MEDICINAL USES 517 



In solution eserine is applied as a myotic to relieve conges- 

 tion and inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea, and, 

 alternated with atropine, to prevent or break down adhesion 

 (synechia) caused by iritis. In chronic dropsical conditions 

 of the joints and bursae of tendons in the horse, after evacua- 

 tion of the fluid by an aspirator, or a trocar and canula, 

 Stottmeister, instead of the iodine solutions frequently used, 

 recommends injection of a grain to a grain and a half eserine 

 dissolved in H|80 to TT[160 of distilled water, applying, 

 subsequently, for two or three days, ice or refrigerant lotions 

 to abate inflammation. 



DOSES, etc. The powdered bean is given to horses and 

 cattle in doses of grs. xv. to grs. xxx. ; to dogs, gr. J to gr. |-. 

 As already indicated, the diverse character of the two 

 alkaloids present in the extract, as well as in the bean, 

 renders it desirable to use eserine, which is conveniently 

 employed in the form of sulphate, of which the dose per 

 os for horses is grs. ii. to grs. iii., and for dogs, gr. -^ to 

 gr. -j-ij. Intratracheally, (horses) gr. ss., in K\l. to Tl\lx. of 

 water ; and subcutaneously, gr. j. to gr. jss., in H\lx. to 

 H\lxxx. of water. In intestinal obstruction more prompt 

 and certain effects are obtained by addition of 2 to 3 grains 

 of pilocarpine. The hydrobromide and salicylate of eserine 

 are sometimes used. An anaesthetic collyrium may be 

 made with cocaine hydrochloride grs. iv., eserine sulphate 

 grs. ii., and distilled water j. 



Eseridine (C 15 H 23 N 3 3 ), an alkaloid obtained from Calabar 

 bean, has similar properties to physostigmine, but only one- 

 sixth its activity. 



HEMLOCK 



HEMLOCK LEAVES. Conii Folia. The fresh leaves and 

 young branches of Conium maculatum, collected when 

 the fruit begins to form (B.P.). Nat. Ord. Umbelli- 

 ferse. 



HEMLOCK FRUIT. Conii Fructus. The dried, full-grown 

 unripe fruits of Conium maculatum (B.P.). 



Hemlock grows wild in hedges and waste places in most 

 parts of Europe. The flowering stem is two to five feet high, 



