ACONITINUM.
Aconitine (C27 H40 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; 7a, same,
took 1/150 gr, and did not rise from his chair for three hours; 7b, same, took 1/100 gr; 7c, 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, [6]. [50.] ► The 1/200 of a grain of Aconitia taken by the mouth at
intervals of three days, always caused a slight tingling in the mouth and face, coming on
within an hour, and lasting for two or three hours. On another occasion, after the 1/175 of
a grain, a faint glowing feeling in addition was perceptible throughout the body, and there
was a little somnolency. On another occasion, the 1/150 of a grain converted the glowing
into a numbing glow; a comfortable feeling, as if he were going off to sleep, and if he did
not move about, actual somnolency. These effects attained their maximum two hours after the
dose; he felt warmer while they continued, and there was at the time and afterwards some
difficulty in voiding urine, [7]. ► The effects were uniform. The medicine “upset him very
much all day, he felt languid and sleepy; he could not hold up the head or keep his eyes
open.” He was giddy and could not walk across the room without help; the vision was
hazy; the erect posture induced nausea. He could not eat much on the medicine days, on
account of a difficulty of swallowing, and pains in the back of the neck and behind the jaws
of the parotid regions, so that in eating he had to press the back of the neck with his
hands. A glowing tingling feeling pervaded the body, and there was a burning feeling in the
gullet, “as if a hot coal were there.” The tingling in the mouth and face came on
within half an hour, the somnolency after an hour and a half or two hours. At first he slept
for an hour, but afterwards the sleep was dreamy and broken. The giddiness, dimness of
vision, and the muscular weakness were most marked between the sixth and tenth hours. There
was always some dysuria, and occasionally retention with hypogastric pains. Nausea was
generally a prominent symptom, and the pain in the neck often remained until the next day, [7a]. ► General numbness
and tingling, but most marked in the face and throat; nausea, giddiness, somnolency, and
muscular weakness, [8]. ►
After three-quarters of an hour a tingling-prickling sensation running up the legs to the
spine and head, and tingling of the fingers, much giddiness and somnolency, but the sleep
was disturbed by frequent wakings. After two hours he was unable to walk or even stand
without great exertion, and on rising from the recumbent posture he was unable to see for a
minute, and there was nausea. The effect lasted for seven or eight hours, after which he
slept comfortably, and felt quite well the next day, [9].
► Considerable local burning, pricking, and smarting, [10].® 2000
Article