562 QUININE 



GENERAL ACTIONS. Quinine and its salts combine with 

 albumin, and have antiseptic properties nearly as marked as 

 those of carbolic, benzoic, and salicylic acids, camphor, 

 eucalyptol, or chloral-hydrate. One part to 830 hinders, 

 one part to 625 prevents, development of anthrax bacilli 

 (Koch). It diminishes fermentation, especially when 

 depending upon such organised ferments as the alcoholic, 

 lactic, or butyric. It checks oxidation, and lessens proto- 

 plasmic and amoeboid movements. Similar effects doubtless 

 occur when quinine is administered, and afford explanation 

 of most of its curative effects. 



Quinine in the mouth, from its bitterness, reflexly in- 

 creases the flow of saliva. Small or moderate doses thus 

 increase appetite and stimulate the stomach ; but large 

 doses impair appetite, and may induce nausea and vomiting. 

 Its effects on intestinal secretion and movement are un- 

 known ; but it does not increase secretion of bile. It is 

 absorbed from mucous, serous, and areolar surfaces, especi- 

 ally when in perfect solution, and its systemic effects are 

 notable fifteen to twenty minutes later. Small doses 

 stimulate, large doses depress. Small to moderate doses 

 at first reduce the calibre of the blood-vessels, and briefly 

 increase the strength of the circulation, but large doses 

 weaken cardiac action and diminish blood-pressure. Moder- 

 ate doses may, at first, quicken respiration, but it is after- 

 wards weakened ; large doses slow and eventually paralyse 

 it. Death results from respiratory failure. The brain 

 functions are stimulated at first by small, but depressed by 

 large doses. Sensory and motor nerves are affected only 

 when the drug is locally applied. 



Tissue change is diminished. Experiments on dogs have 

 shown that less oxygen is taken up, while less carbonic 

 acid and albuminoid waste materials, especially urea and 

 uric acid, are excreted. Temperature, notably in febrile 

 cases, is lowered. These effects seem to depend upon the 

 characteristic action of quinine in lessening the activity, 

 after transitory stimulation, of all forms of protoplasm, 

 and may be connected with its property of diminishing the 

 capacity of the red cells, to give up oxygen, and on its 

 diminishing the number, contractility, and movements of 



