ATROPINUM.
An alkaloid, obtained from Atropa belladonna. Formula,
C17H23NO3. Preparation, Triturations. (Most of the poison-symptoms were
obtained from the sulphate of Atropine.)
Authorities.
1, Eidherr,
A. H. Z., 60, 11 et seq. (proved 3d and 4th trits.); 2, W. S. Moffatt, Hale’s provings, Trans. of Hom. Med. Soc. of N.
Y., 6, 83 (proved the 2d dec. trit.); 3, C. S.
Fahnenstock, ibid. (1st dec. trit.); 4, C. H.
Chamberlin, ibid. (1st dec. trit.); 5, J. M. Smith,
ibid. (1st dec. trit.); 6, Shroff, Lehr. d. Pharm. (took
.005 gramme); 7, Kafka, A. H. Z., 52, 178 (took 1/60
grain); 8, Harley, Old Veg. Neurotics (effects from
subcutaneous injection of 1/160 to 1/20 gr.); 9,
Lusanna, A. H. Z., 55, 157 (general statement of effects); 10,
Homan (took part of solution 2 grs. to 1 oz.), (prepared for the eye), N. A. J. of Hom., 1,
115 (N. Y. J. of Med.); 11, Sharpey, Mon. Hom. Rev., 18,
39, from Lancet (took a sol. of Atrop. by mistake); 12,
Blackley, M. Hom. Rev., 17, 481 (Rose E. took a teaspoonful of a lotion, 2 grs. to 1 oz.); 13, Andrew, Ed. Med. J., 1852 (girl 21 years took 2/3 gr.); 14, Piffingskold, A. H. Z., 54, 180 (took 6 drops of a sol., 5
grs. to 1 oz.); 15, Holthouse, A. H. Z., M. Bl., 1, 38
(child took 1/2 gr.); 16, A. H. Z., M. Bl., 11, 59
(child took a sol., 1/2 gr. to 1 oz.); 17, Weil, A. H.
Z., 1873 (Effects of Atrop. on conjunctiva); 18, Virch.
Arch., 49, 450 (1/2 gr. in sol.); 19, Virch. Arch., 48
(Effects of instillation into eye); 20, Chittenden, Med.
Invest., 11, 478 (Effects from applying a sol. of 1 gr. to 1/2 dr. of water to a hollow
tooth); 21, Hughes, poisoning of a boy 3 1/2 years old,
by a solution of 1/2 gr. of Atropia, B. J. of Hom., v. 20; 22,
Grandi, in Pereira, Experiments with Atropine, 1/16 to 1 gr. (see Hughes’s Monograph on
Belladonna); 23, Leach, Med. Times, 1865 (from Hughes); 24, Am. Journ. Hom. Mat. Med., Nov., 1872, from Atropia, gr.
1/200, bisquater die, in a case of ulcer of stomach in a man of 40 (from Hughes); 25, Rose, Brit. Journ. of Hom., 27, 225 (from Hughes); 26, Pereira, Elem. of Mat. Med., 4th ed., London, 1855 (from
Hughes); 27, Trousseau and Pidoux (from Hughes); 28, Practitioner, 4, 372 (from Hughes); 29,
Ringer, in Practitioner, vol. 9 (from Hughes).
MIND. Emotional.
► Frenzied
with excitement, [20]. ►
A long chill, followed by delirium, which had some resemblance to the subdelirium of certain
typhoid fevers, [19]. ►
Immediately upon closing the eyes, after retiring the mind would become filled with strange
and fanciful ideas, rambling, incoherent speech, spectral illusions, with frequent fits of
wild, uncontrollable laughter. The delirium and spectral illusions continued through the
night, during which time I fancied myself afflicted with epilepsy, and was constantly
fearful lest others should discover my unfortunate condition; was nearly oblivious to all
that transpired during the latter part of the night, but know from the bruises received and
the sensations of pain occasionally experienced upon coming in contact with a stove, chair,
table or some solid body, that it was passed in the wildest delirium (first day), [2]. ► Busily influenced
by pleasing illusions and delusions, meddling with everything in his way, picking at and
handling imaginary objects in the air, and accompanying his acts by muttering and smiling,
or with loud chattering, interrupted by subdued laughter, [8].
► Frightful phantasies, [15].
► Spectral illusions (first night), [4]. ► On lying in bed, began to
pick at specks and at the air, [15]. ► Picking at the bedclothes as if searching for something lost,
with confused mutterings (first night), [4]. ► At times, while it seemed to him that he was fully conscious,
saw persons at the bedside and slowly reached out to grasp them, but his hand would pass
through the object and no sense of touch tell him that there was any material in the
apparition; saw books and newspapers and tried to grasp them, but they would either recede
or the hand would come in contact with them and feel nothing, [4].
[10.] ► Mind has been
wandering considerable of the time through the afternoon; often thinks he is spoken to and
answers imaginary questions (after ten hours), [3]. ► The symptoms during this period, six to nine hours after,
exactly resembled those of delirium tremens. There was incessant rambling, great
restlessness, a grasping at imaginary objects, and occasional screaming from fright. The
character of the delirium varied; sometimes the child saw objects with frightened him, and
the utmost terror was depicted on his countenance, and he clung to his nurse’s neck, or
threw himself violently in different directions as if to escape them. Later, the delusions
were of a more pleasurable kind, imaginary playing with toys, drawing, eating, etc., [21]. ► Frequently,
through the forenoon, thought that persons in the room spoke to me, and would carry on
conversation with these imaginary beings (second day), [2].
► Now and then, he seems to have almost a consciousness
of what transpires about him, so that, at times, he returns an answer, when addressed, whose
commencement shows that he understood, but which passes into irrelevant, senseless talk, [18]. ► As to my
sensations, they were not blunted, but I misinterpreted them. Thus, I felt a wet cloth on my
head, but supposed I had been out in the rain without my hat; and a dose of bromide of
potassium given to me I recognized as a saline solution, but imagined it was mineral water
from the Airthry Springs which I had tasted on the spot some ten days before, [11]. ► The patient is busied with
subjects which at other times occupy his mind, politics and struggles consequent on his
relations in life, [18]. ►
Very restless and delirious, talking constantly about his affairs apparently, [11]. ► Meddlesome delirium, and
he will require attention to prevent him from getting out of bed, [8]. ► When put to bed, he
struggles to rise almost incessantly, [11]. [20.] ► He jumped out of bed
several times, and insisted on dressing himself, [11].
► Keeps his eyes closed, but on being spoken to loudly
looks at speaker; caught perhaps one word or a part of a sentence, repeated it, and said,
“Oh, I shall lose my train,” [11]. ► Expostulates with those who try to lead him to bed; says he
will lose the train, that all things are packed up, and that he must start immediately, [11]. ► Resists when
being undressed, saying continually that he will lose the train. Tries to put on his
trousers and fasten his necktie, [11]. ► I imagined I had to go off by a railway train, which started
at ten in the morning, and that the hour was approaching, whilst I had nothing ready for the
journey; and I believed that I wished to dress and to pack my things, but was thwarted and
prevented by the people about me. At length I was persuaded that it was too late to catch
the train, and agreed to wait till evening, [11]. ► Insisted repeatedly that her blood did not circulate, and
that her feet must be put into warm water or she should die, [20].
► Talked confusedly and almost unintelligible nonsense,
on waking in morning, [18]. ►
Agitation and delirium, worse at night, [19]. ► Violent delirium and restlessness (after four and a half
hours), [8]. ►
Delirious and a little drowsy, [11]. [30.] ► Delirium followed by
stupor, [9]. ► Loud
cries without any pains, [13]. ►
Sadness, [140]. ►
Mentally either very sad, depressed in constant anxiety and restlessness, fearful of
misfortune, or angry and inclined to be alone, seldom lively, [1].
► Apprehensiveness followed his internal restlessness,
and soon amounted to great anxiety, [1]. ► Not quarrelsome or ill-tempered, but attempts to reason, [11]. ► Very sensitive, [15]. ► Constantly
fretful, [1]. ► I
then became sensible that I was lifted into bed, and ordered on no account to rise, which I
thought a most unreasonable restraint; especially as I was tormented with irritation in the
bladder, and almost incessant desire to pass urine, which was in very small quantity, [11]. ► Was generally
restless and unmanageable, refusing to answer, to swallow, or to be examined; appeared
profoundly intoxicated (after one hour), [8]. [40.] ► Evidently unconscious
and very irritable, striking his mother when she took him from the nurse (after one hour), [21]. ► Incoherent
quarrelling (after eight hours), [8]. ► Morose, quarrelsome the whole day, everything went wrong;
trifles which usually passed unheeded irritated him to anger, [1].
► Desire to scold and quarrel, [1]. ► Intellect. ► Upon making vigorous efforts to arouse him, he also exhibited
some signs of consciousness, [10]. ► When he closes his eyes the mind becomes confused and he sees
all sorts of spectres (after thirteen hours), [5]. ► Mind confused; would commence a sentence, and forget what she
wished to say, [20]. ►
Feel as though awakened from a dream (second day), [2].
► Appears dull and stupid (after ten hours), [3]. ► Has only vague
ideas of anything she said, or of what transpired that evening, [20]. ► When left to himself he
did not appear to drop off into coma as do those who have taken opium, but would
occasionally open his eyes with a vacant, amaurotic expression, and turn his head from side
to side, [10]. [50.]
► At first, a slowness of intelligence; ideas and replies
are imperfect and indifferent, [22]. ► Dull and stupid all the afternoon (after six hours), [5]. ► Cannot be made to
understand where he is, that he is ill, or that he must keep quiet, [11]. ► First, indolence of mind,
then vertigo, and a condition of commencing intoxication, [9].
► Feels dull and not inclined to move about or to
converse (after one hour), [5]. ►
Indisposition for mental labor, [1]. ► No desire for his ordinary mental labor, [1]. ► Prover was dull and
disinclined to study for several days, [5]. ► For several days a difficulty of fixing the attention upon
anything for more than a few minutes at a time, [2]. [60.] ► The prover was
absent-minded at intervals for several days, and found difficulty in fixing his mind upon
any subject for more than a few minutes at a time, [3].
► Loss of memory (after eight hours), [8]. ► His memory is wrong,
inasmuch as he thinks that what really happened from the eleventh to the twelfth, took place
in the night from the tenth to eleventh (after sixth day), [18].
► Am absent-minded and forgetful; when conversing often
partly finishing a sentence; was often obliged to stop and inquire what I had been saying
(second day), [2]. ►
He recognizes, momentarily, members of the family; apparently notices when the door opens or
one is busy about him, but, when spoken to, often turns his head to
the wrong side, [18]. ► Unconscious, [15], [16]. ► Unconscious, with
incoherent speaking at intervals, [11]. ► Comatose, [10].
HEAD.
► Confusion and Vertigo.
► Head feels dull and unpleasant (after eleven hours), [2]. ► Dull sensation in
the head, with feeling as if his hair had become matted into a thick felt (first day), [18]. [70.] ► Head very much confused; could be held up with difficulty, [1]. ► Head confused, as
after a disturbed night; relieved on going into the open air (morning, second day), [1]. ► Dizzy confusion of
the head, evenings, alternating with vivid phantasies; great fatigue of the whole body, and
at times ringing in the ears, [1]. ► Some vertigo (after one hour), [3].
► Some vertigo (after three hours), [3]. ► Considerable vertigo (after
seven hours), [5]. ►
Vertigo, in consequence of which I was obliged to lie down, [2].
► Vertigo at intervals, lasting but a moment at a time
(after one hour), [5]. ►
Vertigo caused by turning the head quickly (after one hour), [5].
► Considerable vertigo, particularly upon turning the
head suddenly (after half an hour), [4]. [80.] ► Vertigo and confusion
of the head, on waking, which increased on rising; vertigo so that he came near falling, [1]. ► Vertigo on rising
in the morning, so that it became dark before his eyes, [1].
► Has had slight vertigo at intervals during the forenoon
(second day), [4]. ►
Slight vertigo and pressure in the temples with little or no pain (after a quarter of an
hour), [4]. ► Awoke
very dizzy; cannot walk across the floor, but staggers towards objects for support (after
three hours), [3]. ►
Giddiness, [8]. ►
Giddiness, heaviness, drowsiness, or actual sleep, with great tendency to dreamy delirium,
and, in women, slight occasional startings (from 1/48 grain), [8].
► Awoke still feeling quite dizzy (second day), [3]. ► Continued giddy,
but walked steadily, though slowly and cautiously, [8].
► Dizziness upon moving the head suddenly (after eleven
hours), [2]. [90.]
► Dizziness upon moving the head quickly (second day), [2]. ► Dizziness when
attempting to walk (after two hours), [2]. ► Pains. ► Head hot
(after four hours), [2]. ►
Head very hot, [1]. ►
Head hot (after ten minutes), [3]. ► Head feels hot (after one hour), [5]. ► Head and face much flushed
and hot; pulse full, bounding, and irregular, [11]. ► Head subjectively warm, but not painful; cold applications
are grateful (second day), [18]. ►
Head feels full and uncomfortable (after two hours), [2].
► *Feeling as if the head was screwed up; walking caused the
most severe sticking pains; relieved toward 11 A.M., and disappeared by evening, [1]. [100.] ► Dull pain in the head continues, with dizziness upon moving
suddenly (third day), [2]. ►
*Sticking pains in the base of the skull, and especially over the eyes, on every motion, and
especially on stepping, [1]. ► Sensation of fulness in the anterior part of the brain (after
one hour), [3]. ►
Slight pain in the antero-superior cerebral region, coming on shortly after taking the drug,
continuing through the night and next day, [2]. ► Headache commencing in the middle of the forehead (fifteen
minutes), [1]. ►
Fulness in the forehead, and head hot, but at no time any throbbing of the carotids or
arteries of the head, [2]. ►
Slight fulness in the front part of the head, and dilatation of the pupils, [2]. ► Dull pain in the forehead,
with dizziness on moving suddenly, [2]. ► Pressive pain in forehead, [7].
► *Fine, drawing, very sensitive stitches across the forehead
and temples; recurred every four to ten minutes, and lasted several seconds or a minute,
[1]. [110.] ► Slight pain in the temples (after half an hour), [3]. ► Very slight pain
in the temples and eyes (after twelve hours), [4]. ► Fulness of temples and also of forehead, with very slight
pain; can scarcely walk, am so dizzy, [2]. ► A feeling of fulness and pressure at the temples, [2]. ► Slight pressure in
the temples (after one hour), [5]. ► Feeling in the head as though the temples were being pressed
from without: pressure worse on the right side (after one hour), [5]. ► *Dull pain in the temples,
coming on at intervals of perhaps a quarter of an hour, and lasting a few minutes.
This pain is not severe, but seems like a deep heavy pressure; at other times it is a steady
tension in the anterior cerebral region, as if the brain was being pressed outward in all
directions (first day), [2]. ►
Has a dull bruised feeling in the temples (after nine hours), [5].
► *Very sensitive sticking in the left temporal region on
waking in the morning; it extended to behind the ear, and scarcely permitted him to open his
left eye; disappeared after moving about in the open air, [1]. ► Throbbing in the temporal
regions (after ten minutes), [3]. [120.] ► Feeling of pressure
under the parietal bones, [8].® 2000
Article