482 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



ly bitter taste which occurs in amounts varying from 0.5-2 percent. Narcotin 

 is found in quanties varying from 0.75-9 percent. 



It may be of interest in this connection to state that the German chemists 

 Wolfgang, Weichardt, and Stadlinger found toxins in opium. These writers 

 expressed the opinion that the complex physiological action is due to these 

 substances. 



In regard to the properties of opium, Fliickiger and Hanbury speak as 

 follows : 



Opium possesses sedative powers which are universally known. In the words ot 

 Pereira, "it is the most important and valuable medicine of the whole Materia Medica;" and 

 we may add, the source, by its judicious employment, of more happiness and, by its abuse, 

 of more misery than any other drug employed by mankind. 



There are occasionally cases of poisoning from the poppy plant. Certainly cases from 

 overdoses of opium are frequently recorded in the annals of medical jurisprudence. 



Opium may be absorbed to a slight extent by the unbroken skin, according to Winslow, 

 and causes a mild, anodyne action. Opium diminishes the two principal activities of the 

 digestive organs, namely, secretion and motion. The action upon the alimentary tract in 

 lessening secretion, is partly a local one and partly constitutional, following the absorption 

 of the drug. The mouth is made dry, thirst is increased and appetite impaired. Opium 

 is absorbed rather slowly from the stomach and bowels, and stimulates the splanchnic nerve 

 centre of the sympathetic system, which inhibits the movements of the stomach and in- 

 testines, and thus lessens peristaltic action of these organs. Opium is directly opposed 

 to belladonna in this respect, as the latter drug paralyzes the intestinal inhibitory apparatus 

 (splanchnic endings), and so increases peristalsis. 



The most important action of opium is upon the nervous system, and its influence is 

 more powerful upon man than upon lower animals. At first, opium exerts a stimulating 

 influence upon the spinal cord. Ruminants are comparatively insusceptible to opium. Dr. 

 Winslow says: "Ounce doses of the drug cause, in cattle, restlessness, excitement, hoarse 

 bellowing, dry mouth, nausea, indigestion and tympanites. Sheep are affected in much the 

 same manner. One or two drachms of morphine have led to fatality in cattle. Fifteen to 

 thirty grains of the alkaloid comprise a lethal dose for sheep. Swine are variously in- 

 fluenced, sometimes excited, sometimes dull and drowsy. 



According to the same authority, its action on horses causes drowsiness, 

 sometimes, and at other times produces no visible effect, 



Four to six grains, given in the same way, cause restlessness, a rapid pulse, and moist- 

 ure of the skin. The animal paws the ground and walks in a rhythmical manner about 

 the stall. The pupils are dilated. Large doses (12 grains) are followed by increased ex- 

 citement, sweating, muscular rigidity and trembling; while still larger doses (four drachms 

 of the extract of opium) cause violent trembling, convulsions, insensibility to pain and 

 external irritation, without coma; or (morphine, gr. 36 under the skin) stupor for several 

 hours (3 hours), dilated pupils and blindness, followed by delirium and restlessness, con- 

 tinuing for a longer time (7 hours) and ending in recovery. Horses have recovered from 

 an ounce of opium, but 2^2 ounces of the drug, and 100 grains of morphine have proved 

 fatal. 



Dr. Winslow is here quoted upon the toxicology of opium: 



The symptoms of poisoning have already been sufficiently described in previous sec- 

 tions. The treatment embraces irrigation of the stomach, or the use of emetics, as apo- 

 morphine hydrochlorate under the skin, and the subcutaneous injection of strychnine and 

 atropine sulphate in the first stages, and enemata of hot, strong, black coffee; leading the 

 animal about slapping him, or using the faradic current. Dr. Moor, of New York, has 

 apparently found in potassium permanganate the most efficient antidote for opium and 

 morphine. Ten to fifteen grains, dissolved in eight ounces of water, should be given by 

 the mouth, to large dogs. One to two drachms of potassium permanganate may be ad- 

 ministered to horses in two or three pints of water. Permanganate solution oxidizes and 

 destroys morphine, and should be acidulated with a little vinegar or diluted sulphuric acid, 

 after the ingestion of morphine salts. The antidote has been recommended to be given 

 subcutaneously after absorption, or hypodermic injection of morphine, but this is not of 

 the slightest use. Hypodermic injo-.tions have not infrequently caused poisoning. 



