in small doses it is laxative, in large violently emeto-cathartic, and may excite severe gastro-intestinal inflammation. It is a decided stimulant of the liver, and increases the secretions of all the glandular appendages of the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane. It has considerable power as an antiseptic. Therapeutics. Baptisia has been used locally in decoction or cataplasm to obstinate and painful ulcers, in threatened or existing gangrene, and gangrenous sores. Internally, it is a useful remedy in amenorrhoea, typhoid and typhus fevers, variola, scarlatina, and epidemic dysentery. In the common continued-fever, or in the first stage of typhoid, it will be found of great service in drop-doses of a fresh tincture, repeated every hour. BELLADONNA, Deadly Nightshade,-is an herbaceous, perennial plant, of the nat. ord. Solanaceæ, having darkpurple, bell-shaped flowers, and glossy, purplish-black berries about the size of cherries. It is indigenous in the mountainous districts of Central and Southern Europe and Asia, and is cultivated in Europe and in the United States. It contains two alkaloids,the official Atropine (see below), and Belladonnine, the latter being considered by many authorities as identical with Hyoscyamine, Daturine and Duboisine. These exist in the plant in combination with Malic Acid. The plant also contains the usual vegetable constituents, as albumen, gum, etc., and a coloring principle named Atrosin. The official titles are as follows: BELLADONNE FOLIA, Belladonna Leaves,-ovate and tapering, brownish-green above, grayish-green below, of slight odor and bitter, disagreeable taste. Stramonium leaves are more wrinkled, Hyoscyamus leaves are more hairy. Dose, gr. j gradually increased. BELLADONNE RADIX, Belladonna Root,-cylindrical, tapering, wrinkled pieces, 1⁄2 to 1 inch thick, nearly odorless, taste bitter and acrid. Dose, gr. j cautiously increased. Preparations of the Leaves. EXTRACTUM BELLADONNE ALCOHOLICUM,-Dose, gr. -2. UNGUENTUM BELLADONNE,-has of the Alcoholic Extract 10, Diluted Alcohol 6, Benzoinated Lard 84. Preparations of the Root. ABSTRACTUM BELLADONNE,-Dose, gr. -j. EXTRACTUM BELLADONNÆ FLUIDUM,-Dose, mj-v. EMPLASTRUM BELLADONNÆ,-made with Resin Plaster. LINIMENTUM BELLADONNÆ,-Fluid Extract 95, Camphor 5. Atropine and its Derivatives. ATROPINA, Atropine, C,,HNO,,—in white, acicular crystals, odorless, of bitter taste and alkaline reaction; very soluble in alcohol and in chloroform, also in 600 of water at 59° F. Is decomposed by prolonged contact with caustic alkalies, and is resolvable into Tropin and Tropic Acid. ATROPINÆ SULPHAS, Sulphate of Atropine (CHNO3),H,SO,,—a white powder of bitter taste and neutral reaction, soluble in 0.4 of water and in 6.5 of alcohol at 59° F. Dose, gr. 120-30. HOMATROPINA, Homatropine, C6H1NO, (Unofficial),—is a derivative alkaloid obtained by the action of dilute HCl on Amygdalate of Tropin. The Hydrobromate of Homatropine is used by ophthalmologists as a mydriatic, its effects passing off much sooner than those of Atropine. Homatropine slows the heart, Atropine quickening it. TROPEIUS (Unofficial),—is a result of the action of a mineral acid on Tropin. Physiological Action. BELLADONNA is an irritant narcotic, a mydriatic, an antispasmodic and an anodyne; in small doses a cardiac, respiratory and spinal stimulant-in large doses a paralyzer of the cardiac and respiratory centres, the spinal cord, the motor nerves and involuntary muscles. It produces congestion and dryness of the mucous membrane of the throat, mouth, nose and larynx, and at first lessens the gastric and intestinal secretions but soon reproduces these in large quantity. The heart-rate is at first slowed, but soon becomes very rapid and vigorous, the pulse being doubled in rapidity; the arterial tension being at the same time raised, the circulation is greatly increased. This is accomplished by stimulation of the cardiac sympathetic, and paralysis of the pneumogastric, thus stimulating the accelerator apparatus while lessening the inhibitory. [Digitalis increases both.] The vasomotor ganglia are stimulated all over the body, but are afterwards paralyzed by over-stimulation, the heart weakens, the vessels relax, and the blood-pressure becomes greatly reduced. Com. plete motor paralysis follows, delirium, stupor, and finally death which usually occurs by asphyxia. The pupils are dilated by the local or systemic use of the drug, it stimulating the end-organs of the sympathetic and paralyzing those of the motor oculi, thus increasing the power of the radiating iris fibres and lessening the action of its circular ones. Atropine locally also paralyzes accommodation and lessens the intraocular pressure. The least quantity of Atropine which will affect the pupil is stated at gr. 1000 (Wood), gr. ʊʊʊ (Roosa), gr. 1 (Ely), gr.rakoo (Trousseau), gr. boo (Loring), gr. 700'000 (Donders). 1 The brain is congested by Belladonna, headache, vertigo, busy delirium, hallucinations, etc., being produced, the latter from a selective action on the cells of the gray matter. The spinal cord is stimulated from the 3d cervical to the 10th dorsal vertebra, resulting in complete motor paralysis, central and peripheral, power being lost first in the lower extremities. Sensation is also impaired somewhat, but the muscular irritability is not. Respi ration is increased and the body temperature elevated. Metamorphosis is greatly promoted by the increased activity of the circulation. A diffused eruption of scarlet color, greatly resembling the eruption of scarlet fever, is often produced on the skin and fauces by Belladonna, with dysphagia and sore throat, and is sometimes followed by desquamation of the epidermis. It is due to capillary congestion caused by the greatly increased circulation. Belladonna is rapidly diffused and quickly eliminated particularly by the kidneys. The urine of an animal under the action of the drug will dilate the pupil of another animal. Herbivorous animals and birds are scarcely susceptible to it, and pigeons are not affected by it at all. ATROPINE has the same actions as above described, being the active principle of the plant. BELLADONNINE was long supposed to be inert, but has recently been shown to be identical with Hyoscyamine. It is a mydriatic when given internally, but not when used locally. Antagonists and Incompatibles. OPIUM is the physiological antagonist to the effects of Belladonna on the cerebrum, pupil, heart, respiration, arterial tension and kidneys. Physostigmine, Aconite, Pilocarpine and Quinine are each antagonistic to some of its effects, Muscarine to most of them. In poisoning by this drug, Tannic Acid and emetics should be used, then Morphine, Physostigmine or Pilocarpine for the nervous disturbances. Caustic alkalies decompose Atropine and are therefore incompatible with the preparations of Belladonna. Therapeutics. BELLADONNA is one of the most valuable drugs in the Materia Medica, ranking with Aconite, Arsenic and Opium in efficacy and wide range of use. It is especially useful in the pain of inflammation, particularly that of rheumatism, gout, neuralgia due to peripheral disturbance, sciatica, cancer and pelvic affections. In cerebral and spinal hyperæmia, congestive headaches, encephalitis, meningitis and myelitis it proves one of the very best remedies. In erysipelas of superficial and non-vesicular character and when cerebral, it is really curative locally and internally administered. Inflammations of the lungs, iris, bladder, kidneys. and breasts, are all amenable to it. In constipation from atony of the bowels it is remarkably efficient, and in the enuresis of children it is equally so if used freely, 10 to 20 drops of the tincture thrice daily. In recent cystitis from chill, spasm of the urethra, bladder and sphincter ani, typhus and typhoid fevers, acute nasal catarrh, sore throat with fever, inflammation, and swollen tonsils, many skin diseases, asthma and whooping-cough, epileptic and puerperal convulsions, spermatorrhoea and seminal losses, Belladonna is often a highly useful agent. Its local application is efficiently used in ulcers of the rectum, anal fissure, abscesses, boils, carbuncles, and other superficial inflammations. In scarlet fever it relieves many of the symptoms, and is especially indicated in this disease when the rash is imperfect, the pulse feeble and the condition one of adynamia. Its prophylactic power against scarlet fever is believed in by many of our best practitioners, though questioned by many others. ATROPINE is used in poisoning by Opium, Physostigma, and Prussic Acid; in ptyalism from mercury, pregnancy, etc.; in the sweats of phthisis, sudden cardiac failure, and by eye-surgeons to paralyze accommodation, dilate the pupil, contract the vessels, lessen pain, and diminish intraocular tension. In opium-poisoning it should be given in very small doses and repeated for effect, as most of the unsuccessful cases of its use in this connection were due to overdosing with the antagonist, superinducing belladonna-narcosis upon the opium-narcosis. In cases of heartfailure from Chloroform or Ether inhalation the hypodermic injection of Atropine has in the writer's hands saved several lives when all other methods of resuscitation had failed. BENZINUM, Benzin, Petroleum Ether, is a purified distillate from American petroleum, consisting of hydro-carbons, chiefly of the marsh-gas series, having a specific gravity from 0.670 to 0.675, and boiling at 122° to 140° F. It is a transparent, colorless liquid, highly inflammable, very diffusive, insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol, ether, etc. It should be distinguished from Benzol, which is called Benzene by English chemists. In pharmacy it has many uses, on account of its powers as a solvent for oils, fats, resins, caoutchouc and some alkaloids. Dose, gtt. v-x, on sugar or in mucilage. Physiological Action and Therapeutics. Benzin is reported to have caused death in one case from gastro-enteritis, but ordinarily it does not produce vomiting or diarrhoea. It has been used with some success externally as a remedy for rheumatic pain, neuralgia, itch and prurigo; and internally as a vermicide against tapeworm. Its chief value is that of a solvent in cleaning old clothing and in pharmaceutical operations. |