108 VETERINARY MATERIA MEDICA. 



nist, but opium counteracts its effects on the cere- 

 brum, heart, respiration, arterial tension, pupil, and 

 kidneys ; while aconite, eserine, pilocarpine, and qui- 

 nine, each antagonize some of its effects. Later in- 

 vestigations, however, have shown that muscarine, an 

 active toxic alkaloid from Agaricus muscarius, the 

 fly-agaric, is a complete, prompt, and perfect physio- 

 logical antagonist to atropine. In treating belladon- 

 na poisoning, tannic acid, emetics, and the stomach- 

 pump when practicable, should be employed. 



Therapeutics. — Belladonna is used to relieve the 

 pain attendant upon various inflammations, rheuma- 

 tism, cancer, pelvic affections ; to stimulate the weak- 

 ened heart, as in influenza; in catarrh, pharyngitis, 

 laryngitis, and bronchitis. Very serviceable in the 

 second stage of respiratory diseases in the horse, 

 when secretion is abundant, deglutition difficult, and 

 the throat sore and irritable. Spasmodic cough of 

 bronchitis and distemper is very amenable to bella- 

 donna with ammonium carbonate. Spasmodic colic 

 is frequently treated with belladonna and camphor 

 and chloral, or belladonna with aconite and solution 

 of acetate of ammonia. In constipation — combined 

 with nux vomica and aloes; also given to assist in 

 the action of other purgatives and prevent their grip- 

 ing. In tetanus — belladonna with alcohol in large 

 doses; also the extract smeared upon the teeth. In 

 cerebral and spinal hypersemia, encephalitis, menin- 

 gitis, and myelitis — with ergot and use of cerebral or 

 spinal ice bag. Given internally or as an injection, 

 belladonna relieves irritation of the bladder and urin- 



