392 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



the oculomotor nerve endings simultaneously with paralysis 

 of the terminations of the sympathetic nerve in the iris. 

 Eserine is thus directly antagonistic to atropine in its effect 

 upon the eye, but they resemble each other in that they 

 both exert a local action and do not affect the irides of birds. 

 Enormous doses of physostigmine paralyze the oculomotor 

 nerves and dilate the pupil. 



Elimination. — Eserine is rapidly absorbed and elimin- 

 ated, mainly by the urine, but also in the other secretions. 



Toxicology. — Physostigma has been called *'ordeal bean," 

 because native Africans suspected of crime are given the 

 crude drug. Vomiting it, they are proved innocent and 

 survive the ordeal. Retaining it, they die, and so are pro- 

 perly and primitively punished. Animals poisoned by Cala- 

 bar bean exhibit muscuhir tremors which continue through- 

 out the toxic period, and are often so violent as to simulate 

 convulsions. Soon there is loss of muscular ])ower and the 

 animal falls or lies down. The respiration becomes rapid, 

 labored, and stertorous; the pulse is increased in frequency 

 by large toxic doses, and the temperature slightly elevated. 

 There are salivation and sweating. The pupil is sometimes 

 contracted and, when enormous lethal doses have been 

 injected, dilated. Vomiting occurs in animals capable of 

 the act, and loud peristaltic noises are heard, followed by 

 the expulsion of faeces and flatus. Reflex action is dimin- 

 ished or abolished, but sensation is preserved until late in 

 the toxic period. The muscles are completely relaxed and 

 powerless, notwithstanding the tremors which afflict them. 

 The breathing becomes weak and irregular, and death occurs 

 from respiratory failure. A healthy gelding, weighing 1,050 

 lbs., was strapped upon the dissecting table and given, by 

 the writer, three grains of eserine sulphate intrajugularly. 

 Within a few minutes slight muscular tremors appeared in 

 the neck; the pulse rose to 120, the respiration was 24, and 

 the temperatrrre normal. There was slight sweating. The 

 pulse soon fell to 60, and was strong and hard, while the 

 respiration became rapid and labored. No other symptoms 



