516 CALABAR BEAN 



acts the cardiac paralysis. To a less extent physostigmine 

 antagonises the poisonous action of atropine ; chloral also 

 somewhat opposes physostigmine. 



MEDICINAL USES. Physostigmine or eserine is my otic, 

 expectorant, and a gastro-intestinal stimulant. The obser- 

 vations of F. Smith and C. Rutherford testify to its value 

 in combating intestinal torpidity and impaction. They 

 administered physostigmine hypodermically and intratrache- 

 ally, and preferred the latter method on account of its 

 enabling more fluid to be introduced, occasioning less loss of 

 the drug, and causing less inconvenience to the patient. 

 Cases of intestinal obstruction in all animals may be safely 

 treated by eserine, conjoined with pilocarpine and anodynes, 

 by enemata, and abstention from solid food. French and 

 German practitioners have arrived at similar conclusions. 

 Kaufmann and others recommend physostigmine as an 

 ' intestinal ansemiant ' in congestion, atony, colic, and tor- 

 pidity of the digestive tract, especially of the large intestine, 

 and also for the expulsion of concretions and foreign bodies. 

 They further note its use in producing contraction of the 

 uterus. In doses of half a grain to a grain per day it has 

 been used with success in the treatment of intestinal catarrh 

 with inappetence in horses. For retention of meconium 

 in foals doses of gr. T ^ to gr. J hypodermically have proved 

 beneficial. It is also valuable in obstinate constipation in 

 dogs, for which the sulphate may be given in doses of 

 gr. ^Q to gr. T ^ per day. Eserine has been given, sub- 

 cutaneously and intravenously to cattle affected with 

 indigestion and gastric impaction, but although causing 

 considerable, sometimes painful, disturbance of the bowels, 

 it does not produce copious evacuations. It has been tried 

 in tetanus, but the relief afforded is merely transient. 

 Recoveries attributed to the use of eserine should only be 

 accepted with reserve. 



The extract and eserine sulphate or salicylate have been 

 prescribed in epilepsy, chorea, and other spasmodic nervous 

 affections, and, as an antidote, in poisoning by strychnine 

 and atropine. They should not, however, be given to 

 pregnant animals, in which untimely stimulation of the 

 uterus may lead to premature expulsion of its contents. 



