PROCESSES FOR PREPARING ACONITINE. 55 
sated juice may be procured in a more concentrated form, but still 
the process is liable to some of the objections already stated. — 
Another objection to these preparations is, that they are all 
obtained from the least active part of the plant, for the root certainly 
contains a much greater proportion of the peculiar properties of the 
Aconite than any other part, and is consequently that which should 
be used. From these considerations, and from the difficulty of pro- 
curing the active principle, I was led to employ a tincture and al- 
coholic extract, prepared from the powder of the root carefully dried. 
The tincture is made by digesting one part by weight of the powder, 
in six parts by measure of strong alcohol, for seven days, and filtering 
through paper; and the dose for an adult ought not to be more than 
eight or ten drops three times a-day to commence with, but it may be 
augmented to twenty ; beyond which, however, few patients will 
bear it to be carried. With regard to the extract, I have never 
exhibited it internally, but have employed it with great benefit in 
the manner-I shall immediately mention. ), 
When Aconite is administered internally, in any form, and in a 
small dose, it acts as a diuretic and diaphoretic, and accelerates the 
pulse: if it be pushed still farther, it begins to affect the nervous 
system, and occasions headache, nausea, weakness of the joints and 
muscles, slight confusion of intellect, and a remarkable sensation of 
tingling in various parts of the body, particularly in the head, face, 
and extremities. This latter circumstance was remarked by Dr. 
Dunean, jun., as always accompanying the relief afforded by the 
internal exhibition of extract of Aconite in cases of Sciatica.* If 
the dose be still augmented, aberration of mind, dimness of vision, 
and convulsive movements, come.on. A few cases are on record, 
_ where such symptoms have shown themselves when the Aconite 
had been swallowed accidentally ; and they have, in some of these, 
been followed by fainting, vomiting, stupor, and death. 
The diseases in which Aconite has been administered, are chiefly 
those already enumerated ; and I have also found much benefit from 
its employment in tic-douloureux, and other painful nervous affec- 
tions; but from all that is unknown of its internal use, it does not 
appear that the benefit to be derived from this method of exhibition 
is at all to be compared with that which arises from its administra- 
tion by the Endermic Method, either as regards the amount of effect 
produced, or the perfect safety with which, in this latter mode, it 
may. berused. 4) G2 ee 
Processes for preparing /Iconitine. 
Tuure are three forms in which the Aconite may be employed 
externally, namely,—the active principle Aconitine ; impure Aco- 
nitine, as contained in the ammoniated extract ; and, thirdly, in the 
* Edin. New Dispensatory, 1830. 
